Minutes:
In accordance with Standing Order No. 8, the following question was put by Councillor Mitchell to the Leader.
Question – The Russian flag flies outside our Civic Centre in recognition of our twinning relationship with Yaroslavl. As the Leader will be aware there are now well documented human rights abuses in relation to the Russian Federation and its republics. In particular within the last few weeks more than 100 members of the LGBT community have been rounded up, held in concentration camps, tortured, beaten and killed within the Russian Republic of Chechnya.
Will he join me in condemning these actions and does he believe this Council should suspend its current twinning relationship with Yaroslavl until a time when international human rights are respected within all regions of the Russian Federation.
The Leader thanked Councillor Mitchell for raising this issue. He replied that of course he was sure he was speaking on behalf of everyone inside this Chamber this evening, in deploring any breaches of human rights, irrespective of gender, race, religion or sexual orientation.
You will no doubt recall that this is similar to an issue you yourself raised by way of a notice of motion, at the Council meeting on 8th April 2014 when the Council resolved:-
1. To write to the Foreign Secretary and Russian Ambassador to the United Kingdom, expressing this Council's disquiet at the continuing Civil Rights issues occurring in Russia, including the systematic discrimination towards the LGBT community; and
2. That it considers the above matter to be in direct contravention of the Twinning Agreement between the Cities of Exeter and Yaroslavl, dated 17 October 1989, and as such requests officers:-
3. To write to the City Administration in Yaroslavl offering its support to the LGBT community in Yaroslavl in particular and in Russia as a whole; and
4. To make representations to this effect to the official delegation from Yaroslavl during their forthcoming civic visit to the City in July 2014.
You will also recall that you met with the then Acting Mayor of Yaroslavl during the subsequent official visit in July of that year, when you first hand put yours, and the above Council's views to him. I believe the Acting Mayor listened to your views.
Members will also recall the Corporate Services Scrutiny Committee's consideration, at its meeting on 24th November last year, of a review of the Council's International Cooperation Strategy on which the Council's twinning arrangements are based. This work is on-going, including discussing the content of the Co-operation Strategy with our twinned cities.
Creating conversations are the cornerstone of solving some of the world's biggest issues, including items such as this. It is important not to use broad brush strokes - the equivalent to accusing everyone in England of having extremist views just because of the actions of some. Partnerships and opening dialogue have never been more important in international relations and Exeter and twinning will continue to play its small but important part in joining cultures and sharing experiences by extending the hand of friendship.
I believe that the withdrawal of our twinning arrangement with Yaroslavl, as you suggest, will cut off the opportunity for us to have these meaningful discussions and will actually be counterproductive to the aims you are trying to achieve.
Responding, Councillor Mitchell stated that the abuses referred to were well documented at both the United Nations and the European Union and that his question covered different issues to that of the notice of motion at Council in April 2014. He asked whether the Leader and others could meet with him to discuss how the City Council could respond.
In response to the supplementary question, the Leader considered that responses on this matter might be more appropriate at the national level and that from a local point of view, especially in respect of the City’s twinning relationship with Yaroslavl, maintaining dialogue was important.