MOSCOW: On February 20, 2013, when a worldwide prayer service was held in solidarity with all those Tibetans who have self-immolated for Tibetan nation and freedom, and those suffering in occupied-Tibet, another event of public talk on “Flaming Tibet” was held at the hall of  Sakharov Center in Moscow, which was established in honour of  the Nobel Peace Laureate Mr A Sakharov, a Russian nuclear scientist and  human rights champion. The event was jointly organised by Ms Valeriya Miller, Russian activist of  Tibetan “Rangzen” movement, who lived and studied in Dharamsala, and Valery Nikolski, journalist and member of Moscow Chapter of Helsinki Human Rights, with the support of Moscow-based Save Tibet Foundation.

The event began with screening of a documentary film produced by Department of Information & International Relations of the Central Tibetan Administration, and dubbed in Russian “The Burning Question – Why Are Tibetans Turning to Self-Immolation?”  It was followed by the research-based presentation of Ms V Miller on the self-immolation in Tibet: its  chronology, background of and messages left by self-immolators.

Thereafter, Representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Russia and CIS, Dr Nawang Rabgyal, gave a brief talk on the historical status of Tibetan independence, Middle-way policy of Central Tibetan Administration, the nature of Tibetan struggle for freedom, and main causes of self-immolation in misruled Tibet.

Mr V Nikolski gave the presentation with footages from various TV channels and YouTube on the continuing protests and demonstrations against the Chinese government policy in Tibet, Inner Mongolia, East Tukistan and China proper also.

As per call given by the Kashag for a worldwide solidarity prayer service, the Friends of Tibetan Society (FTS) organised the prayer and lamp offerings at Kalmyk Buddhist Temple. Mrs Antonina Kookueya, President of FTS, gave a speech on the current situation in Tibet. Prayer was also observed in other city in Russian Federation.