Letters of support to the Tobacco Control Resource Center for the Russian speaking countries

Dear Globalinkers,
I have just heard the news that one of the most active and popular (at least among Russian-speaking audience, who are not necessarily Russians by origin - in the CIS members countries and far beyond) source, "Tobacco Control Resource Center" is closed.
In the post-Soviet information space it would be very hard to imagine a better news for the tobacco industry, which is still strong enough in the present CIS.
On the basis of my experience of professional activity in this field on the national level, I can say that for Armenia and its NGOs and activists the Tobacco Control Resource Center informative support was very valuable.
It is necessary to note that Russian has not substituted by English at all, for most local citizens Russian is the second language after the national one. But not only the language is the point. We have to point out the quality of their work as well.
So I would like to thank for Konstantin Krasovsky's and Tatiana Andreeva's good job for so many years and express my hope that the obviously strange situation with the closure of their center will be improved.
Alexander Bazarchyan
Tobacco Control Program of the Ministry of Health
Coordinator
Armenia

Dear Globalinkers,
We have a good news related to the donation campaign initiated by Prof. Simon Chapman. It is very important that the Russian speaking site has already started functioning. I would like too thank all who have contributed to re-animation of the Center.
I also would like to apply to the users of the Russian site to start a discussion on thinking about some initiative (donation or other) that would be interesting for us as Russian speakers, because the Center is really helpful to tobacco control advocates in NIC countries.
Alexander Bazarchyan
Tobacco Control Program of the Ministry of Health
Coordinator
Armenia

I absolutely support your initiative, Pr Chapman!
It is such a loss for all NIS countries and I can not agree with close of this center. I am able to donate 200$ as well and also suggest to write a unified official letters to donors on behalf of all NIS tobacco controllers to prevent Center from closing and support it financially. For some reason, my e-box can not sent message to all globalinkers, but I will contact some of them who know personally (Kyrgyzstan, Armenia and Georgia).
Hope to hear positive feedback from other NIS colleagues and support of the initiatives.
Dzhamilya Sadykova,
Kazakhstan

Dear Konstantin and Tatiana,
I want to express my appreciation of your restless efforts in providing essential information to Russian speaking community in the region, including many colleagues in Armenia.
Truly yours,
Narine Movsisyan
coordinator, Coalition for Tobacco Free Armenia

Dear Konstantin and Tatiana
So sorry to hear about this and well done for all your work over the years. I was only the other day looking at your website. Perhaps you will get funding from Bloomberg to continue the good work? I hope all goes well for both of you.
very best wishes
Dr Anna Gilmore
European Centre on Health of Societies in Transition
London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine

Constantin and Tatiana - so sorry to hear this. Your site has been a valuable resource.
Christopher Squier
Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies
N419 DSB, University of Iowa

Dear Konstantin!
Very sorry to hear about this. How come? Can’t you get Bloomberg money for this project? Your work is very valuable and NECESSARY. I am keeping my fingers cross that someone will wake up by your message!
Margaretha Haglund, Sweden

It is so sad that this center is to close due to lack of funding. I wish I could help, but, coming from a poor developing country, I almost have a similar cry, so, all I can do is sympathize. However, I want to take this opportunity to thank Prof Simon Chapman for his noble gesture, to support the Russian Centre. I wish we had more Chapmans!!
Lutgard Kokulinda Kagaruki
Executive Secretary
Tanzania Tobacco Control Forum

It is my pleasure and honor to be able support your truly noble effort. I look forward to meeting you at some point.
Jack E. Henningfield, Ph.D
Vice President, Research and Health Policy
Pinney Associates

We would like to express our request regarding assisting our anti-tobacco society in Georgia who are most familiar to Russian language then English to save Tobacco Control Resource Center for the Russian speaking countries.
During last years this Center help us to receive information in Russian regarding tobacco control developments in CIS and in other countries too. We receive special newsletters regarding last scientific research in this regard too. It's very helpful for policy makers, NGOs and mass media representatives who have very good understanding of Russian Language. For example, journalists using articles from the Center for creations of their articles and there are not needed involvement of translators, etc.
Rights now this Center has financial problems and we kindly ask to all possible sponsors to assist Dr Tatiana Andreeva and Dr Konstantin Krasovsky, who run Tobacco Control Resource Center for the Russian speaking countries, to continue their excellent and very helpfully work for our society.
George Bakhturidze
Coordinator, Tobacco Control Alliance in Georgia
17, Lermontov st., 0105-Tbilisi, Georgia

Letter of National Coalition “For smoke-free Kazakhstan”