Khodorkovsky & Lebedev Communications Center

Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty profiles Russian human rights defender Vyacheslav Lysakov.

Lysakov has fought for civil rights in Russia not by protesting, but by taking his complaints directly to the authorities - a method he finds more effective. He says his advocacy group Freedom of Choice has been achieving much better results since abandoning street rallies a year ago in favor of intense lobbying with deputies, police, and government officials.

However, he has organized at least a dozen mass protests in the past through Freedom of Choice, and is now gearing up for the protests scheduled for March 20 across Russia.