[Wikimedia-l] Russian Wikipedia goes on strike

[abi yoyo]

Greetings to all and thanks for the support of our initiative. I am one of the three ru-wikipedia users, who signed the decision under the poll to blackout ru-wiki. We have a really nasty bill, that is already passed by the Russian parliament. The bill contains a real and an unequivocal clauses, that can lead to an ip-ban of Wikimedia projects in Russia. After the strike we managed to gain a big media-impact and massive support from the public opinion and internet users, but the influence on the legislative process is more than moderate. Actually we have rather appearance of concessions from the authorities, than real effective gains. Though the clear and public acknowledgment from the authorities, that Wikipedia will not be banned, is a sort of a gain. And besides that we have established some links with the authorities and MPs, that can help us in our future work of promoting new provisions to the passed bill. Without the strike that would be impossible.
Within the wiki-community now we have a discussion about the past strike. Though the overwhelming majority do not question the strike itself, some editors, including senior and those of an authority, question the organization process and the procedure of taking solutions within the community of the strike. As one of two main organizers of the strike I get a lot off feedback and criticisms of how and by what means the strike took place. That criticism is very important.  The organization was really not good. Actually it could not be worse. The main reason for that is extreme lack of time we had to organize. The bill was passed in an utmost haste without even a shadow of public discussion. Actually the community, including myself, got to know of bill hearing only day before its planned time. Therefore we had to act in even bigger haste. Everything, including organizing the strike, conducting of a poll, informing the media and third parties, was made in several hours. It is not a surprise, that within the given circumstances we made much less, than could be done. That is also true for the process of taking decisions within the community. Though we had an overwhelming majority of supporters, the decision had to be taken on consensus, as all the decisions within the community should be based on the consensus of its participants. But the utmost lack of time gave us no opportunity to analyze all the opinions, all the important remarks and views, present in the poll. Therefore the decision was taken upon votes. As a consequence now we have an arbcom case against the organizers, including me, stating that the decision was not taken according to all rules of taking such decisions. 
I think, that in the crucial point of conducting the strike the taken decision was the only possible one within the given circumstances and utmost lack of time. Though it was a bad decision in terms of traditions of discussion and consensus, any other would be worse. As one of the organizers I take the full responsibility on myself and have tried to do my best in the circumstances.
All the mistakes should be avoided in the future; all the criticisms should be taken into consideration. But what is the most important now, is that Wikipedia can act, gain achievements in public space and  stand for its interests in an open and  clear way.
Thanks again for all the comrades for expressed support,
Abiyoyo.