| LizaAlert | |
| Native Name: | ЛизаАлерт |
| Native Name Lang: | ru |
| Founder: | Grigory Sergeev |
| Founding Location: | Orekhovo-Zuyevo, Moscow Oblast, Russia |
| Type: | Search-and-rescue volunteer organization |
| Vat Id: | (for European organizations) --> |
| Headquarters: | Moscow, Russia |
| Language: | Russian |
| Owners: | --> |
| Leader Title: | Chairman |
| Leader Name: | Grigory Sergeev |
| Volunteers: | varies |
LizaAlert (Russian: ЛизаАлерт) is a nonprofit[1] [2] search-and-rescue volunteer organization to search for missing people. It is also known as the LizaAlert search-and-rescue team.
LizaAlert is more than a 24/7 response alert system. It not only carries out the functions of AMBER Alert in the former USSR, but also directs volunteer forces on active searches for all missing people.[1]
LizaAlert takes its name from 5-year-old Liza Fomkina. In 2010 Liza died of hypothermia in the Russian wilderness after a 9 day unsuccessful search mission. The community was born less than 21 days after Liza's death.[1]
The community isn't directly related to the law enforcement agencies of the Russian Federation. The main part of the search takes place in the former USSR region and surrounding areas. Priority is given to the search for children and the elderly, and people lost in the natural environment. The community does not provide paid search services; searches are free of charge and always executed by volunteers.[1]
Since 2010 LizaAlert has continually been taking part in searches for missing persons in Russia, famous or not. One of the most resonant events was the search of mathematician and University of London professor Alexey Chervonenkis.[3]
Philip N. Howard, Director of the Center for Media, Data and Society in the School of Public Policy at Central European University, writes about Liza Alert as a form of civic project, which stands parallel with Russian Government.[4] Media reviews, however, suggest, that it might not be true.[5] as the performance of Liza Alert is high due to the interaction with the Ministry of Emergency Situations.
In 2013, State Duma deputy Olga Yepifanova had made a mistake, naming voluntary movement interfering and unorganized. In fact, the politician had confused LizaAlert with a completely different foundation.[6]