On the Ground in Kiev: An Eyewitness Account of the Ukrainian Protests

February 21, 2014 at 1:48 PM

Scene from a protest in Ukraine in late January of this year (Photo Credit: Alexandr Piliugun/Amnesty International).

By Zoryan Kis, Campaign Coordinator at Amnesty International Ukraine

Ukraine’s EuroMaydan protests started exactly three months ago today. Never before in my lifetime has the country witnessed such a neglect of human rights and dignity, such an appalling inability of the government to listen to its people and such incredible courage of ordinary people standing for their rights.

Late last year, when Amnesty International Ukraine was launching our first petition against police brutality and impunity, we could not have imagined the extent of abuses by law enforcement officers we would face in January and February 2014.

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Sneaky Tricks Putin is Pulling to Stave Off Criticism During the Olympics

By Guest Writer

February 14, 2014 at 2:10 PM

Russian President Vladimir Putin talks with International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach at a welcoming event ahead of the 2014 Winter Olympics (Photo Credit: David Goldman-Pool/Getty Images).

By Ludmila Krytynskaia, Amnesty USA Russia Country Specialist

President Vladimir Putin lifted a blanket ban on protests and rallies in Sochi shortly before the Olympic Games were launched, thereby fulfilling his promise to the International Olympic Committee to relax the rules governing protests in the city.

The easing of the protest ban coupled with the release of dozens of high-profile prisoners last month – including former Yukos CEO Mikhail Khodorkovsky and members of the feminist punk band Pussy Riot – has led to speculation in the Western media about whether these decisions were a sign of a political thaw in Russia, a result of diplomatic behind-the-scenes maneuverings or just a public relations stunt to stave off criticism of the human rights situation in the country on the eve of the Olympics.

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HAPPENING NOW: Russian Journalist Charged Under “Gay Propaganda” Law

By Jasmine Heiss

February 12, 2014 at 12:30 PM

Meet Elena Klimova, the latest victim of Russia’s new “gay propaganda” law (Photo Credit: Private).

She saved lives. So why does Russia want to punish Elena Klimova?

Because she created a safe space for LGBTI teens in a country rife with homophobia.

Elena is a journalist and founder of Children 404, a popular online resource that supports LGBTI teens in Russia. It’s a space for teenagers to share their stories, get support and obtain advice from experienced psychologists.

Elena’s Children 404 has prevented teenagers from committing suicide and running away from home. She’s easing their isolation and making their world a little better, right?

Not according to Russian authorities. Russian authorities are going to absurd lengths to punish people and defenders of LGBTI human rights. They want to shut Children 404 down, and have charged Elena with “propaganda of non-traditional sexual relations.”

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Something’s Rotten in the State of Denmark: A Tale of Two Identities

By Guest Writer

February 10, 2014 at 3:54 PM

Josh Bryan is an American transgender man living in Denmark © Private.

Josh Bryan is an American living in Copenhagen, where he helped to launch a recent Amnesty International report on discrimination against transgender people in the European Union. Below, he tells his story how strict Danish legislation has left him trapped in a system that doesn’t recognize his true identity while demanding that he surgically change his body.

My story is about being stuck in two legal identities. I live in Denmark, a country that prides itself on its liberalism and welfare for its citizens. However, the Danish legislation is very strict when it comes to transgender people – people whose gender identities don’t align with the legal gender they were assigned at birth – and that is why I’m now trapped in the system.

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Russian Environmental Activist Sentenced to 2 Weeks in Jail – For Swearing

By Guest Writer

February 5, 2014 at 10:00 AM

Yevgeny Vitishko was arrested on February 3 near Sochi and charged with “petty hooliganism,” allegedly for swearing (Photo Credit: Amnesty International).

By Emile Affolter, Press Officer at Amnesty International Netherlands, currently in Sochi

Just a couple of days before the Winter Olympic Games start in Sochi, an activist was arrested. Sadly, such arrests are not unusual in Russia, but the timing of this particular arrest sent a chilling message across Russian civil society.

The environmentalist Yevgeny Vitishko was planning on traveling to Sochi, but was stopped by police, convicted of “petty hooliganism” and sentenced to 15 days in administrative detention.

His crime? According to Russian authorities, he cursed while standing at a bus stop.

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What Imagine Dragons Did Before They Performed on Saturday Night Live

By The Editors

February 5, 2014 at 8:00 AM

Before he took the stage of SNL with the rest of Imagine Dragons and Kendrick Lamar, Dan Reynolds sat down to listen to a message recorded halfway around the world by two activists he had never met.

“Good luck Imagine Dragons – yes, from Dublin – See you Wednesday in New York – Goodbye!”

The message was from Masha Alekhina and Nadya Tolokonnikova, two recently released members of Pussy Riot.

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7 Days Before Sochi, 7 Prisoners of Conscience You Should Be Thinking About

By Samir Goswami

January 31, 2014 at 8:00 AM

(Photo Credit: Antonin Thuillier/AFP/Getty Images)

On February 7, 2014, the XXII Winter Olympic Games will begin in the Russian city of Sochi. The lead up to the Games has shone a spotlight on Russia and the country’s human rights record.

Since his re-election, President Vladimir Putin has signed laws and instituted measures that restrict the rights to freedom of expression, association and assembly.

Since Putin announced his intention to return to the Presidency, thousands of people have attended protests all over Russia, and hundreds have been arrested and prosecuted simply for exercising their right to peaceful assembly.

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Before the Sochi Olympics, Let President Putin Know He’s Not Fooling Anyone

By Samir Goswami

January 30, 2014 at 11:31 AM

Mikhail Kosenko has had psychiatric treatment forced upon him after participating in a peaceful protest in Bolotnaya Square (Photo Credit: Vasily Maximov/AFP/Getty Images).

Mikhail Kosenko had an ordinary life. He spent a lot of time in libraries and bookshops. His sister describes him as an intelligent, well-informed person.

Then one day, he decided to peacefully and publicly express his opinion. Against President Vladimir Putin.

In Russia, such opinions are not welcome. They are violently discouraged.

Stop the crackdown against people like Mikhail.

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Members of Pussy Riot Joining All-Star Lineup at Amnesty Concert on Feb. 5th

By Guest Writer

January 22, 2014 at 1:30 PM

By Ann Burroughs, Amnesty International USA Board Chair

I just heard some great news, and I can’t wait to share it with you. I’m so excited to announce that on Feb. 5^th, Pussy Riot’s Nadezhda “Nadya” Tolokonnikova and Maria “Masha” Alekhina will participate in Amnesty International’s landmark Bringing Human Rights Home Concert at Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

I know the ability of music to move mountains. During my time as an activist in apartheid South Africa, singing together helped unite us in the streets, and helped demonstrate our power. Cries of “Amandla!” echoed through the townships and cities alike, and I knew I needed to join in. At the same time, protest songs rang across the world with powerful messages that amplified the voices of the anti-apartheid movement.

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Authorities Starting to Target Hospitals and Medical Personnel in Turkey

By Howard Eissenstat

January 15, 2014 at 12:29 PM

A bill passed by the Turkish parliament last week could give authorities new powers to prosecute doctors for giving unauthorized care (Photo Credit: Marco Longari/AFP/Getty Images).

One of the most shocking aspects of Turkey’s violent crackdown on peaceful protest has been the willingness of authorities to target medical personnel. Since then, not only have authorities not been held responsible, but the government has moved to increase legal pressure on medical personnel.

Amnesty has played a central role in researching this abuse. In its report on the Gezi Protests, Amnesty researchers describe in detail the extent to which those caring for the injured were themselves subject to police abuse.

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Human Rights Now Blog

Category Archives: Europe

Sneaky Tricks Putin is Pulling to Stave Off Criticism During the Olympics

Something’s Rotten in the State of Denmark: A Tale of Two Identities

Before the Sochi Olympics, Let President Putin Know He’s Not Fooling Anyone

Members of Pussy Riot Joining All-Star Lineup at Amnesty Concert on Feb. 5th

Authorities Starting to Target Hospitals and Medical Personnel in Turkey