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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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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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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What You Need to Know Before You Tune Into Saturday Night Live Tonight

By The Editors

February 1, 2014 at 12:28 PM

Hot off their Grammy win and right before their appearance at our Bringing Human Rights Home Concert at the Barclays Center, Imagine Dragons will be sharing the stage with Melissa McCarthy tonight on Saturday Night Live.

Imagine Dragons won’t be joining Seth Meyers on for his last Weekend Update, but if they were, they would tell you all about our concert on February 5.

On Wednesday, Imagine Dragons will be joining the Flaming Lips, Ms. Lauryn Hill, Tegan and Sara, The Fray, Cold War Kids, Colbie Caillat and Cake to take the stage for human rights.

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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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Madonna, Sting, Peter Gabriel, Blondie, Susan Sarandon, Yoko Ono and Bob Geldof Sign On For Feb. 5th Concert

By The Editors

January 30, 2014 at 1:43 PM

Madonna, Blondie, Peter Gabriel, Bob Geldof, Yoko Ono, Susan Sarandon and Sting will be joining us on February 5th at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn!

These six artists have lent their fame to the cause of human rights for decades and join a new generation of artist-activists, including Imagine Dragons, following their stellar Grammy performance.

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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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Take Action with Us Tonight on #Twitter During Obama’s State of the Union

By The Editors

January 28, 2014 at 5:58 PM

President Barack Obama walks through the Colonnade on his way to the Oval Office of the White House (Photo Credit: Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty Images).

Call on President Obama to pay more than just lip service to human rights when he addresses Congress during the State of the Union tonight.

Take action on Twitter!

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4 Things We Want to Hear During Obama’s State of the Union Address Tonight

By The Editors

January 28, 2014 at 5:49 PM

U.S. President Barack Obama walks along the colonnade of the White House from the residence to the Oval Office before the State Of The Union speech (Photo Credit: Kristoffer Tripplaar-Pool/Getty Images).

When President Obama addresses Congress tonight, he must give more than just lip service to human rights. We’ll be watching the State of the Union and listening to what he will propose on these four issues:

1. Immigration Reform

The President must work with Congress to fix the United States’ broken immigration system. Since 2001, immigration detention in the United States has more than doubled from just over 200,000 annually to 478,000 in 2012, an all-time high.

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Human Rights Now Blog

Tag Archives: censorship and free speech

What You Need to Know Before You Tune Into Saturday Night Live Tonight

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

Take Action with Us Tonight on #Twitter During Obama’s State of the Union

4 Things We Want to Hear During Obama’s State of the Union Address Tonight