Crimea: A Culture of Fear, Made in Russia

March 21, 2014 at 7:09 PM

People wave Russian and Soviet flags as they look at fireworks in the center of the Crimean city of Sevastopol celebrating the annexation of the peninsula by Russia (Photo Credit: Viktor Drachev/AFP/Getty Images).

This post originally appeared in Foreign Policy under the title “A Culture of Fear, Made in Russia.”

By Salil Shetty, Amnesty International Secretary General

Two decades of stuttering human rights reform in Ukraine was almost scuppered overnight when, on January 16 this year, the Parliament in Kiev railroaded through a raft of new legislation to restrict the freedoms of expression, association and assembly.

A virtual carbon-copy of laws adopted in neighboring Russia in recent years, they were tailor-made to give the Ukrainian authorities increased powers to prosecute those involved in the anti-government protests in Kiev’s central Maydan Square, as well as silence dissent more widely.

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BREAKING: Pussy Riot Members Violently Attacked

By The Editors

March 6, 2014 at 8:51 AM

Video evidence appears to show a group of men violently interrupting Nadya Tolokonnikova and Masha Alyokhina’s breakfast in a restaurant near the Nizhny Novgorod train station. Nadya and Masha, who were joined by other members of the new prisoners’ rights NGO “Zone of the Rights,” say they were in the city to inspect a local prison colony.

Their assailants charged into the restaurant, carrying a sign saying “Dirty whores out of our town,” and allegedly attacked the activists with pepper spray, green antiseptic and other projectiles.

Following the incident, Nadya Tolokonnikova tweeted images of medical records showing she received treatment for eye injuries. Masha Alyokhina reportedly needed stitches and suffered from a concussion.

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#SochiFail: The Legacy of Russia’s Olympic Games Won’t Be What Putin Wants It To Be

By The Editors

February 22, 2014 at 5:23 PM

The legacy of the Sochi Olympics will be tainted by the numerous human rights violations in the run-up and during the Games, as well as the failure of the International Olympic Committee to confront the Russian authorities over the arrests and beatings that marred this prestigious sporting event.

The Olympic Games are meant to contribute to a peaceful and better world. This goal was not achieved in Sochi. The reason is simple: Russia’s repression continued unabated throughout the Games, and the Olympic movement failed to challenge the host country on its pledge to promote human rights.

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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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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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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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6 of President Vladimir Putin’s Most Oppressive Laws

By The Editors

January 15, 2014 at 7:46 AM

NOTE: This blog post has been updated in several places for clarity.

The Olympics are right around the corner. But while Shaun White practices his Double McTwist 1260 and Ashley Wagner works on nailing a pearl spin, President Vladimir Putin is perfecting the art of repression.

Since he was inaugurated as President of the Russian Federation, Putin has orchestrated a number of changes in Russian law effectively criminalizing any criticism of him and Russian security forces. The new Draconian laws are having a terrible impact.

With Sochi fast approaching, here are 6 of Putin’s most oppressive laws. But unlike White and Wagner’s routines, we’re not looking forward to seeing these at the Olympics:

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We Stood Up, They Walked Free!

By Jasmine Heiss

December 23, 2013 at 6:57 AM

The imprisoned members of Pussy Riot have been freed! Today, Nadezhda “Nadya” Tolokonnikova and Maria “Masha” Alyokhinam of the Russian feminist punk group, were officially released in compliance with a new amnesty bill approved by the Russian parliament.

This is great news (though it does not end the struggle for human rights in Russia)!

From the early days following the arrests of three Pussy Riot members (Nadya, Masha and a third member, Ekaterina “Katya” Samutsevich) for performing a protest song at Christ the Savior Cathedral in Moscow, Amnesty International has been involved in the effort to unconditionally free the punk rockers!

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Human Rights Now Blog

Tag Archives: russia

Crimea: A Culture of Fear, Made in Russia

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

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

6 of President Vladimir Putin’s Most Oppressive Laws