Global petition to be delivered to Russian President

27 January 2014

Amnesty International directors to deliver global petition to Russian President ahead of Sochi Olympics

A 200,000 strong global petition will be delivered to the offices of Russian President Vladimir Putin calling on him to repeal a series of repressive laws restricting the right to freedom of expression, assembly and association in the run up to the Sochi Winter Olympics.

On 30th January 2014, nine Amnesty International European directors will deliver the petition in Moscow while hundreds of Amnesty International members and supporters will be organizing actions and delivering petitions to the Russian embassies in their countries.

The delivery will be preceded by a creative stunt with a professional ballerina in central Moscow symbolising the suppression of free speech in present day Russia. The group of directors will then proceed to the presidential offices.

“The message to President Putin, from rank and file Amnesty International supporters to world leaders staying away from the Games, is the same – repeal series of laws that restrict the rights to freedom of expression, association and assembly.

“These laws suppress creativity and the development of civil society and undermine the legitimate role of human rights activists in Russia,” said Sergei Nikitin, Amnesty International’s Moscow Office Director.

“Freedom of expression is vital for a functioning healthy society. The Russian authorities cannot be allowed to use the Sochi Olympic Games to gloss over it’s appalling human rights record.”

ENDS

© Scoop Media