Analytics and Interview
On 16 January 2015 late in the evening the website of the Ministry of Justice published a statement that the NGO Committee Against Torture had been added to the register of non-profit organizations designated as ‘foreign agents’.
Earlier this year, the correspondent of Youth Human Rights Movement from Germany Jakob Stürmann interviewed Konstantin Baranov, member of the Coordination Council of the International Youth Human Rights Movement. They discussed so called “law against homosexual propaganda” and the overall situation of LGBT in Russia.
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CIVIL NEWS
Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority It is time to sit back and reflect.
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Take part in action days of solidarity with “The Crimean Hostages”
Oleg Sentsov, Olexander Kolchenko, Hennadiy Afanasiev and Oleksiy Chyrniy have been held in Russian jails for two years already under fabricated charges of ‘terrorism’. We consider it being necessary to express solidarity with those who are persecuted due to their pro-Ukrainian views, civic stand and desire for freedom in Russia-annexed Crimea.
Ukrainian citizens Oleg Sentsov, Olexander Kolchenko, Hennadiy Afanasiev and Oleksiy Chyrniy were arrested in May 2014 in Simferopol, Crimea, by Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation. They were accused of the arson attacks against the office door of the “Russian Community of Crimea” pro-Kremlin organization and the window of Russian “United Russia” party office. Similar attacks are usually regarded as hooliganism and property damage in Russia - but this time these actions were labelled “terrorism”. “The Crimean Four” were also accused of preparation to blow up Lenin monument and the WWII memorial in Simferopol. On 23 May, 2014, they were unlawfully transported from the occupied Crimean territory to Moscow for further investigation and to face trial. Ukrainian diplomats were not allowed access to the detainees, as the Russian side stated that it considers the Crimeans (with the exception of O. Chyrniy) to be Russian nationals. The detainees also stated that they had been tortured. As for now, Oleg Sentsov is sentenced by the Russian “justice” system to 20 years in a strict regime penal colony, Olexander Kolchenko - to 10 years in a strict regime penal colony, Hennadiy Afanasiev and Oleksiy Chyrniy - to 7 years in a strict regime penal colony. Currently Sentsov serves his sentence in the camp in Yakutiya, Kolchenko - in Chelyabinsk oblast, Chyrniy - in Magadan oblast, Afanasiev was, under unclear circumstances, transferred from the Komi Republic to Lefortovo pre-trial detention center (SIZO) in Moscow “for further investigative actions”.
We call upon everyone concerned with rights, liberties and justice, to join solidarity actions with “The Crimean Four”. From May 26 to June 4 anyone can join by any convenient way: by organizing a lecture, discussion, film screening, charity auction, exhibition, concert, workshop, graffiti tour, public rally, flashmob or any other kind of event that can remind people around of the plight of “The Crimean Four”. Raise some money to support political prisoners and their families, write and send letters or postcards to the Crimean hostages of the Kremlin, record a video message for them. And take photos of your events, so that we could send them to Oleg Sentsov, Olexander Kolchenko, Hennadiy Afanasiev and Oleksiy Chyrniy.
The campaign is initiated by
”Solidarity Committee” (support group for the “Crimean Hostages”)
Euromaidan SOS within LetMyPeopleGo campaign
No Borders Project (at Social Action Centre NGO)
Contacts
Julia Arkhipova, +38 093 367 6906 arkhipova.j@gmail.com, https://www.facebook.com/arkhipova.j
Maksym Butkevych, +380 50 3348780, butkevych@noborders.org.ua
Social media
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hashtags #FreeCrimeanFour #LetMyPeopleGo
“Solidarity Committee” web-site RU EN
LetMyPeopleGo campaign