An op-ed by FIDH President Karim Lahidji, entitled "The dark stain on Sochi’s sparkling snow", was published by Le Monde, Deutsche Welle and the Helsinki Times.
Sotchi: Bars behind the rings
More than 200 people gathered on Saturday, February 1, in Paris, a week before the start of the Olympic Games in Sotchi, to denounce the violations of human rights in Russia.
This event symbolized international solidarity with those struggling against the serious violations of human rights in Russia.
NGOs which initiated this event*, wanted to lift the veil of 5 widespread violations of freedoms in Russia:
– Repression of demonstrations;
– Restriction of freedom of speech and information;
– Discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation or gender identity;
– Stigma and exploitation of migrants;
– The use of torture.
Collective photography in the presence of the press should send a clear message to the Russian authorities.
Photo ©loeilduplafond
The participants of the happening Sochi : bars behind the rings expressed their support for the prisoners of 6 May, arrested for participating in opposition protests on the Bolotnaya Square in Moscow on 6 May 2012. Eight protesters are currently on trial.
Photo ©loeilduplafond
* FIDH, Christians Action for the Abolition of Torture (ACAT), Amnesty International France, Inter-LGBT, the League of Human Rights (LDH) and Russia Freedoms (Russie-Libertés).
In February, FIDH asked the Europeen Union in an open letter to discuss human rights with Russia during the EU-Russia Summit. Read the FIDH report on judicial arsenal established by the Putin regime: 2012-2013, The offensive against freedoms.
EU-Russia protest in Brussels on 27 January 2014
Interview with Olga Abramenko, Director of ADC Memorial
On 12 December 2013, a few days after this interview, ADC Memorial was declared by the Russian justice as a « foreign agent » for preparing and submitting a report to the United Nations Committee Against Torture outlining the violations of the rights of activists, migrants and Roma by the Russian police.
| Interview with Olga Abramenko in French |
| Interview with Olga Abramenko in Russian |