Amnesty International activists detained before U2 concert in Russia
26 August 2010
Five Amnesty International activists were detained by Moscow police yesterday (25 August) at a U2 concert taking place in the capital that night.
The five had been holding placards inside the concert venue and collecting signatures for the ‘Demand Dignity’ campaign, which aims to end human rights violations that drive global poverty.
Russian police officers ignored protests by the activists that they had been invited by U2 to promote the campaign on the European leg of their 360° tour.
Russian police officers ignored protests by the activists that they had been invited by U2 to promote the campaign on the European leg of their 360° tour.
Their stalls were closed, as was one operated by environmental organization Greenpeace.
Although no-one resisted the police’s demands to close down the AI stall, a staff member and four volunteers from the Amnesty International Moscow office were taken to a local police station.
Although no-one resisted the police’s demands to close down the AI stall, a staff member and four volunteers from the Amnesty International Moscow office were taken to a local police station.
Released over an hour later, they were ordered to provide a written explanation for their actions and issued with an official warning for organising a public action that they had not received permission for.
This incident is not an isolated one and reflects the ongoing difficulties faced by activists who attempt to expressive what authorities regard as “dissenting” or “sensitive” views in Russia today.
Amnesty International is concerned that the rights to freedom of assembly and freedom of expression are restricted in Russia for members of the political opposition and human rights activists.
The organisation is also disturbed that Russian authorities regard such activities as disallowed, unless they take place with their explicit sanction, and that they crack down hard on those regarded as violators.
