Dear Tracy,
The legacy of the Sochi Olympics will be tainted forever. The Games were fraught with human rights violations including the whipping and jailing of peaceful protestors. And the fanfare of Sochi has been overshadowed by the violent crisis in neighboring Ukraine – where protests erupted in response to President Yanukovych's decision to keep close ties to Putin's Russia. With the Olympics now behind us, Amnesty International is working to ensure the global spotlight stays on Russia. Will you help us keep pressure on authorities to release peaceful protestors? The harassment, detentions, arrests, fabricated charges and unfair trials meted out to activists under the blazing lights of the world's cameras do not bode well for post-Olympics Russia. Just Friday, nearly 200 protestors and journalists were arbitrarily arrested outside the court as Moscow's eight "Bolotnaya Square" protestors were found guilty. Yesterday, 234 additional peaceful protestors were arrested and detained outside the same court as the "Bolotnaya" defendants were sentenced to up to four years in prison. It's clear – those who dare to express dissenting views in Russia face serious consequences. Amnesty is calling for immediate action. This is a moment when we need your help. Donate to support our grassroots mobilization and large-scale media efforts to keep the spotlight on human rights abuses in Russia. The arrests during Sochi are part of a wider clampdown on the rights to freedom of assembly, association and expression – put so prominently on display during the Olympics – since Vladimir Putin resumed the Russian presidency. The cracks in Putin's Russia have been shown to the world. It is during historic moments like this when human rights struggles are won – or lost. Please help us win. Donate now.
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Sunday, March 2, 2014
Putin can't hide abuses
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