Prague, May 19 (CTK) – About 50 people voiced solidarity with the people who are fighting for human rights in Russia in Prague within an event with hockey symbolism held under the slogan “We Are on One Team” staged by the International Amnesty (AI) on Thursday.
The protesters wanted to draw attention to the fact that they believe that the rights to freedom of speech and assembly are violated in Russia where the Hockey World Championship is underway.
They mainly mentioned three “prisoners of conscience,” or activists who AI says were detained and prosecuted because they applied the right to freedom of speech.
They are Darya Polyudova, a lawyer sentenced to two years in prison for anti-Putin writings on social networks, Natalia Sharina, former director of the state library of Ukrainian literature, and Ildar Dadin, an activist who AI says was the first person sentenced for a repeated violation of the law on public assemblies. He was sent to prison for 2.5 years last November.
Human rights defenders have long criticised the situation in Russia which they say has been worsening. They say the regime raises pressure on civic society against the background of a record popularity of President Vladimir Putin, which now crosses 80 percent.
In early May, AI denounced the forcible hospitalisation at a psychiatric clinic of opposition activist and journalist Dmitri Vorobyovski.
AI said Russian laws and international norms were violated in his case.
