Russia: Freedom of expression falls victim to the dramatic events in Ukraine’s Crimea

[azurnoir]

Source: AI/Ausa

The detention of hundreds of anti-war protesters over the weekend is another manifestation of the increasing crackdown on the freedom of expression and assembly in Russia, Amnesty International said.

Today a Moscow court also ordered the detention of two protesters for five days on administrative charges.

“The government’s crackdown of the anti-war protesters is highly alarming. In a number of cities people have been targeted for taking part in demonstrations. This is state-sanctioned harassment and intimidation,” said Sergei Nikitin, Director of Amnesty International’s Moscow Office.

“The Russian authorities are obliged to respect the rights to freedom of assembly and freedom of expression. They must immediately and unconditionally release the two imprisoned protesters whom Amnesty International considers to be prisoners of conscience.”

Read more: http://www.amnestyusa.org/news/news-item/russia-freedom-of-expression-falls-victim-to-the-dramatic-events-in-ukraine-s-crimea

[Tarheel_Dem]

1. Let the false equivalencies begin in 3, 2, 1............K&R

[2banon]

4. I know what you mean....

Like this one:


Pipeline Protesters Arrested at White House
March 2, 2014 5:45 PM

(bold emphasis mine)

Police have arrested a couple hundred people who strapped themselves to the White House fence on Sunday to protest the proposed Keystone XL oil pipeline.
The protesters were mostly college students who participated in a peaceful march that began at Georgetown University and ended outside the White House. They chanted “climate justice now” and carried signs such as “don’t tarnish the earth” in their efforts to convince President Barack Obama to reject the pipeline. They say it will contribute to global warming.
Protesters were passionate but quite orderly. Police were waiting for them with buses and vans to speed the process.

[geek tragedy]

5. not even remotely the same

the XL protestors were arrested because they wanted to be arrested.

they weren't arrested for marching they were arrested for doing something that is bona fide illegal--chaining themselves to the White House fence

[2banon]

6. right.

[geek tragedy]

7. derp

The protesters cheered as U.S. Park Police warned them that blocking the sidewalk or strapping themselves to the fence would lead to their arrest.

[WHEN CRABS ROAR]

9. occupy?

[2banon]

13. You have a point, it isn't the same..

XL Protesters did indeed plan/organize a direct action-civil disobedience, knowing that action would result in arrest, they planned on it.

As regards to the arrests of peaceful demonstrators in Ukraine, that action would be expected from an authoritarian regime, would it not?

On that point, your outrage is inconsistent with your position with regards to U.S. citizens constitutional right to privacy and have staunchly defended pro-authoritarian position/actions by the NSA wrt violations and this administrations' measures to criminalize those who dare expose those violations.


Putting aside the issue of what constitutes "freedom of expression" or even repressive police actions taken under the rubric of "civil disobedience" in this instance (XL pipeline demonstrators) for an entirely different thread, I'm interested in how you reacted/responded to mass arrests, along with police brutality of peaceful anti-war demonstrators during the early years and the run up to the illegal Iraq invasion.

And what were your responses/reactions to illegal, warrantless house raids by State Police of credentialed journalists and citizen activists during the Republican and Democratic Conventions, confiscating/destroying cameras and computer equipment, assaulting with billy clubs, taser guns etc?

The numbers of people and events are too numerous to enumerate here. We have a long history of the very same actions taken in a country that claims to be the shining beacon of freedom and democracy, and often touts the freedom of dissent. When every single event is met with police brutality and mass arrests, among other egregious violations.

[geek tragedy]

14. please do not mischaracterize my position on the NSA.

I am not a defender of the NSA's abuses.

Nor have I defended the 'free speech zones' at the political conventions or the obvious harassment of political protestors right here in NYC and beyond

[Tarheel_Dem]

12. ^^^Exhibit A^^^. What took you so long?

[BeyondGeography]

2. Leading Moscow Liberal: Hard times are coming

Boris Akunin, a famous novelist and a member of the liberal community in Moscow, warned today that the conflict with Ukraine may be a pretext for a wider crackdown. Writing on his Facebook page, Akunin counselled against public demonstrations “until hundreds of thousands are ready to take to the streets.”

“And now for the main rule,” Akunin wrote. “Let’s be brave. Hard times are coming and we must not lose ourselves.”

http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/newsdesk/2014/03/putins-nationalist-strategy.html

[pampango]

3. They've been arresting peaceful protesters in Russia for year. Nothing new here except

that they are anti-war protesters.

I imagine Putin is saying to Yanukovych "This is how you deal with protests, you idiot. If you had acted like me, we would not be having this problem now."

[2banon]

8. Which super power allows "freedom of expression" without resulting in arrests

I find it curious to see concerns over issues in other countries which widely exist here, and is the norm in fact.. but shouldn't be. Where is the outrage when it happens to us, right here?

[WHEN CRABS ROAR]

10. Amen to that.

[ForgoTheConsequence]

11. If you say it happens here, you're mocked.

Meanwhile our own military has admitted to spying on anti war protesters.