Amnesty International protests in Brussels against political censorship laws in Russia

Amnesty International held a protest in Brussels on Wednesday, calling on the Russian authorities to repeal censorship laws related to the war in Ukraine and for the "immediate and unconditional" release of prisoners detained for opposing the war.

Activists unfurled a banner outside Russia's Permanent Representation to the EU in Brussels, depicting three Russian nationals who are either in prison or have been charged with a crime.

The three are Moscow city councillor Alexei Gorinov, sentenced to seven years in prison for criticising the war in Ukraine, journalist Maria Ponomarenko, accused of "spreading false information about the Russian armed forces", and Vladimir Rumyantsev, a heating engineer sentenced to three years in prison for spreading "false information" about Russian violations of international law.

Up to 15 years in prison

"In Russia, the censorship laws on the war, adopted in 2022, make it a punishable offence to criticise the aggression against Ukraine and the war crimes committed by Russian forces," says Carine Thibaut, director of the French-speaking branch of Amnesty International Belgium. The mere use of the word "war" can be considered an offence and lead to a sentence of up to 15 years in prison.

The NGO ​ said it would present a petition signed by 16,000 people in Belgium calling for an end to the censorship laws. Around 330,000 people worldwide have signed a similar petition.

 

© BELGA PHOTO LOU LAMPAERT


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