Amnesty unwanted in Russia
Dette innlegget er også tilgjengelig i: Norsk bokmål Русский Українська
Putin’s regime in Russia is becoming increasingly totalitarian. Amnesty International is undesirable in Russia. In practice, this means that the organization is banned. Banning one of the world’s best-known and largest human rights organizations says it all about Putin’s regime.
Violation of human rights
Amnesty was founded in 1962. The organization’s head office is in London. The organization has always fought for basic human rights, against persecution, against the use of torture and murder. They are an important player in exposing violations of basic human rights around the world. The work of the organization has led to many concrete results. The first was in 1963 when Ukrainian Archbishop Josyf Slipyi was released from Soviet captivity in Siberia. Since then, the organization’s work has led to the release of more than 50,000 prisoners of conscience from many parts of the world.
In 1972, Amnesty played a key role when the UN drafted the UN Convention against Torture. Throughout the years, Amnesty has worked across political, religious and ethnic divides. The organization is highly respected for its work all over the world.
Amnesty and the Ukraine war
Putin’s regime is not known for freedom of expression or other basic human rights. Amnesty has pointed out and uncovered a number of war crimes committed by Russia in the war against Ukraine.
Throughout Putin’s time as president, there have been extensive violations of basic human rights. Newspapers and media have been shut down, journalists sentenced to long prison terms and in some cases even killed. The same applies to political opponents.
Putin has fought several wars since he was inaugurated as president. The Second Chechen War (1999-2002), the war in South Ossetia (Georgia) (2008), the annexation of Crimea and Russia’s support for pro-Russian rebels in Donbass (Ukraine) (2014), the Syrian Civil War (2014-2020), Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine (2022-?).
Amnesty has uncovered a number of war crimes committed by Russia in Ukraine. These include executions of civilians, torture, rape and the abduction of children.
Putin’s attempt to gag the truth
Declaring an organization an undesirable organization is in practice banning it. An organization that uncovers human rights violations, torture, murder and rape is attempted to be silenced. The members of an undesirable organization risk long prison sentences. Putin’s regime is not afraid to use such measures. They have done so in the past and are likely to do so again against Amnesty members.
In Russian prisons today, there are thousands of people who have done nothing but criticize Russia’s dictator. Thousands of Russians have fled Russia to escape Putin’s prison camps. Putin rules with fear and violence. Amnesty’s voice is attempted to be silenced in the same way as everyone else who criticizes the dictator.