Tag: Russia

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Ukraine appeals to United Nations to stop Russia

Ukraine’s ambassador to the United Nations asked an emergency session of the Security Council in New York yesterday “to do everything possible now” to stop Russia’s “aggression” as its troops took over the strategic Crimea region.

But action by the UN’s most powerful body appears unlikely.

As a permanent member, Russia has veto power and can block the Council from adopting any resolution criticising or sanctioning Moscow.

In a phone call, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to “urgently engage in direct dialogue with the authorities” in Kiev.

US Ambassador to the UN Samantha Power told the Council it was “time for the Russian military intervention in Ukraine to end.”

(via The Telegraph)

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NBC’s Bob Costas addresses LGBT discrimination in Russia – finally

During NBC’s coverage last night, Bob Costas finally took a moment to comment on the state of human rights in Russia, one the first times during the Sochi Olympics wherein the network has acknowledged the issue on air.

Bob Costas on NBC:

The Sochi games have gone much better than many feared and predicted. So far security has held fast, venues have been praised, athletes and spectators have almost unanimously cited the warmth and hospitality of their hosts. All of which is truly wonderful but should not serve to obscure a larger and more lasting truth.

While in many significant ways, Russian citizens have better lives than Soviet citizens of a generation ago, there’s is still a government which imprisons dissidents, is hostile to gay rights, sponsors and supports a vicious regime in Syria – and that’s just a partial list.

The Sochi games are Vladimir Putin’s games, from their inception to their conclusion, and all points in between. And if they are successful on their own terms, as appears to be the case, then at least in some corners it will help to burnish the image of a regime with which much of the world takes significant issue. No amount of Olympic glory can mask those realities any more than a biathlon gold medal, though hard-earned and deeply satisfying as it is, can put out the fires in Kiev.

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Message to anti-gay Brian Brown: Stop harming LGBT Russians

Today the Human Rights Campaign released a new web video highlighting the role that American extremists have played in the passage of Russia’s draconian anti-LGBT laws.

The video details how more than a dozen Americans, including NOM President Brian Brown have traveled to Russia in the last year to meet with policy makers and lobby for these laws.

The consequences of these laws have been immediate and severe. In less than a year since the signing of the propaganda ban we have seen activists arrested and beaten in the streets and a surge in asylum requests from LGBT Russians trying to leave the country.

This is what Brian Brown and the other Americans have been lobbying for and what they’d like to see implemented here in the US as well.

(via HRC)

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Documentary: Dispatches – Hunted

While the PR machine in Russia is trying to put on it’s best face, Channel 4 in Britain has aired a chilling documentary detailing the violence and dehumanizing acts occurring in Russia at an unimaginable frequency to LGBT Russia citizens.

Footage includes some of the thousands of mental and physical acts of torture.

From the YouTube description:

On the eve of the Sochi Winter Olympics, Russia is officially welcoming gay athletes and spectators. But in a country where it’s thought only 1% of gay people dare to live completely openly, it appears to be a hollow gesture.

This extraordinary Dispatches documentary has gained unique access to the vigilante gangs that target gay men and women. The film depicts a country troubled by disturbing violence and distressing intimidation.

Six months after the Russian parliament unanimously passed a law to protect children from ‘non-traditional’ relationships, this film explores the terror that gay people in Russia are calling ‘hunting season’.

You can watch the full report below. It may disappear at anytime though. If you think things like this don’t really happen – watch.

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Video: Russia declares gay bashing newest Olympic sport

Via press release:

The video is the newest fundraising tactic by the Russia Freedom Fund, which aims to raise a million dollars by the end of the Olympics to support LGBT Russian activists.

The video was produced by the Fair Games Project, an Indiegogo campaign launched by filmmaker Michael Rohrbaugh.

Athlete Ally is one of the producing partners on the video as well.

Other fundraising tactics for the Russia Freedom Fund include a new national initiative called Uprising of Love: Pride House 2014, where restaurants, bars, and clubs will donate $1 of every drink sold from 9 p.m. to midnight to the fund. It takes place during tomorrow’s Opening Ceremonies.

In addition, Melissa Etheridge released a new single last week and will donate 100% of the profits to the fund.

The significance of the Russia Freedom Fund is that it’s the only way Americans can directly support LGBT Russian activists.

(via JMG)

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Madonna introduces Pussy Riot at Amnesty International concert in Brooklyn

Madonna introduced Russian protest-punk band Pussy Riot at Amnesty International’s Bringing Human Rights Home concert in Brooklyn, praising the band’s courage and conviction for standing up for LGBT rights in Russia.

Madge spoke of her own experience performing in Russia: being told to “tone down” her show (she didn’t), being sued for millions of dollars for her show being “pro-gay,” seeing 87 audience members arrested during her concert for behavior that was “too gay.”

And she spoke about members of Pussy Riot being imprisoned for staging a protest against Russian President Vladimir Putin inside a Moscow cathedral.

Watch the queen of pop’s introduction below:

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Russia: Authorities turn blind eye to crimes against LGBT people

From Human Rights Watch:

The Russian authorities need to address a deteriorating situation of widespread and concerted abuse against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people and activists, Human Rights Watch said today.

The authorities’ failure to act and some officials’ homophobic comments expose LGBT people to further harassment and violence and embolden the attackers, Human Rights Watch research found.

As the host to the 2014 Winter Olympic Games, which begin on February 7 in Sochi, Russia should act in accordance with the principle of nondiscrimination, a core provision of the Olympic Charter. As a member of the Council of Europe, and party to multiple human rights treaties, it should meet its obligations to provide equal respect and protection for LGBT people.

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Russian President Putin plays the “some of my best friends are gays” card

Speaking to the BBC yesterday, President Vladimir Putin totally played the “some of my best friends are gays” card in denying he and the Russian government have an anti-gay agenda.

“I myself know some people who are gay. We’re on friendly terms. I’m not prejudiced in any way. If you want my personal attitude, I would tell you that I don’t care about a person’s sexual orientation. I’ve honoured several members of the gay community in this country but for their personal achievements, regardless of their sexual orientation. There’s no danger for individuals of this non-traditional sexual orientation who are planning to come to the games as visitors or participants.”

(h/t JMG)