Press Release, February 10, 2014

Amnesty International named YABLOKO’s member Irog Kharchenko prisoners of conscience.

“It took a judge only a few minutes, behind a closed door, to decide that yet another environmental activist should be behind bars when the Games begin. This happened precisely on the day when the Olympic torch arrived in Sochi. Sportsmanship and fair play are hallmarks of the Olympic spirit, but the Russian authorities seem to have thrown out the rule book in favour of silencing critical voices ahead of the Games,” said Sergei Nikitin, Amnesty International’s Moscow Office Director.

Igor Kharchenko was arrested in Krasnodar twice. On Monday, February 3, and on Tuesday, February 4, after his car windows were smashed and tires slashed by unknown persons wearing masks. Amnesty International studied the video of Kharchenko’s detention and came to the conclusion that the case materials disagree with the charges of the police (Disobedience to a lawful order of a police officer).

“This foul play must come to an end. The Russian authorities must halt their harassment of civil society activists, protect the right to peaceful freedom of expression, and release the Sochi prisoners of conscience: Igor Kharchenko and his fellow environmentalist Yevgeny Vitishko, who is currently serving 15 days in administrative detention on trumped-up charges.” runs the statement.