HRW demands to stop persecuting rights defenders and journalists in Sochi

Russian authorities are persecuting ecologists, human rights activists and journalists who are criticizing the Winter Olympic Games in Sochi, says a statement the international Human Rights Watch (HRW).

According to the HRW, Sochi ecologists, human rights defenders and civil society activists have been subjected to attacks, were detained during peaceful demonstrations and exposed to searches.

A special attention in the statement is drawn to the pressure of the authorities on such organizations like the "Ecological Watch for Northern Caucasus", the reception office of the network "Migration and Law" (programme of the Human Rights Centre (HRC) "Memorial"), "LGBT Pride House" and the Sochi Branch of the Russian Geographic Society.

Also, the HRW has documented cases of attacks in Sochi and criminal cases against journalists as a revenge for obviously legitimate reports.

International rights defenders believe that the International Olympic Committee (IOC) should pay attention to the situation in Sochi with human rights violations, pressure on ecologists, rights defenders and journalists.

Let us remind you that on February 6, the HRW stated violations of labour migrants' rights at the Olympic construction sites in Sochi and called on the IOC to promote to ensuring their rights.