23:59, 30 October 2013

HRW: 100 days till Sochi Olympics – human rights violations continue

One hundred days are left till the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympic Games-2014 in Sochi. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) should use the time to make a public statement on the violations related to the preparation for the Games in Russia, says the International Human Rights Watch (HRW).

The IOC President Thomas Bach should use his visit to Sochi to publicly condemn the unjust legislation and illegal actions of the authorities; the IOC should urge Russia to abolish the law that discriminates members of the LGBT community, says the statement of the HRW that has arrived to the "Caucasian Knot" office.

Thomas Bach is now in Sochi to participate in the World Conference on Sports and Environment, which will take place from October 30 to November 1. This is Mr Bach's first visit to Russia in his new capacity; and the Russian authorities are likely to be very sensitive to the extent the new IOC leader is ready to defend the Olympic principles and human rights, says the statement of the HRW.