Green Party LGBT News
| Greens condemn Russian violence: EU must impose travel ban on Moscow Mayor Part 2 | 29 May 2007 |
SummaryHuman rights are universal and indivisible. |
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Main Body
Human rights are universal and indivisible.
That is why I stand shoulder-to-shoulder not only with the Russian LGBTI movement and the organizers of Moscow Pride, but also shoulder-to-shoulder with the human rights activists campaigning to bring justice to the killers of Anna Politkovskaya and other murdered journalists; those campaigning to end the war and torture in Chechnya; and with campaigners against the harassment of environmental activists and the victimisation of democracy activists, like Garry Kasparov.
These different struggles are essentially all the same-they all concern the defence of democracy and human rights against an increasingly authoritarian Russian State and Moscow City Government.
The ban on Moscow Pride is one aspect of a much wider attack on civil society and human rights. In this context of generalised repression, unity and solidarity are the key to winning all these different freedom struggles.
Alone and divided we are weak.
Together and united we are strong.
The ban on Moscow Pride is evidence of a flawed and failed transition from communism to democracy.
Russia's President and Moscow's Mayor are dragging the country back to autocracy. The right to hold a Moscow Pride march is not just an issue of gay rights, it is an defence of freedom of expression for all Russians-gay and straight.
The fundamental issue is the right to protest.
Together with others, LGBTI people are in the frontline of the struggle to defend the right to freedom of speech and assembly.
We carry the torch of freedom for every Russian of whatever sexuality.
Here, this weekend in Moscow, we carry freedom's torch today and we will carry it in the streets of Moscow tomorrow-and beyond-until the rights of LGBTI Russians are won and respected.
My message to President Putin and Mayor Luzhkov is this: Queer freedom has been long delayed but it cannot be denied.
Spacibo (thank you)."
Published and promoted by Jim Killock for the Green Party, both at 1a Waterlow Road, London N19 5NJ.
Part 1
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