Translation by Memorial

On December 10, 2010, Friday, on the day of Nobel Prize awarding group of people and representatives of NGO's were going to hold a support picket of Liu Xiaobo, Nobel Prize laureate 2010 in front of the China embassy in Moscow (metro "University", Drujby str., 6).

Chinese citizen is awarded for "long-lasting non-violent struggle for fundamental human rights in China". But Chinese writer, critic, human rights activist can't be present at the ceremony because he is in jail.

In 2008 more than 300 public figures and human rights defenders in China signed the so-called "Charter-08" made by Liu Xiaobo. This document contained the appeal to reforms democratization in China. On December 25, 2009 Chinese court sentenced Liu Xiaobo to imprisonment for 11 years for the attempt of coup d'état.

The representatives of six states refused to participate in the award ceremony, including Russia because Liu Xiaobo is a political prisoner. Russian authorities also are afraid of peaceful expressing of people's discontent that's why Russia refused to take part in Nobel Prize ceremony found itself among Kazakhstan, Cuba, China, Iraq, Morocco. It is a shame of us.

Moscow authorities refused to inform the organizers whether this picket was allowed for a long time and at the 11th hour told that the action is banned regardless of the law and generally accepted practice. Te same action was banned in St.Petersburg. In this situation the organizers decided to hold a series of single pickets which do not need the permission according to the law in front of the China embassy from 16 p.m. on December 10, 2010.

By this action we want to express our solidarity with Liu Xiaobo, wish him go out of jail and start working for the benefit of his ancient motherland which will be proud of him.

The organizers:
Human Rights Centre Memorial
Union of Solidarity with Political Prisoners
Libertarian movement "Free radicals"
United democratic movement "Solidarity"

Our slogans:
"Free Liu Xiaobo!"
"Free Nobel Prize laureate Liu Xiaobo!"
"Stop political repressions in China!"
"Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stop supporting dictatorships!"

December 10, 2010


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Human Rights Center Memorial, 127051, Russia, Moscow, Maly Karetny, 12
tel: +7 (495) 225-3118, fax: +7 (495) 624-2025, email: memhrc@memo.ru