 Halya Coynash quotes Ildar Dadin's words to the Court as follows: ' “I am here because I live in accordance with my conscience”, he said. “Until you come out and state your position, you are an accomplice to fascism. If we don’t catch our officials in the act, if we allow executioners to kill people, we are responsible”. He called the sentence anti-constitutional, unlawful, unwarranted and criminal.' Genri Reznik, who is representing Ildar Dadin, pointed out that 'putting a peaceful demonstrator behind bars is a blow to the country’s prestige.' Halya Coynash in her report quotes Reznik as saying: ' “This case is of state importance. Will the state tolerate the peaceful assertion of views? There is no place for peaceful demonstrators behind bars. It is an affront to the law".' In a statement issued on 7 December 2015 following Dadin's initial conviction, Amnesty International called for his immediate release, and stated: “The shocking sentencing of Ildar Dadin shows that the Russian authorities are using the law on public assemblies to fast-track peaceful protesters to prison.” Photo: Human Rights in Ukraine [the placard reads: 'Be silent. When tomorrow they come for you, the next person will be silent.'] Source: Halya Coynash, 'Ildar Dadin jail term upheld as Russia effectively criminalizes peaceful protest,' Human Rights in Ukraine, 1 April 2016'Russia: Peaceful activist sentenced under repressive new law must be released,' Amnesty International, 7 December 2015 |
Person of the Week >