Release Ms. Evgenia Chirikova, leader of the Campaign for the Defence of the Khimki Forest

Dear President of the Russian Federation,

I have received informed by reliable sources about acts of harassment against Ms. Evgenia Chirikova, leader of the Campaign for the Defence of the Khimki Forest in the Moscow region.

According to the information received, on December 7, 2011, Ms. Evgenia Chirikova was detained in Moscow Sheremetyevo Airport as she was returning from Brussels where she had meetings with members of the European Parliament and the European Commission.

The objective of these meetings was to denounce, among others, the human rights violations that are currently taking place in Russia in the framework of the crackdown of peaceful protests denouncing the results of the parliamentary elections, to call for the release of all political prisoners arrested during the last days as well as to denounce the Moscow – St. Petersburg motorway project, ahead of the planned visit to Europe of President Medvedev.

Her passport was taken away by an immigration officer “for additional control”, and no explanation was given to her. Immigration officers then started to undress and search Ms. Chirikova, who was finally released after one hour, and her passport was returned to her. No reasons for her arrest and search were provided to her.

I condemn the above-mentioned acts of harassment against Ms. Evgenia Chirikova since they seem to merely aim at sanctioning her human rights activities and expresses its deep concern about the ongoing attempts to hinder the peaceful activities of human rights defenders.

I further recall that Ms. Evgenia Chirikova already faced judicial harassment and was condemned on August 4, 2010 for “holding an unsanctioned rally” and “resisting the police”. She also faced administrative harassment in February 2011.

Dear Mr. President, I urge you , Please guarantee the physical and psychological integrity of Ms. Evgenia Chirikova as well as of all members of the Campaign for the Defence of the Khimki Forest in all circumstances.

I also request you put an end to any act of harassment against Ms. Evgenia Chirikova as well as against all human rights defenders in the Russian Federation, and ensure in all circumstances that they are able to carry out their legitimate activities without any hindrance and fear of reprisals;

I encourage you to comply with the provisions of the United Nations Declaration on Human Rights Defenders, adopted by the UN General Assembly on December 9, 1998, especially:- its Article 1, which states that “everyone has the right, individually and in association with others, to promote and to strive for the protection.

With highest regards,
William Nicholas Gomes
Journalist and Human Rights Activist
E-mail:[email protected]
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