Groundless charges against journalist Svetlana Prokopyeva should be dropped

Posted on 07.11.201905.12.2019 by maria

November 6, 2019 The Russian authorities should drop all charges against Svetlana Prokopyeva, PEN International and PEN Moscow said today, as the journalist is facing a lengthy prison sentence for ‘justifying terrorism’ following comments she made on a radio show. The organisations further call on the Russian authorities to stop harassing and intimidating journalists who Read more about Groundless charges against journalist Svetlana Prokopyeva should be dropped[…]

Fair trial must be guaranteed for Memorial historian and human rights activist Yuri Dmitriev

Posted on 04.11.201904.11.2019 by maria

The Russian authorities must uphold Yuri Dmitriev’s right to a fair and impartial trial, PEN International and St Petersburg PEN said today, ahead of a verdict expected by the end of the year. Yuri Dmitriev, historian and head of the Karelian branch of the human rights centre Memorial, North-Western Russia, stands accused of sexual abuse Read more about Fair trial must be guaranteed for Memorial historian and human rights activist Yuri Dmitriev[…]

Is Russia waking up? Nadezhda Azhgikhina for The Nation.

Posted on 16.06.201916.06.2019 by maria

Is Russia Waking Up? Protests in Yekaterinburg ended in a victory for civil society. Who’s next? By Nadezhda Azhgikhina The article has been published June 6, 2019 by The Nation. The residents of Yekaterinburg did not allow the authorities to build a new church on a square in the center of town. The result Read more about Is Russia waking up? Nadezhda Azhgikhina for The Nation.[…]

PEN International: Day of the Imprisoned Writer

Posted on 17.11.201817.11.2018 by maria

Tom Stoppard to Oleg Sentsov Dear Oleg, I’ve been in New York rehearsing a play in which a businessman banishes a journalist from his good graces with the words “You wrote yourself into Siberia!”. What an easy metaphor for an English writer! I came home a couple of days ago and caught up with the Read more about PEN International: Day of the Imprisoned Writer[…]

PEN International welcomes five new PEN Centres

Posted on 03.11.2018 by maria

2 November 2018 – PEN International, the global association of writers dedicated to promoting literature and defending freedom of expression, is proud to welcome five new Centres to the PEN community. PEN Iraq, PEN Perth, PEN Moscow, PEN Cape Verde and PEN Guinea-Bissau were elected on 27 September 2018 at the 84th PEN International Congress Read more about PEN International welcomes five new PEN Centres[…]

“Russia’s Strident Stifling of Free Speech” by PEN International

Posted on 10.10.201810.10.2018 by maria

Please follow the link to find the report: Russia’s Strident Stifling of Free Speech. Presented October 10, 2018

The letter sent by The Free Word Association to Oleg Sentsov as part of the International PEN Club action devoted to the 100th day of his hunger strike “Marathon of Letters in Support of Oleg Sentsov”

Posted on 21.08.201821.08.2018 by maria

The letter #1992311 was received by the censors of the IK-8 Labytnangi institution for processing on August 20, 2018. Dear Oleg, We keep thinking about your struggle with awe and sympathize with it. All throughout these one hundred days, members of “The Free Word Association” has been trying to support your demands by individual and Read more about The letter sent by *The Free Word Association* to Oleg Sentsov as part of the *International PEN Club* action devoted to the 100th day of his hunger strike “Marathon of Letters in Support of Oleg Sentsov”[…]

Testament. Dog. By Oleg Sentsov

Posted on 04.07.201804.07.2018 by maria

Oleg Sentsov TESTAMENT We are all going to die. And I, unfortunately, am no exception. We’d all like to live a bit longer, and here I, fortunately, am also no exception. No, I don’t want to extend my life in order to live to a hundred and spend the last quarter of it dragging out Read more about Testament. Dog. By Oleg Sentsov[…]

Autobiography. By Oleg Sentsov

Posted on 28.06.2018 by maria

I was born on Monday the 13th. I guess that’s why I’ve had such a fun life. My childhood was like any childhood, a happy time. I grew up in a village, in a semi-educated family: my mother was a nursery school teacher, my father a driver. We didn’t have much money, but I only Read more about Autobiography. By Oleg Sentsov[…]

PEN America demands Oleg Sentsov’s immediate release

Posted on 22.06.201828.06.2018 by maria

IN LIGHT OF HUNGER STRIKE, PEN AMERICA DEMANDS OLEG SENTSOV’S IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 1, 2018 Vladimir Putin President of Russia 23, Ulitsa Ilyinka Moscow 103132 Russia Cc: Gianni Infantino, President, FIFA Dear President Putin, We, the undersigned artists, writers, filmmakers, and activists, join PEN America to call for the immediate and unconditional release Read more about PEN America demands Oleg Sentsov’s immediate release[…]

UN Human Rights Council oral statement on freedom of association and peaceful assembly in Russia

Posted on 21.06.2018 by maria

UN Human Rights Council 38th Special Session Item 3: Interactive Dialogue with the UN Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association Mr President, PEN International, ARTICLE 19 and Reporters Without Borders are deeply concerned by continuous restrictions on peaceful assembly in Russia, the operating environment for nongovernmental organisations Read more about UN Human Rights Council oral statement on freedom of association and peaceful assembly in Russia[…]

PEN International: Keeping Score at the 2018 World Cup

Posted on 15.06.201816.06.2018 by maria

Keeping Score at the 2018 World Cup: Reporting on the dark side of Russia Since 1992, 58 journalists have been murdered in Russia, the majority with total impunity. Today, football teams from around the world will congregate in Russia for the 2018 World Cup. To mark the start of the tournament, PEN International is launching Read more about PEN International: Keeping Score at the 2018 World Cup[…]

PEN International about Oleg Sentsov

Posted on 26.05.2018 by maria

PEN International publishes Case List, documenting the increasing threats to freedom of expression worldwide The PEN International Case List, published today by the global writers association, documents egregious violations of freedom of expression worldwide. From cases of harassment, arrests, attacks, imprisonments and killings of writers and journalists around the world – it is clear that Read more about PEN International about Oleg Sentsov[…]

Save Oleg Sentsov!

Posted on 22.05.201825.05.2018 by maria

Ukrainian filmmaker Oleg Sentsov sentenced to 20 years in Russian prison and seen as a political prisoner by Memorial organization, holds an infinite hunger strike demanding to free all Ukrainian political prisoners in Russia. People who know him are sure that he will stand to the end. We demand that Sentsov be sent to his Read more about Save Oleg Sentsov![…]

On the blocking of Telegram

Posted on 17.05.201817.05.2018 by maria

The Free Word Association is among 52 international and Russian NGOs, which jointly condemned the blocking of the messaging service Telegram and a large-scale attack on freedom of expression on the Internet undertaken by Russian authorities. For more details, see here.

Statement of the ‘Free Word’ Association
On applying violence against demonstrators and journalists during protests on May 5

Posted on 06.05.201806.05.2018 by maria

“Free Word” Association is outraged by the dispersal of peaceful street protests, the right to which is guaranteed by Article 31 of the Russian Constitution. In many cities across the country, unjustified violence was applied to demonstrators, including youngsters; the data on injuries and fractures keep coming. Among the victims are our colleagues, the journalists Read more about Statement of the ‘Free Word’ Association <br>On applying violence against demonstrators and journalists during protests on May 5[…]

Nadezhda Azhgikhina’s article in The Nation

Posted on 04.05.201804.05.2018 by maria

Solidarity in Response to Rash of Sexual Harassment Accusations in Russia Shows That Times Are Changing—Slowly Many in the media are rallying behind the female journalists who have accused State Duma deputy Leonid Slutsky of sexual harassment. The article by Nadezhda Azhgikhina, a member of the Free Word Association, has recently been published in The Read more about Nadezhda Azhgikhina’s article in The Nation[…]

Can a Free Press Survive in Russia? The scorecard so far

Posted on 27.04.201804.05.2018 by maria

The paper by Nadezhda Azhgikhina has been published by the Center for Freedom of the Media. The original publication can be found here. Can a Free Press Survive in Russia? The scorecard so far By Nadezda Azhgikhina, vice president of the European Federation of Journalists and board member of the Free Word Association. In 2017 Read more about Can a Free Press Survive in Russia? The scorecard so far[…]

Free Word Association Statement on Violation of the Rights of Our Fellow Female Journalists

Posted on 24.03.2018 by maria

March 15, 2018 The Free Word Association expresses solidarity with the women journalists from TV Rain radio station, BBC and other media who suffered from humiliation and harassment from Leonid Slutsky, a deputy of the RF State Duma. We consider any disrespectful behaviour towards a female journalist performing her responsibilities to be a direct violation Read more about Free Word Association Statement on Violation of the Rights of Our Fellow Female Journalists[…]

On the Decision to terminate the activities of the British Council in the Russian Federation

Posted on 24.03.2018 by maria

Joint Statement of the Free Word Association, PEN St. Petersburg and Masters of Literary Translation Guild On the Decision of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to terminate the activities of the British Council in the Russian Federation March 19, 2018 Russia terminates the activities of the British Council, an organization which has been working in Read more about On the Decision to terminate the activities of the British Council in the Russian Federation[…]