Urgent Action: ACTIVIST SENTENCED TO FOUR YEARS IN PRISON (Russian Federation: UA 71.22)

TAKE ACTION:

1. Please take action as-soon-as possible. This Urgent Action expires on September 23, 2022.
2. Write a letter in your own words or using the sample below as a guide to one or both government officials listed. You can also email, fax, call or Tweet them.
3. Click here to let us know the actions you took on Urgent Action 71.22. It’s important to report because we share the total number with the officials we are trying to persuade and the people we are trying to help.

CONTACT INFORMATION

SAMPLE LETTER

Dear Prosecutor General,

I am writing to express my deep concern regarding the arbitrary prosecution and conviction of activist Andrei Pivovarov, who was sentenced to four years’ imprisonment on charges of “carrying out the activities of an undesirable organization” (Article 284.1 of the Criminal Code). He is appealing his conviction. Andrei Pivovarov’s only “crime” was posting information about the peaceful and lawful activities of the Russian non-governmental organization, Open Russia. He was arrested on May 31, 2021, and put in pretrial detention in Krasnodar, a city many kilometres away from his home.

Andrei Pivovarov is a prominent political activist and human rights defender from Saint Petersburg. He has been involved in the democracy and human rights movement in Russia for more than 15 years and has never used or condoned violence. Exercising one’s rights to freedom of expression and freedom of association is not a crime. They are guaranteed by the Russian Constitution and international law.

In the light of the above, I urge you to drop the criminal charges against Andrei Pivovarov, end his prosecution and immediately and unconditionally release him.

Sincerely,

[YOUR NAME]

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

• READ THE FULL URGENT ACTION: Word or PDF
• GET INSPIRED: Read about the people you have helped
• READ TIPS for writing effective letters and emails
• CONTACT US: [email protected]