Russia Federation : European Human rights bus tour
Amnesty International's most colorful action in Russia yet: a brightly decorated bus with Swiss registration plates "
an "envoy" for the world's biggest human rights' organization - is crossing the border of the Russian Federation for the
first time. After a hugely successful visit to 14 Central and Eastern European countries, the bus will stop in:
St Petersburg 7 October Pskov 9 October Novgorod 11 October Moscow 13 October
Visitors to the bus can get leaflets and brochures; watch videos and photo stills presenting Amnesty International's
actions on the human rights situation in different countries like Iraq and Turkmenistan, the USA and the Russian
Federation. They have the chance to sign a petition designed as a symbolic passport urging President Vladimir Putin to
address the plight of hundreds of thousands of former Soviet citizens in Russia who are being denied their legal right
to obtain Russian citizenship and/or permanent residency rights.
"This tour, organized by Amnesty International Switzerland, is an excellent example of the vigor, creativity and
international solidarity of our organization whose 1.8 million members in 140 countries are campaigning relentlessly to
change for the better people's lives all over the world. The purpose of the tour is to tell the public more about our
organization and to promote human rights issues in the Russian Federation and other countries in the world. The tour
started in July as part of Amnesty International's worldwide year-long campaign on human rights in the Russian
Federation, and we look forward to hosting our Swiss friends in Russia," Sergei Nikitin, Director of Amnesty
International's Russian Resource Centre said.
"Our bus has already covered more than 10,000 kilometers and crossed the boundaries of 14 European countries. Throughout
the journey, from Yverdon in Switzerland, to Gomel in Belarus, and now going into the Russian Federation, mass media and
the general public continue to meet the bus with great interest and enthusiasm as it raises drastically the profile of
AI and its human rights message," Daniel Bolomey, Secretary General of Amnesty International Switzerland said.
Read more about the European human rights bus tour for Amnesty International's Russia campaign pages at http://amnesty-news.c.tep1.com/maabwrNaa02HPbb0hPub/
Want to take action? All actions can be found from http://amnesty-news.c.tep1.com/maabwrNaa02HQbb0hPub/