Tagged with Russia

PRO VS. CON #DUMPSTOLI | How does the boycott of a Latvian vodka change Putin’s anti-gay laws and save lives of Russian LGBT youth?

PRO VS. CON #DUMPSTOLI | How does the boycott of a Latvian vodka change Putin’s anti-gay laws and save lives of Russian LGBT youth?

The #dumpstoli campaign has been a global public-relations success. But have the protests for public awareness of repressive anti-gay laws in Russia been misdirected and unfairly targeted a long-time ally of the LGBT community? Will the Dump Vodka protests actually change the minds of the Russian parliament? Here is my on-the-ground investigation of yesterday’s protest in front of the Russian Consulate in New York. Continue reading »

IRAN REPORT |  Tehran gears up for annual Fajr International Theater Festival

IRAN REPORT | Tehran gears up for annual Fajr International Theater Festival

In a press conference at the headquarters of the 31st Fajr International Theatre Festival, the judge of the playwriting competition Borhani-marand stated that he hopes that Iranian plays, which are mostly unknown, will be given an opportunity for publication: “The works of the play-writing competition were about today’s social issues in the most modern form. I hope that all of them will be published. The release of such kind of works can enrich our stage. I hope that the officials will play more attention to today’s playwrights.” Continue reading »

Putin’s Pussy problem |  As world awaits Russian court’s verdict, “Free Pussy Riot” protest actions become global

Putin’s Pussy problem | As world awaits Russian court’s verdict, “Free Pussy Riot” protest actions become global

Activists in more than 40 cities around the world (Dublin, Odessa, Melbourne, Barcelona, Tel Aviv, San Francisco, Vienna, London, Paris, Moscow and so forth) have joined forces on this very same day to organize political and performance actions that demand the freedom of Pussy Riot. A complete list of events around the world during “Free Pussy Riot Global Day” appears here. Continue reading »

Putin’s Pussy problem | Amnesty International demands that Russia release anti-Putin punk singers detained after church performance

Putin’s Pussy problem | Amnesty International demands that Russia release anti-Putin punk singers detained after church performance

Three young women are being detained by Russian authorities for allegedly performing a protest song in a cathedral as part of a feminist punk group Pussy Riot. If found guilty, they could be jailed for up to 7 years just for exercising their free speech. The three women are currently in pre-trial detention, which has been extended to January 2013. Continue reading »

Press release |  Policing practices put sex workers and HIV services at risk in Kenya, Namibia, Russia, South Africa, USA and Zimbabwe, says Open Society Foundations

Press release | Policing practices put sex workers and HIV services at risk in Kenya, Namibia, Russia, South Africa, USA and Zimbabwe, says Open Society Foundations

The report, “Criminalizing Condoms,” surveyed sex workers in Kenya, Namibia, Russia, South Africa, the United States, and Zimbabwe and found that police practices made it more likely that sex workers would have unprotected sex with their clients. Condom possession is used by some prosecutors as evidence of criminal activity Continue reading »