URGENT ACTION APPEAL
- From Amnesty International USA
To learn about recent Urgent Action successes and updates, go to
http://www.amnestyusa.org/iar/success
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6 January 2011
Further information on UA 43/10 (24 February 2010) and follow-ups (23 March 2010 and 20 April 2010) – Arbitrary detention/Legal concern
RUSSIAN FEDERATION Yulia Privedennaia (f)
In November 2010, the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation reduced on appeal the conditional prison sentence given to Yulia Privedennaia, a civil society activist. She was originally sentenced to four and a half years, which has now been reduced to three and a half years. Charges against her under article 127 (unlawful imprisonment) were dropped on grounds of statutes of limitations.
Yulia Privedennaia is a member of the organization FAKEL-PORTOS (Formation of Altruistic Candidates for the Evolution of People - Poeticized Association for the Elaboration of a Theory of All-People’s Happiness). She had been on a police list of wanted suspects since 2000 when a criminal case against the group's leaders was opened.
She was charged with taking part in beating some teenage members of FAKEL-PORTOS, being involved in forcibly holding the teenagers at the premises where FAKEL- PORTOS was based, and creating an illegal armed group to forcibly maintain order in the organization. Yulia Privedennaia denied all the charges. According to reports, all the alleged victims in the case withdrew their statements, claiming that they had given them under pressure from investigators. According to Yulia Privedennaia’s lawyer, there were also several procedural violations during the trial.
In February 2010, while on trial before the Moscow Regional Court, she was detained by order of the court in a Moscow psychiatric hospital for three weeks, despite independent psychiatrists saying that there was no basis for hospitalizing her. She was ruled to be "sane" after being released on 11 March.
As Yulia Privedennaia is not being detained, no further action is required from the UA network at this stage.
Many thanks to all who sent appeals. No further action is requested from the UA network.
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Amnesty International is a worldwide grassroots movement
that promotes and defends human rights.
This Urgent Action may be reposted if kept intact, including contact information and stop action date (if applicable).
Thank you for your help with this appeal.
Urgent Action Network
Amnesty International USA
600 Pennsylvania Ave SE 5th fl
Washington DC 20003
Email: uan@aiusa.org
http://www.amnestyusa.org/urgent/
Phone: 202.509.8193
Fax: 202.675.8566
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END OF URGENT ACTION APPEAL
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URGENT ACTION APPEAL
- From Amnesty International USA
To learn about recent Urgent Action successes and updates, go to
http://www.amnestyusa.org/iar/success
----------------------------------
For a print-friendly version of this Urgent Action (PDF):
http://www.amnestyusa.org/actioncenter/actions/uaa00111.pdf
6 January 2011
UA 1/11 - Fear for safety
NIGERIA Patrick Naagbanton (m), Coordinator, CEHRD
Patrick Naagbanton, Coordinator of the Center for Environment, Human Rights and Development (CEHRD) in Port Harcourt, in Rivers State, southern Nigeria, has received a number of death threats in the last two weeks. Amnesty International believes his life to be in danger.
On 30 December 2010, two people followed Patrick Naagbanton into the offices of the CEHRD and threatened him with death in front of another staff member. A third staff member reported that she had also been threatened by the same individuals. The following day, at around 11pm, a third individual telephoned Patrick Naagbanton and demanded a sum of money be delivered to them before 1 January 2011.
On 1 January 2011, Patrick Naagbanton received a call ordering him to a local shrine in Rivers State. The caller warned that he would be killed if he did not attend. Patrick Naagbanton attempted to contact the Commissioner of Police for Rivers State, but was unsuccessful. Later that day, and again on 2 January, Patrick Naagbanton received two more death threats by phone.
Amnesty International believes the death threats to be linked to Patrick Naagbanton's work as a human rights defender.
CEHRD works to respond to environmental, human rights, health and underdevelopment problems in the Niger delta region.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Human rights defenders and journalists in Nigeria regularly face intimidation, harassment and death.
On 29 December 2010, Chidi Nwosu was shot dead by unknown gunmen in his house in Abia State. He was the President of Human Rights of Justice and Peace Foundation (HRJPF) and was known for his work against corruption and human rights violations.
Several journalists have been killed in suspicious circumstances in recent years. Bayo Ohu, the Assistant News Editor of The Guardian newspaper, based in Lagos, was shot dead in 2009. In October 2008, Eiphraim Audu, a radio journalist with the Nasarawa State Broadcasting Service, was shot by six unknown gunmen near his home in Lafia, central Nigeria. In August 2008, Paul Abayomi Ogundeji, a member of the editorial board of the newspaper Thisday was killed by unknown gunmen in Lagos. He was the second member of the Thisday editorial board to be murdered in two years. Godwin Agbroko, the chairman of Thisday’s editorial board, was killed in similar circumstances in December 2006. A chief witness in the inquest into the death of Ogundeji was also killed by unknown gunmen in her house in Ogun state in June 2009.
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send appeals to arrive as quickly as possible:
- Expressing concern for the safety of Patrick Naagbanton.
- Urging the authorities to take immediate and effective action to protect Patrick Naagbanton, and any other CEHRD staff members who may be at risk, in consultation with the persons concerned.
- Calling the authorities to order an immediate, thorough and independent investigation into the threats made with the results made public and those responsible brought to justice.
- Reminding the authorities that human rights defenders have the right to carry out their activities without any restrictions or fear of reprisals, as set out in the UN Declaration on the Rights and Responsibilities of Individuals, Groups and Institutions to Promote and Promote Universally Recognized Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms.
APPEALS TO:
Commissioner of Police for Rivers State
Suleiman Abba(Jan 2007)
Commissioner of Police
Rivers State Command Headquarters
Moscow Road
Port Harcourt
NIGERIA
Salutation: Dear Commissioner of Police
COPIES TO:
Hafiz Ringim
Force Headquarters
Loius Edet House
Shehu Shagari Way
Area 11 Garki, Abuja
NIGERIA
Salutation: Dear Inspector General
Ambassador Babagana Wakil
Embassy of the Federal Republic of Nigeria
3519 International Court NW
Washington DC 20008
Phone: 1 202 986 8400
Fax: 1 202-362-6541
PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY.
Check with the AIUSA Urgent Action office if sending appeals after 17 February 2011.
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Amnesty International is a worldwide grassroots movement
that promotes and defends human rights.
This Urgent Action may be reposted if kept intact, including contact information and stop action date (if applicable).
Thank you for your help with this appeal.
Urgent Action Network
Amnesty International USA
600 Pennsylvania Ave SE 5th fl
Washington DC 20003
Email: uan@aiusa.org
http://www.amnestyusa.org/urgent/
Phone: 202.509.8193
Fax: 202.675.8566
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END OF URGENT ACTION APPEAL
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