Stjórn BÍL hefur sent ákall til forseta Rússlands Vladimírs Pútín og tveggja rússneskra saksóknara þar sem þess er krafist að þrjár listakonur úr punk-rokk-sveitinni Pussy Riot verði látnar lausar úr haldi og allar ákærur á hendur þeim verði látnar niður falla:

Appeal to Russian Authorities

BÍL – The Federation of Icelandic Artists expresses a deep concern for the three artists Maria Alekhina, Nadezhda Tolokonnikova and Ekaterina Samucevich, members of the female punk band “Pussy Riot” who have been charged with violating Article 213 of the Russian Criminal Code, subsequently facing up to seven years in prison if convicted. They have been held in pre-trial detention since March 2012 for allegedly taking part in a protest song happening in Moscow’s Christ the Savior Cathedral on February 21st 2012.

BÍL urges the Russian Government and the Russian Judiciary to recognize the UN conventions on freedom of expression, cultural diversity and human rights. Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, to which the Russian Federation is a signatory, is clear on everyone’s freedom of opinion and expression and Article 20 acknowledges the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association.

The same counts for the UNESCO Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expression, which is to protect and promote the diversity of cultural expression. And even though the Russian Federation has not signed that convention, 124 nation states have, stating that no one should invoke the provisions of the Convention in order to infringe human rights and fundamental freedoms as enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

In the light of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the UNESCO Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expression it is our opinion that the performance in Moscow’s Christ the Savior Cathedral on February 21st 2012. did not contain component elements of a crime.

We therefore respectfully urge you to drop any and all charges against the artists Maria Alekhina, Nadezhda Tolokonnikova and Ekaterina Samucevich and immediately and unconditionally release them. Furthermore, we call on you to immediately and impartially investigate threats received by the family members and lawyers of the three artists and, if necessary, ensure their protection.

Freedom of expression is a human right under Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and no one should be jailed for the peaceful exercise of this right.

Thank you for your attention to this serious matter.