2012: Russia: Maria Alyokhina, Nadezhda Tolokonnikova and Ekaterina Samusevich
President Dmitry Medvedev
President of the Russian Federation
23, Ilyinka Street
Moscow, 103132
Russia
18th May 2012
Your excellency,
The non-political association of writers, PEN International, is protesting the detention of Maria Alyokhina, Nadezhda Tolokonnikova and Ekaterina Samusevich, pointing out that they are being treated particularly harshly because of the contents of the song lyrics.
PEN International is referring to Russia’s obligations under Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, ratified by Russia, and which protects the right to freedom of expression; and we are further referring to the fact that the women will be held for more than three months without trial, this time breaching Article 9 of the ICCPR that guarantees the right not to be held in pre-trial detention for lengthy periods of time.
Thanking you in advance.
Yours sincerely,
Fredrik Giertsen
member Writers in Prison Committee
Norwegian PEN
Wergelandsveien 29
0167 Oslo
Norway
Copy to:
Den Russiske Føderasjons ambassade
Drammensveien 74
0244 Oslo
