BIRN Urges Russian Leader To Release Journalists

BIRN journalists in Serbia on Thursday held up banners asking Russian President Vladimir Putin, who had arrived in Belgrade, to release imprisoned journalists in Russia and to respect human rights.

"Free journalists," said a banner in Serbian, Russian and English held from the windows of the BIRN office, close to where supporters of Putin in Serbia were gathering for a rally.

The BIRN office also displayed an LGBT flag, calling on Putin to respect human and LGBT rights in his country.

Pro-Russian NGOs with the support of the ruling Serbian Progressive Party on Thursday organized a mass gathering in support of the Russian President who was meeting Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic in the city.

According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, 58 journalists have been killed in Russia since 1992. The Committee also said it knew of four journalists imprisoned in Russia at this moment.

A message from @birnbalkans to Russian President Putin:#FreeJournalists#OsloboditeNovinare#СВОБОДAЖУРНАЛИСТAM

Our journalists in Serbia today set up banners asking Putin, who was visiting Belgrade, to release imprisoned journalists in Russia and to respect human rights. pic.twitter.com/uKcFCwC6DT

— Balkan Insight (@BalkanInsight) January 17, 2019

Rights groups also criticize Russia over its treatment of LGBT people, who face routine pressure, intimidation and violence.

In its latest report, the rights watchdog Human Rights Watch, HRW, noted that a law against so-called gay propaganda was having a negative impact on lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people and on the young also.

"The 2013 law exacerbated the hostility LGBT people in Russia have long suffered, and also stifled...