STP demonstration in front of the Russian embassy

Today, on the occasion of the 70th birthday of Vladimir Putin, the Society for Threatened Peoples (STP) protested in front of the Russian Embassy in Berlin. Following the motto “Putin celebrates, we mourn his victims”, the protesters held placards with photos of activists and media workers who were persecuted, arrested, or murdered by the Kremlin since Putin took power. Ethnic minorities and indigenous communities in the remote parts of Russia – but also on the Crimean peninsula of Crimea – were hit particularly hard: “During the past 20 years, Putin suppressed all opposition and intimidated the population with massive violence,” stated Regina Sonk, STP expert on indigenous peoples, on the sidelines of the event. “Today, we want to commemorate those who paid for their resistance against the regime with their lives.”

A few photos of the rally are attached to this message. Upon request, we will gladly send you more.