Amnesty International at 50

Seven years’ hard labour

Myroslav Marynovich was an outspoken defender of human rights in the former Soviet Union. In the early hours of 23 April 1977, 20 state agents arrested him at his home. After a long trial he was sentenced to seven years’ hard labour and five years in exile for “Anti-Soviet Agitation and Propaganda”.

A prisoner of conscience

Amnesty International members from around the world wrote to the Soviet authorities calling for his release. A local group in Avignon, France were particularly active. “I joined Amnesty International in 1977 – but not as a member: as a prisoner of conscience,” Myroslav said in an interview many years later.

“I feel deep gratitude to Amnesty”

During his exile in Kazakhstan, Myroslav found out about Amnesty International‘s work. He decided to set up a group in his home town, Drohobych, in Western Ukraine, as a “way of thanking Amnesty International.”

He realized this ambition in 1991 after visiting the Avignon group that had campaigned for his release. His Drohobych group went on to campaign on behalf of other prisoners of conscience around the world. It also started a programme of human rights education for teachers. The group soon joined with others in cities and villages across Ukraine. To this day, they continue to grow. In a recent interview, Myroslav Marynovich said: “I feel deep gratitude to Amnesty”.

Links

Amnesty International’s campaign for Freedom of Expression is calling on governments to end repression, free prisoners of conscience, and bring those responsible for human rights abuses to justice. Visit http://www.amnesty.org/en/50/campaigns/freedom-of-expression