According to a July 11 statement issued by the Trade Union Solidarity Action Committee of St Petersburg and Leningrad region, activists planning protests against the July 15-17 G8 summit in St Petersburg are facing a wave of violence and repression. Union and human rights activists from across Russia are organising to participate in the alternative summit, the Russian Social Forum. Many are being harassed and persecuted by local authorities on their way to St Petersburg and more than 100 people have been arrested. Authorities have also banned a peaceful demonstration scheduled to take place during the G8 meeting.
From Green Left Weekly, July 19, 2006.
Visit the Green Left Weekly home page.