Rights group urges Russia to protect imprisoned journalist from self-harm News
designerpoint / Pixabay
Rights group urges Russia to protect imprisoned journalist from self-harm

Russian online media RusNews revealed Wednesday two letters from an imprisoned journalist and anti-war activist, Maria Ponomarenko, which demonstrate her current suicidal tendency. Amnesty International urged the authorities to protect her from further self-harm and release her immediately.

RusNews stated that the Russian authorities censored the letters, which indicated her suffering in prison and asked for help. The outlet also revealed that Ponomarenko had previously demonstrated suicidal tendencies to her daughter during a phone call. Ponomarenko’s lawyer has already filed an appeal to the Prosecutor’s Office regarding her situation, after witnessing the scars on her arms and her deteriorating mental health. On March 24, Ponomarenko will have her last appearance in court.

Natalia Zviagina, Amnesty International’s Russia director, stated that the Russian authorities are responsible for Ponomarenko’s mental and physical health and those that are responsible for violations committed towards the journalist should be held accountable. Zviagina also condemned Ponomarenko’s imprisonment and called for the release of all “detained under repressive ‘war censorship’ laws.”

Ponomarenko, one of the editors of RusNews, was imprisoned for a post in a Telegram channel bringing to light and condemning Russia’s airstrikes in Mariupol on March 16, 2022. Amnesty International and the European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights considered the airstrikes, if proven, a war crime as the Russian forces deliberately targeted a civilian shelter. Ponomarenko was sentenced to 6 years of imprisonment and a 5-year ban on journalistic activities because of her anti-war post.

In November 2023, Ponomarenko was additionally charged for allegedly attacking two male penal colony officers, which Amnesty maintained was a tactic to punish political prisoners. Independent human rights project “Support of political prisoners. Memorial” also added Ponomarenko to the list of political prisoners.

Last month, the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Russian Federation warned that the “lives of over 2000 political prisoners in Russia remain at grave risk unless they are immediately released,” with a priority list of 120 prisoners in imminent danger.

THIS DAY @ LAW

'Wobblies' put on trial in Chicago

On March 23, 1918, 101 leaders of the Industrial Workers of the World union ("The Wobblies") were put on trial in Chicago for conspiracy to obstruct America's participation in World War I. Learn more about the Wobblies from the Constitutional Rights Foundation.

Pakistan becomes world's first Islamic republic

On March 23, 1956, the Islamic Republic of Pakistan became the world's first Islamic republic. Unfortunately, democracy in Pakistan collapsed quickly after General Ayub Khan lead a successful coup d'etat. Since that time, Pakistan has vacillated between military and civilian government. Pakistan was governed by the 1956 Constitution of Pakistan, until it was superseded by the 1973 Constitution, which still serves as the country's basic law today.