Brief 1:
Sinds 15 april zijn 200 Roma in de Bulgaarse hoofdstad Sofia hun huis uitgezet, zonder enige waarschuwing vooraf. En dat terwijl het Europees Hof voor de Rechten van de Mens de huisuitzettingen had verboden. Onder de uitgezette Roma bevinden zich kinderen, ouderen, zwangere mensen en mensen met een beperking. De Roma zijn een van oorsprong nomadisch volk en vormen in ieder land waar ze wonen een minderheid. Ze zijn vaak het slachtoffer van discriminatie. Amnesty roept de burgemeester van Sofia op om de huisuitzettingen te stoppen en te zorgen voor onderdak voor alle uitgezette gezinnen.
Brief 2:
De prominente Georgische journalist Mzia Amaghlobeli deed in januari mee aan vreed-zame protesten in de stad Batumi. Daarbij trad de politie hardhandig op, in reactie daarop sloeg Amaghlobeli politiechef Irakli Dgebuadze in het gezicht. Op video is te zien en te horen hoe Dgebuadze haar uitscheldt en seksueel getinte bedreigingen uit. Amaghlobeli wordt aangeklaagd voor de klap en er hangt haar een lange gevangenisstraf boven het hoofd. Het lijkt erop dat de aanklacht politiek gemotiveerd is. Bedoeld om haar te straffen én om een signaal af te geven aan andere demonstranten. Amnesty roept de autoriteiten van Georgië op Mzia Amaghlobeli een eerlijk proces te geven en onderzoek te doen naar de misdragingen van politiechef Dgebuadze en andere agenten.
Brief 3
Marioepol is een stad in Oekraïne die in mei 2022 door Rusland werd veroverd, na een zware strijd die 86 dagen duurde. Al die tijd zorgde legerarts Artem Kolomiiets voor gewonde soldaten en gaf hij medische zorg aan burgers. Hij raakte zelf gewond en werd gevangengenomen. Sindsdien zit hij in Rusland in telkens andere strafkolonies. Hij mag geen contact hebben met zijn familie en de buitenwereld. Oekraïense krijgsgevangenen die onlangs zijn vrijgelaten vertelden dat het heel slecht gaat met zijn gezondheid. Amnesty roept de Russische mensenrechtencommisaris op om ervoor te zorgen dat Artem Kolomiiets onmiddellijk wordt vrijgelaten.
Brief 1:
To: Mayor Vasil Terziev
Sofia Municipality
33 Moskovska Street, 1000
Sofia
Bulgaria
Arnhem, June 2025
Dear Mayor Vasil Terziev,
I am writing to urgently call for immediate action regarding the ongoing dire situation affecting Roma families in Zaharna Fabrika, Sofia. Beginning on 15 April 2025, dozens of homes were demolished, leaving almost 200 Roma people - including children, elderly individuals, and pregnant people – homeless. Most families were left without shelter or access to essential services like water, electricity, healthcare, and education. Since the demolitions, only a few families have been provided with alternative housing by the authorities. The majority remain in extremely precarious conditions, sleeping in tents or relying on makeshift shelters. The demolitions occurred without adequate due process, prior notice, or genuine consultation to explore alternative solutions.
I call on you to take immediate action to stop any further forced evictions. I also call on you to ensure that all affected families are provided with alternative adequate housing, along with access to essential services such as medical care, social support, and education.
Yours sincerely,
Brief 2:
To: Koka Katsitadze
Head of the Special Investigation Service
№09 M. Asatiani St.
Tbilisi, Georgia
Arnhem, June 2025
Dear Mr. Katsitadze,
I am writing to demand justice for jailed journalist Mzia Amaghlobeli, and for police officers to be brought to account for the use of unlawful force and other violations against peaceful protesters in Batumi on 11-12 January 2025, specifically the Chief of Batumi Police Irakli Dgebuadze, and also in connection with allegations of torture or other ill-treatment against detainees by police.
As you will be well aware, Mzia Amaghlobeli is standing trial for allegedly using violence against Irakli Dgebuadze, and faces prison if found guilty. There is video footage in which she is seen slapping him on the face, against the background of abusive actions by the police force in the streets of Batumi against peaceful protesters, and following Amaghlobeli’s earlier, manifestly arbitrary arrest.
I call on you to ensure that Irakli Dgebuadze and all police officers involved in arbitrary arrests and alleged ill-treatment of peaceful protestors, are immediately suspended in their duties until all allegations against them, including but not only those from 11-12 January 2025, are promptly, impartially and effectively investigated, and necessary disciplinary, administrative or criminal proceedings enacted as appropriate, in compliance with their fair trial rights. I further demand full respect for Amaghlobeli’s and all Georgian protesters’ human rights, including the right to a fair trial.
Yours sincerely,
Brief 3:
Tatiana Moskalkova
Human Rights Commissioner
Smolensky Boulevard, 19с2
119121 Moscow
Russian Federation
Arnhe, June 2025
Dear Human Rights Commissioner,
I am writing to express my grave concern with the case of a seriously ill and wounded Ukrainian prisoner of war combat medic, Artem Kolomiiets. He was captured in May 2022 in Mariupol, and his captivity was confirmed by International Committee of the Red Cross. He is held incommunicado in Perm and was subjected to torture and other forms of ill-treatment that caused his health condition to gravely deteriorate. According to recent testimonies of former POWs his life is at risk. Kolomiiets has dystrophy, constant headaches due to untreated contusions, his legs are swollen and purple in color, his eyesight and dental condition have deteriorated, he has severe back pain and asthma.
I urge you to take all steps within your authority to ensure that Artem Kolomiiets is released from captivity on health grounds and, pending his release, is treated humanely, provided with adequate healthcare, and guaranteed the right to correspondence.
All POWs who are gravely wounded or gravely sick, or whose mental or physical well-being is endangered by captivity, must be repatriated to Ukraine or accommodated in a neutral country.
Yours sincerely,
