Winter Olympic games marred by Russia’s human-rights track record

The Russian government struck yet another blow against freedom of expression last week when it charged Greenpeace activists with piracy because of their peaceful protest at a state-owned oil rig.

Yes, piracy: “the practice of attacking and robbing ships,” according to the New Oxford Dictionary. It seems that Russia cannot distinguish between a peaceful protest and piracy, in light of their paranoia-fueled war on liberty. During the “attack” orchestrated by Greenpeace, so labeled by the Russian federal Investigative Committee, activists approached the oil rig in a rubber dinghy. Two of the activists proceeded to tie themselves to a platform off the rig in an effort to draw attention to Russia’s recent expansion of oil and gas exploration in the Arctic Circle. Without hesitation, Russian commandos ascended from helicopter onto the scene and immediately surrounded the unarmed activists, who were then promptly taken into custody.

Currently, there are 30 members of Greenpeace from 18 different countries detained and facing charges of piracy in Russia. Each activist is potentially facing up to 15 years in a Russian prison. With the 2014 Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia, only months away, it is ironic that the soon-to-be host of the games will not only provide accommodations for athletes from various countries, but now for a plethora of diverse prisoners, as well.

Despite this apparent mistrust of foreigners, Russia still seems to be genuinely excited to host the Winter Olympics and to boost its international image through some friendly competition. So excited, in fact, that the government razed the homes of at least 1,500 Russian families to make room for the festivities.

The global community, however, should not be as eager to condone these kinds of actions through their participation in the games. And by actions, I am not referring only to the unbalanced charges against Greenpeace activists or the demolition of homes in which many Russian families have lived for decades. Instead, I am referring to the fairly extensive list of attacks against human rights the Russian government has committed over the last couple of years.

Note: I am not defending the human-rights records of former Olympic hosts, such as China or even the U.S. I am, however, defending what I believe the Olympics stand for:  egalitarianism. The Olympics is an event in which one is judged only for his athletic prowess because, in theory, the games are an event in which prejudices are left behind and skill is the only thing that really matters.  

Yet the Russian government happens to make a sport out of intolerance: Their main targets being political dissidents of the regime’s policies — such as the aforementioned activists — and members of the LGBT community.

Due to an extremely ambiguous law signed by President Vladimir Putin banning the “propaganda of nontraditional sexual relations to minors,” sporting a rainbow flag, meeting with gay-rights groups or even using the word “gay” in the wrong context could all be means for receiving a fine or even jail time in Russia. All the while, the Russian government passed this law under the guise of protecting Russian society. They ruled that gays stir up not only “social and religious hatred,” but are also a threat to themselves and should therefore be “protected” by the law.

Coincidentally, this law came into being during a time of corruption accusations and protests. It seems as if the Russians are using the LGBT community as a scapegoat for the government’s past misdeeds. So as long as they’re infringing upon the rights of homosexuals, maybe the world will pay less attention to their oppression elsewhere.

This brings up an important question: What about the gay athletes participating in the Olympics this winter? Technically, the International Olympic Committee prohibits athletes from expressing political views. However, Johnny Weir, the openly gay U.S. figure skater, stated why he will not boycott the games on BBC’s Today in an August interview: “It’s not Russia’s public’s fault that their government is so bigoted and creating so many problems for a minority group.” Others were not as passive about the whole issue. For instance, five-time Olympic medalist Bode Miller claimed in an Associated Press article last week that, “It’s absolutely embarrassing that there are countries and people who are that intolerant and ignorant.”

Whether athletes decide to boycott the games or not, Russia’s notorious human-rights track record has already marred the spirit of the 2014 Winter Olympic games. An event that’s supposed to promote peace and fairness is taking place in a setting that has promoted the opposite. And instead of talking about the games themselves, athletes are forced to consider whether they will be comfortable in such a setting, creating not an aura of excitement for the games, but one of cynicism toward politics. 

Write Nick at njv10@pitt.edu.