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October 27, 2023

“On the first morning of the full-scale invasion [of Ukraine], we were all back in the Theatre together at 11 am. It was exactly the right place to be.”

From 29-30 September 2023, the Lesia Ukrainka Theatre visited Oslo to perform at the National Theatre its first play since the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, as well as participate in the panel discussion “When Art Rebels”. Human Rights House Foundation (HRHF) spoke to the Theatre’s project manager Viktoria Shvydko to discuss the role of the arts during wartime.

October 26, 2023

“I have had the privilege of working with so many brave, inspiring and talented human rights defenders in many countries. They have taught me so much.” Ane Tusvik Bonde

Ane Tusvik Bonde joined Amnesty Norway in September 2023 following almost two decades with the Human Rights House Foundation. In this interview, Ane shares her reflections about the significance of the Human Rights House concept, the Network and the power of solidarity.

October 9, 2023

When I communicate with [political prisoners] and their relatives, I tell them that [legal action] will not significantly affect their immediate situation, but it must be done.

On 24 February 2022, human rights lawyer Serghiy Zayets and his family became internally displaced persons (IDPs) for the second time as a result of the full-scale Russian invasion. They fled Irpin for Western Ukraine, where they still live today. Originally from Crimea, Zayets and his family fled the peninsula in 2014 following the Russian occupation. In this interview with HRHF, Zayets gives insight into his fight for the human rights of Ukrainian political prisoners in Russian custody and the volatile nature of living and working in a war zone.

July 14, 2023

“Most of all, I miss Ales’ optimism” – Natalia Pinchuk

14 July 2023 marks two years since human rights defender Ales Bialiatski was detained in Belarus alongside his Viasna colleagues Valiantsin Stefanovich and Uladzimir Labkovich. HRHF spoke to Bialiatski’s wife Natalia Pinchuk ahead of the day.

July 11, 2023

“The most important thing for a political prisoner is to know they are remembered.”

In June 2023, Human Rights House Foundation spoke to prominent human rights lawyer and former political prisoner Intigam Aliyev. We discussed human rights, his experience as a political prisoner, and the situation for his imprisoned colleagues in Belarus.

July 4, 2023

“We have to help [political prisoners] understand that what they face right now is temporary. That thousands of people are thinking about them.”

In June 2023, Human Rights House Foundation spoke to Anar Mammadli, a prominent Azerbaijani human rights defender, former political prisoner, and the founder of the Election Monitoring and Democracy Studies Center (EMDS). We discussed human rights, his experience as a political prisoner, and the situation for his imprisoned colleagues in Belarus.

June 9, 2023

Crimea to Batumi in 11 days: a human rights defender’s leap to safety

In October 2022, human rights defender Olena Vinsent, fled increasing danger in occupied Crimea with her mother, their three cats and their dog, driving through Russia to reach safety in Georgia. Today she lives and carries out human rights work in Batumi and is still getting used to feeling safe.

June 6, 2023

Ukraine: Helping the helpers

“We work with those who provide support to others and we call them ‘helpers’.” As a result of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, the country’s population has a greater need for support from human rights defenders, social workers, psychologists, psychotherapists, etc. Wika Solonitsyna (top photo), Programme Coordinator and Co-founder of AHALAR (member organisation of Educational Human Rights House Chernihiv), sheds light on how her organisation provides valuable assistance to helpers in Ukraine.

April 28, 2023

Georgia: “Authorities still believe a ‘foreign agent’ style law is needed”

On 10 March 2023, the Georgian Parliament voted down the so-called “foreign agent” and “foreign influence” bills following mass protests in the country. In the weeks following, Human Rights House Foundation spoke to Human Rights House Tbilisi’s Natia Tavberidze discussing next steps for civil society as well as support that Georgian civil society needs now from international colleagues.