Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine: Implications for Essential Democratic Freedoms Worldwide

Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine: Implications for Essential Democratic Freedoms Worldwide

If you’ve watched or read the news lately, then you know it’s next to impossible to check on what’s happening in the world without coming across a story or video about Russia’s recent invasion of Ukraine. As many as 6.5 million Ukrainians have been displaced so far in the conflict, and the brutal suppression of key freedoms like free speech, free press and peaceful assembly goes completely against the principles of democracy.

But amidst the chaos, conflict, uncertainty and tragedy, there is also hope. There have been numerous stories of brave Ukrainians standing their ground, fighting for their independence from Russia in the face of incredible danger. At First Amendment Voice, we believe that these core democratic freedoms are of utmost importance to protect; not just in the U.S. but abroad as well. In this special blog post, we will examine how the freedoms of speech, the press, and assembly have been impacted since the start of Russia’s invasion in Ukraine. 

Freedom of Speech

Sunflowers, the Symbols of Resistance: One of the most common symbols of peace in Ukraine’s history is the sunflower, which also represents the unofficial national flower of Ukraine. On February 24 of this year, sunflowers became a widely-recognized symbol of resistance against Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, thanks to a viral video of a Ukrainian woman telling a Russian soldier to “Take these seeds and put them in your pockets, so at least sunflowers will grow when you all lie down here.” Since then, sunflowers have appeared everywhere from emojis and beautiful artwork shared by artists on social media to fundraisers for Ukraine humanitarian aid, like these recent fundraising campaigns in Canada.

How Russia’s Invasion Could Impact Free Expression in Democracies Worldwide: In a fascinating interview with John M. Owen, professor of politics at the University of Virginia, Owen explained how freedom of expression and tolerance of dissenting views are essential ingredients for a healthy democracy. When asked what lessons that Americans and other citizens of democratic countries could learn from the events in Ukraine and Russia, Owen responded:

“Such events drive home to us that individual liberty is a precious achievement that can be taken away or weakened, even in the 21st century….As tensions with Russia mount in our own country, one thing to guard against is the tendency to do, in mirror-image fashion, what Russia is doing – to censor dissent, particularly dissent that favors Russia. Democracies must remain democratic, even under stress.”

Elon Musk Refuses to Block Russian Media from Starlink: Speaking of censorship, Elon Musk has made headlines multiple times during the conflict; at first, for providing Starlink satellite internet access for some parts of Ukraine, and later, for refusing to block Russian state media on the Starlink platform. Musk referred to himself as a “free speech absolutist” when tweeting about the decision, though some sources pointed out that Musk doesn’t seem to have the best track record when it comes to critiques from journalists and his own employees. 

Freedom of the Press

Social Media Companies’ Responses to the Russia Invasion of Ukraine: A recent Q&A report from Human Rights Watch conducts an in-depth exploration of the roles in which social media platforms and messaging apps have played in mitigating misinformation about the present conflict. One of the many important findings from HRW’s report stated:

“Since February 24, companies providing social media and messaging services have taken many steps in response to the war in Ukraine, most of them aimed at countering harmful disinformation, adding labels to or blocking state-sponsored or state-affiliated media, or introducing extra safety measures. Some of these measures apply to either Ukraine or Russia, some apply in the EU only, and some apply globally. Some decisions were made in response to government requests, some in defiance of government requests, and others in response to public pressure, or at the companies’ own initiative.”

For more information on global perspectives about social media and disinformation, view HRW’s full-length report linked above and don’t miss this 2021 report from the United Nations as well. 

Putin Threatens 15 Years’ Imprisonment for Publishing or Broadcasting “False Information” About the Invasion: A March report from NPR described a new law Putin recently signed that would impose a 15-year prison sentence on those convicted of publishing or broadcasting information deemed “false” by the Russian government. Concerningly, the law outlaws the use of words like “invasion” or “war” in media, which would effectively silence dissent from critics in Russia. 

Bravery of Journalists in Conflict Zones: An eye-opening feature from Nieman Reports reviewed several instances of Ukrainian journalists reporting under incredibly challenging and life-threatening circumstances, despite the post-Soviet era instability in press freedoms and severely limited funding that have impacted their work for years. As Nieman Reports pointed out, “The Russian invasion of Ukraine is a powerful reminder of the vital work these journalists and their newsrooms do — and how precarious press freedoms are in the face of aggression from Putin and other authoritarian leaders around the world.”

Freedom of Assembly

Global Peace Protests in Support of Ukraine: From the sunflower-adorned BELIEVE sign gathering in Reno, Nevada to the courageous Russians protesting within their own country (and being detained, in many cases), there are countless examples of people coming together to support Ukraine and speak out against Russia’s military invasion. As these photos from Global Citizen demonstrate, people all over the world are engaging in peaceful assembly to call for an end to Russia’s aggressions in Ukraine. 

Anti-Protest Crackdowns in Kyrgyzstan: Although the Kyrgyzstani Constitution and Civil Code presumably protect freedom of assembly and protest, the government has recently cracked down on protestors coming together in support of Ukraine. As The Diplomat points out, Kyrgyzstan is reliant on Russia’s economic and security resources, hence the reason why Kyrgyzstani government leaders appear to be striving for neutrality in the present conflict. Since the conflict began, protestors have been subject to fines and even arrested for peacefully protesting, which prompted Human Rights Watch to issue a statement demanding the end of anti-protest restrictions.

Final Thoughts on the Freedoms of Speech, Press and Assembly

As of this moment, we do not know how or when Russia will end its invasion of Ukraine. What we do know is that we must fight harder than ever to preserve our democratic liberties like freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom of assembly, and other freedoms enshrined in our First Amendment. Ukraine may be thousands of miles away from the U.S., but it’s clear that these freedoms must be protected and fought for globally.

Want to learn more about the impacts of foreign policy on First Amendment freedoms? Be sure to check out this captivating conversation from First Amendment Voice’s 2020 National Symposium.

First Amendment Voice Statement on Post-election Political Violence

January 15, 2021

SAN CLEMENTE, CA — First Amendment Voice stands with the many voices raised against the political violence at the Capitol building and other areas around the country on January 6th. While we steadfastly champion freedoms of expression, assembly and the ability to petition the government for grievance, we denounce those who would use violence as a weapon against the pillars of democracy due to an election outcome. As the Joint Chiefs of Staff recently announced, “We witnessed actions inside the Capitol building that were inconsistent with the rule of law. The rights of freedom of speech and assembly do not give anyone the right to resort to violence, sedition and insurrection.” The rioters, due to ignorance, arrogance, or some combination, have endangered the very rights they professed to defend. The First Amendment allows citizens to express themselves, assemble and petition the government for grievance. It does not afford the right to push through barricades, loot and destroy property, or endanger the lives of others. 

We mourn the loss of life, including police officers in the line of duty and others, due to violence and call on leaders to settle grievances at the ballot box and through legal means. The country faces myriad health and economic challenges without need for self-inflicted losses from illegal mob actions. 

We celebrate the thousands of heroes across the country who monitored the election, volunteered at the polls, served in the courts during legal challenges, and many other civic functions. These unsung citizens stepped forward during an international health crisis, despite the risks, to play their role in shepherding our democratic processes. Civic engagement is daily work, not something that occurs only  during elections. Thank you for leading by example.

We express gratitude to our elected leaders, military, first responders, and countless others involved in safeguarding our democratic process and our citizens. Stay resilient and keep moving our country inexorably toward the aspirations outlined in the Constitution. 

First Amendment Voice (FAV) is a non-profit, nonpartisan movement created to bring awareness, provide education and promote advocacy for citizens to exercise their First Amendment freedoms of religion, expression, press, assembly, and petition while encouraging citizens to understand, protect, and exercise those rights through ongoing programs and partnerships. Our board consists of veterans, lawyers, clergy, different ethnicities, genders, faiths, and three different generations.

Learn more about FAV at www.firstamendmentvoice.org. Subscribe to our free newsletter or YouTube channel to see previous programming. Inquire to [email protected] 

Citizenship is not a spectator sport!

First Amendment Voice National Symposium Album

First Amendment Voice National Symposium Album

[ngg_images source=”galleries” container_ids=”2″ exclusions=”19,20,32,36,38,39,40″ display_type=”photocrati-nextgen_basic_imagebrowser” ajax_pagination=”0″ template=”/home/content/48/10534248/html/777/FAV2/wp-content/plugins/nextgen-gallery/products/photocrati_nextgen/modules/ngglegacy/view/imagebrowser-caption.php” order_by=”sortorder” order_direction=”ASC” returns=”included” maximum_entity_count=”500″]The First Amendment Voice National Symposium held on September 16-18 in Philadelphia, drew experts, political and religious leaders from all over the United States to address current challenges to First Amendment liberties. the symposium formally launched the First Amendment Coalition.

For symposium highlights go here.

View the special town hall session here.

In The Media – July 15, 2016

In The Media – July 15, 2016

In the News

The following article may help understand the current divisions within American society from a different perspective. Samuel Huntington was a famous social scientist who wrote important books that helped shape the thinking of intellectuals within American for decades. Jason Willick writes in the American Interest that one of Huntington’s lesser read theories may ultimately be playing out in today’s political environment. Read more at the link below.

http://www.the-american-interest.com/2016/07/14/how-samuel-huntington-predicted-our-political-moment/

The following piece is response from a police officer to recent shootings and protests about overzealous policing.

http://patch.com/virginia/lakeridge/s/ftch4/op-ed-what-most-of-us-good-cops-are-thinking-right-now

 

Here is an article about a local school controversy in Virginia over banning books from reading lists. Is this political correctness run amok or an instance of parental intervention to protect their children from obscene material? You be the judge.

http://www.chesterfieldobserver.com/news/2016-06-29/Front_Page/Sen_Chase_Librarians_should_be_dismissed.html

 

Another instance of free speech getting denied on a California campus. See this article about Cal State University – LA Campus attempting to prevent a conservative speaker from addressing students.

http://dailysignal.com/2016/05/23/ben-shapiro-fights-back-against-college-campus-free-speech-crackdowns/

In The News 6/20/16

In The News 6/20/16

A Newsweek article that describes a desperate state of affairs with respect to free expression on college campuses. To quote the article briefly below, this paragraph sums up the current climates on mangy college campuses.

“Graduates of the Class of 2016 are leaving behind campuses that have become petri dishes of extreme political correctness and heading out into a world without trigger warnings, safe spaces and free speech zones, with no rules forbidding offensive verbal conduct or microaggressions, and where the names of cruel, rapacious capitalists are embossed in brass and granite on buildings across the land.”

http://www.newsweek.com/2016/06/03/college-campus-free-speech-thought-police-463536.html

 

This Economist article discusses free speech getting repressed around the world and puts U.S. college campuses in that context.

http://www.economist.com/news/leaders/21699909-curbs-free-speech-are-growing-tighter-it-time-speak-out-under-attack?vh=f850b365ef55388d6b754e985bc00196d9ad3483&ts=1465658815

 

This Christian Science Monitor article provides survey data indicating that students exercising the right to freedom of assembly is up and provides some rationale for why that might be.

http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Education/2016/0211/Why-college-activism-is-soaring

This Seattle Times article provides a specific example of students protesting on a campus about a program’s curriculum. You be the judge of whether their grievances are justified.

Seattle Times: Too many ‘dead white dudes’? Seattle U students protest program’s curriculum

 

The following New York Times op-ed describes how many of our colleges may have journeyed to a state of intolerance with respect to freedom of speech.

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/08/opinion/sunday/a-confession-of-liberal-intolerance.html?smid=nytcore-ipad-share&smprod=nytcore-ipad

 

The following blog describes another example of where only certain progressive ideas are being promoted while others rooted in the protection of family or religious conviction are disregarded.

https://shar.es/1JaTKa

In the Media 5/23/16

In the Media 5/23/16

Read this story for inspiration from youth in a high school near San Bernardino. Tolerance and inclusion are attributes that make our country strong and this story provides a shining example. Enjoy!

You’ve probably already seen the news reports on the Department of Justice suing the State of North Carolina, which countersued last week over religious freedom.  We won’t reiterate those stories here, but the following two articles touch on  the impact of the current bathroom debates. The third link provides analysis and commentary from Charles Haynes, Founder of the Religious Freedom Center at the Newseum in Washinton, D.C. Lastly, an NPR report details how the Southern Baptist Church is dealing with changing societal norms.

This first article cites a current law suit brought about in Illinois over a mandated transgender bathroom policy.

This second article provides evidence to counter arguments from advocates of religious liberty laws who argue that allowing transgender people into the bathroom of their choice will open the door to predators.

This third piece is an analysis from Dr. Charles Haynes at the Religious Freedom Center of the Newseum.

This last link is a NPR story (7 minute audio included) on the Southern Baptist Church and societal changes.