BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS
DATE:
29/03/2011
Against the Law: Jude joins Kevin Spacey on street protest against brutal Belarus regime of 'Europe's last dictator'
By Jody Thompson
Jude Law and Kevin Spacey joined more than 100 protesters last night calling for an end to the dictatorship in Belarus.
They joined campaigners including playwright Sir Tom Stoppard and actor Roger Lloyd Pack to march for freedom of expression in Belarus and the release of political prisoners held by its president, Alexander Lukashenko.
Jude, 38, is known for his campaigning, mostly publicly for the UN-backed Peace One Day charity of which he is ambassador and which campaigns for all wars to cease for a day each year on September 21.
On the streets: Jude Law and Kevin Spacey marched in London to campaign for free speech in Belarus
On the streets: Jude Law and Kevin Spacey marched in London to campaign for free speech in Belarus
Spacey, 51, said he was moved to act and protest about human rights violations in Belarus after watching the Belarus Free Theatre (BFT) perform in New York last year.
He told the Evening Standard: 'It's the only time I've read a programme saying nearly every single member of a theatre company has been arrested or imprisoned.'
Law, who has been filming new movie 360 in London over the past with Rachel Weisz, 41, added: 'Freedom of speech is not just about artistic expression but also about fundamental freedoms. We have the opportunity in this country to be heard and to use our freedom of speech.'
Un-lawful: The peace campaigner and actor claims that people's human rights are being breached in the former Soviet country
Un-lawful: The peace campaigner and actor claims that people's human rights are being breached in the former Soviet country
He continued: 'It's our responsibility, therefore, that we speak for those who are less fortunate, especially as fellow Europeans.
'One would hope that this dictator will internationally be recognised for what he's doing, the tyranny that he's forcing people to live under.'
The demonstration began outside public relations consultancy firm Grayling, in Victoria, central London, with the protesters calling for the company to end its business within the former Soviet republic.
The demonstrators then marched to the House of Commons where the BFT, whose members have been targeted and imprisoned for speaking out against the government of the dictator president, were to perform.
American Beauty star Spacey also revealed that he had just discovered that his own films and those of Law have now been banned in Belarus because of their involvement with the protests.
He said: 'They can ban as many films as they want but they will never be able to ban the Belarus people's right to fight for their freedom and their voices to be heard, and that's what this protest is about.'
On PR company Grayling's blog meanwhile, chief executive Michael Murphy said the firm had not worked for the government of Belarus, lobbied on its behalf, or acted as an advocate for the government or its policies.
He wrote: 'Grayling is always very careful when it operates in countries which have a different approach to democracy and human rights than what would be regarded as normal in the EU or North America.
'We support respect for the rights of individuals and believe that long-term national progress comes about through both the assured safety of, and economic opportunity for, a country's citizens.'
He added that there are no UN sanctions against Belarus and the company complies 100% with EU sanctions against the leaders of the Belarusian government.
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