A series of reports from Sochi, Russia, by organizers and participants of the XIX World Festival of Youth and Students, reflecting on the interference of Russian capitalist authorities in the festival.
October 17, 2017
Russian Komsomol (RKSM):
Today, representatives of the delegations of Arab countries held a protest action at the entrance to the media center of the World Festival of Youth and Students in Sochi. Their discontent is caused by the fact that the directorate of the festival has not yet raised the flag of Palestine.
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| Photo: RKSM |
This is not the first conflict for the Palestinian delegation — on the first day of the festival, the delegation of Palestine was not allowed to attend the opening ceremony.
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| Photo: RKSM |
Also today there were conflicts between the delegations of the Communist Party of India and the state delegation [of India] and there were tensions between the state delegations of Azerbaijan and Armenia. The reason for this situation was that these countries’ state delegations are represented not by left-wing activists, but by pro-government forces.
Alexander Batov, (Revolutionary Communist Youth League-RKSMb, Rot Front), member of the Festival organizing committee:
Bulletin: Two communist youth from Sweden were detained [by Russian authorities] at the checkpoint of the festival. They were detained … for badges calling for a boycott of Israel [BDS]. They took away their documents and put them in different rooms. #WFYS2017 #facepalm
Update: Released. I understand there has been a dialogue with the authorities. It’s alright.
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| Photo: Alexander Batov |
Source
Translated by Greg Butterfield
Red Star News + Translations 