Falun Gong practitioners in Russia held a series of activities on July the 20th 2004, including a parade, group exercise practice and an anti-torture exhibition, to protest against the five year-long persecution of Falun Gong in China.

The parade started from the University of Moscow at 4pm and arrived in front of the Chinese Embassy at about 6pm. Three yellow rings reading “Truth, Compassion, and Tolerance” were held at the head of parade, followed by a banner reading “Falun Dafa is Good”. Photos of victims who had died from the Chinese authorities’ persecution were also shown in the parade, together with a banner reading “Stop the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners in China, 1006 verified dead due to torture”. As it was the first time that such a parade was permitted and the people taking part obviously came from all walks of life, many onlookers were attracted and took leaflets with interest. The police, who were responsible for security and order, even decorated the paper crane and lotus with the words “Falun Dafa” and “Truthfulness, Compassion, Tolerance”.

An anti-torture exhibition, with live reconstructed scenes of torture, was shown at the Chinese Embassy, while group exercises, an exhibition about the facts of the persecution and the reading of a statement were also going on. Three Falun Gong practitioners made speeches to expose the facts of the brutal persecution in China and the the recent incidences of its export to the west. Shocked by the facts, many onlookers asked for and took the relevant materials.

Distributing leaflets to passers-by

All activities took place in a peaceful and sensible atmosphere, which obtained high praise from the police and other human rights organisations.