Drawing (in)justice Opens in Rome with Italy’s Media, Politicians and Human Rights Activists in Attendance

Rome was the latest host of the "Drawing (in)justice" exhibition which opened with a press conference on July 13th at the Arciconfraternita dei Bergamaschi, an old religious site located in Via della Pietra. The press conference was attended by members of Italy's human rights community, media and politicians, along with the artists, Boris Zhutovsky and Katia Beliavskaia. The exhibition lasted 7 days - from July 13th until July 19th, and was accompanied several nights with classical music concerts open to the public.

Press Conference Speakers:

  • Giacomo Baiguini, President of Arciconfraternita dei Bergamaschi
  • Sen. Pietro Marcenaro, President of the Senate's Human Rights Commission
  • Francesca Gori, President of Memorial Italy

Other Guests:

  • Mons. Giulio Dellavite, official representative of the Holy See to the Congregation of Bishop and Chaplain of the Holy Father
  • On. Roberto Rao, member of the Lower Chamber (UDC Party)
  • Sen. Luigi Zanda, member of the Upper Chamber (PD Party)
  • Gyneth Sick, Aspen Institute (Aspenia)

Several other guests unable to attend expressed their support to Khodorkovsky's cause. In particular, Alfredo Mantica, Undersecretary of State - Ministry for Foreign Affairs.

Commenting at the event was On. Roberto Rao, an MP from the UDC Party in Italy's lower chamber. Rao noted: "We have followed this issue, the important trial of Mikhail Khodorkovsky, from the beginning. In the silence of the Italian parliament, we proposed a motion which was unanimously adopted in favor of freedom and for light to be shed on this dark issue, which relates not only to Russia, but to everyone. It relates to the freedom of information, trade and democracy throughout the world."

 

He continued, "We think that at the moment this freedom does not exist in Russia, and we want to make a small contribution to bring this story into the public domain. I think art is one of the tools we can use to move people, much more than words. If you look at these pictures, many questions are raised: in order to explain these pictures it is easier understand what is happening in Russia, to this person, Mikhail Khodorkovsky, who we know about, and to many others we don't know about him."