RESCUE JOURNALISTS, HUMANITARIAN WORKERS - PLEASE CALL !

Kester Ratcliff
Groningen, Netherlands ·

UK RESIDENTS - CALL THE FOREIGN OFFICE AND THE RUSSIAN EMBASSY RIGHT NOW TO DEMAND SAFE PASSAGE.

Foreign Office: +44 20 7008 1500 and 
Russian Embassy: +44 20 7229 6412

Civilian opposition activists, journalists, humanitarian rescue workers, medics, lawyers, etc. and anyone who's spoken out against the regime are "terrorists" in regime speak. They are being raped, tortured and killed when caught.

The UN and SNC have been ready for a week to evacuate everyone and think they can do it in a few hours if only the Russian government would stop bombarding people in the kill zone they've concentrated people into now and the pro-regime coalition of militias funded and ordered by Iran would order their snipers on the Castello road to stand down. There are enough ambulances to evacuate those who cannot walk 4km to the nearest opposition area, in the countryside north of Aleppo.

The Russian government's line is that civilians can leave to regime controlled territory - some have, but men and boys over 15 are being executed on the spot or forced to join the pro-regime forces, i.e. they have to agree to kill their own people or be killed, and anyone on the regime's blacklist for civilian opposition activities is likely to be tortured to death. Those who still remain in E Aleppo are those who know if they try to leave to regime controlled territory they will most probably be tortured to death, so they'd rather be killed more quickly by bombs, and some are committing suicide to avoid being captured by the pro-regime militias.

This is happening very fast - tonight could be the end. If you can go to one of the protests outside the Russian, Iranian and Syrian embassies tonight - I've seen them listed in London, Liverpool and Manchester in the UK so far, please go. And if you can also please phone the Russian embassy and UK foreign office and demand safe passage out for everyone:

CALL THE FOREIGN OFFICE AND THE RUSSIAN EMBASSY RIGHT NOW TO DEMAND SAFE PASSAGE.

Foreign Office: +44 20 7008 1500

The UK gov has only issued "strongly worded statements" with no real credible threats of serious consequences if the Russian government does not respond appropriately. They could, for example, ask the EuCo to ban Russia from the SWIFT interbank clearing system, for a start.

Russian Embassy: +44 20 7229 6412

They will almost certainly hang up as soon as they realise what you're calling for, but keep their phones ringing constantly.