Amnesty Germany has asked its supporters to join them in calling for the release of Mikhail Khodorkovsky and Platon Lebedev. Amnesty International declared them prisoners of conscience in 2011, and, in the year that marks the tenth anniversary of their imprisonment, calls for their immediate and unconditional release. Supporters can sign an online petition (in German and English) addressed to President Putin.

The petition has been launched ahead of the forthcoming opening of the Hanover Fair, the largest trade fair in the world, in which Russia is this year’s partner. German Chancellor Angela Merkel will be joined by Russian President Vladimir Putin to open the fair on April 7. Amnesty Germany has also called for protests to raise awareness of all Russian prisoners of conscience, and will hold two demonstrations on Sunday and Monday. Amnesty posters bearing the slogan, “Human Rights Made in Russia”, will be appearing in subway stations and at traffic junctions, while videos carrying the same message will appear on the passenger TV facilities of the Hanover light rail. The posters and videos will reiterate Amnesty’s demand for the release of all prisoners of conscience in Russia.