[inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] good morning, everyone. Welcome to the Atlantic Council. Im paula dobriansky, im on the executive committee of the Atlantic Council board and i would want to commend the councils Eurasia Center for todays program which is entitled the state of human rights and putins russia. As many of you know the center has been extremely active and a vigorous voice on a range of issues from russias disinformation to the issue of ukraine, the scale and scope of the aggression in ukraine and the illegal annexation of crimea. Todays forum is particularly timing. Russia has experienced the worst crack that in human rights in decades. And we have three keynote speakers who will be up first, and all of whom are making a difference in their own way. Their strong, outspoken advocates for freedom and basic human rights in russia. Im going to introduce the first three and then will be having a panel afterwards which will be moderate
Hour and 35 minutes. Good morning, everyone. Welcome to the Atlantic Council. Im paul awe dobriansky im on the executive committee of the Atlantic Council board and i really want to commend counsels center for todays program which is entitled the state of human rights in putins russia. As many of you know the center has been extremely active and a vigorous voice on a range of issues from russias disinformation to the issue of ukraine, the scale and scope of the aggression in ukraine and the illegal annexation of crimeya. Russia has kperned the worst crack down in human rights in decades and we have three keynote speakers who will be up first, and all of whom are making a difference in their own way. Theyre strong, outspoken advocates for freedom and basic human rights in russia. Im going to introduce the first tleend then well be having a panel afterwards which will be moderated by dr. Alina polyakova of the council. But first were going to be hearing im going to introduce ail all thre
Minutes. [inaudible] hour and 35 minutes. Good morning, everyone. Welcome to the Atlantic Council. Im paul awe dobriansky im on the executive committee of the Atlantic Council board and i really want to commend counsels center for todays program which is entitled the state of human rights in putins russia. As many of you know the center has been extremely active and a vigorous voice on a range of issues from russias disinformation to the issue of ukraine, the scale and scope of the aggression in ukraine and the illegal annexation of crimeya. Russia has kperned the worst crack down in human rights in decades and we have three keynote speakers who will be up first, and all of whom are making a difference in their own way. Theyre strong, outspoken advocates for freedom and basic human rights in russia. Im going to introduce the first tleend then well be having a panel afterwards which will be moderated by dr. Alina polyakova of the council. But first were going to be hearing im going to i
Good morning, everyone. Welcome to the Atlantic Council. I am pollock. I am on the committee of the Atlantic Council board. I really want to thank the Eurasia Center for todays program which is entitled the state of human rights in putins russia. As you know, the Atlantic Council has been a vigorous voice on subjects from disinformation to ukraine, the scale and scope of aggression in ukraine into the illegal annexation of crimea. Todays form is particularly timely. Russia has we have three keynote speakers who will be up first. All of whom are making a difference in their own way, they are strong outspoken advocates for freedom and basic human rights in russia. I am going to introduce the first three, and then we will be having a panel afterwards which will be moderated by dr. Alina polyakova from the Atlantic Council. We are going to be hearing im going to introduce all three. Were going to be hearing first from marylands senior senator ben cardin, Ranking Member of the Senate Foreig
Emperor akihito and Prime Minister shinzo abe as well as family members of the war dead. Abe paid his respects to the war dead and said the people of japan have never forgotten that the countrys current peace and prosperity was built on their sacrifices. Translator we humbly face lessons from history in order to contribute to world peace. We will do our best to realize as a society where everyone can live peacefully and hopefully. At noon, the participants observed a minute of silence. The emperor expressed his profound sense of remorse over the war. This was his first public appearance since the video message was released earlier this month in which he indicated his wish to abdicate. Nearly 80 of the family members who attended the ceremony are 71 years or older. The number of war widows remains at seven. Earlier in the day, Prime Minister shinzo abe sent a ritual offering to tokyos yasukuni shrine. Honoring the war dead. They have since made the offering on the anniversary. The offer