Protest Outside Chinese Embassy in Armenia in Defense of Ai Weiwei

At 1 pm on Apr. 15, a protest will take place outside the Chinese Embassy in Armenia in defense of world-renowned artist Ai Weiwei who was detained by Chinese police on April 3 and is being held by the state in an undisclosed location. The artist perhaps best known for co-designing the 2008 Olympic Bird’s Nest stadium, is being charged for “economic crimes.” A number of international agencies, most notably Amnesty International, insist that the persecution is political and emblematic of China’s widening crackdown on dissent.

Organizers of the protest outside the Chinese Embassy in Armenia urge “all defenders of freedom of speech and all those concerned to call the Chinese Embassy on that day and demand Ai Weiwei’s immediate release,” as well as joining them at 1 pm on Apr. 15 outside the embassy.

Organizers also ask those attending to prepare posters and leaflets to bring to the demonstration.