Russian pavilion calls Edmonton Heritage Festival exclusion a human rights violation

The Russian Heritage Cultural Development Association says being excluded from this year's heritage festival is a human rights violation.

The Russian Heritage Cultural Development Association says being excluded from this year's heritage festival is a human rights violation.

"Banning individuals from participating in a cultural event based on their ancestry or place of origin should be considered a violation of human rights," the Russian Heritage Cultural Development Association (RHCDA) wrote in a letter to the Alberta Human Rights Commission, which it shared with CTV News Edmonton on Friday.

"This decision of EHFA board is deeply disturbing - by excluding individuals based on their ancestry or place of origin, the event organizers are perpetuating stereotypes, reinforcing divisions, and limiting the free expression of cultural identity."

The Edmonton Heritage Festival Association (EHFA) announced two weeks ago that the Russia pavilion would not participate in the August event.

The board said consultations and meetings revealed "it was not possible" for the Russian and Ukraine pavilions to "come up with a solution together."

It also said the decision to ban the Russian booth was made for safety reasons, noting "several threats demanding that the EHFA not allow the Russian pavilion to participate." Police told the festival board it would need extra security if it allowed RHCDA to participate.

The organizers of the Russian pavilion claim both their group and Edmonton's Russian community have been subject to defamation, bullying and threats over the last two months.