Campaigners blockading Russian embassy in London backed by thousands across the world

**Embassy phone lines across the world jammed with calls to stop bombing of Aleppo*

Today, as dozens of activists from The Syria Campaign chained themselves to the Russian embassy in London blockading the entrance to protest the Kremlin’s assault on the besieged Syrian city of Aleppo, people across the globe, from South Africa to Spain, and from India to Italy, joined the call phoning Russian embassies in their countries.

Yesterday the Russian Defence Ministry called on armed opposition groups and civilians to leave Aleppo on Friday between 9am and 7pm, or risk becoming “unnecessary casualties.” Activists and journalists in Aleppo warned of the "oncoming annihilation of eastern Aleppo" by Russian and Syrian regime forces while the world’s eyes are on the US elections.

Alice Jay, Campaign Director at Avaaz, said: “Russia’s impending assault on Aleppo heralded as counter terrorism could mean the massacre of thousands of civilians who can’t leave the city. Governments have not done enough to stop these crimes, so people worldwide are taking their outcry straight to Russian diplomats.”

Today's actions follow a massive global campaign with 1.6 million people urging world leaders to enforce an air-exclusion zone in Northern Syria, including Aleppo, to end the bombing. In the last week people in Spain, Malta and Greece demanded their governments block Russian warships from their ports, and thousands worldwide urged their Foreign Ministers to move from condemnation to robust action directly on social media.

ENDS

For more information please contact: Will Davies, will@avaaz.org, +16466281210