On October 21, 2010, shortly following the announcement of an unprecedented $60 billion US-Saudi arms deal, CyberDissidents.org director David Keyes was interviewed on RT, one of Russia's largest television stations broadcast in over 100 countries. "Saudi Arabia is a country which lashes gays, prevents women from leaving their home or country without being accompanied by a male mahram, or guardian. It is a country which bans the walking of pet cats and dogs in public, there is gender apartheid [and it] bans women from driving. I think a lot more can be done to increase American concern and pressure for improvements in Saudi human rights," he said.

Keyes called for linkage between arms sales and human rights. He also sharply criticized Russia for its backing of authoritarian states. "It is not America alone which has funded and armed autocratic regimes in the Middle East. Russia as well this year announced US$ 1.8 billion to Libya and last year US$ 2 billion to Venezuela. 70% of the Iranian arms imports also comes from Russia. And China has, unfortunately, been very bad on this issue," Keyes acknowledged. "So it really is a global phenomenon and it is due in no small part to the influence of Saudi Arabia throughout the West." He concluded, "There is a belief in the West that appeasement is the best policy with the Saudi dictatorship."

To watch the whole interview, please click here: