WATCH: Parisians Protest Sochi Olympics With Visual Demonstration

Just days before the opening ceremonies in Sochi, Russia, activists in Paris took to the streets to highlight the Olympic host country's human rights violations.

Sunnivie Brydum

Sunnivie is the managing editor of The Advocate, and an award-winning journalist whose passion is covering the politics of equality and elevating the unheard stories of our community. Originally from Colorado, she and her spouse now live in Los Angeles, along with their three fur-children: dogs Luna and Cassie Doodle, and "Meow Button" Tilly.

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Sunnivie Brydum

February 03 2014 4:32 PM EST

January 07 2016 10:05 PM EST

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Human rights activists gathered in Paris on Saturday to stage a visual protest highlighting the ongoing human rights violations reported in Winter Olympic host country Russia.

Demonstrators associated with several nongovernmental organizations gathered in brightly colored monochrome jumpsuits to form a human representation of the Olympic Rings, then held up graphic depictions of antigay and anti-opposition repression that has become common in modern Russia.

"People have an image of Russia of things getting better," Stephan Oberreit, director general of Amnesty International France, told Reuters. "No, there are problems in Russia, and we have to remember that we are not just buying gas, or selling weapons, or technology to the Russians, [or] having cultural exchanges. There's human rights violations, and the wider public has to acknowledge that."

Russia enacted a nationwide ban on "propaganda of nontraditional sexual relations" in areas visible to minors last summer, which has already seen activists, international journalists, and local media outlets fined for violating the law. Reports of vicious anti-LGBT attacks in Russia continue -- sometimes perpetuated by police or former military officials, but are rarely prosecuted since coming out is essentially criminalized by the "gay propaganda" ban.

Despite numerous assurances from various Russian officials, including President Vladimir Putin, many activists remain concerned that LGBT athletes and spectators will not be safe in Sochi during the Games. President Putin himself rejected these concerns last month, saying that gay people will be safe in Sochi, as long as they "leave children in peace."