VOA慢速英语2018 普京出席连接俄罗斯与克里米亚桥梁的开通仪式

Putin Opens Bridge Linking Russia to Crimea

Russian President Vladimir Putin has opened a new bridge linking southern Russia to Crimea.

俄罗斯总统普京为连接俄罗斯南部与克里米亚的新大桥揭幕。 

Putin drove a large truck Tuesday across the bridge, which Russia is calling the Crimean Bridge.Russia annexed 2 Crimea from Ukraine in 2014.

周二，普京驾驶一辆大卡车通过该桥，俄罗斯称该桥为克里米亚大桥。2014年俄罗斯从乌克兰兼并了克里米亚。

The opening of the bridge drew immediate 3 criticism from Ukraine, which has said the project violates international law. President Petro Poroshenko said the opening was an attempt by Russia "to legitimize the temporary occupation” of Crimea.

开通大桥立即遭到了乌克兰的批评，称该工程违反了国际法。乌克兰总统彼得·波罗申科称启幕是俄罗斯为“暂时占领克里米亚合法化”做出的试探。

Russian state television showed Putin - dressed in casual clothes - leading a group of trucks across the bridge. After reaching the Crimean side, he praised builders for their hard work. The efforts, he said, had made it possible for “this miracle” to be completed.

俄罗斯国家电视台画面中显示，普京身穿便装，带领一队卡车队从桥上开过。到达克里米亚那一边之后，普京表扬了辛苦工作的工人们。他说正是他们的努力诞生了这一奇迹。

The 19-kilometer bridge cost $3.6 billion to build. It links southern Russia to the Crimean city of Kerch. A railroad bridge is also being built and is due to be completed by the end of 2019.

这条19公里长的大桥造价36亿美元。连接了俄罗斯南部与克里米亚的刻赤市。一条铁路桥正在建造过程当中，预计到2019年底完工。

Russia’s annexation 4 of Crimea was condemned 5 by the international community. The European Union and United States placed economic sanctions on Russia for the action.

俄罗斯兼并克里米亚遭到了国际社会的强烈谴责，欧盟和美国曾因俄罗斯的兼并行动对俄罗斯进行经济制裁。

As Putin was celebrating the bridge, a new report was published heavily criticizing Russia for its human rights record. Human Rights Watch published a report Tuesday called Russia: FIFA World Cup 2018 - Human Rights Guide for Reporters.

正当普京庆祝大桥开通之时，一则新的报道强烈谴责了俄罗斯的人权记录。人权观察组织在周二发布了一项题为“2018年俄罗斯世界杯——记者人权指南”的报告。

The New York-based group says Russia will hold the upcoming FIFA World Cup championship during "the worst human rights crisis” since the breakup of the Soviet 6 Union.

总部设在美国纽约的人权观察组织称，俄罗斯将举办即将到来的世界杯自苏联解体至今“最严重的人权危机”之际。

Human Rights Watch urges FIFA to use its influence to bring up major human rights issues with Russian officials. Among the issues are labor 7 rights abuses, restrictions 8 on basic freedoms, internet censorship and attempting to silence rights activists 9.

人权观察组织敦促世界杯利用其影响力，向俄罗斯官员提出重大人权问题。其中包括侵犯劳工权利，限制基本的自由，网络审查以及不让人权活动家发声。

Hugh Williamson is Human Rights Watch’s director for Europe and Central Asia. He says the month-long World Cup can draw massive international attention to important issues outside of football. The new report aims to inform World Cup reporters about human rights abuses happening across Russia, he added.

休·威廉森是欧洲与中亚人权观察组织的负责人。他说长达一个月的世界杯能够让整个国际关注足球之外的重大事件。他补充说，新的报告旨在告诉世界杯的记者们关于俄罗斯践踏人权之事。

Words in This Story

annex 1 – v. to add (an area or region) to a country, state, etc. or to take control of a territory or place

legitimize – v. make something legal or acceptable

casual – adj. designed for or permitting ordinary dress: not formal

miracle – n. unusual and mysterious event often thought to have been caused by God

sanction – n. an action taken by one or more nations to make another nation follow a rule or law?

censorship – n. the blocking or removing of material such as writings, film, videos which are not approved by the government