 RFE/RL Watchdog 3/19/2010 A blog of human rights, media freedom, and democracy developments from RFE/RL's broadcast region. For more, please visit and bookmark Watchdog . |
 Amnesty International Says EU States Exporting Torture Instruments The London-based human rights body Amnesty International has claimed that some European Union states are selling torture equipment to foreign countries that are known to mistreat prisoners. More  Bloggers In Bashkortostan Charged With Extremism Five bloggers in Bashkortostan have been charged with extremist activities. More  Iran Activist 'Transferred To AIDS Ward' The mother of jailed Iranian labor activist Mansour Osanlou has told RFE/RL's Radio Farda he has been transferred to a prison ward for drug addicts and prisoners suffering from Hepatitis and AIDS. More  Answers Wanted On Iran Journalist Death The Paris-based media watchdog, Reporters Without Borders, has asked for a full investigation into the case of Omidreza Mirsayafi, an Iranian journalist and blogger who died in prison one year ago. More  Bishkek Court Suspends Publication Of Two Independent Newspapers A court in Bishkek has ordered two independent newspapers to suspend publication for the duration of court proceedings against them. More  Ukraine Activists Protest Planned Closure Of Ministry Human Rights Section The Ukrainian human rights community has strongly objected to the planned abolition of the Interior Ministry's department for monitoring human rights. More  RSF 'Dismayed' By Kyrgyz Media Clampdown The media watchdog Reporters Without Borders (RSF) says it is "dismayed" at the "unprecedented wave of harassment" directed toward independent and opposition news media in Kyrgyzstan. More  Ethnic NGO In Russia Under Pressure A nongovernmental group in Russia that unites ethnic Ukrainians is under threat of closure. More  Russian Opposition Activists, Journalists On Hunger Strike In Astrakhan Several opposition politicians and journalists have begun a hunger strike in the Caspian city of Astrakhan to demand a halt to what they say is the persecution of opposition activists in the southern Russian region. More  Jailed Azerbaijani Opposition Journalist Pardoned An Azerbaijani opposition journalist jailed on what supporters say were politically motivated charges has been pardoned. More  Minsk Authorities Cast Wide Net In Raids Police in Minsk searched the offices and apartments of journalists, activists, and politicians and allegedly struck a staffer at one NGO during the course of the raids on March 16. More  Police Search Kyrgyz Opposition Leader's Car Omurbek Tekebaev, head of the Ata-Meken (Fatherland) party, told RFE/RL he was leaving the opposition-organized People's Congress in Bishkek when his car was stopped by police officers. More  Kyrgyz Rights Activist Goes Missing A well-known Kyrgyz rights activist has gone missing en route to an opposition-sponsored rally in the capital, Bishkek. More Kyrgyz Editors Summoned For Questioning The chief editors of the Kyrgyz newspapers "Achyk Sayasat" (Open Politics) and "Nazar" (Attention) were questioned today by officials of the Prosecutor-General's Office about certain articles in their publications. More  Freedom House Calls On Kyrgyzstan To Loosen Media Controls Freedom House says a decision by Kyrgyz authorities last week to block broadcasting and Internet access to U.S. government-funded news services underscores a "growing concern for freedom of expression in Kyrgyzstan." More  Kyrgyz Journalist, Opposition Activists Beaten An independent journalist and two activists of the opposition Ata-Meken (Fatherland) party have been beaten in southern Kyrgyzstan. More Kyrgyz Police Confiscate Independent Newspaper The editor of an independent Kyrgyz newspaper says Bishkek police confiscated its latest issue on March 15. More  BBC Outage Amid Kyrgyz 'Clampdown' The BBC's local-language service in Kyrgyzstan experienced an unexplained interruption today, sparking concerns the U.K.-funded broadcaster might share the fate of other media outlets suffering setbacks there. More  U.S. Group Slams Baku Over Blogger Case The U.S. Helsinki Commission has criticized a Baku court's rejection of appeals by two Azerbaijani bloggers against their prison sentences. More Kyrgyz Rally In Support Of Media Freedom Some 250 people -- prominent opposition politicians, lawmakers, and rights activists among them -- gathered today outside the offices of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in Bishkek to ask for help to protect freedom of speech in the country, RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service reports. More  Charges Against Armenian Activist Dropped Armenian police have dropped a controversial criminal case against a youth activist who publicized alleged sexual and other abuse at a Yerevan boarding school for disabled children. More  U.S. Embassy Honors Armenian Activist The U.S. Embassy in Armenia has publicly honored a young Armenian activist who was prosecuted for publicizing alleged sexual and other abuse at a Yerevan boarding school, RFE/RL's Armenian Service reports. More  Baha'i Activist Says Faithful In Iran Live In 'Constant Fear Of Losing Everything,' Including Their Lives Seven top leaders of the Baha’i faith are on trial in Iran after awaiting their fate in Tehran's notorious Evin prison for almost two years. Iran's Shi'ite religious establishment considers the faith a heretical offshoot of Islam. RFE/RL correspondent Ladan Nekoomaram sat down with Sovaida Ma'ani Ewing, an international lawyer and Baha'i activist and author of the book “Collective Security Within Reach,” to discuss the persecution of Baha’is in Iran. More |
