 RFE/RL Watchdog 10/21/2010 6:43:52 PM A blog of human rights, media freedom, and democracy developments from RFE/RL's broadcast region. For more, please visit and bookmark Watchdog . |
 Libel Trial Against Handicapped Russian Journalist Postponed The defamation trial of Russian journalist Mikhail Beketov has been postponed when he did not appear in court. More  Belarusian Activist Completes Sentence More  Iran Scholar Denies Charges In Court Religious scholar Ahmad Ghabel was arrested in December on his way to the funeral of senior dissident cleric Ayatollah Hossein Ali Montazeri, and spent six months in jail before being released on bail. He was rearrested last month in Mashhad. More  Kyrgyz Rights Defender Returns Prominent Kyrgyz human rights defender Tolekan Ismailova told RFE/RL that she decided to come back because of the pressure that has been exerted on rights activists and lawyers following deadly interethnic clashes in southern Kyrgyzstan in June. More  Russian Activists, Opposition Apply For Mass Gathering In Moscow Opposition groups and human rights activists in Moscow today formally applied for permission to hold a mass gathering on the city's Triumph Square on October 31. More  Belarusian Activist's Trial Resumes With Changed Charge A fraud case against Belarusian rights activist Mikhas Bashura resumed today with a modified charge. More Belarusian Activist May Face Additional Charges A fraud case against Belarusian rights activist Mikhas Bashura has been suspended due to possible new charges against him. More  Iran Reformist Party Member Arrested Tehran Prosecutor Abbas Jafari-Dolatabadi announced the arrest of Participation Front leader Ali Shakurirad on October 13. More  EU Ban Urged Over Russian Lawyer's Death Moscow Helsinki Group Chairwoman Lyudmila Alekseyeva has called on Germany to put a visa ban on Russian officials found responsible for the death of lawyer Sergei Magnitsky. More  Satirical Blog In Azerbaijan Blocked The administrators of the "Scorpion" blog, who requested anonymity for security reasons, issued a statement on October 13 saying that the blog might have been blocked because its satirical commentaries, photos, videos, and caricatures have annoyed some government officials. More |
