RFE/RL Watchdog
3/31/2011 4:43:04 PM
A blog of human rights, media freedom, and democracy developments from RFE/RL's broadcast region.
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Activists Detained In Baku Ahead Of Opposition Rally
Several opposition activists have been detained in Azerbaijan ahead of a planned antigovernment rally. More 
EU 'To Keep Pressing Belarus'
The European Union says it will continue to press for the release of all political prisoners in Belarus following Minsk's decision to soften the charges against two former presidential candidates. More 
Moldova Activists Deplore Setback On Gay Rights
The issue of gay rights is divisive in the predominantly Christian Orthodox country, but ensuring safeguards for homosexuals is a precondition for deeper ties with the European Union. More 
Iran Ministry Summons More Activists
Political activist and journalist Reza Alijani has been summoned to Iran's Intelligence Ministry, the latest activist to receive a summons in recent weeks. More 
Missing Kazakh Publisher 'In Belarus'
Colleagues said Daniyar Moldashev, whose Almaty publishing house prints the opposition newspapers "Respublika" (The Republic) and "Golos respubliki" (The Voice of the Republic), went missing after he was attacked and robbed on his way home from Almaty airport on March 25. More 
Turkmen Activist Forcibly Committed
A resident of the village of Sakgar in the district of Magtymguly told RFE/RL that 80-year-old Amangelen Shapudakov was called to the local police department on March 7 and has not been seen since. Police initially denied he'd been sent to a psychiatric facility, then changed their story. More 
Influential Bahraini Blogger Reportedly Arrested
A high-profile Internet activist in Bahrain has reportedly been arrested. More 
Kazakh Opposition Publisher 'Missing' After Attack
A Kazakh opposition publisher is reported missing following an attack, and his colleagues say they fear he might have been abducted. More 
Jailed Iranian Blogger In Grave Condition, His Father Reports
The jailed Iranian blogger Hossein Ronaghi-Maleki is in grave condition in Tehran's Evin prison. More 
Belarusian Activist Jailed 3 1/2 Years For Election Protest
A Belarusian political activist has been sentenced to 3 1/2 years in a maximum security prison after being found guilty of taking part in "mass unrest" in December. More 
Uzbeks Shut Religious Bookstores
Uzbek security services have closed down bookstores specializing in religious literature in Tashkent. More 
Belarus Journalist's Apartment Searched
A Polish-Belarusian journalist charged with insulting President Alyaksandr Lukashenka says the KGB has searched his apartment and itemized his possessions. More 
Kazakh Independent Weekly Faces Closure
The leading independent weekly in western Kazakhstan, "Uralskaya nedelya," is facing closure because of a court fine. More 
Bakiev Mass Trial Postponed Again
A defense lawyer said that none of those being tried in absentia -- including the former Kyrgyz president and several others -- has ever been questioned and no personal statements regarding the charges against them have been recorded to be considered by a court. More 
OSCE Condemns Baku Reporter Attack
Dunja Mijatovic, the media freedom representative of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), described the weekend attack on Seymur Haziyev as "inadmissible" and urged that the perpetrators of that and previous alleged attacks against Haziyev be prosecuted. More 
Azeri Columnist Claims Abduction
Seymur Haziyev, a columnist for the opposition "Azadliq" newspaper, told RFE/RL the incident took place in Jeyranbatan, some 20 kilometers from Baku, as he was returning home from work after midnight on March 26. More 
Belarus Jails, Bans Russian Journalist
Aleksandr Lashmankin told RFE/RL that he plans to appeal his arrest and the decision to annul his accreditation, describing both as politically motivated. More 
Hunger Strikes In Kyrgyz Prison System
Kyrgyz officials say about 10,000 inmates in prisons across the country are on hunger strike demanding better conditions in jails. More 
Kazakh Torture 'Declining'
Kazakh Ombudsman Askar Shakirov says the situation regarding torture in the country has improved significantly, a statement many human rights activists dispute. More Inmates in four jails in Kyrgyzstan have announced that they have launched a hunger strike. More 
Uzbek Activist 'Wins' Exit Visa Battle
Uzbek rights activist Dmitry Tikhonov has been given an exit visa after months of rejections and litigation against Uzbekistan's Interior Ministry. More 
Khomeini Grandson Condemns Arrests
The opposition Kaleme website reported that Yasser Khomeini called the house detentions of opposition leaders Mir Hossein Musavi and Mehdi Karrubi an "unacceptable measure." He made the comments while visiting Karrubi's son, Ali, who was recently released from prison on bail. More 
PACE 'Won't Rule Out' Azeri Sanctions
A Council of Europe rapporteur for Azerbaijan says sanctions cannot be ruled out if Baku continues to block his fact-finding visit. More 
Kyrgyz Human Rights Veteran Turns To Uzbekistan
Tursunbek Akun has been a champion of human rights in Kyrgyzstan for a long time now. And not just in Kyrgyzstan. More 
Two Belarusian Activists Get Jail, One Gets Asylum
A court in Minsk has sentenced two opposition activists to jail in a trial that critics say was aimed at keeping them behind bars during the presidential election. Meanwhile, a former opposition presidential candidate has been granted political asylum in the Czech Republic. More |
