RFE/RL Watchdog
3/22/2012 8:19:19 PM
A blog of human rights, media freedom, and democracy developments from RFE/RL's broadcast region.
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Pakistan: 943 'Honor Killings' Reported
At least 943 women and girls were murdered across Pakistan last year for allegedly defaming their family's honor, according to a report by the independent Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP). More 
Belarus Bars Activist From Leaving Country
Belarusian authorities have blocked another opposition figure from leaving the country. More 
Azeri Rock Star's Sentence Upheld
The Baku appeals court has upheld the jail sentences for the front man of the popular band Bulistan and two others. More 
Belarus Inmate To Be Force-Fed
Belarusian prison authorities have started connecting an intravenous feeding system to jailed opposition activist Syarhey Kavalenka, trying to forcibly end his hunger strike. More 
Kazan Protesters Demand Meeting
Dozens of people have demonstrated in Kazan, the capital of Russia’s central republic of Tatarstan, to demand a meeting with a top investigator from Moscow who has come to the city to check on an investigation into alleged police brutality that led to a man's death. More 
Turkmenistan: Atayev Reportedly Released
A human rights website has reported that Turkmenistan's former speaker of parliament, Ovezgeldy Ataev, and his wife have been released from custody. More 
Lukashenka: Bomber Trial Was 'Fair'
Belarusian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka says he believes the trial of the two men accused of planting a bomb in the Minsk subway was "transparent and fair." More A court in the Russian city of Tomsk has said that a sacred Hindu text does not contain extremist material. More 
Russian Court Backs Scientology Ban
A Moscow regional court upholds a lower court decision declaring books on Scientology to be extremist literature and banning publication or distribution of books from Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard. More 
Two More Police Arrested In Kazan For Alleged Torture
In Russia's central republic of Tatarstan, two police officers have been arrested and ordered detained for up to two months as investigators probe allegations that they were involved in torturing a man to force him to admit to a crime he never committed. More An annual U.S. government report is adding U.S. ally Turkey as well as Tajikistan to a list of the worst violators of religious rights. More 
Moscow To Minsk: Abolish Death Penalty
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has called on Belarus to join the rest of Europe and impose a moratorium on the death penalty. More 
Call For Russia To Stop Protester Arrests
New York-based Human Rights Watch (HRW) has called upon Russia to stop police from detaining peaceful protesters after more than 100 demonstrators were arrested at rallies over the weekend. More 
Serb Army Chief Suing Rights Activist
Serbia's army chief has sued a prominent human rights activist who had accused him of war crimes during the 1998-99 war in Kosovo. More 
Former Belarus Leader Stopped At Border
Belarus's first post-Soviet leader, Stanislau Shushkevich, says authorities tried to stop him leaving the country by removing him from a train bound for the capital of neighboring Lithuania. More 
Belarus Bomber's Mother Asks President To Postpone Execution
The mother of one of the men sentenced to death for the bombing of a metro station in the Belarusian capital, Minsk, that killed 15 people has asked President Alyaksandr Lukashenka to postpone her son’s execution for at least one year. More 
EU Lawmakers Slam Russia, Kazakhstan
EU lawmakers have adopted a resolution in which they "strongly criticize the shortcomings and irregularities in the preparation and conduct" of the Russian presidential election earlier this month. More 
Belarus Activist 'Could Die Any Moment'
The mother of jailed Belarusian activist Syarhey Kavalenka has warned that her jailed son, who is on hunger strike, could die at any moment. More 
Top Cop Fired Over Kazan 'Torture Death'
Russian Interior Minister Rashid Nurgaliev has fired the head of the police station in Tatarstan where officers allegedly raped a suspect in custody with a wine bottle, leading to the man's death. More |
