News: Europe/Central Asia
Nov 20, 2009
Uzbek authorities should ensure that an appeal hearing that began today for a human rights advocate is fair and independent, Human Rights Watch said. The activist, Farkhad Mukhtarov, was convicted of criminal charges in a trial that appeared to have been politically motivated, and he was denied the right to defend himself fully.
Press release
Nov 20, 2009
The French Immigration Minister’s proposals to address the needs of unaccompanied migrant children held at transit zones, especially airports, falls short of bringing France into compliance with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Press release
Nov 18, 2009
The Kyrgyz authorities should immediately release the human rights activists Bakhrom Hamroev and Izzatilla Rakhmatillaev and allow them to continue their fact-finding work without further interference.
Press release
Nov 17, 2009
European leaders should use the upcoming EU-Russia summit to convey alarm over deteriorating human rights in Russia and to press for concrete improvements. The summit is scheduled for November 18 and 19, 2009, in Stockholm.
Press release
Nov 16, 2009
Uzbek authorities should immediately release the human rights defender and farmers' rights activist Ganikhon Mamatkhanov, who is facing trial on politically motivated charges.
Press release
Nov 13, 2009
Uzbek authorities should immediately stop their new harassment campaign against political activists and human rights defenders. Since November 7, 2009, local authorities in six locations have detained at least seven activists and beaten three of them, one of whom sought hospital treatment.
Press release
Nov 12, 2009
The criminal convictions of two young activist bloggers are a step backward for free expression in Azerbaijan.
Press release
Nov 7, 2009
Turkmenistan’s release of the environmental activist Andrei Zatoka from prison on November 6, 2009, is a welcome development, but reports that the authorities effectively forced him to leave the country and confiscated his apartment, having already brought false charges against him, are troubling.
Press release
Nov 6, 2009
Turkey should not allow President Omar al-Bashir of Sudan, an accused war criminal, to attend a conference in Istanbul, and should arrest him if he sets foot in Turkey.
Press release
Nov 4, 2009
An Italian court’s conviction of 23 agents of the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) for kidnapping is an historic repudiation of the CIA’s crimes. The Milan court also found that two Italian officials illegally collaborated in CIA abuses.
Press release