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Fact Sheet on Turkmenistan: Still Closed and Still Repressive August 2008 The death in December 2006 of Turkmenistan’s authoritarian ruler, president-for-life Saparmurad Niazov led to unprecedented interest in this gas-rich Central Asian country from the European Union, Unites States and international organizations. The government under President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov ended the self-imposed international isolation of the Niazov era and has actively engaged foreign partners, notably the intergovernmental organizations and the business community. It has also begun to reverse some of the most ruinous social policies of the Niazov era, has begun to tackle the Niazov’s cult of personality, and has started constitutional reform. However, it remains—as detailed below—one of the most repressive and authoritarian states in the world. Its policies and practices are anathema to European values. September 4, 2008 Memorandum Printer friendly version Clarification Regarding Use of Cluster Munitions in Georgia On August 21, 2008, Human Rights Watch reported a series of attacks with cluster munitions around four towns and villages in Georgia’s Gori district. Human Rights Watch attributed all the strikes to Russian forces, but upon further investigation has concluded that the origin of the cluster munitions found on August 20 in two of the villages – Shindisi and Pkhvenisi – cannot yet be determined. September 2, 2008 Press Release Also available in 
Printer friendly version France: Sarkozy Should Use Syria Visit to Raise Rights Damascus Authorities Repress Basic Freedoms French President Nicolas Sarkozy should use his visit to Syria on September 3 and 4, 2008, to raise human rights concerns with President Bashar al-Asad, Human Rights Watch said today. In particular, Sarkozy should urge Asad to release activists detained solely for exercising their rights to freedom of expression and association. He should also ask Asad to make public all information on the violent suppression of a riot at Sednaya prison in July 2008. September 1, 2008 Press Release Printer friendly version Georgia: Join Treaty Banning Cluster Munitions Government Acknowledges Using Weapon Against Russian Forces The Georgian government said it used cluster munitions during the August 2008 armed conflict with Russia, Human Rights Watch said today. In a letter to Human Rights Watch, the Georgian Defense Ministry stated that cluster rockets were “used against Russian military equipment and armament marching from Roki tunnel to Dzara road [sic],” but that they “were never used against civilians, civilian targets and civilian populated or nearby areas.” Human Rights Watch has not independently confirmed this information, but has reported Russia’s use of cluster munitions during the fighting. September 1, 2008 Press Release Also available in 
Printer friendly version South Ossetia: Tskhinvali’s Apocalypse By Tanya Lokshina, deputy director of Human Rights Watch’s Moscow office. Published in opendemocracy.net With the fighting over, Tanya Lokshina hitches lifts between checkpoints around South Ossetia's wrecked capital Tskhinvali chronicling the grieving and burying, looting and burning, the unexploded bombs, disenchanted militias and Russian troops struggling to protect what remains of abandoned Georgian villages. August 29, 2008 Commentary Printer friendly version Georgia: Satellite Images Show Destruction, Ethnic Attacks Russia Should Investigate, Prosecute Crimes Recent satellite images released by the UN program UNOSAT confirm the widespread torching of ethnic Georgian villages inside South Ossetia, Human Rights Watch said today. Detailed analysis of the damage depicted in five ethnic Georgian villages shows the destruction of these villages around the South Ossetian capital, Tskhinvali, was caused by intentional burning and not armed combat. August 28, 2008 Press Release Also available in
Printer friendly version EU: Protect Civilians in Gori District Security of Civilians Should Be Central to Summit Discussions on Russia The European Union should act to protect Georgian civilians from continued attacks by Ossetian militias and opportunistic violence, Human Rights Watch said today. Human Rights Watch called on the European Union to use its unprecedented summit on Russia on September 1 to make a plan for ensuring protection for civilians in Georgia. August 27, 2008 Press Release Also available in 
Printer friendly version Letter to President Nicolas Sarkozy in Advance of the September 1 Emergency Summit We are writing in advance of the emergency Summit of EU Heads of State and Government to be held on September 1st, to urge you to take very concrete steps to: enhance the protection of civilians in areas affected by the armed conflict between Russia and Georgia; facilitate the safe and voluntary return of the thousands of displaced; and, to advance accountability for serious human rights abuses and violations of international humanitarian law committed by all parties to the conflict. August 27, 2008 Letter Printer friendly version Law on Occupation and Effective Control 1. When does the law on occupation apply to the Russian presence in Georgia? Territory is considered "occupied" when it is comes under the control or authority of foreign armed forces, whether partially or entirely, without the consent of the domestic government. This is a factual determination, and the reasons or motives that lead to the occupation or are the basis for continued occupation are irrelevant. Even if the foreign armed forces meet no armed resistance and there is no fighting, once territory comes under the effective control of the foreign armed forces the laws on occupation are applicable. Therefore wherever Russian forces exercise effective control of an area in Georgian territory, including in South Ossetia or Abkhazia, without the consent or agreement of the Georgian government, for the purposes of international humanitarian law it is an occupying power and must adhere to its obligations as such. August 26, 2008 Questions and Answers Printer friendly version A UK Window into CIA Abuses By Joanne Mariner, terrorism and counterterrorism director Published in FindLaw This Wednesday, unless the UK foreign secretary takes rapid action, Britain’s High Court will hold a hearing to assess whether the UK government should be ordered to hand over secret documents to lawyers for a Guantanamo detainee. The detainee in question, Binyam Mohamed, faces possible charges of conspiracy and material support for terrorism before a military commission at Guantanamo. August 25, 2008 Commentary Printer friendly version Georgia: a challenge for Europe By Tom Porteous, London director Published in Guardian online As Russia withdraws its troops, the EU could help the ceasefire stick by deploying a vital civilian protection mission. August 24, 2008 Commentary Printer friendly version UK: Disclose Information on Treatment and Interrogations of Guantanamo Detainee Binyan Mohamed Letter to UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband On August 21, 2008, Binyam Mohamed, a former UK resident detained at Guantanamo who is slated for trial before the military commissions, won the first stage in a battle for access to evidence showing he was tortured. The British government, which previously refused to turn over evidence that may back up Mohamed’s claims, was given one week by a UK court to reconsider its refusal, concluding that the information is essential for Mohamed to adequately defend himself. In a letter sent today, Human Rights Watch urges the British government to disclose to Mohamed’s lawyers any and all evidence it has about his interrogation and detention. August 22, 2008 Letter Printer friendly version Georgia: Civilians Bear the Brunt of Conflict
August 21, 2008 Graphic The Economist - A Caucasian journey The road from Tbilisi to Vladikavkaz told several stories this week: of Russia’s advance into Georgia, of Georgia’s economic success and its disastrous foray into South Ossetia, of the biggest confrontation between Russia and the West since the cold war. August 21, 2008 Media Georgia: Civilians Killed by Russian Cluster Bomb ‘Duds’ More Attacks Confirmed; Unexploded Ordnance Threatens Many Georgian and Russian authorities should take urgent measures to protect the civilian population in Georgian villages from unexploded ordnance left by Russian attacks, Human Rights Watch said today. Human Rights Watch researchers documented additional Russian cluster munitions attacks during the conflict in Georgia, refuting Russia’s earlier denials that it used the weapon. August 20, 2008 Press Release Also available in
Printer friendly version Russian Attacks in Georgia Show Need for Convention on Cluster Munitions By Bonnie Docherty, Researcher Published in JURIST Russia has not only caused civilian casualties with its use of cluster munitions in Georgia, but it has also blatantly disregarded the international decision to ban the weapons. In the process, Russia has demonstrated that states around the world cannot become complacent about the Convention on Cluster Munitions, which 107 of them adopted in May. They must sign and ratify the treaty as soon as possible so that its obligations enter into force and its stigmatization power grows. August 19, 2008 Commentary Printer friendly version Georgia: International Groups Should Send Missions Investigate Violations and Protect Civilians Mounting evidence that Russian and Georgian military used armed force unlawfully during the South Ossetian conflict highlights the need for international fact-finding missions in Georgia, Human Rights Watch said today. Ongoing militia attacks and a growing humanitarian crisis also indicate the urgent need for the deployment of a mission to enhance civilian protection. August 17, 2008 Press Release Also available in
Printer friendly version Russia/Georgia: Militias Attack Civilians in Gori Region Russia Should Curb Militias and Allow in Humanitarian Aid Russian authorities should immediately take steps to end Ossetian militia attacks on ethnic Georgians in the Gori district of Georgia, Human Rights Watch said today. The Russian military should also ensure safe passage for civilians wishing to leave the region and for humanitarian aid agencies to enter. August 16, 2008 Press Release Also available in
Printer friendly version Georgia: Russian Cluster Bombs Kill Civilians Stop Using Weapon Banned by 107 Nations Human Rights Watch researchers have uncovered evidence that Russian aircraft dropped cluster bombs in populated areas in Georgia, killing at least 11 civilians and injuring dozens. August 15, 2008 Video Letter to the Government of Turkey in Advance of President al-Bashir's Visit August 15, 2008 Letter Printer friendly version |
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