Syrian Refugees in Lebanon Face Winter without Shelter – Daily Brief
Syrian refugees in Lebanon are facing winter without adequate shelter; Russia arrests yet another activist; Ugandan opposition leader under house arrest; EU debates fate of refugees at its external borders; protests in Tunisia met with police violence; Belarus axed as host for ice hockey world championships; and Greek Olympic gold medalist breaks silence about sexual abuse.
More than 15,000 Syrian refugees in Arsal, a Lebanese town on the border with Syria, are facing their second winter without adequate roofs and insulation, having been forced to dismantle their shelters in the summer of 2019.
After the arrest of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny following his return to Russia, another Russian political activist has been jailed. A court in Moscow has sentenced Azat Miftakhov, a postgraduate math student, to six years in prison on highly controversial hooliganism charges. His conviction follows investigation and a trial marred by allegations of torture, and reliance on unfair “secret witnesses.”
The home of Ugandan opposition leader, Robert Kyagulanyi, popularly known as Bobi Wine, remains cordoned off by the military following disputed presidential elections that saw President Yoweri Museveni win his sixth term in office.
This morning the European Parliament is debating the fate of refugees and migrants stranded at the EU's external borders.
Alarming footage has appeared online showing Tunisian police beating and dragging protesters who have taken to the streets in the capital and several governorates, in protest against marginalization, police violence, poverty and lack of job opportunities.
The international ice hockey federation (IIHF) has axed Belarus as host of this summer’s world championship amid concerns that it would be a propaganda coup for Alexander Lukashenko.
Allegations by Greek Olympic sailing champion Sofia Bekatorou that she was sexually assaulted by a sports official in 1998 have encouraged other Greek athletes to come forward about more recent cases. The 2004 Olympic gold medallist’s revelations have also added growing pressure for more accountability from sporting federation officials.