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Azeri authorities clamp down on election-related demonstration
On 14 April 2010, up to 47 members of the opposition Musavat (Equality) Party were detained for participating in a political demonstration in Baku, in the first political rally ahead of Azerbaijan’s parliamentary elections in November 2010. Unidentified government officials were captured on film as they forced demonstrators into vans and buses, clamping their hands over the protesters’ mouths as they shouted slogans for freedom, equality and free elections.
Leyla Zana sentenced to prison
Kurdish Leyla Zana, the 1994 Rafto Prize laureate, was sentenced to three years imprisonment by Diyarbakir Court in the Republic of Turkey on 8 April, reports the EU Republic of Turkey Civic Commission.
Міжнародная супольнасць абураная смяротнымі пакараннямі ў Беларусі
14 красавіка сябры Сеткі дамоў правоў чалавека, а таксама шэраг міжнародных праваабарончых арганізацый прынялі зварот у сувязі з стаўшым вядомым фактам смяротнага пакарання двух грамадзянаў Беларусі. Падпісанты выказваюць абурэнне як самім фактам чарговага прымянення вышэйшай меры пакарання, так і ігнараваннем Беларусі яе міжнародных абавязкаў у галіне правоў чалавека. Заява накіраваная дзвюм вышэйшым асобам краіны – прэзідэнту і прэм’ер-міністру
Independent newspaper offices picketed in Belarus
On 14 April a small group of people with banners and posters gathered near the offices of independent newspaper Narodnaja Vola. Amongst them were World War II veterans and activists of the pro-government youth organisation BRSM. They were united near paper’s offices by the war, which, in their opinion, was falsely covered by the publication.
Моладзь і ветэраны пікетуюць рэдакцыю незалежнай газеты
14 красавіка каля рэдакцыі незалежнай газеты “Народная Воля” сабралася невялікая група людзей з плакатамі і транспарантамі ў руках. Сярод пікетоўцаў былі ветэраны Вялікай Айчыннай выйны, а таксама актывісты праўладнай моладзевай арганізацыі БРСМ. Пад вокнамі рэдакцыі выдання іх аб’яднала тэма вайны, якая, на іх погляд, асвятляецца ў газеце непраўдзіва.
Norwegian Helsinki Committee launches small grants program for Central Asia
The Norwegian Helsinki Committee announced on 13 April 2010 about the launch of the small grants program for Republic of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic and Tajikistan. Under the program, applications for grant support can be submitted by all legally registered organizations with project proposals to promote human rights and democracy in three Central Asian countries.
SOM Group presented in HRH Zagreb
SOM group, together with its goals and future activities, was presented yesterday in the premises of the Human Rights House of Zagreb in the Republic of Croatia. It represents a group of individuals that advocate for free and responsible media in the Republic of Croatia.
Turkey: Publisher and writer face imprisonment
Publisher Ragip Zarakolu and author Mehmet Güler, on trial in the Republic of Turkey since May 2009, face prison sentences of up to seven and half years for Güler’s novel “More Difficult Decisions than Death”. Both are accused under article 7/2 of the Anti Terror Law of “spreading propaganda” for the banned Kurdish Workers Party (PKK).
Amnesty International Norway calls not to rely on promises from the torturers
European countries must reject once and for all the dangerous practice of relying on “no torture” promises from governments with proven records of torture, Amnesty International said in a new report released on 12 March 2010.