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The European Court of Human Rights today held the Russian Federation responsible for the summary execution of five members of the Estamirov family in the Chechen Republic in February 2000, Stichting Russian Justice Initiative said. At least eleven other incidents of summary executions committed on the same day in the same region of the Chechen Republic are pending before the Court. (12-OCT-06)
 

Employees of the State Department of Internal Affairs in Voronezhsky region enforce their fight against so-called youth extremism. Human rights activists believe that police actions are aimed at suppression of opposition. Authorities authorize nationalist actions and overlook anti-Semitic slogans and xenophobic statements.  Nationalist parties plan to organize a Right March in Moscow. (11-OCT-06)
 

Against the background of the Russian-Georgian conflict the Russian authorities organized the widespread campaign against migrants from Georgia. Human rights activists have been raising alarm. They consider unceasing check-ups as ethnic crackdowns and authorities’ actions – as racial discrimination. (11-OCT-06)
 

Akbar Ganji, far right, an Iranian investigative journalist, turned activist, and Arnold Tsunga, right, a lawyer and a radio commentator from Zimbabwe, will receive the 2006 Martin Ennals Award for Human Rights Defenders (MEA) on Wednesday 11 October 2006, 17h30. Louise Arbour , UN High Commissioner for Human Rights will present the award during a ceremony at the Bâtiment des Forces Motrices in Geneva (Switzerland), within framework of the International North South Media Festival. (11-OCT-06)
 

Yesterday, journalists, editors, publishers, human rights and freedom of expression organisations joined forces to protest the murder of the Russian author, journalist and human rights activist Anna Politkovskaja last Saturday. The silent, dignified protest was well attended, and generated wide press and broadcast media coverage. Below is a picture gallery from the demonstration. (11-OCT-06)
 

The Norwegian shipping company Wilh. Wilhelmsen is establishing a service company in Burma (Republic of the Union of Myanmar), hidden behind the name of Makara Marine Contractors. The company’s activities will mainly target the oil and gas sector, which is one of the main sources of revenue for the Burmese military regime. (10-OCT-06)
 

The Norwegian Tibet Committee currently distributes information about a fresh campaign whose ambition it is to make the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics a catalyst for change in the People´s Republic of China. The Race for Tibet harnesses the energy of the Olympics and goodwill of people worldwide to call on the People´s Republic of China to end human rights abuses in Tibet and directly engage the Dalai Lama to find a negotiated solution for Tibet. (09-OCT-06)
 

Tomorrow, Tuesday 10 October, the Norwegian Helsinki Committee, Norwegian PEN and HRH will take part in a silent protest outside the Russian Embassy in Oslo against the killing of Anna Politkovskaya, right, the bravest critic of Russia´s brutal war in the Chechen Republic. HRH strongly encourages everyone in favour of freedom of expression to join us, exactly at noon, in observing one minute´s silence. (09-OCT-06)
 

Yoduk Story, a musical depicting life in a North Korean consentration camp, premiered in Washington on Oct. 5th. In an article on Oct. 6th, The Washington Post describes it as an “energetically performed musical” comparing it to “Jesus Christ Superstar” and “Les Misérables” and “a large-scale Passion play/moral plea.” Yoduk Story will be set up in Los Angeles on OCt 19-22.  The Rafto Human Rights House has contributed to the production of the musical, and is working on a documentary about the project. (08-OCT-06)