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APPEAL of the Belarusian Association of Journalists dated for the 6 anniversary of the disappearance of Dzmitry Zavadski,cameraman for the Russian TV channel ORT with demands to Belarusian authorities to start the investigation again. (05-JUL-06)

On June 23rd, former General Prosecutor Vladimir Ustinov’s who recently was fired from his post was involved in a bizarre shuffle, in which President Putin interchanged Ustinov and Yury Chaika, who had prior been the Minister of Justice. The Upper Chamber of the Russian Parliament took kindly to the appointment of Vladimir Ustinov to the new post, while human rights activists were naturally puzzled. (4-JUL-06)
 

Last month Archbishop Desmond Tutu accepted the International Campaign for Tibet’s Light of Truth award from His Holiness the Dalai Lama “on behalf of the heroes and heroines who often do not get mentioned.” In his acceptance speech Tutu drew comparisons between the fight to end apartheid and the Tibetan struggle. The Light of Truth award was also granted to the Herge Foundation, named after the creator of comic character Tintin. (04-JUL-06)
 
 

“To solve women’s problems the women’s rights organizations should be stronger and more united in Azerbaijan” was the initial conclusion of the Women’s Forum “Problems and Perspectives” organized in June by Women’s Association for Rational Development. The women’s rights situation and the problems were discussed with the participation of 40 women’s organizations, funding institutions and international organizations and set the foundation of the new Women’s Network. (03-JUL-2006)

Despite of the long term hunger strike by the students of the Independent Republic of Azerbaijan University that was joined by the parents, the Ministry of Education has not made any concrete steps in resolution of the students’ problem. Because of hard health condition, the students changed the form of protest from hunger strike to the “sitting strike” (02-JUL-2006)
 

The Freedom House released the report on a “governance gap” in energy-rich states in the Caucasus and Central Asia. The Nations in Transit 2006 report characterizes Azerbaijani government as an “authoritarian regime” and “endemic corruption in every sector continues to undermine civil society” (29-JUN-2006)

Last month Archbishop Desmond Tutu accepted the International Campaign for Tibet’s Light of Truth award from His Holiness the Dalai Lama “on behalf of the heroes and heroines who often do not get mentioned.” In his acceptance speech Tutu drew comparisons between the fight to end apartheid and the Tibetan struggle. The Light of Truth award was also granted to the Herge Foundation, named after the creator of comic character Tintin. (04-JUL-06)
 

On June 23rd, former General Prosecutor Vladimir Ustinov’s who recently was fired from his post was involved in a bizarre shuffle, in which President Putin interchanged Ustinov and Yury Chaika, who had prior been the Minister of Justice. The Upper Chamber of the Russian Parliament took kindly to the appointment of Vladimir Ustinov to the new post, while human rights activists were naturally puzzled. (04-JUL-06)
 

Following talks between the Maoist Communist Party of Nepal and the Seven Party Alliance (SPA), an agreement was reached on 19 June to dissolve the Nepalese House of Representatives, and put in its place an eight-party interim government including representatives of the Maoist rebels.  While this has been seen as a step towards lasting peace, there are serious concerns about disarmament. In this unstable environment, free speech remains in a state of flux, as it has been for many months. (3-JULY-06)