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6 January, Rebiya Kadeer, right, the Uyghur business woman, human rights activist and former prisoner of conscience, was involved in a mysterious traffic accident near her home in Washington DC where her car was rammed twice by heavy utility truck. The 2004 Rafto laureate managed to get out of her vehicle when the driver in the truck seemed to be preparing for a third hit. After a week in hospital, she is now slowly recovering. (26-JAN-06)
 

As Google launched its Chinese portal google.cn yesterday, defenders of freedom of expression like Chungdak Koren, right, of the Norwegian Tibet Committee, and international human rights groups protest the self-censorship regulations Google has agreed with Chinese authorities. -This is a major blow for freedom of expression and human rights in the People´s Republic of China, says Koren. -Google should never have agreed to this. (26-JAN-06)
 

23 January the Federal Security Bureau (FSB) and the “Rossia” Television Channel accused British diplomats of espionage and maintaining contacts with Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), including the Eurasia Foundation and the Moscow Helsinki Group. (25-JAN-06)
 

At a meeting held during the 6th African Union Summit in Khartoum, human rights activists and NGO representatives were interrogated, intimidated and detained by local security officers, according to reports by Justice Africa and ARTICLE 19. Statements issued by both organisations express a genuine concern for Sudan´s suitability to host the summit, and over its human rights record. Index on Censorship´s Sara Broderick reports (24-JAN-06).

On January 24 a Supreme Court of Republic of Belarus starts hearings of the case at the suit of Justice Ministry to a public association “Belarusian think-tank”. It was stated at a briefing in the US Embassy in Minsk by a Belarusian sociologist Aleh Manaeu. As said by him, Justice Ministry demands to suspend activities of the organization.(23-JAN-06)

23 January, the Federal Security Bureau (FSB) and the ‘Rossia’ Television Channel accused British diplomats of espionage and maintaining contacts with Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), including the Eurasia Foundation and the Moscow Helsinki Group (24-JAN-06).
 

The hunger strike of youth activists, which were fighting for the restoration of the rights of two expelled students – Turan Aliyev and Namig Feyziyev for political motives – succeeded. The protest action, which continued since the 28-th of December ended up with the restoration of the expelled students to the universities. The success of the action also was realized due to wide national and international support and appeals to the administration of universities and the ministry (19-JAN-2006).
 

On 16 January, the Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights as the first non-government organization appeared as amicus curiae (friend of the court’) in a trail held before the Constitutional Tribunal. During the hearing of the constitutional complaint filed by Tomasz D. the HFHR was represented by Professor Andrzej Rzeplinski, see picture. (20-JAN-06)
 

On 16 January, the Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights as the first non-government organization appeared as amicus curiae (‘friend of the court’) in a trail held before the Constitutional Tribunal. During the hearing of the constitutional complaint filed by Tomasz D. the HFHR was represented by Professor Andrzej Rzeplinski, see picture. (20-JAN-06)