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The credentials of the Azeri delegation in PACE, challenged  in connection with Parliamentary Elections of November 2005, were discussed and considered at the sitting of PACE in Strasbourg in January session. The resolution of PACE, consisting of 12 paragraphs, summarizes the lack of favorable conditions for free and fair elections. The Assembly concluded to decide whether to apply Rule 9 of the Rules of Procedure on the basis of the report on the progress made in all the areas mentioned paragraph 9 of this Resolution in June-session. (04-FEB-2006)

The Belarusian Association of Journalists presents the results of the monitoring “Elucidation of the presidential election of 2006 in the Belarusian mass media”. According to it, 90% of time at this TV channel in comparison to other subjects of the electoral process (Central Election Commission, observers from CIS countries and the Western Europe, other pretenders to presidency) was devoted to Aliaksandr Lukashenka. (04-FEB-06)

On 27 January 2006 the Polish Sejm elected Doctor of Law Janusz Kochanowski to the post of Ombudsman. The Sejm’s decision has already been approved by the Senate and the new Ombudsman will take office after being sworn in. (03-FEB-06)

English PEN´s Writers in Prison Committee supports more than 700 writers persecuted worldwide for exercising their right to freedom of expression. As part of their campaigning work, PEN has been highlighting an individual case each month since 2003, initiating appeals to heads of state and relevant government departments and providing vital background information about the country and writers concerned. (03-FEB-05)
 

With a view to play a more active role in the annual sessions of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in Geneva, right, HRH has followed closely the ongoing process of reorganising the working procedures both of the Office of the High Commissioner, its annual sessions and report procedures and co-operation with the Secretary General of the UN. This process seems now to be making progress. Read the most recent UN press release on the issue. (03-FEB-06)
 

Friday afternoon, HURINET Uganda, the country´s biggest and most powerful network of independent human rights organisations, issued the below statement on the recent government orchestrated attacks on the judiciary´s independence and also on the persistent electoral violence, now threateting to undermine the forthcoming elections´ credibility. (03-FEB-06)
 

The International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights (IHF) and seven partner Helsinki Committees released a report concerning Places of Detention in Serbia on January 24, 2006. Monitoring mission on places of detention in the Republic of Serbia was conducted on 30 and 31 May 2005. (02-FEB-06)
 

On 29 January, 300 demonstrators gathered outside the Russian Defence Ministry in Moscow to show their anger after a group of drunken servicemen was torturing a 19-year-old soldier for several hours. The proceedings have been instituted against Major General Aleksey Sidorov, the head of the Chelyabinsk Tank Training College. (02-FEB-06).
 

A leading Danish newspaper has apologised for the offence caused by its controversial publication of a series of cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed that provoked protests across the Middle East, while defending its right to commission and print them in the first place. Rohan Jayasekera reports. (01-FEB-06)