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Summit meeting in Khartoum disrupted
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).
Another Public Association Liquidated in Belarus.
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)
Russia: FSB uses spy scandal to discredit human rights activists
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 Rights of Expelled Students are Restored
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).
HFHR as the amicus curiae before the Constitutional Tribunal
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)
Polish human rights organisation assists in court
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)
Rumsfeld’s Archipelago of Gulags: What Guantanamo tells us
For four years Guantanamo’s high profile obscured a far shadier world of US-sponsored interrogation chambers around the world. Only now is the world finally asking about the archipelago of US prisons around the world, and the fleet of CIA aircraft ferrying prisoners from one torture chamber to the next. Clive Stafford Smith reports for Index on Censorship (20-JAN-05)
Angela Merkel visits Russian human rights defenders
16 January the negotiations of the German Chancellor Angela Merkel with the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin took place in Moscow. Angela Merkel has strongly raised questions concerning problems of human rights in the Russian Federation. At the Embassy of Federal Republic of Germany Angela Merkel had a special meeting with representatives of the Russian human rights movement. (19-JAN-06)
Angela Merkel visits Russian human rights defenders
16 January the negotiations of the German Chancellor Angela Merkel with the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin took place in Moscow. Angela Merkel has strongly raised questions concerning problems of human rights in the Russian Federation. At the Embassy of Federal Republic of Germany Angela Merkel had a special meeting with representatives of the Russian human rights movement. (19-JAN-06)