Latest

he last remaining political prisoners; Aleksandr Kazulin, former presidential candidate, Andrei Kim, young activist, and Sergei Parsjukevich, the entrepreneur, have been released by A. Lukashenka’s order. Most oppositional politicians and human rights activists considered it has been done due to the EU and USA pressure to the regime. Belarusian officials did not make any statements.  (21-AUG-08)
 

The last remaining political prisoners in Belarus; Aleksandr Kazulin, former presidential candidate, Andrei Kim, young activist, and Sergei Parsjukevich, the entrepreneur, have been released by order of President A. Lukashenka. Most opposition politicians and human rights activists believe the move is a result of EU and USA pressure. Belarusian officials have not commented. (21-AUG-08)
 

The conflict in Georgia has made Poles show their support for the Georgian people in different ways. Besides concrete actions on the official level, also the public is expressing its solidarity with the Georgian nation and Polish non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are providing humanitarian aid and appealing to international organizations to take actions. (20-AUG-08)
 

The conflict in Georgia made Poles show their support for the Georgian people in different ways. Besides concrete actions on the official level, also the public wanted to express solidarity with the Georgian nation.

Security forces prevented Index on Censorship award winner Sihem Bensedrine from leaving Tunisia on 19 August. The attack is the latest in a long list of harrassment of the prominent journalist and acitivist freedom, and exposes once again the government´s refusal to guarantee free expression among its media and human rights workers. (18-AUG-08)
 

Institute for Reporters` Freedom and Safety is launching its 2008 Presidential Election Media-Monitoring Project to systematically monitor the media coverage of the 15 October presidential election. The periodic results of the monitoring of seven television stations and four newspapers will be regularly released to the public. (17-AUG-08)
       

As the Olympic Games opened in Beijing, English PEN expressed their concerns for the welfare of Beijing human rights activist, Zeng Jinyan, who disappeared on 7 August, the eve of the opening ceremony. The organisation encouraged its members to send appeals demanding that Zeng be returned home immediately. (09-AUG-08)
 

The Human Rights Centre (HRIDC) in Georgia calls for international organizations to quickly intervene diplomatically and restore the peaceful dialogue between the conflicting sides. HRIDC believes that war is not the way to bring about conflict resolution. HRIDC therefore call for all involved parties to restore peaceful dialogue. (11-AUG-08)
 

As the Olympic Games opened in Beijing, English PEN expressed their concerns for the welfare of Beijing human rights activist, Zeng Jinyan, who disappeared on 7 August, the eve of the opening ceremony. The organisation encouraged its members to send appeals demanding that Zeng be returned home immediately. (09-AUG-08)
 

Aliaksandr Lukashenko has signed the new, highly restrictive media law. This was made public by the Presid­ential Press Service. The law will, among other things, lead to similar restrictions for websites as for regular media.  Belarusian Association of Journalists (BAJ) has applied several times to MPs with requests to send the document for international legal expertise. (05-AUG-08)
 

On August 6, “Yeni Nesil” Journalist Union unveiled the results of media monitoring it is conducting with financial support from the Council of Europe and the European Commission. The monitoring results encompass the period between 15 and 30 July. (8-AUG-2008)
   

Index on Censorship is delighted to announce that John Kampfner has been appointed chief executive of the organisation. Former editor of the New Statesman, Kampfner is a prolific author and commentator. (05-AUG-08)