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The armed conflict in South Ossetia territory and other regions of Georgia which began on 8 August is still continuing. Dozens Russian and Georgian soldiers and hundreds of peaceful innocent civilians were killed. Thousands of people were forced to flee their homes to escape the bombing, artillery fire, stray bullets and looting, and ran to various regions of the Russian Federation and Georgia. The city Tskhinvali destroyed and needs to rebuild. Russian armies crossed the border of South Ossetia and remain on the territory of Georgia, in immediate proximity to Tbilisi.

On 22 August the members of Public Committee attached to the Ministry of Justice Eldar Zeynalov, Elmira Alakbarova and Elmari Mamishov, as well as member of the Council of Human Rights Center of Republic of Azerbaijan ZalihaTahirova visited Prison # 10. On 28 August human rights defenders Novella Jafaroglu, Saadat Bananyarli and Chingiz Ganizade visited “Azadlig” newspaper satiric/journalist Sakit Zahidov in Prison # 14 and editor-in-chief of “Realny Azerbaijan” newspapers Eynulla Fatullayev in Prison # 12.  (31-AUG-08)
     

Russian human rights defender, chairman of the society “Memorial” Sergey Kovalev, right, urged the world community to condemn the actions of the Russian Federation in Georgia. In his opinion, the Russian Federation began its aggression against Georgia under the pretext of protecting Russian citizens. (31-AUG-08)
 

Yesterday, the Association of Saharawis in Norway and the Norwegian Support Committee for Western Sahara (NSCWS) jointly reported the Norwegian fertilizer giant Yara to the police for breaking the Norwegian Penal Act’s paragraph 317, on dealing in stolen goods. Yara has imported 16.800 tons of phosphate from Western Sahara, occupied by Morocco. The state owned company has paid Moroccan authorities for the phosphate, knowing full well that, as an occupier, it does not belong to Morocco, but is instead to be considered stolen goods. (30-AUG-08)
 

On 27 August in the village of Nehrem, in Azerbaijan’s Autonomous Republic of Nakhchivan, a confrontation occurred between village residents and police.
During the confrontation, three journalists; Radio Liberty correspondents Malahat Nasibova and Ilgar Nasibov, and Institute for Reporters’ Freedom and Safety correspondent Elman Abbasov were beaten. (29-AUG-08)
      

-The bombardment by international military forces of Aziz Abad village in Shindand district of Herat province, right, has upset the whole Afghan community. The bombardment caused the death of 91 civilians, injured a much larger number and put the residents of the village into very conditions, threatening their personal, social and economic security. Thus begins a statement issued by the Civil Society and Human Rights Network (CSHRN). (28-AUG-08) 
 

Details of the post-election violence in the Republic of Kenya earlier this year was planned and promoted by leading politial and religous figures can now be revealed. A fresh report form the Republic of Kenya National Commission on Human Rights contains the names of five Cabinet ministers, five religious leaders, eight senior provincial administrators and 13 MPs and details how they cointributed to the planning and execution of the violence that left more than 1,000 people dead and 350,000 others homeless. To read the full report, click here . (28-AUG-08)
 

The Kenyan human rights organisation Independent Medico-Legal Unit (IMLU) released its final report today on the gross human rights violations conducted both by the so-called Sabot Land Defence Forces (SLDF) and a joint police and military operation in the Mt Elgon area of Western Republic of Kenya. The report documents murder, rape, arbitrary and mass arrests, enforced disappearances, torture, destruction of property, and cruel and inhuman and degrading treatment and punishment of civilians. To download the report, click here. (27-AUG-08)
 

The Council of Europe and “Yeni Nesil” Journalist Union conducted a one day conference on the topic of “Media and Elections: Democratic Responsibility of Media” within the framework of activity plan to improve media professionalism in the Republic of Azerbaijan during the run-up for presidential elections 2008. (26-AUG-08)
     

Tibet´s most famous writer and blogger Tsering Woeser, right, was accused of taking photographs of military installations and arrested by police after she returned home briefly to Lhasa, the capital of Tibet, on Thursday last week, writes London-based newspaper the Times. To read the Times´s full article, click here . (26-AUG-08)
 

In Africa’s worst conflicts, victims’ voices are rarely heard during the elite debate that treats peace and justice as though they were an either-or. However, thousands of victims in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo have told researchers for a newly-published survey that peace and justice must go hand in hand. Right, Congolese IDPs on a muddy hill above their camp. (26-AUG-08)
 

Tibet´s most famous writer and blogger Tsering Woeser, right, was accused of taking photographs of military installations and arrested by police after she returned home briefly to Lhasa, the capital of Tibet, on Thursday last week, writes London-based newspaper the Times. To read the Times´s full article, click here . (26-AUG-08)