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As a country that has restricted religious freedom since its Soviet days, Republic of Uzbekistan now plans to increase punishment for those who express their religious beliefs. The proposal released by the Religious Affairs Committee threatens a fine of 200 to 600 times the monthly minimum wage (which is about US $10) for anyone who shares their beliefs outside of their religious communities. Repeat offenders could face three to eight years in prison along with the leader of their religious community. (03-NOV-06)
 

The current series of attacks of Azerbaijani authorities on mass media causes serious alarms not only in the country, but also outside of its borders. The list of forms of pressure, such as assassination of journalists, imprisonment of reporters, huge amounts of fines from independent media outlets, attempts to evict the occupants of Azadlig building , seems to be added one more significant point – ban the BBC from its domestic airwaves, a move that is designed to impose an information blockade on the ex-Soviet state. (30-OCT-06)
 

The building at 33 Khagani street, hosting Azadlig Newspaper, Turan Information Agency, the Institute for Reporter Safety and Freedom, KIV.AZ Internet Newspaper, Bizim Yol Newspaper, Yeni Nesil Journalist Union´s Printing Office, Azerbaijan´s Democracy Development Organization, Popular Front Party of Republic of Azerbaijan is to be released from its occupants according to the #1 Economic Court’s Decision of Republic of Azerbaijan Republic. Remaining the last stronghold of Azerbaijan’s independent media, the eviction of the occupants from the building cannot be curtained under the pretexts of rent contracts. The majority of national and international organizations think that it is a part of the pressure of the authorities on the independent media. (26-OCT-06)
 

The Human Rights House Foundation opens an international branch in the Republic of Azerbaijan, called Human Rights House Baku. The Core Group in Baku, consisting of selected 9 national human rights organizations, signed the Memorandum of Understanding on the 21-st of October. The registration procedures are preceded by the professional law firm in accordance with the legislation of Republic of Azerbaijan Republic and the papers for registration will be submitted to the Ministry of Justice by the end of November 2006. (23-OCT-06)
 

On November, 4th the People’s Unity Day was celebrated in the Russian Federation. Official holiday’s activities were held all over the country. Besides, ultranationalist parties organized rallies and marches in many cities, while anti-Fascist activists were holding counter actions. Despite the ban on the Russian March, it took place in Moscow. On that day several dozens of people were detained in Moscow, including journalists. (07-NOV-06)
 

Two events directed against the Ukrainian minority in the Republic of Poland took place at the end of October. They caused alarm within the Ukrainian community. The expert Dorota Hall (right) from the Helsinki Foundation, says “that the situation is serious and arouses concern”. However, she awaitens the response from the authorities before passing judgments regarding the deterioration of the situation surrounding the Ukrainian minority in the Republic of Poland. (03-NOV-06)
 

Two events directed against the Ukrainian minority in the Republic of Poland took place at the end of October, both causing alarm within the Ukrainian community. The expert Dorota Hall, right, from the Helsinki Foundation, says “that the situation is serious and arouses concern”. However, she awaits the response from the authorities before passing judgments regarding the deterioration of the situation surrounding the Ukrainian minority in the Republic of Poland. (03-NOV-06)
  

The three Croatian Human Rights organisations; B.a.b.e. – Group for Women´s Human Rights, the Croatian Helsinki Committee for Human Rights and the Croatian Law Centre will on this Thursday and Friday host representatives from the Human Rights House Network in Zagreb. The International Conference on “Discrimination and anti-discrimination policies” have participation the Balkans, Caucasus, Scandinavia, Eastern Europe, Africa, Asia and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The Network will also hold it annual meeting. (21-NOV-06)
  

The Rafto Foundation is glad to announce that many former Rafto Laureates will attend the historical event that is to take place this weekend in Bergen. The event wants to celebrate the work the Rafto Laureates has performed during the last 20 years. The guests include Trivimi Velliste from Estonia, Leyla Zana from Kurdistan/Turkey, Palermo Anno Uno from Italy, Ian Hancock representing the Romani people, Shirin Ebadi from Iran, Paulos Tesfagiorgis from Eritrea, Rebiya Kadeer from Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region and Lidia Yusupova from the Chechen Republic. (02-NOV-06)
   

On October, 30th the Day in Memory of Victims of Political Repressions celebrated all over the Russian Federation. Nowadays political prisoners are appearing in the Russian Federation again and their number is increasing. There are scientists, businessmen, lawyers, members of oppositional movements and religious dissidents among them. (02-NOV-06)

On October, 29th the Anti-Fascist March against Hatred was held in the center of St Petersburg. More than 600 people, including Russian Federation Ombudsman for Human Rights Vladimir Lukin, took part in the march. Participants approved an appeal to President Putin, accusing anti-Georgian campaign launched by authorities. (02-N0V-06)

Today, the Norwegian Tibet Committe passes on a link to a cartoon made and distributed by the previously introduced (09-OCT-06) Race for Tibet campaign. The cartoon can be found here, http://www.racefortibet.org/ , at the Race for Tibet website. Race for Tibet is established to protest against China´s occupation and massive human rights violations towards Tibet in the build-up to the 2008 Beijing Olympics. (02-NOV-06)