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Mr. Arne L. Lynngaard, leader of the Rafto Foundation, was deported from Western Sahara last night together with four other Norwegians. The Norwegian delegation is urging Norwegian authorities to respond to the deportation, and to the arrest of Saharawi human rights activist. (6-JULY-2005)
 

The 5th of July  the police of Republika Srpska found 35 kg of explosiveclose to the Memorial centre in Potocari – Srebrenica. Until now, no one is suspected for this crime. Public in Bosnia and Herzegovina disturbed with this development few days before the designation of 10 years of genocide in Srebrenica (06-JULY-05).
 

On 14 June, the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) published its third report on Republic of Poland. The report mentions the need to introduce a comprehensive body of antidiscrimination legislation and to create an immigrant integration policy.  (04-JULY-05)
 

OSCE ODIHR has released the report of its Needs Assessment Mission. The mission visited Republic of Azerbaijan from June 5 to 10 with the purpose to assess problems, which need urgent solution, to strengthen public confidence in elections and fulfillment of obligations by Republic of Azerbaijan to OSCE. (22-Jun-2005)
 

A gathering of experts and international NGOs in Amsterdam has concluded with a joint  declaration on the main issues facing countries seeking to regulate online activity– including enforced regulation and filtering. Index on Censorship reports. (28-JUN-05)
 

In September 2004 Valiery Lievanieuski (right), chair of the Nationwide Strike Committee of Businessmen, and his deputy Aliaksandr Vasilieu were found guilty ofinsult to Aliaksandr Lukashenka (violation of Article #367 of the Criminal Code) and sentenced to two years of colony. Recently the authorities have amnestied Aliaksandr Vasilieu. However, Valiery Lievanieuski wasn?t granted parole. (17-JULY-05)

On 7 July Minsk police dispersed an unauthorized meeting of people who gathered in the central square of the city to commemorate Dzmitry Zavadzki, the disappeared journalist.During the breakup of the meeting a riot police officer punched Zavadski´s wife in the face.

Five European Court judges of Human Rights rejected a request of the Russian Government to refer three judgments to the Grand Chamber of the Court. On 25 February 2005 the European Court published its first judgment arising from the conflict in the Chechen Republic. The European Court found that the Russian Federation violated the applicants’ right to life and their right to an effective domestic remedy. (16-JULY-05)
 

Los Angeles hosted the Reebok Human Rights Award 2005 ceremony where awards were given out to four human rights activists, including Zarema Mukusheva (picture) from the Russian Federation. The Reebok Human Rights Foundation recognizes young activists who have made significant contributions to human rights causes through nonviolent means. Honoraries, who are 30 years of age or younger, receive a $50,000 grant from the Reebok Human Rights Foundation to further their work. (16-JULY-05)
 

When one of China’s Internet users logs on to Google, everything appears normal. But websites without the government’s blessing – including the BBC, the Philadelphia Inquirer and Amnesty International – will not be found. And Chinese citizens won’t know the difference. While other states that censor the Internet do so blatantly, the Chinese operate in a more clandestine manner. Wendy Ginsberg reports for Index on Censorship (08-JULY-05)
 

On the night of June 27th several hundred prisoners from Lgov’s prison camp # 3 in the Kursk Region cut their arms and abdominals in protest against the arbitrariness of the prison administration. The day before, four prisoners were beaten by prison guards. The prisoners said that cutting themselves was the only way to bring attention to the abusive behaviour of the prison guards. (8-JULY-05)
 

On July 6th, representatives of “Peace Boat”, a floating university for peace,  paid The Rafto Human Rights House a visit. “Peace Boat” is a Japanese organisation, but the crew changes from voyage to voyage, and represents different nations each time. People from Japan, Germany, Ireland, Palestine and Israel were among the 30 visitors to the Rafto House. They were interested in learning how the Rafto House Foundation works to spread knowledge about human rights. (07-JULY-2005)