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Under Polish law, rehabilitation equipment is not excluded from collection proceedings conducted by court enforcement officers. The Code of Civil Procedure contains an exhaustive list of movables which cannot be made subject to judicial enforcement. Rehabilitation equipment is not included in the list.

The media report that Edward Snowden, a former employee of the United States National Security Agency (NSA), has leaked information about the authorities’ involvement in the surveillance of US citizens and foreigners. Consequently, the US government has accused Mr Snowden of espionage.

As from 24 June, state members of the Council of Europe may sign the new, already fifteenth Protocol to the European Convention on Human Rights. One of the modifications to be introduced by the new Protocol is a new time limit for lodging an application to the Strasbourg Court, which will be shortened from six to four months.

The Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights, together with the Association for Legal Intervention, addressed the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers to refer to the Polish authorities’ failure to enforce judgments of the European Court of Human Rights made in cases involving the overcrowding of Polish prisons.

The Constitutional Tribunal is currently reviewing the powers of the Police and other specialised law enforcement agencies to use various types of investigative methods such as wiretapping or obtaining telecommunication data. The proceedings were instituted upon the motions filed by the Human Rights Defender and the Prosecutor General. For the purposes of the present case the HFHR has analysed the judicial review of requests for applying such methods.

The Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights has presented an opinion on the draft law on proceedings against mentally disturbed persons who pose a threat to life, health or sexual liberty of others. The Ministry of Justice’s bill is to authorise detention of violent offenders who already completed their prison term but are considered a threat to life and sexual liberty of other people.

Letters received by the HFHR indicate that SII expert physicians and court experts issue contradictory decisions regarding the health condition of persons applying for accident benefits. This type of payments is awarded for work-related injury or occupational disease.

The HFHR sent a letter to Prime Minister of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdoğan firmly opposing the latest announcements made by representatives of the Turkish government. The officials declared that the military may be used to suppress the protests erupting in Turkish cities. They also mentioned declaring martial law.

In the wake of the last week’s World Refugee Day and the Government’s adoption of a draft of the new Foreigners Act, the Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights and the Association for Legal Intervention would like to point the attention of the public to the detrimental effects of the new law on foreigners staying in guarded centres.