Latest

The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, a joint programme of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT), has received new information and requests your urgent intervention in the following situation in the Russian Federation.

The Human Rights Committee voiced its concern at the alarming incidence of threats, violent assaults and murders of journalists and human rights defenders in the Russian Federation, in their concluding remarks of the review of the Russian Federation, which were issued on 28 October 2009.

Two of Russia’s most prominent human rights organizations’ work have been thrown into jeopardy by municipal efforts to evict them from their offices.

43-year-old scion of a wealthy, politically influential family and a long-time oppositional figure in the republic of Ingushetia, was recently killed when his car was strafed with gunfire, as he drove along a federal highway, adding another name to the list of activists, who have been killed lately in the Northern Caucasus.

The World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) and the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) express their profound concern about the killing of Mr. Maksharip Aushev, a well-known activist from Ingushetia, on
25 October 2009, in the neighbouring Republic of Kabardino-Balkaria.

ARTICLE 19 is shocked at the killing of Maksharip Aushev, a well-known activist from Ingushetia. Aushev was killed on 25 October in Kabardino-Balkaria, a neighbouring republic of Ingushetia, when his car came under fire from another passing vehicle. Aushev’s cousin, who was travelling with him, was badly injured in the attack.

The European Parliament’s 2009 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought has been awarded to Russian civil rights defence organization Memorial, and their three representatives Oleg Orlov, Sergei Kovalev and Lyudmila Alexeyeva, as well as all other human rights defenders in the Russian Federation.

On the 15-16 October, the UN Human Rights Committee reviews the Russian Federation during its 97th session in Geneva. The Russian Research Center for Human Rights has submitted a set of “Replies to the list of issues”, which emphasizes some of the most severe human rights problems in the country.

On the 12-30th of October, 2009 UN Human Rights Committee reviews Russia during its 97th session in Geneva. Russian Research Center for Human Rights organizations had submitted to the Committee in advance an NGO report, entitled “Replies to the list of issues” (right), which emphasized the most dire human rights problems in the country.
Lyudmila Alpern, the Chief Manager of Prisons’ Visiting Program of Russian Research Center for Human Rights (RRCHR), will be present at a review in Geneva. In her presentation she will touch upon specific issues, regarding problems of public control over the places of detention in Russia (last year the Law “On public control over the places of forced imprisonment” was passed in Russia). In accordance with the Law in more then half of Russian regions Public Supervising Committees were organized. Alpern will report on the progress achieved with regard to conditions of detention of persons deprived of their liberty for the recent years and share the experience in the sphere of public control over the closed establishments with other participants