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Trial coming up for two suspects in Moscow double murder
In an encouraging ruling last week, the Basmanny District Court in Moscow ordered that two suspects in the January 2009 double murder of Novaya Gazeta reporter Anastasiya Baburova and human rights lawyer Stanislav Markelov be kept in custody pending trial.
Azerbaijani bloggers sentenced
Emin Milli and Adnan Hajizade, two video bloggers from Republic of Azerbaijan were taken into police custody on 8 July, 2009 on “hooliganism”. On 19 August this year, the Azerbaijani Supreme Court upheld the lower courts’ rulings, which convicted Milli and Hajizade of hooliganism and sentenced them to two and a half years and two years of imprisonment respectively. Article 19 believes that the two were targeted for expressing opinions critical of the Azerbaijani authorities.
Belarus: harassment of media grows in run-up to presidential election
There is an increasing harassment of the Belarusian press in the run-up to the presidential election that has been scheduled for next spring. What with the information ministry’s repeated warnings, police raids, tax inspections and the country’s new media law, press freedom is now severely compromised in the Republic of Belarus.
“Article 19” submits report to UN as election date in Burma announced as 7 November
The Burmese military government announced on 13 August 2010 that general elections are to be held on 7 November of this year, just days before Aung San Suu Kyi’s current terms of house arrest comes to an end. In a report to the UN Human Rights Council human rights organisation Article 19 outlines concerns around the elections, and other gross violations of the right to freedom of expression in the country.
Transparency organisations have made seven recommendations for the UN MDG Outcome Document
In a letter addressed to the two Ambassadors responsible for coordinating the UN High Level Plenary Meeting on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), seven international transparency organisations are calling for a stronger commitment to, and effective implementation of, transparency and the free flow of information in the fight against poverty.
Writer Yu Jie ignores threats of prison to publish a book about Chinese Premier
Dissident Yu Jie is ignoring threats of prison to publish a book describing Premier Wen Jiabao as “China’s best actor”. The 36-year-old Chinese dissident and writer is about to risk his freedom by publishing an explosive new title outing China’s cuddly premier, Wen Jiabao, as an authoritarian hard-liner behind the scenes.
Iran: harassment of prominent lawyer and his family
According to the United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) the Iranian human rights lawyer Mohammad Mostafaei is in the Republic of Turkey. According to some reports Mohammad Mostafaei might be applying for asylum. Unable to arrest Mohammad Mostafaei, Iranian officials detained his wife, brother-in-law, who remain in detention without charges.
Turks march against government censorship of the Internet
Internet censorship is alive in the Republic of Turkey, with at least 5000 websites currently being blocked within the country. On 17 July 2010 about 2,000 protestors marched against Internet censorship in Istanbul in the Republic of Turkey chanting slogans against Transport and Communications Minister Binali Yıldırım, Internet censorship, and especially against Law No 5651.
Turkey: Publisher Ragip Zarakolu back on trial again, alongside Mehmet Güler
Ragip Zarakolu, publisher and free expression activist, is on trial again for publishing another book by author Mehmet Güler. Both Zarakolu and Güiler are accused under the Anti Terror Law for Güler’s The KCK File/The Global State and Kurds Without a State. Zarakolu was acquitted last month for publishing another book by Güler, More Difficult Decisions Than Death, for which the author received a 15 months sentence.