Roberto Abraham Scaruffi

Thursday 31 March 2011


RFE/RL Watchdog
 
RFE/RL Watchdog
3/31/2011 4:43:04 PM
A blog of human rights, media freedom, and democracy developments from RFE/RL's broadcast region.

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Activists Detained In Baku Ahead Of Opposition Rally Activists Detained In Baku Ahead Of Opposition Rally
Several opposition activists have been detained in Azerbaijan ahead of a planned antigovernment rally. More
 
EU 'To Keep Pressing Belarus' EU 'To Keep Pressing Belarus'
The European Union says it will continue to press for the release of all political prisoners in Belarus following Minsk's decision to soften the charges against two former presidential candidates. More
 
Moldova Activists Deplore Setback On Gay Rights Moldova Activists Deplore Setback On Gay Rights
The issue of gay rights is divisive in the predominantly Christian Orthodox country, but ensuring safeguards for homosexuals is a precondition for deeper ties with the European Union. More
 
Iran Ministry Summons More Activists Iran Ministry Summons More Activists
Political activist and journalist Reza Alijani has been summoned to Iran's Intelligence Ministry, the latest activist to receive a summons in recent weeks. More
 
Missing Kazakh Publisher 'In Belarus' Missing Kazakh Publisher 'In Belarus'
Colleagues said Daniyar Moldashev, whose Almaty publishing house prints the opposition newspapers "Respublika" (The Republic) and "Golos respubliki" (The Voice of the Republic), went missing after he was attacked and robbed on his way home from Almaty airport on March 25. More
 
Turkmen Activist Forcibly Committed Turkmen Activist Forcibly Committed
A resident of the village of Sakgar in the district of Magtymguly told RFE/RL that 80-year-old Amangelen Shapudakov was called to the local police department on March 7 and has not been seen since. Police initially denied he'd been sent to a psychiatric facility, then changed their story. More
 
Influential Bahraini Blogger Reportedly Arrested Influential Bahraini Blogger Reportedly Arrested
A high-profile Internet activist in Bahrain has reportedly been arrested. More
 
Kazakh Opposition Publisher 'Missing' After Attack Kazakh Opposition Publisher 'Missing' After Attack
A Kazakh opposition publisher is reported missing following an attack, and his colleagues say they fear he might have been abducted. More
 
Jailed Iranian Blogger In Grave Condition, His Father Reports Jailed Iranian Blogger In Grave Condition, His Father Reports
The jailed Iranian blogger Hossein Ronaghi-Maleki is in grave condition in Tehran's Evin prison. More
 
Belarusian Activist Jailed 3 1/2 Years For Election Protest Belarusian Activist Jailed 3 1/2 Years For Election Protest
A Belarusian political activist has been sentenced to 3 1/2 years in a maximum security prison after being found guilty of taking part in "mass unrest" in December. More
 
Uzbeks Shut Religious Bookstores Uzbeks Shut Religious Bookstores
Uzbek security services have closed down bookstores specializing in religious literature in Tashkent. More
 
Belarus Journalist's Apartment Searched Belarus Journalist's Apartment Searched
A Polish-Belarusian journalist charged with insulting President Alyaksandr Lukashenka says the KGB has searched his apartment and itemized his possessions. More
 
Kazakh Independent Weekly Faces Closure Kazakh Independent Weekly Faces Closure
The leading independent weekly in western Kazakhstan, "Uralskaya nedelya," is facing closure because of a court fine. More
 
Bakiev Mass Trial Postponed Again Bakiev Mass Trial Postponed Again
A defense lawyer said that none of those being tried in absentia -- including the former Kyrgyz president and several others -- has ever been questioned and no personal statements regarding the charges against them have been recorded to be considered by a court. More
 
OSCE Condemns Baku Reporter Attack OSCE Condemns Baku Reporter Attack
Dunja Mijatovic, the media freedom representative of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), described the weekend attack on Seymur Haziyev as "inadmissible" and urged that the perpetrators of that and previous alleged attacks against Haziyev be prosecuted. More
 
Azeri Columnist Claims Abduction Azeri Columnist Claims Abduction
Seymur Haziyev, a columnist for the opposition "Azadliq" newspaper, told RFE/RL the incident took place in Jeyranbatan, some 20 kilometers from Baku, as he was returning home from work after midnight on March 26. More
 
Belarus Jails, Bans Russian Journalist Belarus Jails, Bans Russian Journalist
Aleksandr Lashmankin told RFE/RL that he plans to appeal his arrest and the decision to annul his accreditation, describing both as politically motivated. More
 
Hunger Strikes In Kyrgyz Prison System Hunger Strikes In Kyrgyz Prison System
Kyrgyz officials say about 10,000 inmates in prisons across the country are on hunger strike demanding better conditions in jails. More
 
Kazakh Torture 'Declining' Kazakh Torture 'Declining'
Kazakh Ombudsman Askar Shakirov says the situation regarding torture in the country has improved significantly, a statement many human rights activists dispute. More
 
Kyrgyz Inmates Declare Hunger Strike
Inmates in four jails in Kyrgyzstan have announced that they have launched a hunger strike. More
 
Uzbek Activist 'Wins' Exit Visa Battle Uzbek Activist 'Wins' Exit Visa Battle
Uzbek rights activist Dmitry Tikhonov has been given an exit visa after months of rejections and litigation against Uzbekistan's Interior Ministry. More
 
Khomeini Grandson Condemns Arrests Khomeini Grandson Condemns Arrests
The opposition Kaleme website reported that Yasser Khomeini called the house detentions of opposition leaders Mir Hossein Musavi and Mehdi Karrubi an "unacceptable measure." He made the comments while visiting Karrubi's son, Ali, who was recently released from prison on bail. More
 
PACE 'Won't Rule Out' Azeri Sanctions PACE 'Won't Rule Out' Azeri Sanctions
A Council of Europe rapporteur for Azerbaijan says sanctions cannot be ruled out if Baku continues to block his fact-finding visit. More
 
Kyrgyz Human Rights Veteran Turns To Uzbekistan  Kyrgyz Human Rights Veteran Turns To Uzbekistan
Tursunbek Akun has been a champion of human rights in Kyrgyzstan for a long time now. And not just in Kyrgyzstan. More
 
Two Belarusian Activists Get Jail, One Gets Asylum Two Belarusian Activists Get Jail, One Gets Asylum
A court in Minsk has sentenced two opposition activists to jail in a trial that critics say was aimed at keeping them behind bars during the presidential election. Meanwhile, a former opposition presidential candidate has been granted political asylum in the Czech Republic. More