EU expects Kyrgyzstan to release Askarov

Supreme Court of the Kyrgyz Republic on May 13 upheld the life sentence of prominent human rights defender Azimjan Askarov. Mr Askarov was initially sentenced to life imprisonment in September 2010 on charges of allegedly organising mass riots and involvement in the killing of a policeman. Today’s hearing was Mr Askarov’s final opportunity to appeal…

ALDE Baalen condemns China disinformation

The president of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe Party Hans van Baalen issued a statement on China COVID-19 pandemic strategy used for political purposes. Van Baalen position received support of his party members. “Since the beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak, China has been using this public health emergency to deploy a global…

Russia: pertinent threats to free press

“The European Union calls on the Russian authorities to condemn and investigate threats made by the Chechen government authorities against journalist Elena Milashina (pictured), and to ensure her safety. Russia: EU calls on authorities to condemn & investigate threats by Chechen authorities against journalist Elena Milashina. EU condemns all threats,verbal attacks &violence against #media who…

Assange detention degrades UK press freedom

The UK has dropped two places to 35th out of 180 countries in Reporters Without Borders’ (RSF’s) 2020 World Press Freedom Index, published today. Although the UK government played a key role in promoting media freedom globally, its efforts were undermined by domestic developments, including the murder of Lyra McKee and active threats to the…

COVID19: Belgium releases 297 migrants

Belgium Immigration Office has released almost three hundred migrants from the closed reception centers in order to comply with the hygiene measures regarding the corona virus pandemic. That is what Minister of Asylum and Migration Maggie De Block (Open Vld) said, informing the Parliament about the decision. She added that the releases were made on…

Crimeans denounce EU «hypocrisy»

The speaker of the Crimean parliament, Vladimir Konstantinov, defined the position of the European Union, which continues to refuse to recognize the Russian status of Crimea as “hypocrisy“. Сегодня в Государственном совете Республики Крым состоялось торжественное собрание, посвященное 6-й годовщине Общекрымского референдума, в ходе которого крымчане проголосовали за воссоединение Крыма с Россией.https://t.co/e9R5tANMM7 #Крым #Россия #Референдум…

Turkey Radio Sputnik crew harassment

Late evening February 29, three Sputnik employees in Ankara were attacked at their homes, with organized groups attempting to break down the front door, threatening and calling the agency staffers “traitors” and “Russian spies”, Sputnik site informs. (Image: illustration). Turkish police have detained the editor-in-chief of Sputnik Turkey in Istanbul. Earlier, Sputnik Turkey said it…

MEPs determined to eradicate FGM

The European Parliament has repeatedly demonstrated a strong commitment to elimination of the practice of female genital mutilation (FGM) worldwide. By adopting laws and resolutions, MEPs have advocated common action to eradicate female genital mutilation. Excision: le texte porté par Assita Kanko contre les mutilations génitales approuvé au Parlement européen https://t.co/fUGmbBFs8j — RTBF info (@RTBFinfo)…

Puigdemont attends Strasbourg Plenary

In spite of the arrest warrant issued in Madrid, on January 13 Catalan independence leader Carles Puigdemont attended Plenary session in Strasbourg in his right of a Member of the European Parliament (MEP), due to immunity guaranteed by the status. The former Catalan president has been elected to the European Parliament upon the political programme…

Two Kazakhs risk extradition to China

Kazakhstan should not forcibly return two Chinese citizens fleeing Xinjiang or prosecute them for illegal border crossing while their asylum claims are pending, according to Human Rights Watch. Why is Kazakhstan threatening to return two asylum seekers to Xinjiang, where they would face prison and torture? @HRW https://t.co/UmPPZDzlha — Hugh Williamson (@HughAWilliamson) January 9, 2020…