Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny complains his wife and two children are being tracked by the security services, but says he’s not afraid to challenge Vladimir Putin for the presidency whatever the risks. Navalny (41), lawyer who has organized the biggest anti-Kremlin protests in years, hopes to run against Putin in a presidential election in…
Category: Human Rights
Executions in Japan
On 13 July 2017, two executions were carried out in Japan, adding to 24 other persons that have been executed since March 2012. The European Union, its Member States, Norway, and Switzerland have consistently called on the Japanese authorities to adopt a moratorium on executions, recalling the period of 20 months before March 2012 when no…
EU for 'negotiated' solution in Venezuela
“The transfer of Leopold Lopez to house arrest after more than three years in prison is a step in the right direction. It should be followed by further measures to implement the commitments undertaken by the government in the context of last year’s dialogue.” – says the European External Action Service. #Venezuela: after spending 3 years…
EU demands grant parole to Liu Xiabo
“In view of the deteriorating health and serious condition of Nobel Peace Prize winner Liu Xiaobo, the European Union expects the People’s Republic of China to immediately grant him parole on humanitarian grounds and allow him to receive medical assistance at a place of his choosing in China or overseas” – says the statement of…
EU against death penalty in Belarus
The Belarusian Supreme Court has upheld yet another death sentence, this time against Aliaksei Mikhalenia. “The continued application of the death penalty runs counter to Belarus’ stated willingness to engage with the international community, including the European Union, on the matter” – says the statement of the European External Action Service. “The European Union reaffirms its strong…
Europeans wish migration resolved on EU level
Nearly two thirds of Europeans think decisions on migration should be taken at EU level rather than nationally, according to a Eurobarometer survey commissioned by Parliament. In addition eight out of ten people polled said asylum seekers should be “better distributed among all EU member states”. However, the answers vary considerably from country to…
Uzbek human rights activist dies in prison
The Uzbekistan government should immediately allow an independent investigation into the enforced disappearance and death in prison of a human rights and opposition activist Nuraddin Jumaniyazov, Human Rights Watch said today. On June 16, 2017, Gulnora Rahmonova, his widow, reported that her husband had died in prison on December 31, 2016, from tuberculosis and diabetes-related…
EU concerned about humanitarian crisis in Iraq
In light of recent developments, the Council discussed and adopted conclusions on Iraq. In its conclusions, the Council commends the Iraqi Government of Prime Minister al-Abadi and the Iraqi security forces for the significant advances they have made in the military campaign against Da’esh over the past months. It also reiterates its steadfast support for…
Europarliament concerned with death penalty in Pakistan
Parliament is deeply concerned at the alarming rate of executions in Pakistan following flawed trials, including of minors and persons with mental disabilities, some of which are carried out while appeals are still under way. In a resolution, it calls on Pakistan to reinstate its moratorium on the death penalty, with the ultimate goal of…
MEPs call Azerbaijan to release political prisoners
The European Parliament calls upon Azerbaijan authorities to immediately release and drop all charges against Afgan Mukhtarli (pictured), an investigative journalist exiled in Georgia, from where he was abducted on May 29 and brought to Azerbaijan. He now faces prosecution and possibly a prison sentence of several years “following bogus charges”, say MEPs. Azerbaijani authorities…
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