Russia bans Jehovah’s Witnesses

The Supreme Court of Russian Federation ruled on April 20, 2017 that the Jehovah’s Witnesses organization should be closed down and no longer allowed to operate legally in Russia, Human Rights Watch said today. The ruling, which affects more than 100,000 Jehovah’s Witness worshippers across Russia. Russia Outlaws Jehovah's Witnesses: https://t.co/XjCKYwliJ0 — Andy Reed (@andrew_c_reed)…

France: ‘Exemplary’ migrant camp in ashes

A brawl between Afghans and Kurds is at the origin of the fire, said the prefect who came from Lille (Frnace)  to assess the  situation after the huge blaze at night reduced to a “cluster of ashes” the migrant camp run by NGO Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF). It was a shelter to 1,500 people, and…

Europarliament for liberation of Navalny

The European Parliament urges the Russian authorities to release opposition politician Alexei Navalny and other detained demonstrators in a resolution voted on Thursday.  MEPs condemn the detention of opposition politician Alexei Navalny and hundreds of other protestors on 26 March 2017, during what were reckoned to be the largest protests in Russia since the anti-Kremlin…

Turkey votes amid 113260 arrests

Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said he expects 63% Yes votes in the upcoming referendum on constitutional reforms in Turkey, reports Anadolu news agency. Speaking to journalists in Istanbul Sunday, Cavusoglu said some surveys suggest current percentage of Yes votes to be over 58%, adding that more people are expected to vote Yes. He also said the…

Italy calls for invesigation of NGO "taxi service" to migrants

The officials in Italy suspect that rescue vessels operated by charities and humanitarian organizations co-operate with smugglers based in Libya. Some of these NGOs act as a sort of “taxi service” by picking refugees up just off the African coast and then transporting them across the Mediterranean Sea to Italy instead of returning them to…

Navalny jailed due to prosecutorial misconduct

Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny has been sentenced to 15 days in prison after being detained at a major opposition protest that he had inspired by issuing a video exposing an outstanding wealth of the incumbent Russia’s prime minister Dmitry Medvedev in a trial many experts access as a ‘prosecutorial misconduct’ to jail a political opponent of…

EU calls Russia to respect fundamental freedoms

“Police operations in the Russian Federation today, attempting to disperse demonstrations and detaining hundreds of citizens, including opposition leader Alexei Navalny, prevented the exercise of basic freedoms of expression, association and peaceful assembly – which are fundamental rights enshrined in the Russian constitution,” – – said the statement of the European external actions service (EEAS). “We call…

EU calls Belaurs for respect of fundamental rights

“The European Union has closely followed the response of the Belarusian authorities to the recent demonstrations. In past days we have observed hourly reports of preventive arrests and detentions on the basis of various charges. Journalists have been sanctioned for covering the events. Such repression of freedom of expression and assembly is in contradiction with…

Navalny with hundreds of Russians detained for anti-corruption protest

Police detained anticorruption activist Aleksei Navalny (pictured) as thousands rallied, and dozens were arrested, in cities across Russia in some of the larger public demonstrations the country has seen in years. People protesting in St. Petersburg's Palace Square in 1917 and today, chanting "Down with the Tsar!" pic.twitter.com/hGj5EwO40S — THEY/THEMARS 🇺🇦 #ArmUkraineNow (@Mortis_Banned) March 26,…

EU calls Belarus for democratic change

“The latest developments in Belarus highlight a clear need for a broader democratisation process in the country. Freedom of association and of assembly needs to be ensured. Recently detained peaceful protesters, including journalists covering the events, must be immediately released, ” – says the statement of the European external action service. “The European Union is committed to a…