UN expresses concern over detained journalists in Kyrgyzstan
UN Human Rights Office spokesperson Liz Throssell expressed concern Tuesday over the detention of journalists in Kyrgyzstan. This comes after authorities from the State Committee for National Security and the Ministry of Interior searched independent media outlets and detained 14 journalists. According to Throssell, authorities from the State Committee for National Security detained 3 journalists [...]
Speaking about the several conflicts that presently engulf the world, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg stated last month that NATO must be able to focus on many challenges at once. This is imperative to promote peace and security in all corners of the globe. International legal institutions, especially the ICC, would do well to embrace [...]
UPDATE: Russia, allies to deploy 'peacekeeping troops' to Kazakhstan amid protest crackdown
Kazakh President Kasym-Jomart Tokayev on Wednesday called participants in the fuel-price protests that have swept the Central Asian nation this week “terrorists,” accusing them of attempting to undermine their country at the behest of foreign powers, and ultimately asked Russia and the other members of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) to come to Kazakhstan’s [...]
HRW report: UN review provides opportunity to address Tajikistan rights abuses
Human Rights Watch (HRW) released a report Monday stating the need to call out Tajikistan’s human rights crackdown. The report states that since banning in 2015 its sole remaining opposition party, the Islamic Renaissance Party of Tajikistan (IRPT), the Tajik government has jailed hundreds of political activists, journalists, and lawyers. Torture and ill-treatment are routinely [...]
US State Department 2020 country reports highlight human rights abuses
The US Department of State released the 2020 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices. Secretary of State Antony Blinken painted a grave picture of the deterioration of human rights in multiple countries and regions throughout the world. The 2020 reports highlight abuses in Russia, Belarus and Kyrgyzstan, among many other countries. The report for China is [...]
Kyrgyzstan lawmakers unveil constitutional amendments expanding presidential powers
Kyrgyz lawmakers unveiled a new constitution on Tuesday, drawing criticism over the expansion of presidential powers. Shortly after a draft of the document was released, politicians and activists expressed concerns that it would lead to full-blown authoritarianism. Among the many changes, it reduces the size and power of parliament. Any responsibilities taken from parliament were [...]
UN experts accuse Kyrgyzstan of 'bride kidnapping' human rights violations
UN experts on Monday accused Kyrgyzstan of continuous human rights violations for failing to assist victims of abduction, rape and forced marriage. The UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women conducted a confidential inquiry into “bride kidnapping” after receiving allegations from 14 organizations alleging the Kyrgyzstan has failed to prosecute perpetrators of “bride [...]
Kyrgyzstan president signs law demarcating Kyrgyz-Uzbek border
Kyrgyzstan President Almazbek Atambayev signed an agreement Monday demarcating 85 percent of the 1,280 kilometer Kyrgyz-Uzbek border. The Kyrgyzstan parliament had already approved the legislation early in September, but the president signing the "Draft...
Here's the international legal news we covered this week: Kenya's Supreme Court ruled 4-2 Friday to invalidate the recent presidential election. UN Special Rapporteur Yanghee Lee on Thursday expressed grave concern for...
Kyrgyzstan court reinstates life sentence for human rights advocate
The Chui Regional Court in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, on Tuesday reinstated the life sentence for human rights defender Azimjan Askarov. The court found Askarov guilty again of stirring up ethnic hatred during deadly clashes between local Uzbeks and Kyrgyz...
