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- By RFE/RL
U.S. Rights Report Slams IS Militants, Russia, Iran, Azerbaijan, Among Others
In a new report, the U.S. State Department strongly criticizes Islamic State (IS) militants -- as well as the Russian, Iranian, and Azerbaijani governments -- for human rights abuses.
The 2014 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices, released on June 25, says one of the most notable trends of the year was the brutality of IS militants in Syria and Iraq against the Yezidi minority, Christians, Turkomans, Shabak, Shi'a, and Sunni Muslims who did not conform to their extremist views.
At the same time, the report noted the Iraqi government's inability to rein in abusive and criminal actions by pro-government Shi'a militia fighters in the so-called Popular Mobilization Committees that helped government troops battle against IS militants.
"The message at the heart of these reports is that countries do best when their citizens fully enjoy the rights and freedoms to which they are entitled," U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said in presenting the report in Washington. "This is not just an expression of hope, this is a reality and it has proven out in country after country around the world."
"Now we understand that some governments may take issue with these reports, including such extreme cases as North Korea or Syria, but also some governments with whom we work closely may also object," he continued. "But I want to say something about that and I think it is important: The discomfort that these reports sometimes cause does more to reinforce than to undermine the value and the credibility of these reports."
Russia
Russia's government came in for strong criticism not only for abuses within Russia's border but for its annexation of the Ukrainian region of Crimea and its role supporting pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine.
The report describes Russia's political system as "increasingly authoritarian" with "a range of new measures to suppress dissent within its borders."
It says Russian authorities "selectively employed the law on 'foreign agents,' the law against extremism, and other means to harass, pressure, discredit, and/or prosecute individuals and entities that had voiced criticism of the government."
It says Russia's government also continued to use laws against extremism to prosecute some religious minorities, and that it adopted several discriminatory laws against lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender persons.
The report highlighted what it called a "growing recognition" of links between corruption, human rights abuses, and repressive governments -- saying corruption in Russia was "widespread throughout the executive, legislative, and judicial branches at all levels of government."
It also criticized the persecution in Crimea by "Russian occupation authorities" of the ethnic Tatar community, certain religious minorities, and others who opposed the occupation -- noting that many were forced to flee the peninsula.
It said Russian forces and Russian-backed separatists also shelled urban areas and committed "numerous other gross human rights abuses" in eastern Ukraine, including killings and abductions.
Iran
The State Department said Iran continues to severely restrict the freedoms of assembly, speech, religion, and the press.
READ MORE: U.S. To Continue Rights Sanctions Against Iran Regardless Of Nuclear Deal
It also noted that Iran had the world's second highest execution rate after "legal proceedings that frequently didn't respect Iran's own constitutional guarantee to due process or international legal norms."
WATCH: Tom Malinowski, the U.S. assistant secretary of state for democracy, human rights, and labor, says there has no improvement in human rights in Iran:
Azerbaijan
The State Department criticized Azerbaijan's use of the judicial system to punish peaceful dissent and critical journalists amid allegations of widespread corruption.
It says Baku's restrictions included "intimidation, incarceration on questionable charges, and use of force against human rights defenders, civil society activists, and journalists."
It noted an increased number of arbitrary arrests and detention in Azerbaijan along with politically motivated imprisonment, and lengthy pretrial detention for "individuals perceived as a threat by government officials."
It also lists "physical abuse in the military; torture or other abuse in prisons; and harsh and sometimes life-threatening prison conditions" among other serious human rights problems in Azerbaijan.
Afghanistan
In Afghanistan, the report says, the most significant problem was continued attacks on civilians by Islamic militants -- including violence that killed eight journalists and that targeted women.
It also noted ongoing human rights abuses committed by Afghan security forces.
Other serious abuses included torture and abuse of detainees, targeted violence, and discrimination against women and girls.
The report says while the situation of women "marginally" improved in 2014, domestic and international gender experts considered the country "very dangerous" for women.
Tajikistan
Tajikistan is described an "authoritarian state" where citizens are unable to change their government "through free and fair elections."
The report says authorities in Tajikistan continued to use torture against detainees and others during 2014 while repressing political activists and limiting the free flow of information.
It says human rights abuses also included "violence and discrimination against women, arbitrary arrest, denial of the right to a fair trial, and harsh and life-threatening prison conditions."
It noted there were very few prosecutions of government officials in Tajikistan for rights abuses.
Bosnia-Herzegovina
The U.S. State Department said government corruption remained among "most serious problems" in Bosnia-Herzegovina in 2014, which it says resulted in "continued political and economic stagnation."
It also says some political leaders "manipulated deep-seated ethnic divisions" that weakened democracy and governance, undermined the rule of law, fostered discrimination in most aspects of daily life, distorted public discourse in the media, and obstructed the return of persons displaced by the 1992-95 conflict.
Iraq
At the same time, it noted the Iraqi government's inability to rein in abusive and criminal actions by pro-government Shi'ite militias that fought against IS militants.
Belarus
The State Department said authorities in Belarus have continued to "arrest individuals for political reasons and to use administrative measures to detain political activists."
It describes Belarus as an "authoritarian state" where "authorities arbitrarily arrested, detained, and imprisoned citizens for criticizing officials, participating in demonstrations, and other political reasons."
It says Belarus' judiciary suffered from "political interference and a lack of independence and trial outcomes often appeared predetermined."
It also says corruption in "all branches of government" remained a problem in Belarus during 2014.
Here's a look at the other countries in RFE/RL's broadcast region:
Armenia
The State Department says that “systemic corruption and lack of transparency in government” was a serious human rights problem in Armenia last year.
The report says “allegations of persistent corruption at all levels of government undermined the rule of law although the government took limited steps to punish corruption by low- and mid-level officials.”
The report also says that “limited independence of the judiciary, and limitations on the ability of citizens to change their government” were among other serious problems in the country.
Suspicious deaths in the military under noncombat conditions and continued hazing by officers and fellow soldiers were among other abuses cited in the report.
It also notes that there were several incidents of violence toward journalists in connection with citizens’ protests.
Georgia
The State Department says the most important human rights problems reported in Georgia during the last year included domestic violence and politically motivated violence and “increased societal intolerance” of members of minority groups.
The report also denounces interference with religious worship in the country and intimidation that prevented freedom of assembly.
The report adds that “persistent shortcomings” in the legal system led to “incomplete investigations, premature charging of suspects, and inappropriate use of pretrial detention.”
Other problems included abuse by law-enforcement officials, “substandard” prison conditions, and pressure on opposition figures to withdraw from local elections.
The report says de facto authorities in the separatist regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia continued to “restrict the rights, primarily of ethnic Georgians, to vote or otherwise participate in the political process, own property, register businesses, and travel.”
Kazakhstan
The State Department says Kazakhstan’s government limited freedom of expression last year and exerted influence on the media through "laws, harassment, licensing regulations, internet restrictions, and criminal and administrative charges."
The report says judicial actions against journalists and media outlets, including civil and criminal libel suits filed by government officials, led to the suspension of several media outlets and encouraged self-censorship.
The report warns that Kazakhstan’s parliament passed new criminal and administrative offenses codes as well as a new labor law, which it says have “the potential to further limit freedoms of speech, assembly, and religion.”
Other reported abuses included arbitrary or unlawful killings, detainee and prisoner torture, arbitrary arrest and detention, infringements on citizens’ privacy rights, prohibitive political party registration requirements, and restrictions on the activities of nongovernmental organizations.
Kosovo
The State Department says actions to block the normalization of relations between Belgrade and Pristina was among the most important human rights problems in Kosovo in the past year.
The report also cites restrictions on such rights as freedom of movement and freedom of worship by Serbian Orthodox pilgrims.
The report says “societal violence and discrimination against members of ethnic minorities, persons with disabilities, and members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community constituted a second significant area of concern.”
Domestic violence against women was a third major problem, it adds.
The report says the government took steps to prosecute and punish officials who committed abuses, but adds that “many assumed that senior officials engaged in corruption with impunity.”
Kyrgyzstan
The U.S. State Department says routine violations of procedural protections in all stages of the judicial process, and systematic, police-driven extortion of vulnerable minority groups, were among the most serious human rights violations in Kyrgyzstan last year.
The report also denounces a “continued denial of justice" in connection with deadly ethnic clashes in the southern city of Osh five years ago as a serious rights issue.
“Underscoring the country’s human rights problems was an atmosphere of impunity for officials in the security services and elsewhere in government who committed abuses and engaged in corrupt practices,” the report adds.
It also denounces torture, poor prison conditions, corruption, and pressure on independent media in the country.
Macedonia
The State Department says the most significant human rights problem in Macedonia last year stemmed from “significant levels of corruption” and from the government’s “failure to respect fully the rule of law.”
The report also says political interference, inefficiency, favoritism toward well-placed persons, and corruption characterized the country's judicial system.
Human rights problems also included physical mistreatment of detainees and prisoners by police and prison guards, discrimination against Roma and other ethnic minorities, societal discrimination against sexual minorities, and child labor.
The report also says the government "took some steps to punish police officials guilty of excessive force, but impunity continued to be a problem.”
Montenegro
The U.S. State Department says corruption was among Montenegro’s most pressing human rights problems last year.
The report says corruption was pervasive in health care, education, and multiple branches of government including law enforcement.
It was characterized by impunity, political favoritism, nepotism, and selective prosecution of political and societal opponents, the report adds.
According to the report, Montenegro also suffered from a continued deterioration of the environment for nongovernment institutions, including the media and civil society.
Other human rights problems included mistreatment by law enforcement officers of persons in their custody, overcrowded and dilapidated conditions in prisons, and domestic violence against women and children.
Moldova
The State Department says corruption, particularly in the judicial sector, continued to be “the most significant human rights problem” in Moldova last year.
The report says corruption remained “widespread” in the judiciary, the Tax Inspectorate, the customs service, and other public institutions.
“Poor conditions, mistreatment, and abuse in psychiatric and social care homes were major areas of concern,” the report adds.
Other significant problems included “erosion of media freedom, the opaque ownership of media outlets, and increased monopolization of the media and the advertising market.”
According to the report, the human rights situation in Moldova's breakaway region of Transdniester “deteriorated in some respects, including through new restrictions on internet freedom.”
Pakistan
The U.S. State Department mentions serious human rights abuses in Pakistan, including “extrajudicial and targeted killings, disappearances, torture, lack of rule of law” and continued “sectarian violence.”
The report warns that harassment of journalists continued, “with high-profile attacks against journalists and media organizations."
Human rights problems also included “poor prison conditions, arbitrary detention, lengthy pretrial detention, a weak criminal justice system, lack of judicial independence in the lower courts, and infringement on citizens’ privacy rights.”
The report says “lack of government accountability” remained a problem while abuses often went unpunished, “fostering a culture of impunity.”
It adds that violence and intolerance by militant organizations contributed to “a culture of lawlessness” in some parts of the country.
Serbia
The U.S. State Department says the most serious human rights problem in Serbia last year included discrimination and societal violence against members of minority groups, especially Roma.
The report says harassment of journalists and pressure on them to self-censor was also a significant problem in the Balkan country.
Human rights problems also included police mistreatment of detainees, government censorship of the Internet, harassment of human rights advocates as well as government critics, and domestic violence against women and children.
It says the government took steps to prosecute officials when the public took notice of abuses, adding that many believed that numerous cases of corruption, police mistreatment, and other abuses went unreported and unpunished.
Turkmenistan
The State Department denounced human rights violations in Turkmenistan, including arbitrary arrest, torture, and disregard for civil liberties.
The report says officials in the security services and elsewhere in the government acted with impunity.
Human rights problems also included denial of due process and fair trial, discrimination and violence against women, trafficking in persons, and restrictions on the free association of workers.
The report says there were no reports of prosecution of government officials for human rights abuses.
Ukraine
The State Department said the most significant human rights developments in Ukraine last year were linked to antigovernment protests in Kyiv, Russia’s occupation of Crimea, and conflict in the country’s east.
The report says ousted President Viktor Yanukovych government’s decision to use force to disperse citizen protests in central Kyiv in February “resulted in more than 100 civilian deaths, most by sniper fire from special security forces, and numerous injuries.”
The report says Russia’s occupation and annexation of Crimea in March “displaced more than 18,000 Crimeans, while Russian authorities committed “numerous human rights abuses, targeting ethnic and religious communities, particularly Crimean Tatars.”
The report says fighting between government forces and Russia-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine since April destabilized the region and resulted by year’s end in more than 4,700 civilian deaths. The toll is now more than 6,500.
Generally, the document says, actions by the rebels deprived more than 5 million people of “access to education, health care, housing, the opportunity to earn a living and to the rule of law," and forced more than 1 million people to leave the area.
Uzbekistan
The State Department accuses Uzbek officials of “frequently” engaging in "corrupt practices" with impunity.
The report also denounces serious human rights issues in Uzbekistan including, “torture and abuse of detainees by security forces,” denial of due process and fair trial,” and “widespread restrictions on religious freedom.”
It says Uzbek authorities subjected human rights activists, journalists, and others who criticized the government, as well as their family members, to harassment, arbitrary arrest, and politically motivated prosecution and detention.
Human rights problems also included restrictions on freedom of speech and on civil society activity as well as violence against women.
More News
- By RFE/RL
Russian Dissident Kara-Murza Wins Pulitzer Prize For Commentaries From Prison Cell
Jailed Russian dissident and journalist Vladimir Kara-Murza was awarded the 2024 Pulitzer Prize for commentaries for his articles that appeared in the Washington Post. Kara-Murza "won for passionate columns written at great personal risk from his prison cell, warning of the consequences of dissent in Vladimir Putin’s Russia and insisting on a democratic future for his country," the Pulitzer Committee said in a statement on May 6. Kara-Murza is currently serving a 25-year sentence -- the longest jail term handed to a Kremlin opponent in post-Soviet Russia -- for discrediting the Russian military and treason over remarks he made in speeches outside Russia that criticized Kremlin policies.
- By RFE/RL
U.S., EU Ambassadors Will Skip Putin's Swearing-In Ceremony
The United States and European Union have said they will not be sending representatives to the swearing-in of Russian President Vladimir Putin on May 7 for a new six-year term. "We will not have a representative at his inauguration," State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said. An EU spokesperson said that "our ambassador will not be attending, most of the member states will not be attending." Britain and Canada also said they would not attend. Putin won a landslide reelection in March, weeks after his most prominent opponent, Aleksei Navalny, died under mysterious circumstances in a remote prison. Western leaders condemned the election as unfair and undemocratic.
- By RFE/RL
Russia Detains U.S. Soldier In Far East On Criminal Charges
A U.S. soldier has been arrested in Russia and accused of stealing after traveling there without informing his superiors, adding to a list of Americans being detained by Moscow amid deteriorating relations with Washington.
U.S. Army spokeswoman Cynthia Smith confirmed in a statement on May 6 that the soldier, who was not identified, was detained four days earlier in Vladivostok, a military and commercial port in Russia's Far East, on charges of criminal misconduct.
She said Russia notified the U.S. and the Army told the soldier's family. She gave no further details in the statement due to “the sensitivity of this matter.”
Russian officials have yet to comment publicly on the matter, which was first reported by NBC News in the United States.
The soldier’s detention adds to a list of U.S. citizens being held in Russia under various circumstances and comes as tensions between Moscow and Washington are at the highest levels since the Cold War.
Among those being held are journalists Alsu Kurmasheva of RFE/RL and Evan Gershkovich of The Wall Street Journal, who have been detained on charges they, their employers, and their supporters reject as politically motivated.
Also being held is Paul Whelan, who in 2020 was convicted and sentenced to 16 years in prison on espionage charges that he and the U.S. government have repeatedly rejected.
It wasn’t immediately clear if the detained soldier was being considered as absent without leave (AWOL) by the U.S. military.
Details of the incident remain sketchy, with one report saying the soldier had been arrested in Vladivostok for allegedly stealing from a woman there.
“The Russian Federation notified the U.S. Department of State of the criminal detention in accordance with the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations,” Smith said in the statement.
“The Army notified his family and the U.S. Department of State is providing appropriate consular support to the soldier in Russia."
Officials said the soldier had been stationed in South Korea – where the U.S. military has about 28,500 troops based -- and was in the process of returning home to the United States.
U.S. officials said the soldier traveled instead to Russia.
“I am deeply concerned by reports that a U.S. Army officer has been detained in Russia. Putin has a long history of holding American citizens hostage," Congressman Michael McCaul, chairman of the House Foreign Committee, said in a post on X, formerly Twitter.
The State Department in September 2023 issued a "Do Not Travel" warning to U.S. citizens in the background of American support for Ukraine in its fight against Russia's full-scale invasion of that country. The note cited "the singling out of U.S. citizens for detention by Russian government security officials" in its warning.
Asked about the incident, a State Department spokesperson would only confirm that "a U.S. citizen has been detained in Russia."
"We reiterate our strong warnings about the danger posed to U.S. citizens inside the Russian Federation. U.S. citizens residing or traveling in Russia should depart immediately, as stated in our Travel Advisory for Russia," the spokesperson said.
The incident comes less than a year after U.S. soldier Travis King, also stationed in South Korea at the time, slipped into North Korea across the heavily fortified demilitarized zone separating the two Koreas.
North Korea later expelled King, who was returned to the United States and eventually charged with desertion.
With reporting by AP
- By Reuters
Macron, Von Der Leyen Urge China To Press Russia Over Ukraine
France and the European Commission on May 6 told Chinese President Xi Jingping that they wanted him to use his influence on Russia to end its war in Ukraine, while underscoring that the EU wouldn't waver in its support for Kyiv. President Emmanuel Macron is hosting the Chinese leader in his first visit to Europe in five years and held talks with him and Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in Paris as they sought to show a united front on issues ranging from trade to Ukraine. China has strengthened trade and military ties with Russia in recent years. "We count on China to use all its influence on Russia to end Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine," von der Leyen told reporters. Macron said coordination with China on Ukraine was "absolutely decisive."
Belgrade Lays Out Welcome For Xi Visit Aimed At Raising Economic, Political Ties
BELGRADE -- The Serbian capital has been adorned with Chinese flags and banners ahead of President Xi Jinping's May 7-8 visit to the country, as the Chinese leader seeks to gain economic and political influence during a rare European trip.
Xi, who is meeting with French leaders in Paris on May 6, is scheduled to hold talks with nationalist President Aleksandar Vucic, who has kept close ties to Beijing and Moscow while also seeking to maintain relations with the West amid the country’s hopes of eventual EU membership.
Xi is later scheduled to travel to Budapest to meet with right-wing Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who also has kept close ties with Russia and China despite the being an EU member nation.
A focus of Xi’s European trip will be on China's economic ties to Europe and escalating trade tensions between Beijing and Brussels. But China's position on Russia's war in Ukraine will also take center stage.
China has sought to carve out a larger diplomatic role around the Ukraine war, although EU officials have expressed doubts about the role Beijing can play in any future peace process given its close ties to Russia.
Serbia and Hungary have both pushed back on sanctions against Russia and have stood against weapons deliveries to Ukraine.
The date chosen for Xi's visit to Serbia is symbolic, as it marks the 25th anniversary of the destruction of the Chinese Embassy building during the 1999 NATO bombing campaign.
A large Chinese cultural center has been built at the former site of the embassy, and Xi is expected to visit a memorial there in honor of Chinese diplomats killed during the accidental strike.
Xi and Vucic are expected to discuss a wide range of topics, from political, economic, and technological issues to cooperation in the field of culture.
The Chinese president is coming to Belgrade six months after Vucic visited Beijing, during which Serbia and Chinese officials signed a free-trade agreement in the presence of the two leaders at the international "Belt and Road" forum.
The free-trade agreement between Serbia and China is set to enter into force in July, although it has been under scrutiny in Brussels.
Ahead of Xi's visit, Vucic said Serbia will accelerate projects in several spheres, including "robotics, satellite technology, flying cars, among many other things."
Xi previously traveled to Serbia in June 2016, which marked the first visit of a Chinese president to Belgrade in 30 years.
Kazakh Ex-Minister Insists In Court He Had No Intention To Kill Wife
Former Kazakh Economy Minister Quandyq Bishimbaev, who is on trial for violently killing his 31-year-old wife in an Astana restaurant in November, says he had no intention of killing her.
In his final statement on May 6 at his high-profile trial in the Kazakh capital, which has been followed online by tens of millions in the Central Asian country and abroad since late March, Bishimbaev called on the jury to be "objective" in the face of what he called an ongoing campaign on social media that had been organized "to incite hatred toward me."
"I had never wished Saltanat's death. I had never expected such a result for her. I am guilty, but not of premeditated murder. I had all means to flee and escape the trial, but I did not do that. However, the investigation has been influenced by social networks and media.... Saltanat's death was unintentional," Bishimbaev said.
Bishimbaev is charged with torture, murder with extreme violence, and repeatedly committing serious crimes. Bishimbaev's cousin, Baqytzhan Baizhanov, is a co-defendant, charged with failure to report a crime in progress.
The case has attracted nationwide attention amid growing outrage over domestic violence in Kazakhstan, where one in six women say they have faced some form of physical violence at the hands of their male partner.
Bishimbaev's last statement at the trial coincided with the statement by Kazakh Foreign Ministry spokesman Aibek Smadiyarov, who said on May 6 that adviser Saken Mamash to the Kazakh ambassador in the United Arab Emirates will be dismissed, after his wife complained to an online feminist group that her husband had regularly beat her during 10 years of their marriage.
"We urgently called that employee back to Kazakhstan. Law enforcement organs will take care of his case further. He will be fired from the ministry," Smadiyarov said.
Domestic violence has historically gone unpunished in the Central Asian nation, where it is not considered a stand-alone criminal offense. The Kazakh parliament has been dragging its feet for years on a bill that would criminalize domestic violence. Women account for about one-quarter of Kazakh lawmakers.
Amid the public outcry over the brutal death of Nukenova, Kazakh President Qasym-Zhomart Toqaev publicly called on the Interior Ministry to take the case under its "special control" during the investigation.
The 43-year-old Bishimbaev served as economy minister from May 2016 to late December the same year. Before that, he occupied different managerial posts in government agencies.
In 2018, Bishimbaev and 22 others faced a high-profile corruption trial that ended with Bishimbaev’s conviction on charges of bribery and embezzlement while leading a state-controlled holding company.
A court in Astana sentenced him to 10 years in prison, but Bishimbaev, who comes from an influential family, was granted an early release through a mass amnesty issued by the government. He had served only 18 months of his term.
The Interior Ministry said earlier that more than 100,000 cases of domestic violence are officially registered each year, though the number of unregistered cases, analysts say, is likely much larger.
International rights watchdogs have urged Kazakh officials to curb the spreading of domestic violence for years.
According to the United Nations, about 400 women die in Kazakhstan as a result of domestic violence every year.
With reporting by Tengrinews
- By RFE/RL
Moscow Summons British Envoy Over Cameron's 'Hostile' Remarks On Attacks Inside Russia
Russia says it warned Britain that if British weapons are used by Kyiv to strike inside its territory, Moscow was entitled to retaliate by striking back at British military targets both inside and outside Ukraine. The Russian ministry said it summoned British Ambassador Nigel Casey on May 6 over what it called "hostile" remarks by Foreign Secretary David Cameron, who said Ukraine "has the right" to launch attacks inside Russia with British-made weapons. "Casey was warned that the response to Ukrainian strikes using British weapons on Russian territory could be any British military facilities and equipment on the territory of Ukraine and beyond," the Russian ministry said.
Iranian Cyberpolice To Ratchet Up Crackdown On Social Media Critics
Iran's cyberpolice are launching a plan to combat "moral and social crimes that violate Islamic, social, and cultural norms in cyberspace," in another sign of the curbing of freedoms by authorities following a renewed crackdown on the wearing of head scarves and the blocking of several social media sites.
According to the semiofficial ISNA news agency, cyberpolice chief Vahid Majid outlined the new measures targeting online activities, including "obscene live streaming, vulgar content production, and modeling."
"In a proactive strategy, we have identified and taken legal and operational actions against the operators, managers, and members of 10 active cybersites," Majid added.
The cyberpolice recently blocked several popular social media pages -- including Instagram, as well as Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), YouTube, Telegram, and WhatsApp -- while the judiciary has pursued cases involving social media commentary, summoning individuals and pressing charges for various offenses.
At the same time, the Islamic republic's authorities have resumed the deployment of the morality police on Iran's streets, aggressively targeting citizens, particularly women, in an effort to enforce strict dress codes.
This has led to the documentation by activists and victims of what they say are several incidents of violence against women challenging the compulsory hijab.
It has also led to widespread usage of the Internet by social network users and civil activists to complain about the situation.
A recent survey by ISPA, the Student Opinion Polling Center of Iran, revealed that a significant portion of the population continues to access the blocked platforms, with 46.5 percent using Instagram, 35.3 percent on WhatsApp, and 34.6 percent on Telegram as of February 2024.
The hijab became compulsory for women and girls over the age of 9 in 1981, two years after the Islamic Revolution in Iran, triggering protests that were swiftly crushed by the new authorities.
Many women have flouted the rule over the years and pushed the boundaries of what officials say is acceptable clothing.
Investigation Launched Into Convicted Kyrgyz Mercenary's Escape To Russia
A court in Bishkek announced on May 6 that an internal investigation had been launched into the escape of a Kyrgyz man to Russia after he was handed a suspended seven-year prison term for joining Russia's armed forces and fighting in Ukraine. Askar Kubanychbek-uulu fled Kyrgyzstan for Russia last month. Russia's Interior Ministry said at the time that Kubanychbek-uulu was expected to obtain Russian citizenship. According to a ruling in January by the Birinchi Mai district court, Kubanychbek-uulu was banned from leaving the Kyrgyz capital while serving a three-year probation period that was part of his seven-year suspended sentence. To read the original story by RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service, click here.
Russian Journalist Kevorkova's Home Searched
Russian media reported on May 6 that Moscow police searched the home of noted journalist Nadezhda Kevorkova as part of a case on justifying terrorism. An acquaintance of Kevorkova confirmed the reports to RFE/RL. Kevorkova is known for focusing on conflicts in the Caucasus, the Middle East, and Muslims' rights in Russia and abroad. There has been no official statement about the investigations launched against her. Kevorkova's former husband, Maksim Shevchenko, is a well-known political observer and politician. Her son, Vasily Polonsky, is an anchor at the popular NO.Media from Russia YouTube channel. To read the original story by RFE/RL's Russian Service, click here.
Germany Recalls Ambassador From Russia Over Cyberespionage
Germany has recalled its envoy to Moscow over accusations that Russian military spies hacked e-mails of top members of Chancellor Olaf Scholz's Social Democratic Party and other sensitive government and industrial targets. A Foreign Ministry spokesman said on May 6 that Alexander Graf Lambsdorff was returning to Berlin for a week of consultations. Lambsdorf will not be in Russia during the inauguration of President Vladimir Putin to a new term in office scheduled for May 7, the spokesman said. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said on May 3 that Russian military hackers were behind the hacking operation, which lasted for months. To read the original story by RFE/RL's Russian Service, click here.
Court Rejects Kyrgyz Politician's Appeal Against Fraud Conviction
A Bishkek court on May 6 rejected the appeal of Adakhan Madumarov, the leader of the United Kyrgyzstan opposition party, against his fraud conviction, saying it had been filed too late. In late March, a Bishkek court found him guilty of financial fraud and of ignoring Kyrgyzstan's interests while signing a Kyrgyz-Tajik border deal in 2009 when he led the country's Security Council. The court did not sentence Madumarov due to the statute of limitations but ordered him to remain in custody until the decision took force on April 26. Madumarov has called the accusations “ungrounded.” To read the original story on RFE/RL’s Kyrgyz Service, click here.
- By Current Time
Russian Lawmakers OK Bill Banning 'Foreign Agents' From Elections
The Russian parliament’s lower chamber, the State Duma, on May 6 approved in the second and third readings a bill that would ban individuals added to the controversial "foreign agents'" list from taking part in federal, regional, and local elections. The bill was proposed by a group of lawmakers after several opposition politicians who were labeled "foreign agents" announced their plans to register for municipal elections in Moscow scheduled for September. Russia has used its so-called "foreign agent" laws for the past decade to label and punish critics of government policies. To read the original story by Current Time, click here.
- By AFP
IAEA Chief In Iran As Concern Grows Over Nuclear Activity
UN atomic watchdog chief Rafael Grossi arrived in Iran on May 6, where he is expected to speak at a conference and meet officials for talks on Tehran's nuclear program. The visit comes at a time of heightened regional tensions and with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) criticizing Iran for lack of cooperation on inspections and other outstanding issues. Grossi is scheduled to meet Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, as well as the Islamic republic's nuclear chief, Mohammad Eslami.
Mudslides Caused By Heavy Rains Kill 3 In Tajikistan
Tajikistan's Emergencies Committee said on May 6 that mudslides and floods caused by heavy rains killed three women over the weekend. The mudslides were registered in the Central Asian nation’s regions of Sughd, Khatlon, and the Gorno-Badakhshan autonomous region, as well as in several districts surrounding Dushanbe, the capital. In neighboring Kyrgyzstan, mudslides caused by heavy rains hit southern regions of Batken and Jalal-Abad on May 5, damaging local infrastructure and buildings in several districts. No casualties were reported there. To read the original story by RFE/RL's Tajik Service, click here.
Iranian Activist Sentenced To Death For Social Media Posts
A court in the central Iranian city of Isfahan has sentenced Mahmud Mehrabi to death for posting messages on social media critical of the Islamic republic.
There is scant reporting about the details of his critical posts, which led to him being convicted of “corruption on Earth” -- the most serious offense under Iran’s Islamic penal code.
Mehrabi’s lawyer, Babak Farsani, wrote on social media on May 5 that there were “serious problems” with the verdict that he hoped would help get it overturned by the Supreme Court.
Mehrabi was arrested in February 2023 and has spent the last six months in a prison ward where dangerous criminals are held, according to his sister Hajar Mehrabi, who lives in Austria.
She told RFE/RL’s Radio Farda on May 5 that her brother was among the tens of thousands of people who protested during the Women, Life, Freedom unrest in 2022. The protests were sparked by the death in police custody of Mahsa Amini, who had been detained for allegedly not properly observing Iran’s strict dress code for women.
Mehrabi put out calls for protests on his social media account and was accused of “spreading false news,” his sister said.
“The judge told him, ‘I don’t see regret in your eyes, so I have sentenced you to death’,” she added.
The “corruption on Earth” charge is usually brought against serious crimes, such as murder, drug dealing, and high-profile financial corruption cases. It remains unclear exactly what Mehrabi posted online to be hit with a charge that carries the death penalty.
Maryam Mehrabi, another sister who resides in Iran, has urged the public to gather outside the home of Ayatollah Mohammad Ali Nasseri on May 6 to protest the verdict. Nasseri is a prominent cleric in Isfahan who teaches in the city’s seminary.
She vowed to set herself on fire outside Nasseri’s residence.
This comes just over a week after another court in Isfahan sentenced popular rapper Toomaj Salehi to death for his antiestablishment songs.
Rights groups have sharply criticized Iranian authorities for their extensive use of the death penalty.
"The Iranian authorities are ruthlessly carrying out an execution spree. Prisons across the country have become sites of mass state-sanctioned killings under the guise of judicial executions," Amnesty International said recently.
Written by Kian Sharifi based on an original story in Persian by RFE/RL’s Radio Farda
Kazakh Billionaire Buys English Soccer Club
Kazakhstan-based billionaire Mikheil Lomtadze has bought England's Wycombe Wanderers soccer club. Lomtadze's Blue Ocean Partners Ltd. paid an undisclosed amount for a 90 percent stake in the club, which plays in England's League One, the third level of the English football league system, the BBC reported on May 5. The 48-year old Georgia-born Lomtadze is the chief executive of Kaspi.kz, the biggest fintech and payments group in Kazakhstan. In its 2024 list of billionaires, Forbes listed Lomtadze 581st, with an estimated net worth of $5.7 billion. To read the original story by RFE/RL's Kazakh Service, click here.
Rhetoric Heats Up Between Russia, West Over Ukraine Involvement
Russia, angered over what it says are "unprecedented" and "provocative" statements from the West, threatened retaliatory moves "inside Ukraine and beyond," as well as plans to conduct military exercises with tactical nuclear weapons that the European Union called "irresponsible."
Since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, relations between Russia and the West have deteriorated to their lowest level since the end of the Cold War, with Kyiv's Western allies throwing their support behind Ukraine's struggle to repel overwhelmingly superior Russian forces.
In the latest moves, Moscow on May 6 blasted remarks by U.K. Foreign Secretary David Cameron, who said Ukraine "has the right" to launch attacks inside Russia with British-made weapons, and it called remarks by President Emmanuel Macron suggesting that Paris could eventually send troops to Ukraine to assist Kyiv in its battle against Russia's full-scale invasion "irresponsible and mindless."
The Western allies "are deliberately leading the situation toward a further escalation of the Ukrainian crisis toward an open military clash between NATO countries and Russia," Russia’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
The ministry said it summoned British Ambassador Nigel Casey over Cameron's remarks, "firmly pointing out that Cameron's hostile move directly contradicts the previously sounded assurances of the British side while transferring long-range cruise missiles to the Kyiv regime, that under no circumstances would they be used on the Russian territory."
It said Cameron's remarks meant he was "de facto recognizing his country as a party in the conflict" and that any use of British weapons on Russian territory could make targets of "any British military facilities and equipment on the territory of Ukraine and beyond."
In a separate statement, the ministry blasted remarks by Macron on potential use of French troops inside Ukraine, saying it found them "amusing for their irresponsibility and thoughtlessness."
Live Briefing: Russia's Invasion Of Ukraine
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"It is difficult to perceive all this other than as a statement about the readiness and intention to enter into direct armed confrontation with Russia, which would mean a head-on military clash of nuclear powers," it added.
Hours earlier, Russia announced plans to conduct military exercises to ensure its readiness to use tactical nuclear weapons.
The announcement by the Defense Ministry is the first time Russia has publicly announced drills involving tactical nuclear weapons.
A European Commission spokesman assailed the Russian announcement, labeling it "saber-rattling" and a "continuation of Russia's irresponsible behavior."
A spokesman for EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said the move was further "proof that the Kremlin is only interested in further escalating the situation which was caused by its illegal aggression against Ukraine."
Washington called the nuclear remarks "irresponsible rhetoric."
"This is an example of the kind of irresponsible rhetoric we've seen from Russia in the past. It's completely inappropriate given the current security situation," Pentagon spokesman Major General Pat Ryder said.
"We've not seen any change in their strategic force posture.... Obviously, we'll continue to monitor," he added.
The role of strategic nuclear weapons is to strike enemy targets far from the front line, while tactical nuclear weapons are designed to be used on battlefields.
The exercise is meant to increase the ability of Russia's military to "ensure the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the Russian state in response to provocative statements and threats of individual Western officials against the Russian Federation," the statement said, without elaborating.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, when asked by journalists what had prompted the announcement on nuclear readiness, said, "It's obvious we are talking about statements from Mr. Macron and statements from British representatives,"
"This is a completely new round of escalating tensions. It is unprecedented and requires special measures," Peskov said.
Separately, the governor of Russia's Belgorod region bordering Ukraine said on Telegram that seven people were killed and 42 wounded by Ukrainian drones near Berezovka, in the Borisov district close to the Ukrainian frontier, when two buses carrying workers to a pig farm were struck by Ukrainian drones.
Ukraine has not commented on the claim, which could not be independently confirmed.
Ukraine has been subjected to almost daily Russian missile and drone strikes that have caused huge damage to its civilian and energy infrastructure and killed and wounded numerous civilians, including children.
In response, Kyiv has targeted energy infrastructure inside Russia, especially oil refining installations.
Russia on May 6 said its forces had taken control of the settlements of Solovyove in Ukraine's eastern Donetsk region and Kotlyarivka in the Kharkiv region.
Ukrainian authorities did not acknowledge the potential loss of the settlements, but many Ukrainian bloggers appeared to confirm that both had been taken by Russia.
Earlier the Ukrainian Air Force said it had downed 12 out of 13 drones launched by Russia at energy infrastructure targets in the Sumy region. The regional administration said the electricity supply was temporarily cut in Sumy, Romniy, and Okhtyrka.
With reporting by Reuters and dpa
- By Current Time
Alleged Torturer Of Ukrainian Prisoners Killed In Car Bombing
The Ukrainian Defense Ministry's Main Intelligence Directorate (HUR) says a Russian correctional colony employee in Moscow-occupied Berdyansk who had been implicated in the alleged torture of Ukrainians has been "eliminated." Without taking direct responsibility, the HUR said a car belonging to Yevgeny Ananyevsky exploded on the morning of May 5. “As a result of the explosion, Yevgeny Ananyevsky, who was involved in the torture of Ukrainian prisoners, was eliminated,” the HUR said in a statement. Russia's Investigative Committee confirmed the death of a correctional colony employee in a car explosion in Berdyansk in the Zaporizhzhya region, without naming him. To read the original story by Current Time, click here.
Russia Attacks Ukraine's Sumy With Drones, Artillery
Russia attacked Ukraine's Sumy region with drones and artillery overnight, the Ukrainian Air Force and the northeastern region's military administration said early on May 6. The region was shelled eight times, the administration said on Telegram, adding that there were no casualties. The Air Force said it had downed 12 out of 13 drones launched by Russia at energy infrastructure targets in Sumy. The regional administration said the electricity supply was temporarily cut in Sumy, Romniy, and Okhtyrka. To read the original story by RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service, click here.
Iran Files Charges Against Media Members Over BBC Report On Shakarami Death
Iran's judiciary has filed charges against several journalists and media activists who disseminated a BBC World Service report concerning the alleged "sexual abuse and murder" of protester Nika Shakarami during the 2022 protests.
The BBC report, released on April 29, cited a "highly confidential" government document that allegedly names those responsible for Shakarami's death and senior commanders involved in a subsequent cover-up.
The report, which claimed that Shakarami was abused and killed after being detained by security forces, was dismissed by the judiciary's media center as "fake, incorrect, and error-ridden." The center accused the individuals involved of publishing "false, insulting, and anti-regime propaganda" on the Internet.
"The media individuals have been summoned to the Tehran Prosecutor's Office as part of our legal duty to counter disruptors of societal psychological security," a spokesperson for the judiciary's media center said.
Activists say the report is further evidence of the repressive nature of the regime against protesters, particularly those involved in the Women, Life, Freedom movement.
In a response to the government's narrative, Fateme Heidari, the sister of Javad Heidari, another 2022 protest victim, said she spoke with Nika's mother, who told her: "'It's raining here now, Fateme, and it feels like all the sorrows of the world are raining down on me; Nika loved the rain...'"
Hamed Esmaeilion, an activist and member of a family seeking justice for the downing of a Ukrainian plane in 2020, said the BBC report “brutally revealed the murder case of Nika Shakarami,” which “has shaken all Iranians.”
"In the painful narrative of this unforgivable crime, what remains in our hearts is the unforgettable resilience of Iran's brave daughter, Nika Shakarami, facing her killers and oppressors," Esmaeilion said.
“This report has not only shone a light on the alleged abuses but also highlighted the dangers faced by journalists and activists in Iran, who risk severe repercussions for reporting on sensitive issues.
“The global response underscores the ongoing international concern regarding Iran's human rights record, particularly during times of civil unrest.”
Reza Pahlavi, the exiled former crown prince of Iran, said the perpetrators of the “crime against Nika Shakarami, and the main person responsible, [Supreme Leader Ayatollah] Ali Khamenei, will be brought to justice."
Shakarami went missing during protests in September 2022 in Tehran over the death of Mahsa Amini, who died while in police custody for allegedly wearing her head scarf improperly.
In her last communication with her friends, Shakarami said she was being chased by security forces.
Eight days later, Nika's body was returned to her family. The government said she had committed suicide.
Both deaths brought up accusations of a government cover-up.
Authorities have said she fell into a coma soon after her arrest because of health problems. But her family says she was in good health, while eyewitnesses said the 22-year-old was beaten while she was being detained.
Public anger at Amini's death has been widely seen as one of the biggest threats to Iran's clerical establishment since the foundation of the Islamic republic in 1979.
At least 500 people have been killed around the country since authorities began a crackdown on her supporters, with thousands more detained or harassed.
Written by Ardeshir Tayebi based on an original story in Persian by RFE/RL's Radio Farda
Iranian Teachers Rally Nationwide To Protest Lack Of Reforms
Teachers across Iran have rallied in support of reforms in the education sector and for an end to what they describe as discriminatory and oppressive treatment by authorities.
The Iranian Teachers' Union's Coordination Council reported that security forces detained four participants during the protests in Tehran, with one teacher, Mehdi Farahi Shandiz, still being held in custody. The council condemned the arrests, stating that "those detained were subjected to violence by security forces during the peaceful demonstrations."
The nationwide protests highlighted several grievances, including demands for "the immediate release of all imprisoned educators, provision of free education for all, and the abolition of gender discrimination in educational policies," according to a council resolution.
The teachers called out the Islamic republic’s government, claiming it "opts to suppress and threaten proactive teachers rather than combat embezzlers and the corrupt, subjecting them to measures such as exile, dismissal, and imprisonment."
Teachers have in recent years taken to the streets on several occasions to protest against their working conditions and to demand higher wages. They have also called on the government to speed up the implementation of reforms that would see their salaries better reflect their experience and performance.
The Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) reported that just ahead of the protests, 17 teachers were summoned and interrogated by the intelligence services in Sanandaj, indicating a continued pattern of pressure and scrutiny on educational professionals in Iran.
Unrest -- including months of protests by workers -- has rattled Iran in recent years in response to declining living standards, wage arrears, and a lack of welfare support.
Labor Ministry data shows Iran's poverty rate doubled in 2021, with one-third of the population living in "extreme poverty." Since then, conditions have failed to improve.
In September 2023, Iran's Misery Index, calculated by the Iranian Statistics Center, rose to 60.4 -- its highest point ever and more than double what it was six years ago. The higher the rating, the worse off people feel.
Labor laws in Iran do not recognize the right of workers to form independent unions.
Written by Ardeshir Tayebi based on an original story in Persian by RFE/RL's Radio Farda
- By RFE/RL's Hungarian Service and
- AFP
Magyar, Nagy Tell Supporters Change Impossible To Stop In Hungary
Peter Magyar, a rising challenger to Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban's right-wing government, told supporters in Debrecen that changes are coming to the country that current leaders will be unable to prevent. "Change can be stopped for a few days, a few weeks, but no one in history has ever stopped it and neither can they," Magyar said on May 4. Magyar, 43, who broke publicly with Orban's Fidesz party in February, has announced the creation of an umbrella organization aimed at uniting both conservative and liberal Hungarians disillusioned by Orban's administration. Ervin Nagy, an actor and producer, also spoke, saying, "There's a revolutionary mood, like in 1956," referring to the historic uprising against Hungary's Soviet-backed rulers. To read the original story by RFE/RL’s Hungarian Service click here.
Armenian Border Protesters March Toward Yerevan
KIRANTS, Armenia -- An outspoken archbishop and his supporters have begun marching to Yerevan from a border village in the northern Tavush Province that has been the epicenter of protests over the past two weeks against the Armenian government’s territorial concessions to Azerbaijan.
Archbishop Bagrat Galstanian, who has emerged as a leader of the protests, and other participants said they were taking their campaign to the streets of the capital to try to scuttle the handover of border areas adjacent to the village of Kirants and nearby Tavush communities.
Many local residents have been angered by the government’s plans, citing grave security concerns.
“The Tavush for the Homeland movement has decided that the people must just go to Yerevan… to demand that this process here and elsewhere be stopped,” Galstanian said in Kirants before starting the 160-kilometer journey to Yerevan.
The decision was announced two days after police cracked down on Kirants protesters who tried to stop authorities from clearing an adjacent area of land mines and make other preparations for its handover to Azerbaijan. The police presence in and around the village remained strong after the crackdown.
Galstanian, who heads the Tavush diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church, said protesters plan to reach Yerevan on May 9. He gave no details of their planned actions once there.
His announcement drew statements of support from Yerevan-based opposition politicians and public figures who pledged to join the campaign.
The marching protesters, among them at least two opposition parliamentarians, spent their first night in Tavush’s medieval Haghartsin monastery. They resumed their march to the capital after attending a Mass there early on May 5.
“This march is going to give us one thing: honor and homeland,” Galstanian told the crowd of more than 100 people following the liturgy. He urged Armenia’s leaders to “behave well,” “repent,” and “stay away from all kinds of sins.”
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian’s political allies and other supporters have verbally attacked Galstanian during the protests. Galstanian was highly critical of Pashinian and especially his handling of the conflict with Azerbaijan even before the protests.
During an April 30 session of the Armenian parliament, pro-government lawmakers branded Galstanian a Russian spy, accused him of provoking another war with Azerbaijan, and even called on Armenian border guards to forcibly draft the 52-year-old archbishop.
Pashinian has said the unilateral concessions are necessary to prevent Azerbaijani military aggression against Armenia.
The Armenian opposition maintains he is actually encouraging Baku to demand more territory from Armenia and use force for that purpose.
- By Reuters
IMF Says Mission Will Visit Pakistan This Month To Discuss New Loan
An International Monetary Fund (IMF) mission is expected to visit Pakistan this month to discuss a new program, the lender said on May 5 ahead of Islamabad beginning its annual budget-making process for the next financial year. Pakistan last month completed a short-term $3 billion program, which helped stave off sovereign default, but the government of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has stressed the need for a fresh, longer-term program. "A mission is expected to visit Pakistan in May to discuss the FY25 budget, policies, and reforms under a potential new program for the welfare of all Pakistanis," the IMF said in an e-mailed response to Reuters.
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