Watchdog

Russian officials have added the Human Rights Defense Center based in Chechnya to the country's list of "foreign agents."

The Justice Ministry said on August 21 that an inspection showed that "the nature of the center's functions allows us to add the organization to the list."

Based in the Chechen capital, Grozny, the rights organization became the 87th NGO listed by the ministry as a "foreign agent" since President Vladimir Putin signed the 2012 law enabling NGOs to be branded "foreign agents" if they have foreign funding and are deemed to be involved in political activities.

Kremlin critics say the law is part of a crackdown on civil society that has grown since Putin returned as president three years ago.

The Russian region of Chechnya is led by the Kremlin-backed authoritarian leader Ramzan Kadyrov, who has been criticized for the systematic violation of human rights for years.

Based on reporting by Interfax and TASS

BAKU -- A Baku court resumed the trial of investigative journalist Khadija Ismayilova on August 19.

Journalists, once again, were not allowed to attend the hearing.

Several journalists brought helium-filled green and red balloons -- the colors of the Azerbaijani national flag -- tied on Ismayilova's photograph, and let the balloons fly near the Baku City Court for Serious Crimes, where the trial is being held.

READ MORE: Excerpts From Ismayilova's Testimony

Ismayilova’s supporters chanted: "Freedom to Khadija!"

The 39-year-old Ismayilova, an RFE/RL contributor who has won awards for her coverage of official corruption in oil-rich Azerbaijan, is accused of embezzlement, tax evasion, and abuse of power.

Rights groups and Western governments have echoed Ismayilova's charge that the case is politically motivated.

On August 18, the court dismissed several defense motions – including a call for an additional week of talks with her lawyers, courtroom testimony from a man registered as a witness, and breaks from daily hearings to allow her a minimum of two-hours of daily exercise.