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Uzbekistan: Free Human Rights Activist Government Critic Held on Fabricated Charges, Ill-Treated in Custody Uzbek authorities should drop all charges against a human rights defender and opposition activist who faces politically motivated prosecution and immediately release him, Human Rights Watch said today. The trial against Akzam Turgunov resumes on September 16, 2008 in the remote town of Manget. Human Rights Watch also called on the authorities to ensure that Turgunov gets medical care for burns he suffered from ill-treatment in custody. September 16, 2008 Press Release Also available in 
Printer friendly version Georgia: EU Mission Needs to Protect Civilians In Security Vacuum, Frequent Attacks and Pervasive Fear The European Union observer mission scheduled to move into areas near South Ossetia must be given both a mandate and adequate resources to protect civilians, Human Rights Watch said today. Human Rights Watch researchers in Georgia in recent days have documented numerous attacks by Ossetians against civilians in villages in this area, which is effectively under Russian control. September 16, 2008 Press Release Printer friendly version Five Activists Win Human Rights Watch Awards Honored for Courage in Exposing Abuse and Seeking Justice Five brave and selfless advocates of human rights from Burma, Congo, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka and Uzbekistan have been awarded the prestigious 2008 Human Rights Defender Awards, Human Rights Watch said today. All five have been persecuted and threatened for their work. One winner, Saudi lawyer Abd al-Rahman al-Lahim, is, which Human Rights Watch urges the Saudi government lift so that he may receive his award in person in London. September 15, 2008 Press Release Also available in 
Printer friendly version Uzbekistan: Release Independent Journalist Trial of Government Critic Begins Uzbek authorities should drop all charges against an independent journalist facing politically motivated prosecution and release him, Human Rights Watch said today. Salijon Abdurakhmanov, a journalist known for his critical reporting of the authorities, goes on trial on September 12, 2008, in Nukus, the capital city of Karakalpakstan, an autonomous republic in Uzbekistan, 1,100 kilometers west of Tashkent. September 12, 2008 Press Release Also available in
Printer friendly version Human Rights Watch UPR Submission on Turkmenistan July 2008 This submission summarizes Human Rights Watch’s key concerns regarding Turkmenistan’s compliance with its international obligations in the context of three areas that have been the focus of Human Rights Watch’s work on the country in recent years—political prisoners, governmental impediments for travel abroad, and restrictions on non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and independent media to function freely. We believe the upcoming Universal Periodic Review of Turkmenistan provides a welcome opportunity for reviewing the Turkmen government’s record in these areas. We hope that the information provided here will help inform the upcoming review and contribute to the resulting recommendations for the improvement of human rights in Turkmenistan. September 9, 2008 Written Statement Printer friendly version Afghanistan: Civilian Deaths From Airstrikes Airstrikes Cause Public Backlash, Undermine Protection Efforts Civilian deaths in Afghanistan from US and NATO airstrikes nearly tripled from 2006 to 2007, with recent deadly airstrikes exacerbating the problem and fuelling a public backlash, Human Rights Watch said in a new report released today. The report also condemns the Taliban’s use of “human shields” in violation of the laws of war. September 8, 2008 Press Release Also available in
Printer friendly version Oral Statement in Response to the Update of the Newly Appointed High Commissioner of Human Rights High Commissioner, Human Rights Watch warmly welcomes you in your new position as UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. September 8, 2008 Oral Statement Printer friendly version Fact Sheet on Turkmenistan: Still Closed and Still Repressive August 2008 The death in December 2006 of Turkmenistan’s authoritarian ruler, president-for-life Saparmurad Niazov led to unprecedented interest in this gas-rich Central Asian country from the European Union, Unites States and international organizations. The government under President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov ended the self-imposed international isolation of the Niazov era and has actively engaged foreign partners, notably the intergovernmental organizations and the business community. It has also begun to reverse some of the most ruinous social policies of the Niazov era, has begun to tackle the Niazov’s cult of personality, and has started constitutional reform. However, it remains—as detailed below—one of the most repressive and authoritarian states in the world. Its policies and practices are anathema to European values. September 4, 2008 Memorandum Also available in
Printer friendly version Clarification Regarding Use of Cluster Munitions in Georgia On August 21, 2008, Human Rights Watch reported a series of attacks with cluster munitions around four towns and villages in Georgia’s Gori district. Human Rights Watch attributed all the strikes to Russian forces, but upon further investigation has concluded that the origin of the cluster munitions found on August 20 in two of the villages – Shindisi and Pkhvenisi – cannot yet be determined. September 2, 2008 Press Release Also available in
Printer friendly version France: Sarkozy Should Use Syria Visit to Raise Rights Damascus Authorities Repress Basic Freedoms French President Nicolas Sarkozy should use his visit to Syria on September 3 and 4, 2008, to raise human rights concerns with President Bashar al-Asad, Human Rights Watch said today. In particular, Sarkozy should urge Asad to release activists detained solely for exercising their rights to freedom of expression and association. He should also ask Asad to make public all information on the violent suppression of a riot at Sednaya prison in July 2008. September 1, 2008 Press Release Printer friendly version Georgia: Join Treaty Banning Cluster Munitions Government Acknowledges Using Weapon Against Russian Forces The Georgian government said it used cluster munitions during the August 2008 armed conflict with Russia, Human Rights Watch said today. In a letter to Human Rights Watch, the Georgian Defense Ministry stated that cluster rockets were “used against Russian military equipment and armament marching from Roki tunnel to Dzara road [sic],” but that they “were never used against civilians, civilian targets and civilian populated or nearby areas.” Human Rights Watch has not independently confirmed this information, but has reported Russia’s use of cluster munitions during the fighting. September 1, 2008 Press Release Also available in
Printer friendly version South Ossetia: Tskhinvali’s Apocalypse By Tanya Lokshina, deputy director of Human Rights Watch’s Moscow office. Published in opendemocracy.net With the fighting over, Tanya Lokshina hitches lifts between checkpoints around South Ossetia's wrecked capital Tskhinvali chronicling the grieving and burying, looting and burning, the unexploded bombs, disenchanted militias and Russian troops struggling to protect what remains of abandoned Georgian villages. August 29, 2008 Commentary Printer friendly version Georgia: Satellite Images Show Destruction, Ethnic Attacks Russia Should Investigate, Prosecute Crimes Recent satellite images released by the UN program UNOSAT confirm the widespread torching of ethnic Georgian villages inside South Ossetia, Human Rights Watch said today. Detailed analysis of the damage depicted in five ethnic Georgian villages shows the destruction of these villages around the South Ossetian capital, Tskhinvali, was caused by intentional burning and not armed combat. August 28, 2008 Press Release Also available in
Printer friendly version EU: Protect Civilians in Gori District Security of Civilians Should Be Central to Summit Discussions on Russia The European Union should act to protect Georgian civilians from continued attacks by Ossetian militias and opportunistic violence, Human Rights Watch said today. Human Rights Watch called on the European Union to use its unprecedented summit on Russia on September 1 to make a plan for ensuring protection for civilians in Georgia. August 27, 2008 Press Release Also available in
Printer friendly version Letter to President Nicolas Sarkozy in Advance of the September 1 Emergency Summit We are writing in advance of the emergency Summit of EU Heads of State and Government to be held on September 1st, to urge you to take very concrete steps to: enhance the protection of civilians in areas affected by the armed conflict between Russia and Georgia; facilitate the safe and voluntary return of the thousands of displaced; and, to advance accountability for serious human rights abuses and violations of international humanitarian law committed by all parties to the conflict. August 27, 2008 Letter Printer friendly version Law on Occupation and Effective Control 1. When does the law on occupation apply to the Russian presence in Georgia? Territory is considered "occupied" when it is comes under the control or authority of foreign armed forces, whether partially or entirely, without the consent of the domestic government. This is a factual determination, and the reasons or motives that lead to the occupation or are the basis for continued occupation are irrelevant. Even if the foreign armed forces meet no armed resistance and there is no fighting, once territory comes under the effective control of the foreign armed forces the laws on occupation are applicable. Therefore wherever Russian forces exercise effective control of an area in Georgian territory, including in South Ossetia or Abkhazia, without the consent or agreement of the Georgian government, for the purposes of international humanitarian law it is an occupying power and must adhere to its obligations as such. August 26, 2008 Questions and Answers Printer friendly version A UK Window into CIA Abuses By Joanne Mariner, terrorism and counterterrorism director Published in FindLaw This Wednesday, unless the UK foreign secretary takes rapid action, Britain’s High Court will hold a hearing to assess whether the UK government should be ordered to hand over secret documents to lawyers for a Guantanamo detainee. The detainee in question, Binyam Mohamed, faces possible charges of conspiracy and material support for terrorism before a military commission at Guantanamo. August 25, 2008 Commentary Printer friendly version Georgia: a challenge for Europe By Tom Porteous, London director Published in Guardian online As Russia withdraws its troops, the EU could help the ceasefire stick by deploying a vital civilian protection mission. August 24, 2008 Commentary Printer friendly version UK: Disclose Information on Treatment and Interrogations of Guantanamo Detainee Binyan Mohamed Letter to UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband On August 21, 2008, Binyam Mohamed, a former UK resident detained at Guantanamo who is slated for trial before the military commissions, won the first stage in a battle for access to evidence showing he was tortured. The British government, which previously refused to turn over evidence that may back up Mohamed’s claims, was given one week by a UK court to reconsider its refusal, concluding that the information is essential for Mohamed to adequately defend himself. In a letter sent today, Human Rights Watch urges the British government to disclose to Mohamed’s lawyers any and all evidence it has about his interrogation and detention. August 22, 2008 Letter Printer friendly version Georgia: Civilians Bear the Brunt of Conflict
August 21, 2008 Graphic |
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