Rights watch

Tajikistan: Call for release of human rights lawyer ahead of 50th birthday behind bars | Eurasia Review

On 9 July 2021, Buzurgmehr Yorov, a Tajikistani human rights lawyer and outspoken critic of the government, will mark his 50th birthday behind bars.

Israel arrests Palestinian rights lawyer who protested against Abbas | Middle East Monitor

A Palestinian human rights lawyer was detained by Israeli forces early on Sunday after taking part in a protest in the West Bank against Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, the international rights group Independent Commission for Human Rights (ICHR) said.

China: Six years after crackdown, rights lawyers ‘struggling to exist’ — Radio Free Asia

Six years after Beijing police raided the offices and key members of the now-defunct Beijing Fengrui law firm, rights attorneys Wang Yu and Wang Quanzhang say their profession no longer really exists.

Haiti: Foreign hit squad killed president, police say | BBC News

A group of 28 foreign mercenaries, including retired Colombian soldiers, assassinated Haiti’s President Jovenel Moïse earlier this week, police say.

Colombia: President accused of presiding over regime of violence by human rights body | Morning Star

Colombian President Ivan Duque was accused of presiding over a regime of violence that has seen at least 178 anti-government protesters killed in a new report released on Wednesday.

China: EU votes for diplomats to boycott Winter Olympics over rights abuses |  The Guardian

The European parliament has overwhelmingly passed a resolution calling on diplomatic officials to boycott the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics in response to continuing human rights abuses by the Chinese government.

Brazil: Military threatens Senate over Covid-19 investigation | Brasil Wire

Days after visit by CIA director, top military brass attempt to pressure end of corruption investigation against General Eduardo Pazuello and his former aides.

Myanmar: The lawyer who loses most of his cases and is proud of it | The New York Times

“The case is lost,” says U Khin Maung Zaw, a human rights lawyer in Myanmar who is representing Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, “but the cause is won.”

Lithuania to start building barrier on border with Belarus this week | EURACTIV.com

Lithuania is due to start building barbed wire fencing on the border with Belarus, Defence Minister Arvydas Anušauskas confirmed on Thursday.