The trial of several accused of being involved in an alleged plot to overthrow the government had degraded the status of press freedom in the country, writes Ece Temelkuran
Turkey: “Free journalists” challenge courts
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CATEGORY: Europe and Central Asia
In Belarus, the freedom of the internet is at stake
Europe’s last dictatorship is clamping down on online activism, with a new law effectively requiring everyone to be a state spy. Mike Harris reports
Hungary faces squeeze on freedoms
Huge crowds protest Hungary’s new constitution as the country’s political elite celebrates legislation which cements their power. Sándor Orbán reports
Tibet: Writer imprisoned
A Tibetan writer has been sentenced to four years in jail by a Chinese court in eastern Tibet. Kalsang Tsultim, also known as Gyitsang Takmik, was first arrested in July 2010 for committing what the Chinese authorities termed "political error." He...
Foreign Secretary responds to open letter on freedom of expression
In response to an open letter from Index and a number of media freedom groups, Foreign Secretary William Hague outlines the Coalition Government's policy on freedom of expression and the internet. Thank you for your letter of 1 November about the...
Is drug legislation being used to silence opposition activists?
Opposition activist Taisiya Osipova was sentenced to ten years on charges of drug trafficking on Friday. Rights activists allege that her arrest is a political move to silence both her and her husband. Both are members of The Other Russia...
Opposition activist Sergey Udaltsov under threat from Moscow police
Opposition leader Sergey Udaltsov has spent much of December under arrest and on hunger strike --- but the unity of his supporters grows stronger as his health continues to deteriorate. “The authorities are trying to silence me, but they cannot...
Azerbaijani activist freed
Azerbaijani Facebook activist Jabbar Savalan was released on 26 December after almost 11 months in prison. The teenager was released by presidential pardon along with 91 other political prisoners. Savalan was arrested in early February after...
Over 100,000 Russians protesters aim to prevent Putin from becoming president
According to opposition leaders, at least 120,000 people gathered in the centre of Moscow on 24 December to demand new and fair parliamentary elections, and that Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin retire. Police report that 29,000 were present...
“Putin uses tabloid to try and split Russian opposition”
A leading online tabloid has published opposition leader Boris Nemtsov’s private phone conversations, during which he denigrated other Russian opposition activists. Nemtsov claims his phone was illegally bugged and that the Kremlin is behind the...