Articles by Freedom House

Health of imprisoned rights activist Intigam Aliyev at risk in Azerbaijan
“It is inhumane and cruel for Azerbaijani authorities to deny medical care to Aliyev, a human rights lawyer who was sentenced on trumped-up charges and while in prison has developed a spine condition that prevents him from normal movement and causes him tremendous pain.”

Violence at event in Kyrgyzstan targets rights of LGBT persons
“It is disturbingly ironic that this attack targeted an event aimed at drawing attention to violence and discrimination against LGBTI people, and underscores the urgent need for governments, civil society, religious communities, and others to aggressively combat discrimination…”

Countering anti-LGBT discrimination in hostile environments
In the run-up to the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia on 17 May, planned activities in Burundi, Myanmar, India, Jamaica, and Bangladesh offer a sample of what is being done to counter discrimination even in hostile environments.

PayPal blocks donations for report on Russian actions in Ukraine
The “Putin. War” report was published online on 12 May 2015. The bulk of the research and writing was done by Boris Nemtsov, an opposition figure who was murdered in February 2015.

Calls for Pedro Canché to be freed following 8 months in detention
Legal proceedings that have involved serious rights violations have kept Mayan journalist Pedro Canché in jail since 30 August 2014 on allegations of sabotage.

Cambodia urged to strengthen press freedom to promote independent media
Organisations call on the Cambodian government, especially the Ministry of Information, the judicial system, media organizations, civil society and development partners to take a number of concrete steps to allow journalism to thrive.

Ukrainian journalist killed in Kiev
Ukrainian journalist Oles Buzyna was shot dead on Thursday 16 April 2015 in Kiev. He was the former editor-in-chief of Segodnya newspaper and was known for being pro-Russian and a critic of President Petro Poroshenko’s government.

Azerbaijan convicts leading human rights defender Rasul Jafarov
Rasul Jafarov was detained following his participation in a panel at the Parliamentary Assembly of the OSCE. He organized a Sing for Democracy campaign ahead of the Eurovision Song Contest in 2012 and was engaged in an effort to draw attention to Azerbaijan’s human rights record ahead of the European Games to be held in June in Baku.