Georgia: Anger Soars Over “Foreign Agents” Law

The new legislation leaves the country on the verge of civil confrontation and international isolation.

Evgenii Deli is accused of violating the laws and customs of war soon after Russian forces occupied the Kinburn Peninsula in the Black Sea, a strategic location stretching for 40 kilometres between the Mykolaiv and Kherson regions. © RFE/RL/Schemes (Skhemy) Project

Courtside

Russian Commander to be Tried for Kidnapping Civilians

Accused man was identified by journalistic investigation into the so-called Don Cossack volunteer brigade.

Ukraine Justice Briefing

Tuesday, 14 May ‘24

This week’s overview of key events and links to essential reading.

In March 2022, Ghukasyan fired some 20 shots at the car of 32-year-old civilian Dmytro Bondarenko as he drove along a road in the Kyiv region. He and his fellow soldiers buried the body in nearby forest. © Anastasia Vlasova/Getty Images

Interview

How to Defend a War Crimes Case

Ukrainian lawyer explains the challenges – and vital importance – of an effective defence for Russian indictees.

On April 15th, the Reckoning Project, an initiative of Ukrainian and international reporters and lawyers to document war crimes, submitted a criminal complaint to the Argentine Federal Judiciary under the universal jurisdiction. The case concerns the torture of a Ukrainian civilian by Russian forces during the occupation in 2022. © Anna Tsyhyma

Interview

Argentina to Consider Ukrainian Case

“It is important for us to show that crimes have no borders and Russian criminals must be caught everywhere.”

Ukraine Justice Briefing

Tuesday, 7 May ‘24

This week’s overview of key events and links to essential reading.

Vovchansk, a town in the eastern region of Kharkiv, lies five kilometres from the border with Russia. It was for was occupied for six months in 2022 and it remains under constant shelling: about 3,500 people remain of its pre-war 18,000 residents. © Public Kharkiv

Courtside

Russian Security Official to be Tried for Torture

During the occupation of Kharkiv region, the accused ordered and participated in the detention and torture of local residents.

Journalists of Radio Liberty (Azattyk Ynalgysy) work in the bureau in Bishkek on April 28, 2023. - A court in Russia-allied Kyrgyzstan on April 27, 2023 ordered the closure of the local branch of US-funded Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, which criticised the "outrageous" ruling. Award-winning Radio Azattyk is a prominent outlet in the Central Asian country that regularly reports on opposition groups and investigates alleged corruption. © VYACHESLAV OSELEDKO/AFP via Getty Images

World Press Freedom Day 2024

Pressure Builds on Central Asia Media

Freedom of speech in Central Asia has deteriorated in recent years, with fresh restrictions on media and bloggers alike and a growing number of criminal cases initiated against journalists.

A TV journalist prepares to do a piece to camera in front of an armoured personnel carrier on the frontline between Ukrainian forces and pro Russian separatists near the eastern Ukrainian city of Debaltseve, in the Donetsk region on 24, 2014. © SERGEI SUPINSKY/AFP via Getty Images

World Press Freedom Day 2024

Ukraine’s Information Vacuum

Those living under occupation can only get their news from Russian media and social networks.

Global Voices: Europe/Eurasia

CABAR logo

THIS WEEK ON CABAR.ASIA

Highlights from IWPR’s Central Asia network of analysis and investigations.

The construction of the Qosh Tepa canal in Afghanistan is causing water shortages in southern Uzbekistan, while in Kyrgyzstan the government is considering the construction of a nuclear power plant. In Kazakstan, conservation activists are working to save the Central Asian tortoise from extinction.

Elsewhere, CABAR delves into the efforts by Central Asian authorities to detect, reduce and prevent statelessness across the region.