Maidan

Given the near information blackout in Armenia, it is important to post the following appeal from the Helsinki Association of Armenia and the report about arrests, etc.

The UNHCR and Amnesty International have both expressed concern over the forced return (refoulement) by Ukraine of a group of eleven Sri Lankan asylum seekers. Particularly disturbing is the fact that six of them had applied for refugee status in Ukraine

“We went through the war and know from our own experience the importance of friendship and brotherhood in arms. Unfortunately the deputies of the Simferopol City Council take decisions based only on political considerations and expediency, and don’t think about people”.

A surreal court ruling in Kyiv on Friday 29 February could, if not revoked at appeal stage, send many people’s faith in the rule of law into fast fall. The ruling is a squalid continuation of a thoroughly unseemly tale of political manoeuvring. It involves the judiciary, however, and whatever the judges may say, it concerns every one of us.

A group of scientists have addressed an appeal to Prime Minister Tymoshenko asking that a recent Cabinet of Ministers Resolution be revoked which unwarrantedly increases the lifelong payment for “the title” of current member or correspondent member of State academies.

The Thistle of the Year Anti-Awards for 2007 were announced on 10 December, Human Rights Day. There was, admittedly, a depressingly large choice of candidates for this very much less than prestigious award.

Statement from the Kharkiv Human Rights Protection Group regarding the believed deployment of a special force unit in a penal colony, the haste with which the authorities have reached conclusions claiming the contrary, and why their checks leave so very many question unanswered

Mukhammedsolykh Abutov has suffered persecution already and is seeking asylum in Russia. He must not be sent back to his torturers in Uzbekistan. PLEASE help us by using any media contacts you have ensure that this letter reaches those in Russia who have the power to prevent a grave injustice from being committed.

On 12 November the Kyiv Administrative Court of Appeal allowed the appeal brought by Irpin Mayor Myroslava Svystovych who was dismissed by deputies of the Irpin City Council on 3 April 2007

The author of these autobiographical notes is Uzbekistan national Mukhammadsolykh Abutov who served eight and a half years in Uzbekistan labour camps for his religious beliefs. This document requires no commentary; it needs only to be read – and please pass it on to others