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Persecution Onhuman Rights Defenders and Human Rights Ngos Persecution on Human Rights Defenders and Human Rights NGOs at the Post-Soviet Area: Key Tendencies 2011 - 2013 Content INTRODUCTION……………………………………………………………………………….….4 SURVEY METHODOLOGY AND REPORT STRUCTURE……………………...…………...…8 PART 1. PERSECUTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS CHAPTER 1. LIFE VIOLATIONS……………………………………………………………….13 1.2. Disappearances ………………………………………………………………………………..16 CHAPTER 2. HEALTH VIOLATIONS (ATTACKS, BEATING) ………………………………17 Chapter 3. TORTURES, INHUMAN OR DEGRADING TREATMENT …………….………….25 3.1. Tortures and degrading treatment during arrests, detention and investigation …………..……26 3.2. Degrading treatment in detention ……………………………………………………..….……30 Chapter 4. CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS ………………………………………………..….……..32 4.1. Unfounded initiation of criminal proceedings ……………………………………….…..…….33 4.2. Criminal sentencing with deprivation of liberty ……………………………………….…...… 41 4.3. Criminal sentencing without deprivation of liberty (fine, conditional sentence)………..……. 51 Chapter 5. ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEEDINGS ……………………………………………..…55 5.1. Arbitrary detention……………………………………………………………………..…..…. 56 5.2. Fining…………………………………………………………………………………..…...…. 58 5.3. Administrative arrest ………………………………………………………………...…….…..63 5.4. Other forms of administrative pressure…………………………………………….……….….68 Chapter 6. OTHER FORMS OF DEPRIVATION OF LIBERTY ………………………..……….70 6.1. Restriction of freedom to move……………………………………………………………….. 71 6.2. Attempts of compulsory psychiatric treatment…………………………………………...…… 73 Chapter 7. CHANGES WITH DEFAMATION…..……………………………………...…..…….74 Chapter 8. DEATH THREATS AND THREATS OF SERIOUS PHYSICAL HARM……….......78 Chapter 9. DISCREDITING……………..…………………………………………………….….. 83 Chapter 10. HARASSMENT / PRESSURE ON RELATIVES OF HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS……………………………………………………………………………………… 88 Chapter 11. PROPERTY DAMAGE ………………………………………………………………91 Chapter 12. OTHER RESTRICTIONS ON HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS` ACTIVITIES…. 92 12.1. Searches and interrogations ………………………………………………………….……….93 12.2. Tax inspections………………………………………………………………………….…… 96 2 12.3. Dismissing, intimidation on being dismissed and dropping out of professional unions ….. 98 12.4. Blocking access to the web-sites …………………………………………………………..100 12.5. Threats of extradition ……………………………………………………………………...103 PART 2. ENVIRONMENT FOR HUMAN RIGHTS NGOS: LEGISLATION AND ATTITUDES Legal Framework for NGOs…………………………………..………………………………..…106 Azerbaijan ……………………………………………………..…….……………………………109 Armenia…………………………………………………………………………………………... 114 Belarus……………………………………………………………………………………………. 116 Georgia…………………………………………………………..………………………………...121 Kazakhstan……………………………………………………...………………………………... 124 Kyrgyzstan………………………………………………………..……………………………… 126 Moldova…………………………………………………………….……………………………. 127 Russia……………………………………………………………………….……………………. 129 Tajikistan…………………………………………………………………….…………………… 139 Turkmenistan ……………………………………………………………………………………...143 Uzbekistan…………………………………………………………………….………………….. 145 Ukraine …………………………………………………………………...……………………….147 3 INTRODUCTION Human rights defenders are the particular group whose freedom of activity is the direct indicator of the general level of respect to human rights in the state. Due to specific of their work on promotion and protection of human rights the human rights defenders often became a target for threats, attacks and harassment. Recognizing this fact, the United Nations in the year 1998 adopted a document that became to be known as a Declaration on Human Rights Defenders1. Although this document is not legally binding itself, it gathers the provisions of other documents which possess such force (Conventions and Covenants directly related to the rights of human rights defenders). There is indicated in the Declaration a direct responsibility of states to adopt such different steps as may be necessary to ensure that the rights and freedoms of those, who take advantage of the right to protect human rights, are fulfilled. Among others, the Declaration asserts such rights as: right to promote and protect human rights; freedom of expression; to solicit, receive and utilize resources for the express purpose of promoting and protecting human rights; right to know, seek, obtain, receive and hold information about all human rights right to complain about the policies and actions of individual officials and governmental bodies with regard to violations of human rights; right to be protected internationally. In the year 2000 the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders (Special Representative of the Secretary General) had been established to support implementation of the Declaration on Human Rights Defenders. According to this Declaration, human rights defenders are those who "promote and strive for the protection and realization of human rights and fundamental freedoms" individually and in association with others. The term "human rights defenders" cannot mean only the representative of non-government (human rights) organizations. The human rights defenders should not be treated as some sort of special legal category and should not have any special privileges that distinguish them from other people; but in the case of offenses committed against them because of their activities, human rights defenders should be given special guarantees of protection. Besides, protection of human rights defenders means at the same time protection of survivors of human rights violations by giving them possibility to be heard and keeping their contacts with the organizations working to protect their rights. The lineament of the human rights defenders is their commitment to values they promote. There are different people among them, but all human rights defenders respect the universality and the indivisibility of human rights. They share the point of view that all people, regardless of their gender, race, nationality, religion, sexual orientation, etc., should enjoy all the rights. Human right activists are those who promote and protect human rights peacefully and with no violence2 (marked by editors). 1 Declaration on the Right and Responsibility of Individuals, Groups and Organs of Society to Promote and Protect Universally Recognized Human Rights and Fundamental Freedomsadopted by the Resolution of General Assembly, A/RES/53/144 on December 9, 1998; http://daccess-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/N99/770/89/PDF/N9977089.pdf?OpenElement 2 http://www.hfhrpol.waw.pl/uzbek/ru/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=76:2009-12-04-11-06- 56&catid=36:teksty-o-prawach-czowieka-i-demokracji 4 Gathering and disseminating information, advocacy and the mobilization of public opinion are often the most common tools used by human rights defenders in their work. They work at democratic transformation in order to increase the participation of people in the decision-making that shapes their lives and to strengthen good governance. They also contribute to the improvement of social, political and economic conditions, the reduction of social and political tensions, the building of peace, domestically and internationally, and the nurturing of national and international awareness of human rights3. It is clear that independent human rights activities are possible only under condition when at least minimal standards of the freedom of speech and access to information, right to meet or assemble peacefully are fulfilled. The barriers for human rights activity appears when these freedoms are unfairly limited and consequently human rights defenders necessarily meet pressure and different forms of intervention in their work by government. The human rights defenders should be able to implement their activities on protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms, guaranteed under the national law and protected internationally, regardless of the twists and turns of political struggle and the domestic political context. Such pattern allows other civic groups, such as volunteer, environmental, children's, service organizations, etc., to function normally as well. The human rights activity is an important factor for prevention of social conflicts as well; it if one of the forms for suspense diminishment and it is an impact for setting dialog between the government and society. The authorities, who do not realize this issue and rely on force to resolve conflicts together with drift from the law, risk bringing the situation to the social upheavals, accompanied by ever-increasing levels of aggression and violence. Besides of the Declaration on Human Rights Defenders, mentioned above, this function of human rights defenders is recognized by number of international human rights instruments that foresee a scope of guarantees for human rights activity. At the regional level there is a Declaration of the Committee of Ministers on Council of Europe action to improve the protection of human rights defenders and promote their activities4. There are specific protections provided to human rights defenders, including the rights: 1. To seek the protection and realization of human rights at the national and international levels 2. To conduct human rights work individually and in association with others; 3. To form associations and non-governmental organizations; 4. To meet or assemble peacefully; 5. To seek, obtain, receive and hold information relating to human rights; 6. To develop and discuss new human rights ideas and principles and to advocate their acceptance; 7. To submit to governmental bodies and agencies and organizations concerned with public affairs criticism and proposals for improving their functioning and to
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