Blog: from Belarus to UzbekistanFormer Soviet Union
Armenia | Azerbaijan | Belarus | Georgia | Kazakstan | Kyrgyzstan | Moldova | Russia | Tajikistan | Turkmenistan | Ukraine | Uzbekistan
Corruption remains widespread and torture is routinely used to gain confessions. There is generally impunity for state officials who commit human rights abuses. Prison conditions are appalling. Belarus retains the death penalty.
Freedom of expression in the media and activities of human rights defenders are curtailed by state intervention. There has been an increasing number of journalists murdered, and human rights defenders face increased persecution.
Violence against women has reached epidemic proportions in Russia, and thousands of women are trafficked annually to the West from former USSR states. Azerbaijan has one of the largest internally displaced populations in the world.
We are very concerned about widespread reports of disappearances, torture and other human rights violations against the civilian population by state and non-state actors in a number of local conflicts. There is widespread persecution of ethnic minorities and religious repression. Anti-terrorism measures are often used as an excuse to justify this repression.
Read more about the countries in this region in our 2009 Annual Report
Russia: Justice for Anna Politkovskaya
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Journalist and human rights defender Anna Politkovskaya was murdered three years ago and those responsible have not yet been brought to justice.Latest newsMore news | Take action
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Ibragim Gazdiev
Eynulla Fatullayev Further information
- Watch Country Coordinator Sara Hall deliver a photo petition for Ibragim Gazdiev to the Russian Embassy 30 April 2009
- Moldova: Police torture and ill-treatment - "It's just normal" 23 october 2007
- Azerbaijan: Displaced then discriminated against - the plight of the internally displaced population 28 June 2007
