Latest News

Just days before the Ukrainian capital Kiev was due to host its first-ever Pride march, a city court has banned the event in what Amnesty International called a shameful about-face that tramples on human rights. Posted: 23 May 2013

Homophobia has reached endemic levels in Ukraine, a new report launched by Amnesty International revealed today. The 17-page report was launched in Kiev a day before the International Day Against Homophobia, and just nine days before Kiev plans to hold its first Pride march. Posted: 16 May 2013

The Moscow courts decision earlier today to fine a Russian independent non-governmental organisation is an alarming indicator for the future of civil society in the country, Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch said this afternoon. Posted: 25 Apr 2013

Vladimir Putins first year back as Russian president has seen a witch hunt against NGOs and critics, and a systematic undermining of freedom of expression in the country, Amnesty International said in a new report today. Posted: 24 Apr 2013

Civil society is being suppressed in Belarus by a repressive government that will not tolerate any form of criticism, Amnesty International said in a report released on Thursday 18 April. Posted: 18 Apr 2013

A new Amnesty report published today reveals shocking levels of torture conducted by the Ukrainian police force and calls for immediate action. Posted: 11 Apr 2013

Global pressure must be applied to all parties in the Syrian conflict to abide by international humanitarian and human rights law, Amnesty International said as the League of Arab States gathered in Qatar for a summit and BRICS nations met at a separate event in South Africa. Posted: 26 Mar 2013

Amnesty Internationals Moscow office is currently being inspected by prosecutors and tax inspectors - part of a wave of inspections of nongovernmental organisations (NGOs) across Russia in recent weeks. Posted: 25 Mar 2013

A new wave of inspections of nongovernmental organisations (NGOs) in Russia in the past fortnight is part of an intensifying crackdown on the countrys embattled human rights community since the adoption of a series of restrictive laws last year, Amnesty International, Front Line Defenders and Human Rights Watch said today. Posted: 22 Mar 2013

Lawyers beaten, run over and shot dead Lawyers are coming under attack in the troubled North Caucasus region of Russia, particularly when trying to represent people accused of involvement in the activities of armed groups in the region, said Amnesty International today (21 March) in a new report. Posted: 21 Mar 2013

A year after the punk band Pussy Riot performed a protest song in Moscow's main Orthodox cathedral (on 21 February 2012), the situation for freedom of expression has only worsened in Russia, Amnesty International said today. Posted: 20 Feb 2013

The Azerbaijani authorities must release two opposition leaders who are facing trumped-up charges of organising rioting in what appears to be a politically-motivated prosecution, Amnesty International said. Posted: 7 Feb 2013

Russias Parliament has backed a bill which outlaws the propaganda of homosexuality among minors in a move that will restrict fundamental human rights and is in breach of the countrys international obligations to protect lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) people from discrimination, Amnesty International said. Posted: 4 Feb 2013

A Russian courts decision to uphold a ban on videos of Pussy Riots protest performance in a Moscow cathedral last year highlights the escalating clampdown on freedom of expression in the country, Amnesty International has said in response Posted: 31 Jan 2013

Scores of activists were detained and five sentenced to prison following a peaceful protest in Azerbaijan on Saturday, prompting Amnesty International to urge the Council of Europe to make clear it will intervene. Posted: 29 Jan 2013

The forthcoming posthumous trial of a whistle-blowing Russian lawyer is a travesty and a sinister attempt to deflect attention from those who committed the crimes he exposed, said Amnesty International today, ahead of a preliminary trial hearing in Moscow on Monday 28 January. Posted: 24 Jan 2013

Until the full truth is uncovered about the notorious Second World War Katyn massacre the Russian authorities have an ongoing obligation under international law to investigate this war crime, Amnesty International said today. Posted: 18 Jan 2013

Todays decision by a Russian court to deny Pussy Riot member Maria Alekhina a deferral of her prison sentence to a later date compounds the injustice already meted out to the imprisoned punk singer, Amnesty International said in response to the ruling this afternoon. Posted: 16 Jan 2013

Amnesty International today called for an immediate, independent and thorough investigation into yesterdays orchestrated attack on Azerbaijani opposition presidential candidate Isa Gambar and the failure of police to intervene. Posted: 14 Jan 2013

Amnesty International has called on Russian parliamentarians to reject a bill it believes will have a chilling effect on Russian human rights defenders and civil society if it becomes law. Posted: 20 Dec 2012