The seven activists were arrested on Lubyanka Square [home to the FSB] where they had tried, with Geiger counters to measure the level of radiation and to find any traces of Polonium-210 which was used to poison Alexander Litvinenko in London

The leadership of the Eurasian Youth Union, an organization notorious for its radical pro-Russian views and excesses, is claiming responsibility for dismantling the UPA [Ukrainian Resistance Army] Memorial in Kharkiv

It has refused to ratify the Protocol to the European Convention on Human Rights which regulates the work of the European Court of Human Rights

It is unprecedented not only in Ukraine, but in the world generally, that a representative of civic society should have been put forward by members of the public themselves for the post of Human Rights Ombudsperson.

The protest was over the appointment as Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs of Mykola Plekhanov, the former head of the Sumy region MIA during the 2004 elections and beating up of students

The scandalous action in wrenching the Memorial Stone from its foundation has created furore in Kharkiv. Fortunately the stone has not suffered too badly and is presently being put back.

Press Release from the civic organization “City Watch”: regarding the seizure of a disputed site in Kharkiv already allocated for construction

Two women, helped by the Kherson regional branch of the Committee of Voters of Ukraine, have achieved victory in the European Court of Human Rights. The author points out how very frustrating it is that it was necessary to call in international arbiters to prove that a person must be paid for his or her work.

The aim of the Centre is to assist nongovernmental civic organizations in “penetrating” the pages and broadcasting studios of central and regional media outlets, this in turn heightening the awareness of the public about the work of such organizaitons

"The task of journalists and human rights defenders is to force officials to take decisions openly, providing the public with full and open information about the activities of the authorities and bodies of local self-government.”

Kalashnikov said that he took responsibility, but denied his involvement, and also spoke of freedom of speech being used “as an instrument for carrying out genocide of the individual”. After this speech, the journalists present in the press area, began chanting “Shame!”.

The Octyabrsky District Court in Ivanovo has found the refusal to grant temporary asylum unlawful and said that the Federal Migration Service had not provided sufficient evidence that the applicants would not face the threat of torture if returned to Uzbekistan and had ignored documents suggesting that they would

The Ukrainian Helsinki Human Rights Union points to continuing lack of compliance with international standards in the system of registration of civic organizations in Ukraine

This was one of the messages from an interview given by the Council of Europe’s Human Rights Commissioner in Kyiv on 17 December. Thomas Hammerberg also spoke of the spread of HIV/AIDS, problems with the justice system and a rise in xeno

The General Secretary of the Russian Union of Journalists states that over recent years 211 journalists have been killed in Russia and stresses that they were killed “for journalism, for telling citizens of Russia and the entire world about what is happening in the country”,

At the present time only the High Administrative Court is in place, and working with only two thirds of the judges needed. District and appeal administrative courts have been at the organizational phase for two years and cases are not been reviewed

Human Rights Commissioner Thomas Hammarberg affirmed during his visit to Ukraine the Council of Europe’s intention to help Kyiv in fighting corruption and political engagement by the courts

The author points to a worrying deterioration in the human rights situation in the last few months, mentioning among others the potentially disastrous increase in housing and communal charges without any mechanisms to protect the vulnerable, as well as renewed pressure by tax and other controlling authorities not seen since the end of 2004

The new procedure establishes single rules for the preparation and formalization of citizens’ associations and other civic formations, as well as on cancelling their registration

The person involved has also lodged a claim with the European Court alleging that Ukraine will violate Articles 3 and 6 of the European Convention by sending him back to Belarus where he asserts that the accusations against him are politically motivated