OSCE, Warsaw, 08 March 2010 – The conduct of the trials that took place in the aftermath of the March 2008 post-election violence in Yerevan reveals shortcomings in Armenia’s justice system, concludes a report published today by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR). Read more…

OSCE, Yerevan, 03 Mar 2010 – A compilation of articles discussing violence, intimidation and legal cases against journalists in 2008-2009 in Armenia, published with support from the OSCE Office in Yerevan, was presented today. Read more…

Washington, UAA, 02 Mar 2010 – Although the use of the term “Chinese Muslim” to describe Uyghurs has decreased somewhat in recent months as the international community has gained a better understanding of Uyghurs’ identity and the oppression they face, the Uyghur American Association (UAA) remains concerned about the still frequent use of the term in the international media. Read more…

On February 24, the photojournalist Gagik Shamshyan was beaten up right in front of the RA Prosecutor General’s Office.

The journalist told NEWS.am that a man attacked him as he was trying to take pictures of the officers. The attacker was insulting the journalist and hitting him in the face and other parts of the body. Read more…

OSCE, Vienna, 2 Feb 2010 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Miklos Haraszti, said today that he was deeply concerned by the continuing harassment of journalists in Uzbekistan. Read more…

Uznews, Tashkent, 29 Jan 2010 – Investigator Nodir Ahmadjanov has rejected photographer and documentary filmmaker Umida Ahmedova and her lawyer’s motion to question experts who concluded three weeks ago that her photo album “Women and Men: from Dawn to Dusk” and documentary “Burden of Virginity” defamed the Uzbek people. Read more…

Cell phone users detained, punished for sending “harmful” text messages

UAA, Washington, 27 Jan 2010 – The Uyghur American Association (UAA) condemns, in the strongest possible terms, the issuance on January 25 of four new death sentences to Uyghurs in connection with unrest that took place in July 2009 in Urumchi, the regional capital of East Turkestan. Read more…

WPFC, Washington, 19 Jan 2010 — The World Press Freedom Committee — an organization representing 45 press freedom groups from throughout the world — condemns the seven-year prison sentence handed down today against Armenian journalist Nikol Pashinyan, editor-in-chief of the country’s leading newspaper, Haykakan Zhamanak (Armenian Times), who was arrested on July 1 after he voluntarily came out of hiding. Read more…

CPJ/IFEX, New York, 18 Jan 2009 – New York, January 15, 2010 – The Committee to Protect Journalists called on Uzbek authorities today to immediately cease their campaign of intimidation against the handful of independent journalists remaining in the Central Asian country. Read more…

UAA, Washington, 14 Jan 2010 – The Uyghur American Association (UAA) fears that the near doubling of the security budget for East Turkestan, announced today in Chinese state media, will broaden the scope of the ongoing official repression of Uyghurs and exacerbate ethnic tensions in the region. Read more…

Vienna, OSCE, 12 Jan 2010 – The new OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Kazakhstan’s Secretary of State and Foreign Minister Kanat Saudabayev, will outline Kazakhstan’s priorities for the Organization in 2010 in a speech to be delivered on Thursday in Vienna. Read more…

IRFS/IFEX, Baku, 08 Jan 2010 – On 8 January 2010, “Milletim” newspaper’s editor-in-chief Faramaz Novruzoglu was released from prison number 16. Novruzoglu was met by the newspaper’s employees and his friends in front of the prison. Read more…

OSCE, Astana, 01 Jan 2010 – Kazakhstan took over the Chairmanship of the OSCE today and reaffirmed its commitment to uphold the fundamental principles and values of the Organization, to proceed according to the interests of all participating States and to strengthen the role of the OSCE as a significant platform for dialogue contributing to security in the wider Eurasian space. Read more…

OSCE, Ashgabat, 17 Dec 2009 – The winners of the photo contest launched by the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat to celebrate its tenth anniversary were announced today, with the first prize awarded to Igor Lomov for his photo “Twin souls”. Read more…