INTERNATIONAL HELSINKI FEDERATION FOR HUMAN RIGHTS

(IHF)

PERIODIC REPORTS FROM THE OSCE REGION

APRIL - JUNE 2000

 

E-mail: office@ihf-hr.org

Tel. +43-1-408 88 22

Fax +43-1-408 88 22-50

 

This is the seventh of the "IHF Periodic Reports from the OSCE Region" published by the IHF on a regular basis. It contains information on recent human rights issues in some of the participating states of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) provided by the IHF Secretariat and its member committees and partner NGOs. The IHF intends no political statement in the selection of countries and issues described in this report. For more information on human rights violations in the OSCE region, please visit our web page at http://www.ihf-hr.org

Compiled by Paula Tscherne-Lempiaeinen

Edited by Paula Tscherne-Lempiaeinen and Nicole Watson

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

AUSTRIA: Scholar convicted for analyzing Haider's political program.

AZERBAIJAN: Restrictive human rights atmosphere makes civil society engagement in Nagorno-Karabakh solution difficult.

BELARUS: Independent press under serious pressure.

BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA: Municipal elections carried out in democratic manner; pressure on "Devni Avaz"; international community supports quicker return of refugees; does the SR security service bug phones?

FRANCE: Parliament approves new restrictions on freedom of religion; anti-sect official accuses IHF of being infiltrated by Church of scientology.

GEORGIA: TV journalist intimidated; IHF open letter on political prisoners.

GREECE: Racially motivated arson on Roma hut in Nea Kios; Council of Europe finds racism in Greece.

KYRGYZSTAN: Flawed round-table; journalist sentenced for unvailing court misconduct.

LITHUANIA: Overcrowding in prisons, long pre-trial detention and police abuse.

MOLDOVA: Students arrested and fined for participating in a rally.

NAGORNO-KARABAKH: Appeal to the President of Nagorno-Karabakh about the conviction of Vahram Aghajanian.

RUSSIA: Treason accusation against Sutyagin is a violation of freedom of expression; NL government should support parliamentary initiative for interstate complaints.

TURKEY: Members of Human Rights Foundation on trial; small group isolation in Turkish prisons: an avoidable disaster.

UNITED STATES: Stark racial disparities in drug incarceration.

UZBEKISTAN: Mass trials of Islamists; torture and inhuman treatment at Jaslik labor camp.

YUGOSLAVIA / SERBIA: Russia and Western community must become more engaged to end media and other repression.

TRAFFICKING IN WOMEN: a form of slavery