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In South Korea, Democracy and Human Rights Prevail by Anastasiia Kruope, Hye Jung Han, John Sifton Human Rights Watch, agencies 23 Mar. 2025 Mass protests in Turkiye after popular opposition leader Ekrem Imamoglu jailed, writes Elcin Poyrazlar. (Politico) Turkey took a sharp turn toward full autocracy on Sunday when President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s main political rival, Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, was jailed amid a major crackdown on the opposition. Imamoglu, a highly popular secularist who was widely seen as the most likely next president to succeed the Islamist Erdoan, responded with an impassioned call for mass demonstrations to save democracy in the nation of 86 million. A court on Sunday formally arrested Imamoglu on corruption charges pending trial, in a step that the opposition argues is a politically motivated “coup.” He was also formally removed from office as mayor of Turkey’s biggest city, on the very day that he was later voted in as the official presidential candidate for the Republican People’s Party (CHP). “Turkiye woke up to a great betrayal today. The judicial process being carried out is not a judicial procedure. It is a complete extrajudicial execution,” Imamoglu said on his social media account. A number of European leaders condemned the incarceration of Imamoglu and other opposition figures as “serious attacks on democracy.” Since Imamoglu’s initial detention on Wednesday, tens of thousands of supporters have taken to the streets in more than a dozen cities, sometimes clashing with riot police and facing water cannon, even in conservative strongholds such as Erdogan’s hometown of Rize. The protesters turned out despite bans against demonstrations imposed since Imamoglu's detention and attempts to limit broadcasting of the popular anger. Erdogan’s backlash against the opposition comes after the CHP’s unexpectedly convincing victories in cities nationwide in the municipal elections of 2024, even in districts that had long been strongholds for the ruling AK Party. In a stark warning to the protesters of the possible consequences of their actions, Erdogan described the demonstrations as “street terror” and also had a message for the CHP to which his arrested rival belongs. “We will definitely not allow the CHP and its supporters to disrupt public order and disturb the peace of our nation through provocation,” the president said. Imamoglu has maintained a defiant tone since his detention and issued a call for voters to support him as the CHP candidate to take on Erdogan in presidential elections, due by 2028. The now ex-mayor was the sole candidate in the party’s open presidential primary, which still attracted a high turnout of people. Ultimately, the CHP said 15 million people turned out to support Imamoglu in the ballot. “You will be defeated one way or another,” Imamoglu said to Erdogan, calling on Turkey’s entire population to take part in the CHP primary. “I invite my 86 million citizens to run to the ballot box and announce their struggle for democracy and justice to the entire world,” he said. “I stand tall, I will never bow down.” Soner Cagaptay, of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, saw Imamoglu’s arrest as a decisive moment in Turkish political history. He argued that Turkey had now switched from what he called “competitive authoritarianism,” in which the opposition has a chance to win elections stacked in Erdogan’s favor, to a straightforward authoritarian system. “So from that point on, I think Turkey is an authoritarian system, sadly,” Cagaptay told Politico. Since his detention, Imamoglu has been interrogated for more than nine hours by the authorities and has categorically denied the charges against him. On Wednesday, two separate investigations were launched against him and more than 100 others including politicians, businessmen and journalists. The investigations came a day after university authorities cancelled Imamoglu’s diploma, a necessary requisite for running in the presidential election. In the investigation that provided the grounds for Sunday’s formal arrest, the Istanbul chief public prosecutor’s office accused Imamoglu of “establishing and managing a criminal organization, taking bribes, extortion, unlawfully recording personal data and rigging a tender.” The prosecutor’s office also voiced “strong suspicion” that Imamoglu had been involved in “aiding an armed terrorist organization,” a reference to alleged ties with pro-Kurdish groups. The court system has not yet given a definitive ruling on the terror charges. The leader of Imamoglu’s party party also suggested that Erdogan was even seeking to take over the opposition CHP itself. CHP Chairman Ozgur Ozel announced an extraordinary congress on April 6 to eliminate the possibility of Erdogan’s government appointing a trustee to run the party. “They want to appoint a trustee to Ataturk’s party,” Ozel said, referring to the founder of modern day Turkey and of the CHP itself, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk. “We will announce to all of Turkey that we are blocking any attempts at a trusteeship by taking the party to an extraordinary congress,” he added. Erdogan’s judicial and law enforcement apparatus has also launched an unprecedented attack on the main opposition and its supporters. The authorities have detained 343 protesters, while a number of opposition social media accounts were blocked and the bandwidth of social media platforms was restricted. WhatsApp, a popular means of communication for Turks, was not available at times. During the five days of demonstrations, pro-government media shied away from reporting on the street protests. While he was in detention, other investigations were initiated against Imamoglu, accusing him of irregularities linked to nurseries the Istanbul municipality opened. Since Imamoglu came into office, more than 90 investigations were opened against him and his aides. Erdogan’s erstwhile long-term political ally, former President Abdullah Gul stepped in to remind Erdogan that he too was arrested in the past and sent to prison. “What was done to President Tayyip Erdogan and to me in the past should not be done to Ekrem Imamoglu either … We must not lose the rule of law and justice. Otherwise, Turkiye will lose,” Gul said. The Turkish constitution limits presidents to two terms and Erdogan’s current term ends in 2028. If parliament calls for early elections, Erdogan, 71, could legally run again before finishing his second term. Several observers reckon Erdogan’s gambit is to go for early elections without running against Imamoglu, as the 54-year-old is seen by many as the only unifying candidate who could beat him in the presidential elections. (While Erdogan has said he won’t fight any more elections, he has a track record of pretending to step back from politics and his words are not taken seriously by most Turks.) Imamoglu has won three fiercely fought contests to run Turkey’s biggest city — and, significantly, the CHP last year managed to flip several traditional districts of Istanbul that Erdogan viewed as reliable bastions for his Islamist AK Party. * Elcin Poyrazlar is a political columnist for Cumhuriyet, Turkey’s oldest newspaper, who has also written for the Guardian, Financial Times, and other international media agencies. She reported extensively on the 2023 Turkish election for Politico. http://www.politico.eu/article/turkey-jailed-tayyip-erdogan-mayor-immamoglu-jail-crackdown-nato-democracy/ http://www.politico.eu/article/recep-tayyip-erdogan-democracy-turkey-protests-political-rivals/ http://www.dw.com/en/turkey-updates-imamoglus-wife-addresses-protesters/live-72009768 http://www.dw.com/en/istanbul-mayor-arrest-was-to-stop-presidency-bid-opposition/a-71989712 http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/chp-vows-great-struggle-after-imamoglus-arrest-207268 http://www.ips-journal.eu/interviews/arrests-have-taken-place-almost-every-day-8178/ http://globalvoices.org/2025/03/19/the-arrest-of-istanbul-mayor-ekrem-imamoglu-a-turning-point-in-turkish-politics/ http://carnegieendowment.org/emissary/2025/03/turkey-protests-erdogan-democracy-authoritarianism http://www.hks.harvard.edu/centers/carr/our-work/carr-commentary/erdogans-coup-des-gens-threatens-our-right-future-tense http://www.hrw.org/news/2025/03/19/turkiye-istanbul-mayor-detained Mar. 2025 (AFP, agencies) Marine Le Pen, the parliamentary party leader of the far-right French National Rally has been found guilty of embezzlement of European funds by the Paris Correctional Court. She has been barred from running for political office for five years with immediate effect. The Paris Correctional Court handed down its decision on Monday, March 31, in the case of her party's fake assistant jobs at the European Parliament. Convicted of "embezzlement of public funds" and "complicity in the embezzlement of public funds," the leader of the Rassemblement National (RN) has been given a four-year prison sentence, including two years suspended and the other two to be served at home with an electronic bracelet, a €100,000 fine, and a five-year ban on being elected to public office. Her chances of standing in the 2027 presidential election are compromised. The judges’ decision, backed by more than 150 pages of legal justifications after a nine-week trial, was necessary because nobody was entitled to “immunity in violation of the rule of law”, the head judge, Benedicte de Perthuis, said. Le Pen and 24 party members, including nine former members of the European parliament and their 12 parliamentary assistants, were found guilty of a vast scheme over many years to embezzle European parliament funds, by using money earmarked for European parliament assistants to instead pay party workers in France. The so-called fake jobs system covered parliamentary assistant contracts between 2004 and 2016, and was unprecedented in scale and duration, causing losses of €4.5m to European taxpayer funds. Assistants paid by the European parliament must work directly on Strasbourg parliamentary matters, which the judges found had not been the case. Prosecutors said the National Rally sought to ease pressure on the party’s own finances by using all of the €21,000 monthly allowances to which MEPs were entitled to pay “fictitious” parliamentary assistants, who actually worked for the party. They described the scam as unprecedented, both in terms of its duration, from 2004 to 2016, and its scope, with an estimated €4.5 m in losses. And prosecutors said its “organised” nature was “strengthened” when Le Pen took over as party leader in 2011. Prosecutors last year had asked that Le Pen be given five years in prison – with three suspended and the two years potentially served outside of jail with a bracelet – a €300,000 fine and a five-year ban on holding office. Le Pen will be able to retain her current post as a member of the French parliament for Pas-de-Calais, but will not be able to stand again in a future parliamentary election for the duration of her ban on running for office. Mathieu Lefevre, a member of parliament for Emmanuel Macron’s Renaissance party, told BFMTV: “Marine Le Pen isn’t the victim of a political or judicial conspiracy. She’s perhaps first the victim of herself and a system of embezzlement.” Former president, Francois Hollande, said the judge’s decision was “based on law” for “serious” allegations. The defendants had claimed the allegations define too narrowly what a parliamentary assistant does. However, head judge, Benedicte de Perthuis said the nine lawmakers and 12 assistants found guilty signed "fictitious contracts" and there was indeed a "system" within the party, with Le Pen "at the heart of this system since 2009". The ruling described the embezzlement as “a democratic bypass” that deceived the parliament and voters. The court said the misappropriated funds benefited the Rassemblement National, "undermining democratic principles" and eroding "the trust of French voters." The French High Council for the Judiciary said threats against magistrates after the Le Pen verdict cannot be accepted in a democratic society. In a statement, the council expressed concern over the virulent reactions to the decision, saying those reactions could put the independence of the judiciary into question. MEP Daniel Freund, who chairs the anti-corruption working group in the European Parliament, noted that the case against Le Pen was the largest fraud case in the history of the legislative body. “The French judiciary shows that the rule of law applies to everyone, regardless of polling numbers,” he said. http://carnegieendowment.org/europe/strategic-europe/2025/04/what-le-pens-sentence-means-for-the-rule-of-law-in-europe Jan. 2025 No Choice for Voters in Belarus’ Sham Elections, by Anastasiia Kruope. On January 26, Belarusians will go to the polls for “presidential elections,” an event seen by many as a “sham,” a “no-choice election” (bezvybory), and little more than a ritual for Aliaksandr Lukashenka, who has been president of Belarus for more than three decades. The last presidential elections, held in 2020, resulted in country-wide protests against what was widely perceived as a rigged ballot. The authorities’ response to these protests was brutal: tens of thousands people faced arbitrary detention, with estimates of over 6,500 prosecuted, and torture and other ill-treatment was widespread. Three-and-a-half years later, politically motivated repression is still raging. To secure “victory” in the upcoming 2025 elections, Lukashenka has completely wiped out any credible political opposition in Belarus. All candidates who attempted to run against him in 2020 are either serving lengthy prison sentences on trumped-up charges or have been forced into exile. And in 2023, authorities forced all political parties in Belarus to re-register, effectively allowing them to liquidate 12 parties, leaving only four that are loyal to the government. The European Parliament has denounced the opposition candidates running in the presidential elections as government pawns. Also, in the aftermath of the 2020 presidential elections, authorities cracked down on domestic, independent observers in reprisal for exposing corruption and violations. Belarusian civil society and human rights organizations were dismantled by the authorities or forced underground. Indeed, the 2025 elections will not be monitored by independent observers, such as the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe’s (OSCE) Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, a key international observer of elections in the region, whom the Belarusian government failed to invite, in breach of their OSCE commitments. Also in a change to past elections, when Belarusian citizens living abroad were allowed to vote, the government has made sure that hundreds of thousands of Belarusians living in exile and critical of the government cannot vote due to an alleged “lack of security” and “low voter turnout” overseas. According to the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Belarus, Nils Muiznieks, the current human rights situation in Belarus does not allow for political competition nor pluralism, the essence of free elections. The upcoming elections in Belarus will take place amid repression, in a country where people cannot exercise their rights to freedom of thought, expression, information, or association and assembly. The international community cannot treat them as free and fair and should send a clear signal to Lukashenka that the country’s dire human rights situation will be closely monitored both around and after January 26. http://www.hrw.org/news/2025/01/24/no-choice-voters-belarus-sham-elections 16 Dec. 2024 In South Korea, Democracy and Human Rights Prevail The South Korean National Assembly’s December 14 vote to impeach President Yoon Suk-yeol, 204 to 85, in response to his rejected imposition of martial law on December 3, has reinforced democratic rule and checks and balances in South Korea. It is a fitting and proper response to Yoon’s shocking acts late on the night of December 3. Yoon’s December 3 martial law decree, banning all political activities and suspending freedoms of speech and assembly, was an extraordinary attack on human rights and the rule of law. Yoon’s claims that it was justified – due to opposition efforts to impeach members of his cabinet and obstruct the government’s budget, and unspecified threats from “North Korean communist forces” – were ludicrous. In his telling, the political turmoil of his administration was as grave a situation as war. The people of South Korea immediately rejected his gambit on December 3. Thousands of people raced from their homes into the freezing night to the National Assembly, where military special forces were assembling under orders to arrest political leaders and to stop lawmakers from voting to lift the martial law decree. Citizens spontaneously formed groups to block soldiers from entering the National Assembly, tightly clasping hands in a human chain to buy time for lawmakers to vote. Scuffles ensued. In one widely shared video, Ahn Gwi-ryeong, an opposition party spokesperson, grabbed the barrel of a soldier’s assault weapon pointed at her and pushed it away, yelling, “Have you no shame? Have you no shame?” The crowds blocked military vehicles as they arrived at the National Assembly. One man stopped an armored vehicle by stepping in its path and refusing to move, shouting, “Over my dead body!” in an echo of the lone man near Tiananmen Square in 1989 who for a moment stopped Chinese military tanks. Unlike that incident, however, others quickly joined him. 190 lawmakers were ultimately able to gather inside the assembly – including members from Yoon’s own party – and they voted unanimously to reverse the martial law decree. A few tense hours later, Yoon reversed course and lifted the order. His attempt to impose martial law barely lasted six hours. The courageous people who assembled at the National Assembly on December 3 understood the threats posed to their hard-won freedoms. Yoon’s announcement triggered many Koreans’ collective trauma from the country’s brutal past under martial law in the 1980s. Under martial law imposed by the military dictator Chun Doo-hwan, who came to power through a coup d’etat in 1979, the military massacred hundreds of pro-democracy student activists in the southwestern city of Gwangju in 1980 and used arbitrary arrests, torture, and executions to ensure Chun’s rule. “I experienced martial law in 1979,” Lee Hyun-gyu, a 63-year-old retired teacher, told a local reporter. “I spent three and a half hours at the rally to block this from happening again to the next generation.” A woman in her 70s was overheard telling fellow protesters that older people should place themselves at the front of the scrum if the military began shooting, to protect the younger generation, to sounds of assent from the crowd. Kang Seon-gyong, 29, who stayed vigil all night at the National Assembly, said, “Even though I have to go to work in the morning, I’m going to hold my position in case I need to block the military and their armed vehicles from coming again. If I’m not here, democracy could fall.” Yoon’s martial law order was as dangerously overreaching as Chun’s in the 1980s. In addition to suspending protests and civil gatherings, it placed the media under military rule and outlawed “fake news, public opinion manipulation, and false propaganda.” Like the lawmakers, the media did not comply. Major news networks and newspapers immediately dispatched reporters to the National Assembly and provided live coverage all night. After Yoon’s announcement, editors and staff at the two largest local newspapers in Gwangju, the site of the 1980 massacre, barricaded their newsrooms and rushed to finalize and print copies to throw out their windows into the square below in the event that military paratroopers invaded their offices, as they had in 1980. The head of South Korea’s police, Cho Ji-ho, later testified in the National Assembly that the military had asked the police on December 3 to help locate and detain 15 key opponents, including the leaders of opposition political parties. He also said that several hours before declaring martial law, Yoon ordered him to occupy the newsrooms of several media organizations, including MBC, one of South Korea’s largest broadcasters and a repeated target of criminal defamation charges by Yoon and his allies. Another official testified that he was ordered to arrest a broadcaster and a union official, as well as several political leaders. Martial law troops also occupied the National Election Commission’s offices and confiscated the phones of five election officials. A special police investigation team arrested Yoon’s former defense minister, Kim Yong-hyun, on December 8, charging him with insurrection. On December 11, the team arrested Cho on the same charge, along with another senior police official. The historic resonance of the events of December 3 is undeniable. Democracies around the world are increasingly under attack from autocratic forces seeking to rule by fiat. The events that unfolded in South Korea on December 3 and 4 show that checks and balances in a democratic system are crucial to help stop abuses of power. But blocks on the misuse of power can only fully come into play – and democracy prevail – when ordinary people rise up and defend the systems that protect their human rights. The Korean people who put their safety and lives at risk on December 3 should be lauded not just as heroic, but as inspirational. http://www.hrw.org/news/2024/12/16/south-korea-democracy-and-human-rights-prevail Dec. 2024 Guatemala’s attorney general is carrying out politically motivated prosecutions against members of President Bernardo Arévalo’s administration, Human Rights Watch said today. Since President Arevalo took office in January 2024, the Attorney General’s Office has moved forward with criminal investigations against the Arévalo administration that appear to be based on dubious evidence. In November, a judge ordered the cancelation of the president’s political party’s legal registration, as part of a case brought by the Attorney General’s Office. These decisions follow Attorney General Consuelo Porras’ efforts to prevent President Arevalo from taking office through a range of legal actions that the US government, the European Union, and members of the Organization of American States (OAS) criticized as efforts to undermine democracy. “Attorney General Porras, who led an effort to unlawfully overturn the elections, is abusing the powers of her office to prosecute government officials through dubious evidence and legal maneuvers,” said Juanita Goebertus, Americas director at Human Rights Watch. “Instead of investigating the organized crime and widespread corruption in Guatemala, the attorney general appears to be bringing these selective prosecutions to undermine a government she opposes.” Between August and November, Human Rights Watch interviewed 11 people, including senior government officials, former prosecutors, lawmakers, and others. These included Ligia Hernandez, a former government official and lawmaker, whom Human Rights Watch researchers interviewed while she was in pretrial detention at Matamoros prison. Researchers reviewed court documents and public statements by officials from the Attorney General’s Office. Human Rights Watch sent a letter to the attorney general on December 2 requesting information on her office’s investigations into corruption; she has not responded. The Attorney General’s Office has initiated at least 17 investigations against high-level government officials, and at least six times asked the Supreme Court to strip President Arevalo of his immunity, so that he can be criminally investigated. Human Rights Watch found that the attorney general repeatedly accused government officials of committing offenses, such as “abuse of power” on the basis of alleged conduct that does not appear to be criminal. In many cases, following seemingly exaggerated accusations against the government in high-profile news conferences, prosecutors then declared cases “classified.” This has hampered the ability of the public at large—and often the defendants and their lawyers—to understand the nature of the investigations. President Arevalo took office despite a campaign by Attorney General Porras and some members of the judiciary to undermine the integrity of the electoral process and prevent his inauguration. During the electoral process, prosecutors raided the Supreme Electoral Tribunal—Guatemala’s electoral authority—multiple times, seized over 125,000 original electoral documents, and suspended the legal registration of the president’s party, Movimiento Semilla. Porras has undermined investigations into corruption and human rights abuses, including by transferring or firing the prosecutors in charge, Human Rights Watch said. Her office also brought arbitrary prosecutions against independent judges, prosecutors, and journalists. They include an anti-corruption prosecutor, Stuardo Campos, who remains behind bars; Jose Ruben Zamora, the founder and editor of the news outlet elPeriodico, who is under house arrest; and Virgina Laparra, a top anti-corruption prosecutor, who fled the country after almost two years in jail. The EU and the United States have sanctioned Porras and some of her key allies, including her assistant Angel Pineda; a special prosecutor, Rafael Curruchiche; and Judge Fredy Orellana, who ordered the cancelation of Movimiento Semilla’s legal registration. In one case documented by Human Rights Watch, Curruchiche asked the Supreme Court on August 21 to strip President Arevalo of his presidential immunity, so that he could be criminally investigated. Curruchiche accused the president of “abuse of authority,” “usurpation of functions,” and “constitutional violations.” In a news conference, Curruchiche said that the accusations are based on an audio recording in which Arevalo fires a minister who the president says paid a public contractor through an unauthorized procedure. Curruchiche did not explain how Arevalo’s decision to fire the minister would constitute a crime but accused the president of being “the main sponsor of corruption and impunity in Guatemala.” Following the news conference, prosecutors declared the case “classified.” Government lawyers say they have not had access to the file. Also in August, the Attorney General’s Office asked the Supreme Court to lift the immunity of Santiago Palomo, the president’s communications secretary and former anti-corruption adviser, and of Blanca Alfaro, a member of the Supreme Electoral Tribunal. The prosecutor accused Alfaro and Palomo of “obstructing criminal investigations,” among other crimes, because Alfaro disclosed details about the electoral material seized during a raid and Palomo revealed details of the investigation via official government communications channels. On August 13, the police detained Ligia Hernandez, the director of the Victim’s Institute (Insituto de la Víctima), a government body in charge of supporting victims of crime. Prosecutors charged her with “unregistered electoral financing” and “electoral fund supervision violations,” claiming she concealed funding for Movimiento Semilla. These are offenses that, according to several Guatemalan legal experts, are normally addressed through administrative—not criminal—procedures. Judge Orellana held Hernandez in pretrial detention for three months, until Hernandez accepted a plea deal. In November, Judge Orellana cited Hernández’s plea deal to order the cancellation of Movimiento Semilla’s legal registration. The EU and the United States had previously sanctioned Orellana for undermining democratic processes. Meanwhile, the Attorney General’s Office has failed to move forward with other corruption investigations. For example, it closed investigations into whether former President Alejandro Giammattei (2020-2024) received bribes from a Russian company operating in Guatemala and from a former government official accused of corruption. It also dismissed investigations into alleged corruption within the Ministry of Health and fraud in healthcare procurement. In August, Guatemala’s tax agency presented a criminal complaint accusing 410 companies of evading taxes, for a total of over US$38 million. Instead of investigating the alleged tax fraud, the Attorney General’s Office in December opened an investigation against the director of the tax agency, who filed the complaint, accusing him of “extortion” and “influence peddling.” The Arevalo administration has presented 198 criminal complaints based on indications of corruption it found since taking office. According to the government’s Commission against Corruption, prosecutors have closed 37 cases and only six have moved beyond the initial stages of investigation. The Attorney General’s Office shows alarming impunity rates across serious crimes, with over 94 percent of cases involving violence against women, aggravated robbery, extortion, and homicide going unresolved. Impunity has contributed to violence, reduced public trust in institutions, and undermined the rule of law, Human Rights Watch said. http://www.hrw.org/news/2024/12/18/guatemala-attorney-general-pursues-political-prosecutions http://www.nybooks.com/articles/2025/02/13/guatemala-democracy-imperiled-aryeh-neier-amrit-singh/ 1 Dec. 2024 Mass protests in Georgia as opposition grows to freeze on EU talks. (Guardian News, agencies) Georgian media reports protests in at least eight cities and towns after Saturday’s demonstrations leave 44 in hospital. Protesters rallied in Georgia’s capital for a fourth consecutive night on Sunday and there were signs that opposition was spreading to the government’s decision to suspend talks on joining the European Union. For months, tensions have been rising between the ruling Georgian Dream party and opponents who accuse it of pursuing increasingly authoritarian, anti-western and pro-Russian policies. The crisis has deepened since Thursday’s announcement that the government would freeze EU talks for four years, when thousands of pro-EU demonstrators faced off against police armed with teargas and water cannon. Georgia’s pro-western president, Salome Zourabichvili, called for pressure to be brought on the constitutional court to annul October’s elections won by Georgian Dream. Both the opposition and Zourabichvili say the poll was rigged. Protesters gathered again in Tbilisi on Sunday night. Georgian media reported protests in at least eight cities and towns. The opposition TV channel Formula showed footage of people in Khashuri, a town of 20,000 in central Georgia, throwing eggs at the local Georgian Dream office and tearing down the party’s flag. The interior minister said on Sunday that 44 people had been taken to hospital after Saturday’s protests. An effigy of the founder of Georgian Dream, Bidzina Ivanishvili, a shadowy billionaire who made his fortune in Russia, was burned in front of the legislature. The prime minister, Irakli Kobakhidze, said at a briefing: “Any violation of the law will be met with the full rigour of the law.” The government’s announcement came hours after the European parliament adopted a resolution saying the general election in Georgia was not free or fair. The EU’s new foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, and the enlargement commissioner, Marta Kos, said in a joint statement on Sunday: “We note that this announcement marks a shift from the policies of all previous Georgian governments and the European aspirations of the vast majority of the Georgian people, as enshrined in the constitution of Georgia.” They reiterated the EU’s “serious concerns about the continuous democratic backsliding of the country” and urged Georgian authorities to “respect the right to freedom of assembly and freedom of expression, and refrain from using force against peaceful protesters, politicians and media representatives.” Georgian Dream’s disputed victory in the parliamentary election on 26 October, which was widely seen as a referendum on Georgia’s aspirations to join the EU, has sparked demonstrations and led to an opposition boycott of parliament. The opposition said the vote was rigged with the help of Russia. Zourabichvili said on Saturday that her country was becoming a “quasi-Russian” state and that Georgian Dream controlled the major institutions. “We are not demanding a revolution. We are asking for new elections, but in conditions that will ensure that the will of the people will not be misrepresented or stolen again,” Zourabichvili said. The EU granted Georgia candidate member status in December 2023 on condition that it met the bloc’s recommendations, but put its accession on hold and cut financial support this year after the passage of a “foreign influence” law that was widely seen as a blow to democratic freedoms. http://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/dec/01/dozens-hospitalised-in-third-night-of-pro-eu-protests-in-georgia http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20241121IPR25549/parliament-calls-for-new-elections-in-georgia http://www.osce.org/odihr/581962 http://www.osce.org/odihr/elections/georgia/579376 http://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2024/12/georgia-un-experts-concerned-widespread-human-rights-violations-amid-ongoing http://www.chathamhouse.org/2024/10/ruling-party-claims-victory-georgias-disputed-election-western-condemnation-no-longer http://www.france24.com/en/europe/20241029-bidzina-ivanishvili-pro-russian-billionaire-georgia-election-georgian-dream-protests-contested-results http://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2025/03/georgia-authorities-freeze-accounts-of-organizations-supporting-protesters-to-kill-the-peaceful-protests/ 26 Nov. 2024 Brazil's Bolsonaro 'fully aware' of 2022 assassination plot against Lula, police report says. (AFP, agencies) Brazil's former right-wing president Jair Bolsonaro was alleged to have "actively participated" in a 2022 coup plot to prevent his elected successor Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva from taking office and was "fully aware" of a plan to assassinate him, his vice president, and a Supreme Court judge in an explosive police report unsealed on Tuesday. Bolsonaro was also "fully aware" of the alleged plan by elite soldiers to assassinate Lula, said the report, which has been handed to Brazil's attorney general. Attorney general Paulo Gonet is examining these explosive allegations to see if evidence supports charges being laid against Bolsonaro and 36 other people named as co-conspirators. The 884-page report drawn up after a nearly two-year police investigation urges Gonet to indict Bolsonaro and the others for planning an attempted coup and seeking to "violently overthrow the democratic state." The document details alleged collusion between Bolsonaro and some of his officials, including members of his military brass, to claim fraud in 2022 elections won by Lula and to use decrees to sideline the Supreme Court. "The then-President of the Republic, Jair Bolsonaro, actively participated in the creation of the coup plan, being directly involved in the drafting of documents and strategies to remain in power, even after the electoral defeat," the report said. "He was one of the central figures in the meetings to define the steps and actions to be taken," it alleged. The report was made public by the Supreme Court judge overseeing the case, Alexandre de Moraes - one of the targets of the alleged assassination plot. That alleged plot, which police said was codenamed "Green and Yellow Dagger," led to the arrests last week of four elite soldiers and a police officer. They were suspected of planning to poison Lula in 2022. Bolsonaro, president between 2019 and 2022, has denied the coup allegation. The 69-year-old former army captain lost October 2022 elections to Lula, who was previously president between 2003 and 2010. Multiple investigations have been launched in Brazil over suspected plots against Lula and his administration. An insurrection that took place in Brasilia on January 8, 2023, when thousands of Bolsonaro supporters stormed the capital's presidential palace, the Congress building and the Supreme Court, was the most striking of those seen publicly. Investigations continue into that upheaval, which echoed scenes from the United States two years earlier, when supporters of Donald Trump protesting President Joe Biden's election win attacked the US Capitol in Washington on January 6, 2021. Among those named as co-conspirators in the alleged coup were: Bolsonaro's defense minister, General Walter Braga Netto; the head of Bolsonaro's conservative Liberal Party, Valdemar Costa Neto; Ailton Goncalves Moraes Barros, a retired military man already indicted in two other investigations; Colonel Alexandre Castilho Bitencourt da Silva; and Admiral Almir Garnier Santos. Bolsonaro has already been declared ineligible to hold public office until 2030 for having made unsubstantiated claims of fraud in Brazil's electronic voting system. He has been prohibited from leaving the country while a vast probe named "Tempus Veritatis" ("the time of truth" in Latin) continues. The investigation has already swept up several of Bolsonaro's closest aides. http://www.lemonde.fr/en/international/article/2024/11/26/brazil-s-bolsonaro-fully-aware-of-plan-to-murder-lula-in-2022-coup-plot_6734228_4.html http://www1.folha.uol.com.br/internacional/en/brazil/2024/11/bolsonaro-planned-acted-in-and-oversaw-coup-plot-says-federal-police.shtml http://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/nov/26/brazil-almost-suffered-far-right-military-coup-police-report-claims Visit the related web page |
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Syria: All parties must prioritise reconciliation and commit to a peaceful political transition by UN News, agencies 25 Apr. 2025 Briefing to the UN Security Council on the humanitarian situation in Syria by Joyce Msuya, ASG for Humanitarian Affairs and UN Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator: "Allow me to acknowledge the participation of Minister Al-Shaibani in today’s meeting, which is an important signal of how timely and critical this discussion is for Syria. Special Envoy Pedersen has set out the complexity of the challenges Syria is navigating, as its people seek to seize a historic opportunity for a better future. And all of this is taking place against the backdrop of what remains one of the world’s largest humanitarian crises: Nearly three quarters of the population are in need; more than half are facing food insecurity; 7 million people are displaced. Today, I want to highlight four main points for this Council’s attention. First, while we welcome the significant reductions in hostilities, we must keep a clear focus on de-escalating conflict where it persists and ensuring the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure. The improving security situation in parts of Aleppo governorate and north-east Syria in recent weeks – following agreements between the interim authorities and the Syrian Democratic Forces – has already had tangible benefits for civilians. Attacks affecting civilians and civilian infrastructure have receded. Movement restrictions have eased in parts of Aleppo city. Thousands of people displaced in the north-east are preparing to return to Afrin. Following an agreement on joint administration of the Tishreen Dam in eastern Aleppo, UNICEF and other partners are coordinating with relevant authorities on expanding the supply of power from the dam to water facilities serving over 3 million people. In the Coastal areas, despite a marked improvement in the security situation, incidents affecting civilians continue to be reported. Tens of thousands of people remain displaced, including over 30,000 people who have fled to Lebanon. The UN is working with local partners to deliver critical assistance, although insecurity continues to limit access to many rural areas. During the past month, Israeli air strikes continued in various locations, and incursions in southern governorates have led to armed confrontations on multiple occasions. Some incidents have resulted in civilian casualties. Meanwhile, explosive remnants of war continue to injure or kill people – including children – on a near-daily basis. More than 700 casualties have been recorded since December 8 – an average of more than five people each day. The second point I would like to highlight is that we continue to provide critical assistance to millions of people each month; and to do so in a way that maximizes our limited resources. The UN and its partners are providing support for health and water facilities that have been hollowed by years of conflict and under-investment. This month, the World Health Organization is providing essential medicines to health facilities in Aleppo, Hama, Latakia and Tartous to enable treatment for over 100,000 patients with chronic illnesses in the next three months; and – with support from CERF, the OCHA-managed Central Emergency Response Fund – delivered 2.7 tons of trauma surgery kits, essential medicines and other emergency supplies to hospitals in Deir ez-Zor in the north-east. NGOs have begun rehabilitating hospitals damaged by years of war in areas like Rural Damascus and Idleb. Alongside providing clean water and sanitation services to displaced families in IDP sites, UNICEF and partners are rehabilitating 180 water and sanitation facilities, including water treatment plants in cities, water pumping stations and sanitation plants. Since December, over 2,000 unexploded ordnance items have been securely discarded in more than 1,400 clearance operations. We continue to provide vital assistance – including food, household items and support for clean water – to people affected by last month’s violence in coastal areas. And we continue to pursue all available routes to provide aid as efficiently as possible. Since the start of the year, 960 trucks have delivered aid through the cross-border operation from Türkiye – a relatively cost-effective route – more trucks than during the whole of 2024. On Tuesday, for example, 24 trucks carried food and other supplies for over 55,000 people though the Bab al-Hawa crossing. However, Mr. President – and this brings me to my third point – we need more funding to sustain this work, let alone scale it further. To date, we have received US$186 million – less than 10 per cent of the requirements for the first half of 2025. This continues to translate into serious consequences for our response. UNHCR expects its team in Syria to shrink by 30 per cent, at a time when the need to support refugee returns is growing. Nearly half of UNHCR’s 122 community centres will close by the summer without more funding. WFP has warned that it needs $100 million to avoid a disruption in food assistance in August. Many NGOs – particularly in the north-east – are facing particularly alarming shortfalls. In Deir ez-Zor, hospitals serving over 200,000 people are at risk of closing next month without additional funding. In the north-west, over 170 health facilities risk running out of funds by the end of next month. My final point, Mr. President, is that we need to sustain momentum for investment in Syria’s recovery and development. Without this, the scale of humanitarian needs will far exceed our ability to respond to them. Millions of refugees and internally displaced persons who have expressed their desire to return home will continue to be dissuaded by a lack of basic services and livelihood opportunities. And the hope to seize this critical opportunity to build a more prosperous future risks slipping away. http://www.unocha.org/news/security-council-ocha-calls-urgent-funding-syria-crisis-stressing-civilians-cannot-endure http://tinyurl.com/4vhx8zx6 http://reliefweb.int/report/syrian-arab-republic/united-nations-special-envoy-syria-geir-o-pedersen-briefing-security-council-25-april-2025 http://reliefweb.int/country/syr http://www.unhcr.org/news/speeches-and-statements/high-commissioner-s-statement-brussels-syria-conference-0 http://www.nrc.no/news/2025/march/syria-brussels-conference-funding-must-help-transition-into-self-reliance http://www.icrc.org/en/statement/standing-syria-ninth-brussels-conference http://reliefweb.int/report/syrian-arab-republic/statement-paulo-pinheiro-chair-independent-international-commission-inquiry-syrian-arab-republic-58th-session-un-human-rights-council-18-march-2025 http://www.unocha.org/syrian-arab-republic http://www.undp.org/arab-states/press-releases/accelerating-economic-recovery-critical-reversing-syrias-decline-and-restoring-stability 10 Mar. 2025 (UN News, agencies) More than 1,000 people reportedly killed in fierce fighting in Syria’s coastal northwest. According to Edouard Beigbeder, UNICEF’s Regional Director for the Middle East at least 13 children reported to have been killed. Clashes erupted on Friday between Syrian Caretaker Authority forces and soldiers loyal to the former Assad regime. According to widely reported eyewitness accounts much of the killing occurred in Alawite neighbourhoods in the coastal provinces of Latakia and Tartus, the traditional stronghold of support for the former regime. The Assad family belongs to the sect which is an offshoot of Shia Islam constituting around ten per cent of Syria’s population. Authorities announced on Monday that the operation had ended, amid reports of civilian casualties, mass displacement and infrastructure damage, including to at least six hospitals and several ambulances. “The escalation reportedly caused additional civilian casualties and injuries, the displacement of thousands of families, and damage to critical infrastructure,” Mr. Beigbeder said in a statement. He called on all parties to prioritise reconciliation and commit to a peaceful political transition, ensuring that Syria’s children can survive, thrive, and reach their full potential. “The children of Syria have suffered enough. They have the right to live in peace and hope for a better future,” he stressed. UN Secretary-General António Guterres expressed deep concern over the violent escalation, especially the reports of widespread summary killings which includes “entire families”, his spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said. “The Secretary-General calls on all parties to protect civilians and stop inflammatory rhetoric and actions, as Syria contends with the legacy of 14 years of conflict and over five decades of authoritarian rule,” Mr. Dujarric told reporters. The UN chief took note of the announcement by caretaker authorities of an investigative committee and a committee for the preservation of civil peace, stressing the urgency of inclusive and transparent transitional justice and lasting reconciliation measures. Mr. Guterres also warned of escalating tensions between different communities in Syria, calling for full accountability. “In a context of widespread disinformation and heightened tensions, the Secretary-General also highlights the need to ensure and protect the space for independent media and human rights organizations to carry out their work of monitoring and verification and to shed light in a transparent manner on the reports and allegations,” Mr. Dujarric said. Volker Turk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights also voiced deep concern over the latest violence. “These events, as well as the continuous spike in hate speech both online and offline, illustrate once again the urgent need for a comprehensive transitional justice process that is nationally owned, inclusive, and centred on truth, justice and accountability,” he said. Mr. Dujarric highlighted the devastating impact of the violence on civilians. “As of yesterday, hundreds of people, including women and children, and medical personnel had been reportedly killed, thousands have ben reportedly been displaced, and many have fled into Lebanon seeking safety,” he said. He also reported extensive damage to critical infrastructure. According to UN estimates, 16.5 million people across Syria require humanitarian assistance. http://news.un.org/en/story/2025/03/1160946 http://www.unicef.org/press-releases/statement-unicef-regional-director-middle-east-and-north-africa-edouard-beigbeder-1 http://www.nrc.no/news/2025/march/syria-renewed-violence-threatens-countrys-path-to-peace http://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2025/03/syria-un-commission-calls-renewed-commitment-peace-justice-and-human-rights http://reliefweb.int/report/syrian-arab-republic/children-among-over-1000-people-killed-renewed-fighting-syria-45000-displaced http://reliefweb.int/report/syrian-arab-republic/joint-statement-un-resident-coordinator-and-humanitarian-coordinator-syria-adam-abdelmoula-and-regional-humanitarian-coordinator-syria-crisis-ramanathan-balakrishnan-recent-hostilities-syria-8-march-2025-enar Dec. 2024 The future of Syria is a matter for the Syrians to determine. (UN News, agencies) After 14 years of brutal war and the fall of the Assad regime, today the people of Syria can seize an historic opportunity to build a stable and peaceful future, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Sunday. As reports emerged from the Syrian capital, Damascus, that opposition forces had declared victory overnight on State television. The dramatic development in the Syrian capital follows a lightning advance by armed opposition forces, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), on 27 November from their stronghold in the country’s northwest into Government-controlled areas, supported by rebel groups joining from the south. After sweeping into Syria’s second city, Aleppo, Hama, Homs and now Damascus have fallen in quick succession. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres: "The future of Syria is a matter for the Syrians to determine, and my Special Envoy Geir Pedersen will be working with them towards that end. There is much work to be done to ensure an orderly political transition to renewed institutions. I reiterate my call for calm and avoiding violence at this sensitive time, while protecting the rights of all Syrians, without distinction". "We will need the support of the international community to ensure that any political transition is inclusive and comprehensive and that it meets the legitimate aspirations of the people of Syria, in all their diversity". "Syria’s sovereignty, unity, independence and territorial integrity must be restored. The United Nations remains committed to helping Syrians build a country where reconciliation, justice, freedom, and prosperity are shared realities for all. This is the path to sustainable peace in Syria". Statement by United Nations Special Envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen: "Obviously today it’s really a watershed moment in the history of Syria. It’s a nation that has endured 14 years nearly of relentless suffering and unspeakable loss. And let me once again extend my deepest solidarity to all who have borne the weight of death, destruction, detention, and untold human rights violations. This dark chapter has left deep scars, but today we look forward with cautious hope to the opening of a new time - one of peace, reconciliation, dignity, and inclusion for all Syrians. To those displaced, this moment renews the vision of returning to homes once lost. To families separated by war, the beginning of reunions bring hope. To those unjustly detained, and the families of the detained and the missing, the opening of the prisons reminds us of justice’s eventual reach. But the challenges ahead remain immense and we hear those who are anxious and apprehensive. Yet this is the moment to embrace the possibility for renewal in Syria. The resilience of the Syrian people offers a path forward to a united and peaceful Syria. But to this end, let me emphasize the clear desire expressed by millions of Syrians that stable and inclusive transitional arrangements are put in place urgently, and that the Syrian institutions continue to function, and that the Syrian people are enabled to begin to chart the path to meeting the legitimate aspirations of the Syrian people and restore a unified Syria, with its sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity, in a way that can receive the support and engagement of the entire international community. I have heard in the last few days and in the last few hours a message from many Syrians, including armed groups and civil society, both women and men, and have noted public statements underlining a will to protect their fellow Syrians and state institutions going forward against retribution and harm. And this is important, let me also echo these statements and issue a clear and unambiguous appeal at this hour that all armed actors on the ground maintain good conduct, law and order, protect civilians and preserve public institutions. Let me urge all Syrians to prioritize dialogue, unity, and respect for international humanitarian law, and human rights as they seek to rebuild their society. Let me stress that there must be a collective effort to secure peace and dignity for all. And that I stand ready to support the Syrian people in their journey towards a stable and inclusive future decided and shaped by the Syrian people themselves. Today let’s honor the memory of those who have suffered for decades by committing to help Syrians build a Syria where justice, freedom, and prosperity are shared realities. Let us stand in solidarity with Syrians to help them ensure that this new chapter is one of hope and opportunity for every Syrian". Volker Turk, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights: "In Syria yesterday, we saw a regime driven from power following decades of brutal repression, and after nearly 14 years of relentless conflict. Hundreds of thousands of lives were lost during this time, more than 100,000 people disappeared, and some 14 million were driven from their homes, often in the most atrocious circumstances. I’ve met many of them over the years, witnessed their despair and trauma as they bore testimony to the most serious human rights violations committed against them, including torture and the use of chemical weapons. Yesterday, Syrians took to the streets with much hope and much anxiety for the future. Hope that this would be an opportunity for the country to build a future grounded in human rights, freedom and justice. And anxiety because so much is uncertain. Any political transition must ensure accountability for perpetrators of serious violations, and guarantee that those responsible are held to account. It is imperative that all evidence be collected and preserved meticulously for future use. Reform of the security apparatus will be key. This transition must also ensure that the tragedy of missing people is addressed. Hostilities are reportedly ongoing in some parts of Syria, including in the northeast. It is really important, imperative in fact, that all parties abide by their obligations under international humanitarian law and human rights law. All measures must be taken to ensure the protection of all minorities, and to avert reprisals and acts of revenge. The only way forward is a nationally owned political process that brings an end to the litany of suffering, fulfils the aspirations of all Syrians, and ensures truth, justice, reparation, healing and reconciliation. It is essential that the human rights of all Syrians are at the core of such a process, through meaningful and inclusive participation, including notably of women and young people. Syria’s sovereignty, unity, independence and territorial integrity must be restored". ICRC’s head of delegation in Syria Stephan Sakalian on the humanitarian situation in Syria: Damascus (ICRC) — Our teams in Syria, including in Damascus, have been closely monitoring the fast-evolving security and humanitarian situation in coordination with the Syrian Arab Red Crescent (SARC). The International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC) is responding wherever possible, with further efforts underway, as hundreds of thousands of people need care and humanitarian assistance. We call on all parties to urgently enable safe and unhindered access for medical and humanitarian workers to reach those in need, to protect civilians, and to uphold their obligations under international humanitarian law". OCHA: In 2024, 16.7 million people are assessed to need humanitarian assistance across Syria. Of the 16.7 million people in need, 5.5 million are displaced. Millions of others continue to live as refugees in neighbouring countries and beyond. After 12 years of hostilities and persistent economic crisis, people in Syria saw their situation worsen when a series of earthquakes hit northern Syria and Turkiye on 6 and 20 February 2023 amplifing vulnerabilities. UNICEF, WHO, Whole of Syria Nutrition Cluster: "In Syria the dietary intake of infants and young children aged 6-23 months is extremely poor with majority of children 6-23 months (68%) in Syria experiencing child food poverty. With the deteriorating access to nutritious foods, essential services and feeding practices, the diets of young children are the risk of deteriorating further. At least 1 in 4 children in Syria suffers from anemia, emphasizing the detrimental effects of sub-optimal diets lacking essential nutrients. On maternal nutrition, 1 in 4 women aged 15-49 years suffers from anemia, with an even higher prevalence observed among teenage girls, where 1 in 2 girls is anemic. Additionally, 1 in 10 women is wasted, contributing to increased risks during pregnancy.". Othman Moqbel, CEO, Action For Humanity and Syria Relief: "This is undoubtedly a historic day for the Syrian people, the Middle East and the entire world. Whilst many around the world never believed this day would happen, most Syrians never stopped hoping and praying this day would come. It is a new chapter, however the humanitarian needs of the Syrian people are still great. "We still have widespread extreme poverty, food insecurity, poor access to water and millions of people displaced from their homes. We anticipate we will see many people returning back to their homes in Syria now, which will create further pressure on services and resources - and due to a decade and a half of war - many homes and buildings have been destroyed. We pray the new chapter in the lives of Syrians is a stable and peaceful one. No doubt, there is a huge demand for humanitarian aid across Syria." Statement from The White Helmets (Syria Civil Defence) to the Syrian People on the Collapse of the Regime: "After nearly fourteen years of suffering under the Assad regime, marked by killings, enforced disappearances, displacement and destruction, this historic moment signals the dawn of a new era rooted in citizenship, justice, and collective efforts to build a nation where justice and equality prevail". "The collapse of the oppressive regime is a significant milestone in the Syrian people's long struggle. It represents a pivotal step toward securing their rightful aspirations for freedom and dignity. This moment provides a historic chance to foster societal peace, preserve the unity of Syria's territories, strengthen communal harmony, and establish a foundation of justice and equality among all segments of Syrian society. It is an opportunity to build a state governed by the rule of law and inclusive institutions, embodying the hopes and dreams of the Syrian people". "The White Helmets (Syria Civil Defence), which has stood unwaveringly by the Syrian people calls on all Syrian parties, particularly armed groups, to protect civilians, uphold international humanitarian law, and refrain from political interference. The Syrian people have endured enough suffering under military rule". "We urge the international community to support the Syrian people during this critical phase, enabling them to determine their future freely and democratically through a transparent and independent transitional process. We appeal to the United Nations, its agencies, and donor countries to bolster local humanitarian workers and Syrian organizations to ensure effective emergency responses that address the escalating needs of returning residents. In addition, we emphasize the importance of launching projects that create job opportunities and advance economic development, providing a solid foundation for Syria’s recovery and growth. This moment demands unity, resilience, and unwavering commitment to building a just and prosperous future for all Syrians. Together, we can turn the page and begin a new chapter of hope and progress". http://www.unocha.org/news/now-time-invest-syrias-future-un-deputy-relief-chief-tells-security-council http://www.unicef.org/press-releases/paving-road-hopeful-and-inclusive-future-syria-free-violence-and-hardship http://www.thenewhumanitarian.org/news-feature/2025/02/17/us-aid-freezes-escalate-syria-crisis http://www.care.org/news-and-stories/women-leading-survival-and-recovery-in-syria/ http://www.passblue.com/2025/02/17/syrian-womens-groups-voice-their-hopes-openly-in-damascus http://news.un.org/en/story/2024/12/1157956 http://news.un.org/en/tags/syria http://specialenvoysyria.unmissions.org/transcript-press-stakeout-united-nations-special-envoy-syria-mr-geir-o-pedersen-0 http://www.icrc.org/en/news-release/syria-icrc-calls-safe-humanitarian-access-and-protection-civilians-0 http://reliefweb.int/report/syrian-arab-republic/never-again-un-syria-commission-urges-incoming-authorities-break-cycle-violence-and-usher-new-rights-respecting-era http://www.globalr2p.org/publications/statement-on-the-developing-situation-in-syria http://news.un.org/en/interview/2024/12/1158151 http://www.crisisgroup.org/middle-east-north-africa/east-mediterranean-mena/syria/priorities-after-assads-fall http://odi.org/en/insights/tens-thousands-people-forcibly-disappeared-syria/ http://reliefweb.int/country/syr http://news.un.org/en/tags/syria |
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