Impunity Watch: Europe

Russia Faces Criticism Over Election Observers, Fires Back

By Brent Surgeoner
Impunity Watch Senior Desk Officer, Europe

VIENNA, Austria - The European Union and election monitoring group, the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), have called on Russia to remove restrictions on poll monitors ahead of the upcoming presidential election on March 2.

As described by Reuters, the ODIHR is the “long-term election monitoring arm” of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).   

Due to restrictions on how many observers will be allowed into Russia and how long they will be there to monitor, ODIHR said it might not even send observers. 

The OSCE actually did not send observers to Russia for the parliamentary elections in December because it was only allowed to send 70 observers.  For the upcoming presidential election, Russia again is limiting OSCE to 70 observers, a significant reduction from the 400 who were allowed to monitor the 2004 presidential election.

The OSCE said restrictions will not allow it enough time in Russia to effectively monitor the fairness of either the election campaign or Russian media coverage, a concern since the media in Russia is predominately Kremlin-controlled.

In response to criticism over observer restrictions, Russian Central Elections Commission head Vladimir Churov, declared that the OSCE was showing a “lack of respect.”

“We have done everything to make the work of the mission easier, but we are not forcing anyone to come.  We have invited them, this has been done,” he said during an interview on Russian radio.

Meanwhile, on Wednesday, President Vladimir Putin met with members of the Federal Security Service, where he declared that Russia would not allow outside countries to interfere with its presidential elections.

“Our country is a sovereign state and we will not allow the conduct of the election campaign to be corrected by anyone from outside,” he said.

In addition, he said it is the goal of the state to ensure that the elections are democratic and allow Russian citizens “to make a free and deliberate choice.”

For more information, please see:

Moscow News - Russian Elections Chief Slams OSCE - 31 January 2008

Reuters - EU urges Russia to remove limits on poll observers - 31 January 2008

BBC - OSCE lambasts Russia poll curbs - 30 January 2008

Yahoo News (AP) - Putin: No foreign meddling in election - 30 January 2008

BRIEF: Suspected Mastermind Of Madrid Bombing Detained

MADRID, Spain - Abdelilah Hriz, a suspected mastermind in the 2004 Madrid train attack, was arrested by Moroccan authorities in Rabat on Sunday.  The BBC reports that this arrest marks the first time that Moroccan authorities have arrested a suspect for a crime committed in another country.  Because of no extradition laws between Spain and Morocco, Hriz has since been able to avoid justice. 

Hriz is expected to stand trial in Morocco for his role in the attack. 

For more information, please see:

BBC - Key Madrid bombs suspect detained - 29 January 2008

UPDATE: Zoe’s Ark Workers Sentenced to Jail

PARIS, France – Six Zoe’s Ark charity workers received an eight year prison sentence on Monday for attempting to kidnap 103 children from Chad in October.

They were originally sentenced last month in Chad to eight years hard labor, but were allowed to serve out their time in France.

The workers claim they were rescuing orphans from Darfur and bringing them back to France for adoption.

No word yet on whether they will appeal.

For more information, please see:

BBC - French jail terms for Chad kidnap - 28 January 2008

CNN - Chad kidnappers jailed for 8 years - 28 January 2008

Impunity Watch - French Charity in Hot Water Over Chad Adoption Plan - 29 October 2007

UPDATE: Journalists Covering Ingushetia Protests Detained, Beaten

By Brent Surgeoner
Impunity Watch Senior Desk Officer, Europe

NAZRAN, Russia – A journalist and photographer were detained and allegedly abused by police officers while covering a protest in the Russian republic of Ingushetia over the weekend.

Mustafa Kirkiyev, a reporter for Zhizn newspaper and Said-Khussein Tsarnayev, a freelance photographer were charged with setting fire to the Hotel Serdalo, which they happened to be photographing from their vehicle at the time of their arrest.

According to Kirkiyev, the police pulled them out of their car and began unleashing blows.  He suffered injuries from the beating that required medical attention from his cell later that evening.

Reuters reports that the two appeared in court and received fines for breaching public order, after which the judge ordered them set free.  However, police did not release them.

Other journalists and human rights activists were also detained during the protest, including Radio Free Europe journalist Danila Galperovich, two correspondents from Russian radio entity Ekho Moskvy, Roman Plyussov and Vladimir Varfolomeyez, and two activists from human rights group Memorial, Yekaterina Sokiriaskaya and Timur Akiyev.

Galperovich said that he was trying to find out information on casualties when he was arrested.  “When I introduced myself to the police officers, they, without any comment, took away all my belongings and detained me . . .,” he said.

Ingushetia deputy state prosecutor Genali Merjuyev denied that any journalists had been arrested on Saturday.  Rather, he said the journalists were escorted out of an anti-terrorist operation to a nearby building to confirm their identities.

After twenty hours in detention, the majority of journalists were escorted by armed interior ministry troops to the North Ossetia border.

The protests were staged by opponents of local leader Marat Zyazikov over allegations of election rigging in December’s parliamentary elections.  The pro-Kremlin United Russia received 99 percent of the vote in that election.

The protest turned violent quickly after the 1,000 who gathered were denied access to the central square by riot police.  In response, protestors attacked police with stones and Molotov cocktails.

After firing warning shots, the police dispersed the crowd with tear gas, handguns, and brute force.

Violence has been escalating in recent months in the Muslim region of Ingushetia, which borders Chechnya.  Russian forces have been seeking to rid the region of Islamic militants.  Locals claim Russian forces have been carrying out abductions, beatings and arrests throughout the region.

Journalists have complained of news bans and intimidation in the area.

On January 25, areas of Ingushetia were declared “counterterrorism zones” by Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSS), thereby allowing forces to take advantage of emergency powers.

For more information, please see:

Reporters Without Borders - Russia: several journalists held illegally by police in Ingushetia - 28 January 2008

Reuters - Russian police beat, detain journalists in Ingushetia - 27 January 2008

Radio Free Europe - Russia: Security Forces Violently Disperse Protest In Ingushetia - 26 January 2008

Impunity Watch - BRIEF: Violence Erupts in Ingushetia - 26 January 2008

Opposition Candidate Kasyanov Barred From Russian Presidential Election

By Brent Surgeoner
Impunity Watch Senior Desk Officer, Europe

MOSCOW, Russia – Mikhail Kasyanov, opposition candidate and loud critic of President Vladimir Putin, was barred from the presidential election on Sunday after Russia’s Central Election Commission (CEC) ruled that an excessive amount of signatures on his nomination petition were forged.

Kasyanov, who once served as Putin’s prime minister, denied all allegations of forgery.  Outraged at the CEC’s ruling, he was quoted as saying “the country has finally gone on the slippery slope to totalitarianism.”

In Russia, any candidate who is not nominated by a political party which has representatives in the State Duma is required to submit a nomination petition with 2 million signatures.  If more than 5% of the signatures are forged, the candidate will be barred from the election.

According to the CEC, more than 80,000 of Kasyanov’s signatures, or greater than 13%, were deemed forged.

As a result, not only has Kasyanov been barred from the election, but the Prosecutor General’s office is launching a forgery investigation against him.  A conviction for forgery could carry a 5-year prison sentence.

Kasyanov could appeal the CEC’s finding, although many question what chance he even had in the election as he was only polling around 1%.

The favored candidate is Putin-backed Dmitry Medvedev who has asked Putin to be prime minister if victorious in March.

The three other candidates include Gennady Zyuganov of the Communist Party, ultra-nationalist Vladimir Zhirinovsky and Andrei Bogdanov of the obscure Democratic Party.

Zyuganov has already considered backing out of the election over frustration with the state-run media, which he says provides unequal election coverage.  Zyuganov has also raised suspicions as to how candidate Bogdanov raised 2 million signatures considering he only polls at 0.2%.

According to the Washington Post, Bogdanov is quietly receiving support from the Kremlin, in an attempt to make the race look competitive while at the same time limiting harsh criticism against Medvedev.

Many have argued that Kasyanov was targeted by the Kremlin because his loud criticism against Putin created an atmosphere of unpredictability about the campaign. 

“No one would know in advance what he might want to say in a live TV broadcast,” argued political analyst Dmitry Oreshkin.
Kasyanov was also the only liberal in the election campaign after Gary Kasparov was allegedly forced out by the Kremlin.

The election is set for March 2.

For more information, please see:

Yahoo (AP) - Kremlin critic barred from election - 27 January 2008

BBC - Kasyanov barred from Russian poll - 27 January 2008

CNN International - Kremlin critic barred from election - 27 January 2008

Washington Post - Putin Rival Barred From Presidential Election - 27 January 2008

BRIEF: Violence Erupts in Ingushetia

INGUSHETIA, Russia - Police clashed with protesters today in Ingushetia when they threw stones and set fire to several buildings during an anti-government rally.  Many of the protesters were angry about alleged vote-rigging and unfair government policies.  The demonstration had been banned by Russia's security services in response to a number of recent attacks and abductions. 

The region suffers from chaos that is likely related to growing unrest in nearby Chechnya. 

For more information, please see:

BBC - Clashes erupt at Ingushetia rally - 26 January 2008

Kosovo's Independence Just Days Away

by Jason Green
Impunity Watch Reporter, Europe

PRISTINA, Kosovo - Kosovo's Prime Minister Hasim Thaci reported on Thursday that Kosovo's declaration of independence from Serbia was "an issue of days", and that Kosovo was ready and would declare independence very soon.  Yet he also commented that the delay was because of procedures and consultations that needed to be respected before an exact date could be set.  European diplomats, however, predict that Kosovars will probably have to wait at least another month because of coordinating efforts taking place with the European Union and the United States. 

Kosovo has been run by the United Nations since 1999 when a bitter dispute over the province's status began between Kosovo's ethnic Albanian population and the Serbian government.  Serbia, along with Russia, has vigorously opposed Kosovo's independence, arguing that the Kosovan territory is part of the Serbian heartland.  The United States, along with the EU's 27-member states, continue to support Kosovo in its bid for independence.

Russia's ambassador to NATO urged Serbia to stand up to the Western powers, believing that a split in the Serbian province could result in a "pandora's box" that would destabilize the region.  Perhaps in an effort to pacify Belgrade, the EU is taking steps toward a Stabilization and Association Agreeement (SAA) with Serbia that might speed up its admission into the European Union.  Nevertheless, European leaders will still expect Serbia to comply with efforts to bring war criminals like Ratko Mladic to justice at the U.N. War Crimes Court in The Hague, Netherlands. 

For this reason, Serbia's presidential election is critical.  If Tomislav Nikolic defeats incumbent Boris Tadic for the presidency, his nationalist government is not expected to step up efforts in compliance with the EU's war crimes mandate.  This could further delay Serbia's admission into the EU, and even potentially disrupt democracy in the region. 

For more information, please see:

BBC - Kosovo's independence 'in days' - 24 January 2008

International Herald Tribune - Prime Minister says Kosovo independence an "issue of days" - 24 January 2008

Yahoo (AFP) - Kosovo's independence a matter of days away: Thaci - 24 January 2008

BRIEF: Belgium Guilty of Abusing Asylum Seekers, Pays Damages

STRASBOURG, France – Two Palestinian asylum seekers were awarded $21,861 by the European Court of Human Rights for the inhuman and degrading treatment they faced during detention in Belgium.

The two men came to Belgium in 2002 on a path from Lebanon to Britain where they ultimately planned to seek political asylum.

After being denied entry into Belgium they awaited deportation in a Brussels detention center for 10 days.  They alleged that during a period of their detention they had no access to food, drink or beds and were subject to police beatings.

For more information, please see:

Yahoo (AP) - EU court: Asylum seekers badly treated - 24 January 2008

Russia Launches Missiles In Atlantic Exercise

by Jason Green
Impunity Watch Reporter, Europe

MOSCOW, Russia - Russian naval and air forces converged yesterday at the Bay of Biscay in what is said to be the country's largest military exercise since the Soviet era.  Offering a display of military might, two Tu-160 long range bombers test-fired tactical air missiles off the coast of France and Spain.  The exercise was planned and the French Defense Ministry was informed in advance of the operation.

Reuters reports that Russian bombers joined aircraft carriers, submarine hunters, and battleships for these exercises in the Atlantic.  Forty-seven aircraft and eleven ships participated.  Russia's Air Force commander, Alexander Drobyshevsky, told the Interfax news agency that, "maneuvers were being carried out in strict accordance with international rules in neutral waters." 

The exercise is viewed by some as one of Putin's final attempts to demonstrate Russia's growing military might during his presidency.  During the last several years, he has made efforts to revive international respect for his armed forces by boosting military spending, upgrading nuclear attack forces, and engaging in long-range bombing missions.  Nevertheless, Russia's military display is said to be largely symbolic.  Its military spending is quite a bit lower than China, Britain, France, and the United States, and its armed forces still haven't recovered from the Soviet collapse in the 1990's. 

Putin, however, claims that his military upgrade is necessary in light of NATO's build-up of forces close to the Russian border.  The demonstration also comes as a response to a U.S. plan to build a missile defense system in Europe.

For more information, please see:

BBC - Russia fires missiles off France - 23 January 2008

Shanghai Daily - Russian bombers to test-fire missiles off France and Spain - 23 January 2008

Yahoo (Reuters) - Russia to test-fire missiles in Atlantic - 22 January 2008

BRIEF: FARC Rebels To Remain On EU Terror List

LJUBLJANA, Slovenia - Despite calls from Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez for the EU to remove Columbia's FARC rebels from its list of recognized terrorist organizations, the EU refuses to budge in its position.  The BBC reports that FARC will remain classified as an EU terrorist group.

FARC is believed to be holding more than 700 captives in inhumane conditions.  Efforts are underway to free these hostages, some of whom have been held in captivity for several years. 

For more information, please see:

BBC - EU to keep FARC on 'terror list' - 22 January 2008

Three-Year Sentence for Belarus Editor Who Published Mohammed Cartoons

By Brent Surgeoner
Impunity Watch Senior Desk Officer, Europe

MINSK, Belarus – Former editor for Zhoda, Alyaksandr Zdvizhkou, was sentenced to three-years in prison for republishing the infamous Mohammed cartoons that caused outrage throughout Muslim communities after appearing in Danish newspaper, Jyllands-Posten, in 2005.

His sentence was condemned as overly harsh by free press organizations.  A representative from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe argued that Zdvikhkou should be set free.

Representatives from the Muslim community also declared that the sentence was too harsh.

Some have questioned whether Zdvizhkou is just another victim of President Alexandre Lukashenko’s harsh crackdown on opposition groups.

The paper Zdvihkou worked for, Zhoda, was closely tied to Alyaksandr Kazulin, who challenged President Lukashenko in the 2006 elections.  Lukashenko had publicly criticized Zhoda and Kazulin and forced the paper to close in March 2006.

Zdvizhkou’s trial took place behind closed doors.  He was convicted of inciting religious and national hatred, although his lawyer is planning to appeal.

The Mohammed cartoons appeared in Zhoda on 18 February 2006 in an article about Muslim protests.  Allegedly, Zdvizhkou did not realize the cartoon was in the article until after its distribution and halted publication after 25 percent of the copies had already been released.

Subsequently, the Belarusian KGB raided Zhoda headquarters which lead to Zdvizhkou’s prosecution.  Zdvizhkou evaded his original trial date set for June 2006 by fleeing the country.  However, he was arrested on November 2007 when he returned to Belarus.

The original 12-set Mohammed cartoons appeared in Denmark in 2005 and sparked worldwide protests by Muslims who said the cartoons were blasphemous.  At least 50 people died as a result of those protests.

Of the 10 million people living in Belarus, fewer than 1 percent are Muslim.

For more information, please see:

Reuters - Belarus jails Prophet Mohammad cartoon publisher - 18 January 2008

Reporters Without Borders - Journalists gets three years in prison for reprinting Mohammed cartoons - 18 January 2008

Yahoo (AP) - Belarus editor jailed for Islam cartoon - 18 January 2008

UK To Target Extremist Web Sites

By Brent Surgeoner
Impunity Watch Senior Desk Officer, Europe

LONDON, England – UK Home Secretary Jacqui Smith announced this week that the government is launching an initiative to crack down on extremist web sites.

She hopes the initiative will prevent extremists from wooing “vulnerable people” on the internet through radical web sites.  Instead of merely focusing on preventing imminent terrorist attacks, Smith said the government realizes it needs to take preemptive measures as well to keep youngsters from falling into the hands of extremists.

Smith will be looking for feedback on the website initiative as she meets with internet service providers and Muslim groups in the next few weeks.

In order to shut down these websites, the government will look to measures currently in use for combating child pornography websites.  Such measures include applying filtering systems and establishing outlets where people who come across radical websites can report these sites for removal.

However, experts have pointed out that efforts to tackle pedophilia have been relatively unsuccessful because it is practically impossible to police the vast expanses of the internet.

Additionally, prosecuting those behind the web sites is difficult when someone can set up a site from any location in the world.  And shutting down a website only takes care of the problem for a short while – new websites appear at a new address not long after being closed.

Smith is well aware of the difficulties in combating extremist websites and remains undeterred.  “Because something is difficult, that is no reason not to have a go at it.  The internet can’t be a no-go area for government,” she said.

Internet service providers already work with police in combating illegal websites, especially in the area of child pornography.  However, they do not regularly police all websites and the illegality of extremist websites is not cut-and-dry.  Additionally, the government’s initiative could raise concerns about free speech.

The Muslim community is not sure about the initiative either.  Some have asked why the government is not also targeting far-right websites.

For more information, please see:

BBC - Smith targets internet extremism - 17 January 2008

Guardian - Smith vows to tackle ideology of violent extremists - 18 January 2008

E-Commerce Times - UK Security Chief Cracks Down on Extremist Muslim Web Sites - 18 January 2008

BRIEF: Terror Suspects Arrested in Spain

BARCELONA, Spain - Fourteen suspects were arrested in Spain when bomb-making materials were found during raids of several residences in Barcelona.  The BBC reports the civil guard detained the suspects, twelve from Pakistan and two from India, as part of a joint operation with Spain's National Intelligence Center.  The group is suspected to have links to an Islamic terrorist network, and is believed to have been planning an imminent attack. 

For more information, please see:

BBC - Spain arrests 14 terror suspects - 19 January 2008

UPDATE: Serbia Election Draws Near

by Jason Green
Impunity Watch Reporter, Europe

BELGRADE, Serbia - Serbia's upcoming presidential election will likely prove to be one of the most important votes in its nation's young history.  On Sunday, voters will choose between their current president, Boris Tadic, leader of the pro-western democratic party, and challenger Tomislav Nikolic, leader of the ultranationalist Serbian radical party.  Many issues are at stake in this election, and the result will determine Serbia's course for years to come.

Experts predict that the reelection of Tadic will advance western democratic policies throughout Serbia.  The United States and European Union superpowers will continue to work closely with Tadic's government, and the hunt for Ratko Mladic, a wanted war criminal in Yugoslavia, will continue unabated. 

But if Nikolic wins, Serbia may face a very different future.

Nikolic represents the Serbian radical party that backed Milosevic during the Balkan war campaigns of the 1990's.  His party is also linked to Vojislav Seselj, a leader in the radical party who is currently on trial for war crimes at the U.N.'s Yugoslav tribunal. 

If Nikolic wins the presidency, experts predict that his government will be shunned by the western powers because he threatened to cut off all ties with nations supporting Kosovo's independence.  Another expected consequence is that Serbia will be delayed from joining the European Union.  As a precondition to Serbia's membership, it must step up the effort to arrest and extradite Mladic to The Hague to face justice.  With Nikolic in the presidency, such an arrest is unlikely.  This means that Serbia's future in the European Union may be in question. 

Recent poll data indicates that Nikolic is slightly ahead. 

The election is too close to call, and its importance couldn't be more underscored.  Austrian Foreign Minister Ursula Plassnik commented that, "With this coming Sunday's presidential elections, Serbia has a choice.  Stay on the road to Europe or partition itself off from the rest of Europe." 

Other key issues with voters in this election include jobs and the state of the economy, western policies, and the Kosovo crisis.  Most citizens agree that Serbia's employment crisis is a more pressing issue than Kosovo's expected secession. 

The world awaits the outcome of Sunday's presidential election.

For more information, please see:

BBC - Serbs put jobs before Kosovo - 16 January 2008

CNN - Serbia's future hinges on vote - 18 January 2008

Impunity Watch - U.S. and British Monitors Barred From Serbia's Election - 13 January 2008

UPDATE: British Council Suspends Operations in Russia

ST. PETERSBURG, Russia – The British Council today said it was suspending its operations in St. Petersburg and Yekaterinburg because Russian security officials are intimidating its staff.

The Council had opened its offices in defiance of an order from Russia to close by January 1st.  In response, Russia detained the head of the St. Petersburg office and interviewed staff members late at night – measures the British Council claims amount to “a campaign of intimidation.”

Out of concern for the safety of its staff, the Council decided it had to close down its two offices.

For more information, please see:

CNN -  UK condemns 'reprehensible' Russia – 17 January 2008

Impunity Watch - UPDATE: Britain Defies Russia, Reopens Council Offices – 15 January 2008

BRIEF: Genocide Suspect Transfer Stopped

PARIS, France - France's Supreme Court today overruled a decision to transfer a Rwandan genocide suspect to the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda.  Dominique Ntawukuriryayo stands accused of war crimes for the massacre of 25,000 Tutsis that took place in 1994. 

The BBC reports that his transfer has likely been held up for procedural violations in an earlier ruling.  He has been in custody since he was arrested last October in Carcassonne. 

For more information, please see:

BBC - France stops genocide transfer - 16 January 2008

UPDATE: Britain Defies Russia, Reopens Council Offices

MOSCOW, Russia – The British Council carried out its promise to reopen to if its offices in Russia on Monday, despite an order from Russia that the offices be closed by January 1st.

Russia called Britain’s decision to reopen the St. Petersburg and Yekaterinburg offices a “deliberate provocation” and said it would strike back with “a series of administrative and legal measures,” including moving against the British Council’s Moscow office to reclaim alleged back taxes and refraining from issuing visas to new British Council employees assigned to Russia.

UK ambassador to Russia, Sir Tony Brenton, told reporters “any Russian action again [the British Council] would be a breach of international law.”

Relations between Russia and Britain are the lowest they have been since the Cold War.  Things went sour back in 2006 after former KGB agent Alexander Litvinenko died from radiation poisoning in Russia.  After Russia failed to extradite the main suspect in the poisoning, Britain responded by expelling four Russian diplomats.  In response, Russia expelled British diplomats.

The British Council row is merely the latest incident in a series of ongoing tit-for-tat countermeasures launched by the two countries.

For more information, please see:

Yahoo (AP) - British defies order to shut NGO offices - 14 January 2008

BBC - UK-Russia diplomatic row worsens - 14 January 2008

Impunity Watch – British Council Refuses to Leave Russia - 1 January 2008

Nationalists Spark Unrest in Corsica

By Brent Surgeoner
Impunity Watch Senior Desk Officer, Europe

AJACCIO, Corsica – The French Mediterranean island of Corsica experienced a string of small-scale violent attacks this weekend, committed by militant nationalists seeking greater autonomy for the region from France.

On Saturday, nationalists took over the capital’s parliament building while several hundred protesters gathered outside to demonstrate against what they said is growing French repression in the region.  The protests were also against the recent sentencing of Yvan Colonna, a Corsican nationalist, to life in prison for the 1998 assassination of Corsican prefect Claude Erignac.

Authorities believe the nationalists were also responsible for a small fire that broke out on the fifth floor of the parliament building.  The fire caused slight damage to several offices.

On Saturday night, a small bomb exploded at a military office in Bastia although no injuries were reported.

On Sunday, the Justice Palace in Ajaccio was slightly damaged by machine gun fire and on Monday a package bomb was discovered in front of a government building and safely destroyed.  None of these incidents resulted in injuries.

Prime Minister Francois Fillon condemned the nationalists’ actions and stated that the perpetrators would face justice.  He planned to head for Corsica from Paris on Monday.

Corsica is no stranger to small-scale violent attacks.  Militant nationalists on the island have waged a bombing campaign for over three decades, seeking greater autonomy for Corsica from France.  Their targets are usually symbolic – tax offices or police stations – and their bombs are usually designed to explode without causing casualties.

The majority of Corsica parliamentarians condemned Saturday's events as “a serious attack on democracy.”  The nationalist party, Corsica Nazione Indipendente (CNI), however, refrained from condemning the incident.

For more information, please see:

PR-Inside - Bomb defused outside Corsica government building - 14 January 2008

BBC - French PM deplores Corsica unrest - 14 January 2008

PR-Inside - French PM heading to Corsica after fire, bomb attack - 13 January 2008

Yahoo (AP) - Militants occupy Corsica parliament - 12 January 2008

U.S. and British Monitors Barred From Serbia Election

by Jason Green
Impunity Watch Reporter, Europe

BELGRADE, Serbia - Serbia's election commission will not allow representatives from the United States and Great Britain to observe next week's presidential election.  The election pits candidate Tomislav Nikolic against Serbia's current President Boris Tadic, the current leader of the pro-Western Democratic party.   

Serbia will allow 23 representatives from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) to monitor the election, but they will exclude U.S. and British representatives from participating because these nations recently supported Kosovo in its bid for independence.  The U.S. and Britain have been ardent supporters of Kosovo in its quest to break from Serbia, while Russia and the Serbian government have steadfastly opposed any redrawing of Serbia's borders.  Slavoljub Milenkovic, an election representative from Serbia, confirmed to the Associated Press that this was the reason for the exclusion.  "The U.S. and and British monitors were barred because the countries want to destroy us and grab Kosovo away from Serbia." 

Along with the OSCE, Serbia will also allow several monitors from the post-Soviet Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) to oversee the election.   

It is believed that the commission failed to approve U.S. and British monitors in large part because of Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunika's opposition to their participation.  But not everyone agrees with the commission's decision.  Milan Markovic, a Democratic government minister, criticized the commission: "No one should be barred from monitoring the vote because the elections are free and open and democratic and we have nothing to hide."   

U.S. and British officials have not decided at this point whether they will protest the decision, but they do not discount the importance of Serbia's upcoming election.  The election will signify whether Serbia will continue on with western democratic policies. 

For more information, please see:

BBC - Serbia rejects election monitors - 11 January 2008

International Herald Tribune - Serbia refuses UK monitors for president vote - 11 January 2008

Yahoo (AP) - Serbia bars US, British vote monitors - 11 January 2008

BRIEF: Six Arrested In Sardinia For Clash With Police

SARDINIA, Italy - Six protesters were arrested on Saturday after fighting broke out with police over trash that was shipped to the main island from Naples.  Sardinia recently offered to help alleviate Naples excessive laying waste by taking some of it on its province.  In protest, approximately 1,000 protesters set fires and threw stones at police in Sardinia's capital city, Cagliari.  Eight police officers are reported to have been injured in the assault.

For more information, please see:

BBC - Arrests in Sardinia waste clashes - 12 January 2008

EU Forces May Deploy to Chad in February

By Brent Surgeoner
Impunity Watch Senior Desk Officer, Europe

BRUSSELS, Belgium – Military officials gave the go ahead on Friday, after months of delay, to a European peacekeeping force which will be deployed to Chad and the Central African Republic in February.

The force, known as Eufor Chad/CAR was supposed to deploy back in October, but it lacked sufficient resources, namely helicopters and aircraft.

France, Belgium and Poland however, recently committed troops, helicopters and aircraft to the force, thereby eliminating the delay and allowing military commanders to plan for immediate deployment.

The mission will not launch until EU ministers endorse the plan.  They are scheduled to review the plan during an upcoming meeting on January 28.

The Eufor Chad/CAR force has a UN Security Council mandate to assist the 300 UN police officers currently monitoring and protecting refugee camps and displaced persons in the Darfur region.

It is estimated that the Darfur camps hold roughly 200,000 refugees and that the number of displaced persons in the area total 178,000 in Chad and 43,000 in Central Africa.

The Eufor Chad/CAR force will be comprised of some 3,500 troops.  2,100 of the troops will be French.  France, who has been conducting a military mission in Chad since 1986, wanted to play a limited role in the force, but setbacks from personnel and equipment shortages caused it to take on greater responsibility.

An additional 13 EU states have committed troops and resources to the mission and talks have begun with Russia and Ukraine about whether they might contribute aircraft to the mission as well.

So far, $147 million has been committed to the mission, but military officials believe the operation will cost five times that amount.  It is hoped that EU countries will continue to provide money and resources to bulk up the force.

Irish Lieutenant-General Patrick Nash will be in control of the operation.

For more information, please see:

BBC - Military approves EU Chad mission - 11 January 2008

AFP - France, Belgium, Poland fill Chad, CAR force gaps - 11 January 2008

Reuters - EU commanders give green light to Chad mission - 11 January 2008

Manhunt For Karadzic Continues: Family Passports Seized

by Jason Green
Impunity Watch Reporter, Europe

SARAJEVO, Bosnia - The BBC reports that authorities have seized the passports of four members of Radovan Karadzic's immediate family in order to keep them in Bosnia.  The orders were issued by Bosnia's top international envoy at the request of the International Criminal Tribunal (ICT) for the former Yugoslavia.  Passports and other travel documents were taken from Karadzic's wife, Ljiljana Zelen-Karadzic, his son Aleksander, his daughter Sonja Karadzic-Jovicevic, and his son-in-law Branislav Jovicevic. 

Although they deny having any contact with Karadzic since 2002, the ICT believes that they have assisted him in evading capture during his last eleven years on the run. 

Karadzic and top general Ratko Mladic are wanted by the ICT on charges of genocide for the 1995 Srebrenica massacre which killed over 8,000 muslim men.  They are also wanted for their role in the three year siege at Sarajevo (1992-1995) that killed at least 11,000 people.  Despite NATO and EU raids on the homes of their family members, friends, and associates, the two men have successfully evaded capture.  Now, eleven years later, the pressure is ever-increasing to bring these two men to justice. 

Karadzic's family will remain in Bosnia pending an investigation into any criminal activity they may have committed in helping to shield Karadzic from justice.  In the meantime, authorities are working to freeze his assets over the course of the next year. 

For more information, please see:

BBC - Karadzic family passports seized - 10 January 2008

Reuters - Bosnia envoy seizes Karadzic family passports - 19 January 2008

BBC - The hunt for Mladic and Karadzic - 26 February 2007

BRIEF: EU Seeks Pre-Entry Accord With Serbia

LJUBLJANA, Slovenia - The European Union is asking Serbia to sign a pre-entry accord that will require them to make greater efforts to capture Ratko Mladic, a known war criminal believed to be hiding near Belgrade.  The accord is part of a joint effort between the EU and Serbia to speed up Serbia's entry into the European Union.  Mladic was indicted by the UN war crimes tribunal for the 1995 massacre of more than 7,000 Bosnians at Srebrenica in 1995.  He has successfully evaded capture ever since.   

Serbia's Foreign Minister, Vuk Jeremic, has indicated that the Serbia is making all necessary efforts to comply with the tribunal, and that his country will be ready to sign the accord.  Unfortunately, Serbia's future cooperation may be compromised by Kosovo's expected declaration of independence.  If Kosovo become an independent country, Serbia may halt its efforts to join the EU. 

For more information, please see:

BBC - EU presidency wants Serbia deal - 8 January 2008

Impunity Watch - For Slovenia: Difficult Challenges Come With EU Presidency - 2 January 2008

Slovenia’s Asylum Law Draws Criticism from UNHCR

By Brent Surgeoner
Impunity Watch Senior Desk Officer, Europe

GENEVA, Switzerland – The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) expressed disappointment with Slovenia’s new asylum law – the Law on International Protection - which took effect on Friday.

The UNHCR said that Slovenia, which passed the law in accordance with EU directives, ignored many of its recommendations.

For a while now, UNHCR has been warning EU-member states that EU directives are actually establishing minimum legal standards below the bar required at international levels and thereby reducing the chances of achieving asylum in EU states like Slovenia.

The UNHCR pointed to some particular areas of concern with the new asylum law, including a provision which will make greater use of accelerated procedures for determining asylum.  The agency said such procedures should be limited to extraordinary circumstances.

The concern is that the law will result in the deportation of asylum applicants before their applications have been fully reviewed.  In addition, UNHCR said the law could cause widespread detention without concern for the special needs of the asylum seekers.

UNCHR has already pointed out that Slovenia has one of the lowest rates of asylum recognition in Europe.  Only one applicant was granted asylum in 2006 and two in 2007.

However, Drago Menegalija, spokesman for Slovenia’s home affairs ministry said the low rate of asylum recognition was due to a small number of asylum applicants and not due to harsh asylum procedures in Slovenia.

Although the UNCHR had much to criticize in Slovenia’s new law, it did point out one positive provision that would allow Slovenia to take in refugees from other country’s camps.  The UNHCR is pressing all EU countries to adopt such provisions in their asylum laws.

Slovenia is currently holding the EU presidency position which rotates between member countries every six months.

For more information, please see:

Reuters - UNHCR concerned about provisions in Slovenia's new asylum law - 7 January 2008

UN News Centre - Slovenia’s new asylum law sparks concern from UN refugee agency - 7 January 2008

EU business - UN refugee agency criticises Slovenia's asylum law - 7 January 2008 

BRIEF: European Commission: Bleak Outlook for Somalia

MOGADISHU, Somalia - According to the European Commission, the number of Somalis who have been wounded by fighting in the area has doubled since 2006.  That is an estimated 5,000 injured in 2007 alone.

The victims are mostly innocent civilians caught in a crossfire between Ethiopian government troops and insurgents based in Mogadishu.  Tens of thousands have been forced to flee their homes in the area since 2007.

The European Commission, which has poured over $58 million into the region since 2005 has called on all parties to cease the violence.

Violence in Somalia has been a constant since the dictatorship of Mohammed Siad Barre crumbled in 1991.  A recent surge in violence began in January after the transitional government struggled to fill the void of the ousted Islamic government.

The European Commission said Mogadishu and surrounding areas are in desperate need of humanitarian aid.

For more information, please see:

New Europe - EU tracking wounded Somalis, says numbers have doubled - 5 January 2008

BRIEF: Former Bosnian Serb General Indicted for War Crimes

SARAJEVO, Bosnia – Novak Djukic was indicted by the Bosnia war crimes court on Friday for his role in the shelling of Tuzla, which took place on May 25, 1995 and left 71 people dead.

Djukic was commander of the Serby army’s Ozren Tactical Group at the time and allegedly ordered his forces to shell Tuzla, despite the fact that the town was declared a “safe zone” by the UN in 1993.

The shelling targeted the town’s center which was populated mostly by young adults ranging from 18-25 years old.  71 were killed and about 250 were injured.

A hearing will take place within the next 15 days at which Djukic will enter a plea of guilty or not guilty.

For more information, please see:

Reuters - Bosnia court indicts Serb ex-general for war crimes - 4 January 2008

Balkan Insight - Bosnian War Crimes Charges Upheld - 4 January 2009

Georgia's Election To Test Democracy

by Jason Green
Impunity Watch Reporter, Europe

TBILISI, Georgia - Elections were held in Georgia today that addressed a variety of issues, including Georgia's presidency, future parliamentary elections, and whether the country should join NATO.  It appears from the results that President Mikhail Saakashvili will retain office as polling results suggest that he won 53% of the vote.  But these results are not final, and the actual election results will be released later this evening. 

Saakhasvili remains confident that he will hold on to his office, and he hopes to use the event to unify the nation.  In a celebratory speech to supporters, he announced, "I am extending my hand to those that voted for me and to those that took part in the election."  He also hopes that today's election will demonstrate his commitment to democracy.  Even though the elections were scheduled to be held later, Saakhasvili asked to have the elections held ahead of schedule amidst allegations that his administration was carrying out undemocratic policies. 

In light of recent allegations that Saakashvili has turned into a bit of an authoritarian, many view today's election as a real test of democracy in Georgia.  As recent as last November, Saakashvili's opponents demonstrated against his policies in Georgia's streets.  Saakashvili responded by declaring a state of emergency, violently dispersing the protestors, and by banning several independently run television news stations.  Some Georgians are concerned that today's election may have been rigged to allow the president to retain his positiion.

Yet there is no evidence at this point that suggests that the election was in any way rigged.  Saakashvili denounced any allegations of impropriety, saying that "We are committed to having free and fair elections.  We are committed to having Georgia as a beacon of democracy in our part of the world." 

Georgia's election results will be available later this evening. 

For more information, please see:

BBC - Georgia leader 'confident of win' - 5 January 2008

CNN - Georgians vote in snap election - 5 January 2008

Yahoo (AP) - Exit poll: Georgia president to win vote - 5 January 2008

Opposition Worried About Fairness of Upcoming Georgia Elections

By Brent Surgeoner
Impunity Watch Senior Desk Officer, Europe

TBILISI, Georgia – Tomorrow, January 5, Georgian leader Mikhail Saakashvili will face off against opposition figures Levan Gachechiladze, Badri Patarkatsishvili and Shalva Natelashvili in snap elections which were scheduled by Saakashvili in response to protests that rocked the country back in November.

Western nations will be following the elections closely for reassurance that Georgia is back on the path of democracy.  Hundreds of international monitors will be there to report on the fairness of the elections.

President Mikhail Saaksahvili, a US-educated lawyer, was once praised by the West for bringing massive democratic reforms to Georgia.  However, his allies watched in dismay as Saaksahvili dispersed protestors in November with tear gas and rubber bullets, shut down the opposition-run Imedi television station, and declared a nine-day state of emergency.

While Saakashvili is predicted to win tomorrow’s vote, it is unclear whether he can prevent a run-off election by securing 50 percent of the vote.  If he cannot win outright, run-off elections will take place January 19.

In the final hours before voting takes place, the opposition is alleging that Saakashvili is preparing to rig the elections.

"What is currently happening in Georgia is not a free election," opposition leader Levan Gachechiladze said on Georgian television.

He said the opposition has been denied access to media outlets for promotional purposes.  In addition, Gachechiladze claims that the government has been smearing the opposition in the media.

The opposition has already called for mass protests tomorrow if there is any suggestion of fraudulent balloting. 

Georgian authorities deny allegations that the elections will be unfair, arguing that the opposition is merely trying to discredit the process.

"If Saakashvili wins, they'll say 'it was not free and fair, it was rigged and that's why we lost,'" said David Bakradze, Saakashvili's campaign manager.

For more information, please see:

BBC - Georgia poll manipulation feared - 4 January 2007

International Herald Tribune (Reuters) - Unpredictable election a democracy test for Georgia - 3 January 2007

AFP - Saakashvili touts Georgian 'miracle,' opposition cries foul - 4 January 2007

Impunity Watch - Georgia: State of Emergency After Protesters Clash With Police - 7 November 2007

BRIEF: EU Receives Ultimatum From Serbia

BELGRADE, Serbia - The EU received a message from Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica that will likely be construed as an ultimatum.  Konstunica declared that the EU will have to choose between an independent Kosovo and Serbia's full participation in the EU. 

In a statement released to the BBC, Kostunica said that "EU governments would have to determine whether they wanted a whole Serbia as a partner or quasi-state on Serbia's territory." 

Kosovo is expected to declare its independence from Serbia in the next couple of months. 

For more information, please see:

BBC - Serbian PM gives ultimatum to EU - 3 January 2008

For Slovenia: Difficult Challenges Come With EU Presidency

by Dan Forrest
Impunity Watch Reporter, Europe

LJUBLJANA, Slovenia - Slovenia began its turn as president of the European Union on the first day of the new year.  For the next six months, it will attempt to put a united face on the 27 nation bloc of European countries participating in the EU.  But in light of international developments happening in the past year, this will present a difficult challenge for the former Yugoslav state.  As early as the next couple of weeks, Slovenia will be responsible for overseeing a common EU policy as Europe prepares for Kosovo's declaration of independence from Serbia.   It will also face issues related to the EU's foreign policy towards the middle east, global warming, and the ratification of the Lisbon treaty. 

It is expected that Kosovo may declare its independence from Serbia at any time.  While at the helm of the EU, Slovenia will be responsible for coordinating policy discussions between the western powers, who have generally supported Kosovo's bid for independence, and Russia and Serbia, who have vehemently opposed any redrawing of Serbia's borders.  Many worry that an independent Kosovo will trigger instability and violence in the Balkan region. 

Nevertheless, it should be noted that Slovenia may be well suited for this task.  As a former Yugoslav state, Slovenia might be able to use its ethnic ties with Kosovo and Serbia to negotiate a peaceful solution.  The Associated Press (AP) reports that Slovenian Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel acknowledged that, "Slovenia will face the tricky task of mediating between its "friends" the Kosovars and Serbs, while also working to maintain EU unity over the issue."

Slovenia will also oversee EU policy discussions relating to Iran's alleged buildup of nuclear weapons, global warming, and the ratification of the Lisbon treaty, which Slovenia will push for EU member states to sign before its presidency expires in June. 

Slovenia's presidency is seen as one of its nation's biggest achievements, given that it gained independence from Yugoslavia merely 16 years ago.  The EU's current challenges present a lot for this young nation to take on. 

For more information, please see:

BBC - Kosovo to test Slovenia leaders - 1 January 2008

Yahoo (AP) - Slovenia taking over EU helm - 31 December 2007

International Herald Tribune - Slovenia begins EU presidency - 1 January 2008

British Council Refuses to Leave Russia

By Brent Surgeoner
Impunity Watch Senior Desk Officer, Europe

MOSCOW, Russia – Britain refused to close its British Council offices on Tuesday despite Russia’s insistence that the offices close down by January 1st.

The order to close, which was promulgated on December 12, is one of the many tit-for-tat actions that have contributed to the recent rift between Russia and Britain.

The fallout began back in November 2006 after former KGB agent Alexander Litvinenko died of radiation poisoning in London.  Thereafter, Russia refused to extradite the main suspect in the murder, Andrei Lugovoi, to the UK.

This led to the back and forth expulsion of diplomats and accusations of espionage between the two countries.

The British Council row, however, has been brewing for three years.

Russia has accused the Council of violating international and domestic laws.  One specific allegation is that the Council owes taxes because it is a for-profit organization.

However, the British Council says it has complied with all laws, including a 1994 UK-Russia Agreement on Cooperation in Education, Science and Culture, as well as the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations.

Britain argues that the Council is a non-governmental organization which operates as the “cultural arm” of the British Embassy.

Its first office opened in Moscow in the 1990s and gradually sprouted to 14 regional offices throughout Russia.  However, the British Council agreed to shutdown all of its regional offices in October, with the exception of the Moscow, Yekaterinburg and St. Petersburg branches.

Russia nonetheless insisted that all offices, except the Moscow branch be closed.

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown called the order unacceptable and insisted that Moscow withdraw its demands.

It remains to be seen how Russia will respond to Britain’s defiance.  Russia’s New Years break lasts 2 weeks, so the British Council office has said it will do “everything in [its] power” to reopen on January 14th.

“We are in constant discussion with the Russian authorities and we are very much hoping this can be resolved over the next two weeks,” said a British Council spokeswoman.

Officials from both the United States and the European Union have expressed their hopes that the British Council will be allowed to continue operations in Russia.

There is also some talk about whether the British Council quarrel could hinder Russia-EU negotiations over a new Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA).  The last PCA expired in November 2007.

For more information, please see:

Yahoo (Reuters) - UK defies Russia on British Council ban - 1 January 2008

International Herald Tribune - Britain vows to defy Russian order to shutter cultural organization offices - 1 January 2008

RIA Novosti - U.S., EU hope British Council will continue to work in Russia – 29 December 2007