Excavaciones – The Observatory For Defenders https://observatoryfordefenders.org/es/ Thu, 04 Dec 2025 15:06:05 +0000 es-ES hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 https://observatoryfordefenders.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/cropped-OB-eye-orange-32x32.png Excavaciones – The Observatory For Defenders https://observatoryfordefenders.org/es/ 32 32 Georgia: Judicial harassment and home searches targeting human rights defenders and activists https://observatoryfordefenders.org/es/alert/georgia-judicial-harassment-and-home-searches-targeting-human-rights-defenders-and-activists/ Fri, 02 May 2025 16:19:44 +0000 https://observatoryfordefenders.org/?post_type=alert&p=23281 Aleko Tskitishvili, the Executive Director of the Human Rights Center, a member organisation of FIDH. Human Rights Center is a founding member of the Human Rights House Tbilisi. On the morning of 29 April 2025, Mr. Aleko Tskitishvili was stopped near his home in Tbilisi and searched by representatives of the Prosecutor’s Office. Subsequently, searches were conducted in his home, and his work computer, phone, and memory sticks, as well as notebooks, legal documents and other materials concerning the Human Rights Center were seized. In parallel, searches were conducted in the homes of pregnant activist Mariam Bajelidze and Mariam Geguchadze from the Shame Movement, an organisation that is currently inactive, as well as journalist Nanuka Zhorzholiani, founder of Nanuka’s Fund, Prosperity Georgia representative Lasha Arveladze, and the founder of Foundation For Each Other 24/7, Guga Khelaia. According to the Georgian Prosecutor’s Office, the searches were authorised by the Tbilisi City Court and were carried out to obtain relevant evidence of “acts of “sabotage”, “foreign aiding and abetting hostile activities”, as well as the “mobilisation of funds for activities aimed against the constitutional order and the foundations of national security of Georgia” (Articles 318, 319 and 321 of the Criminal Code of Georgia). In March 2025, the Office of Georgia’s Prosecutor General had already issued a statement in which it announced that it had been carrying out a criminal investigation into the financial and legal support provided by five civil society organisations (Human Rights House Tbilisi, Shame Movement, Nanuka’s Fund, Prosperity Georgia and Fund for Each Other 24/7) to individuals who had participated in the protests, and froze the organisations’ bank accounts. The Observatory recalls that protests erupted throughout Georgia in November 2024 following the government’s announcement to suspend the negotiations over Georgia’s accession to the European Union, which came shortly after the re-election of the ruling Georgia Dream party in an unfair election. While the protests remained overwhelmingly peaceful, the police used water cannons, and tear gas, to disperse the crowds, as well as excessive force and mistreatment during transportation, resulting in numerous injuries to protesters and over 480 arbitrary arrests, some of them amounting to inhuman treatment and, possibly, torture. The Observatory notes with grave concern that the five organisations targeted by the investigation have been providing crucial financial support to protesters, helping them with payments of administrative fines, legal assistance and representation, as well as with medical and psychological support. The Observatory strongly condemns the ongoing judicial harassment, including the searches, against human rights defenders and activists, which aims to punish them and criminalise their legitimate human rights activities in support of victims of police brutality and arbitrary detentions. The Observatory also calls on the Georgian authorities to immediately stop the investigations, to unconditionally revoke the freezing of the bank accounts of Human Rights House Tbilisi, Shame Movement and other civil society organisations, and to respect in all circumstances the internationally recognised rights to freedom of association and peaceful assembly.]]> Aleko Tskitishvili, the Executive Director of the Human Rights Center, a member organisation of FIDH. Human Rights Center is a founding member of the Human Rights House Tbilisi. On the morning of 29 April 2025, Mr. Aleko Tskitishvili was stopped near his home in Tbilisi and searched by representatives of the Prosecutor’s Office. Subsequently, searches were conducted in his home, and his work computer, phone, and memory sticks, as well as notebooks, legal documents and other materials concerning the Human Rights Center were seized. In parallel, searches were conducted in the homes of pregnant activist Mariam Bajelidze and Mariam Geguchadze from the Shame Movement, an organisation that is currently inactive, as well as journalist Nanuka Zhorzholiani, founder of Nanuka’s Fund, Prosperity Georgia representative Lasha Arveladze, and the founder of Foundation For Each Other 24/7, Guga Khelaia. According to the Georgian Prosecutor’s Office, the searches were authorised by the Tbilisi City Court and were carried out to obtain relevant evidence of “acts of “sabotage”, “foreign aiding and abetting hostile activities”, as well as the “mobilisation of funds for activities aimed against the constitutional order and the foundations of national security of Georgia” (Articles 318, 319 and 321 of the Criminal Code of Georgia). In March 2025, the Office of Georgia’s Prosecutor General had already issued a statement in which it announced that it had been carrying out a criminal investigation into the financial and legal support provided by five civil society organisations (Human Rights House Tbilisi, Shame Movement, Nanuka’s Fund, Prosperity Georgia and Fund for Each Other 24/7) to individuals who had participated in the protests, and froze the organisations’ bank accounts. The Observatory recalls that protests erupted throughout Georgia in November 2024 following the government’s announcement to suspend the negotiations over Georgia’s accession to the European Union, which came shortly after the re-election of the ruling Georgia Dream party in an unfair election. While the protests remained overwhelmingly peaceful, the police used water cannons, and tear gas, to disperse the crowds, as well as excessive force and mistreatment during transportation, resulting in numerous injuries to protesters and over 480 arbitrary arrests, some of them amounting to inhuman treatment and, possibly, torture. The Observatory notes with grave concern that the five organisations targeted by the investigation have been providing crucial financial support to protesters, helping them with payments of administrative fines, legal assistance and representation, as well as with medical and psychological support. The Observatory strongly condemns the ongoing judicial harassment, including the searches, against human rights defenders and activists, which aims to punish them and criminalise their legitimate human rights activities in support of victims of police brutality and arbitrary detentions. The Observatory also calls on the Georgian authorities to immediately stop the investigations, to unconditionally revoke the freezing of the bank accounts of Human Rights House Tbilisi, Shame Movement and other civil society organisations, and to respect in all circumstances the internationally recognised rights to freedom of association and peaceful assembly.]]> El Salvador: Detención arbitraria de Fidel Zavala, allanamiento de la casa de Ivania Cruz y de la oficina de UNIDEHC https://observatoryfordefenders.org/es/alert/el-salvador-detencion-arbitraria-de-fidel-zavala-allanamiento-de-la-casa-de-ivania-cruz-y-de-la-oficina-de-unidehc/ Fri, 14 Mar 2025 19:41:52 +0000 https://observatoryfordefenders.org/?post_type=alert&p=23040 Fidel Antonio Zavala Pérez , vocero de la Unidad por la Defensa de los Derechos Humanos y Comunitarios de El Salvador (UNIDEHC), el allanamiento de la vivienda de la Sra. Ivania Cruz, abogada y directora de la misma organización, y el allanamiento de la sede principal de UNIDEHC en San Salvador. UNIDEHC es una organización fundada en 2024, que brinda defensa penal en casos de detenciones arbitrarias cometidas durante el régimen de excepción, decretado por Nayib Bukele en marzo de 2022 y que sigue vigente. El 25 de febrero de 2025 a las 16:00 horas, la Policía, en presencia de miembros de la Fiscalía General de la República de El Salvador, allanó la sede de UNIDEHC y detuvo arbitrariamente a Fidel Zavala. Al momento de publicación de este Llamado Urgente, el Sr. Zavala se encuentra detenido arbitrariamente en las bartolinas de la delegación policial de Lourdes, Colón, Departamento de la Libertad. La fecha de su audiencia es aún desconocida, pero se prevee que se apliquen los plazos propios del regimen de excepción en vigencia, esto es, quince días después de la detención para que se obtenga una fecha. El allanamiento de la oficina de UNIDEHC duró hasta las 16:00 horas del 26 de febrero. Según los miembros de la organización los policías y fiscales dijeron que tenían una orden de allanamiento para las oficinas de UNIDEHC, emitida por un Juzgado de Paz de Santa Tecla, por el proceso de legalización de tierras de la Hacienda La Floresta. Sin embargo, en el allanamiento, las autoridades se llevaron documentos relativos a otros casos, por ejemplo, acusaciones contra funcionarios que habrían cometido delitos en el marco del régimen de excepción, y incluso documentos de otras oficinas y organizaciones que no eran UNIDEHC y que se ubican en el mismo edificio. En la misma tarde, sobre las 16:30 horas, la Fiscalía allanó arbitrariamente la vivienda de Ivania Cruz, quien se encontraba en España participando en acciones de incidencia sobre la situación de derechos humanos en El Salvador. Las autoridades ingresaron en su casa de manera violenta, quebrando la puerta principal. En la casa, estaba su madre, adulta mayor y diabética, quien no se opuso al allanamiento y solicitó la presencia de un abogado. Solo ante la llegada del abogado, la Fiscalía presentó el documento con la orden de allanamiento. De la vivienda llevaron únicamente una caja fuerte con documentos privados del hermano de Ivania Cruz. La detención del Sr. Zavala y los allanamientos de la sede de UNIDEHC y de la vivienda de Ivania Cruz ocurrieron en el contexto de un operativo conjunto de la Policía y de la Fiscalía, en el cual detuvieron a 21 líderes comunitarios de la Hacienda La Floresta, ubicada en el distrito de San Juan Opico, departamento de La Libertad, incluyendo a dos mujeres embarazadas, que se organizaban para frenar el desalojo de unas 250 familias que hace 12 años habitan ese lugar. La Fiscalía acusa a los detenidos de crímenes de agrupaciones ilícitas y de intentar comercializar terrenos que no eran de su propiedad. Previamente a la detención, el Sr. Zavala acababa de acompañar, en esa mañana, la presentación de una denuncia ante la Procuraduría para la Defensa de los Derechos Humanos, en relación con la detención de dos líderes de esa comunidad. El Observatorio recuerda el 9 de febrero de 2022, el Sr. Zavala, quien en ese momento era empresario, fue detenido bajo acusaciones de estafa. Permaneció trece meses en detención preventiva en los centros penitenciarios de Mariona y Cutumay Camones. Un mes después de su arresto, en marzo de 2022, el régimen de Nayib Bukele decretó el régimen de excepción, el cual continúa vigente. El 9 de marzo de 2024, un tribunal lo declaró inocente, al determinar que no existían pruebas suficientes para sostener las acusaciones en su contra. Tras su liberación, el Sr. Zavala denunció públicamente los abusos cometidos durante el régimen de excepción, incluyendo las capturas masivas, los malos tratos, la tortura y los asesinatos dentro de las cárceles salvadoreñas. Describió la cárcel de Mariona como una caverna y relató haber estado hacinado en celdas con entre 100 y 120 personas. Además, afirmó haber presenciado la salida de un gran número de cadáveres en “bolsas negras” desde estos centros penitenciarios. El 17 de julio de 2024, la UNIDEHC, a través del Sr. Zavala abrió ante la Fiscalía un proceso en contra del viceministro de Seguridad Pública y director general de Centros Penales, Osiris Luna, y a los directores del Centro Penal "La Esperanza", conocido como "Mariona", y el Centro Industrial de Cumplimiento y Rehabilitación de Santa Ana, por tortura, corrupción, actos arbitrarios e incumplimiento de deberes. El Observatorio denuncia la detención arbitraria de Fidel Zavala y los actos de hostigamiento y allanamiento contra Ivania Cruz y la UNIDEHC, que constituyen represalias e intimidación por su labor de defensa de derechos humanos y de denuncia de malos tratos, tortura y detenciones arbitrarias. El Observatorio urge las autoridades salvadoreñas a liberar de manera inmediata e incondicional al Sr. Zavala y a poner fin a todo acto de hostigamiento contra él, así como contra Ivania Cruz y la UNIDEHC. El Observatorio también exige a las autoridades de El Salvador a frenar la persecución sistemática y el hostigamiento físico y judicial contra las personas defensoras, comunidades y organizaciones de derechos humanos que defienden derechos en el país.]]> Fidel Antonio Zavala Pérez , vocero de la Unidad por la Defensa de los Derechos Humanos y Comunitarios de El Salvador (UNIDEHC), el allanamiento de la vivienda de la Sra. Ivania Cruz, abogada y directora de la misma organización, y el allanamiento de la sede principal de UNIDEHC en San Salvador. UNIDEHC es una organización fundada en 2024, que brinda defensa penal en casos de detenciones arbitrarias cometidas durante el régimen de excepción, decretado por Nayib Bukele en marzo de 2022 y que sigue vigente. El 25 de febrero de 2025 a las 16:00 horas, la Policía, en presencia de miembros de la Fiscalía General de la República de El Salvador, allanó la sede de UNIDEHC y detuvo arbitrariamente a Fidel Zavala. Al momento de publicación de este Llamado Urgente, el Sr. Zavala se encuentra detenido arbitrariamente en las bartolinas de la delegación policial de Lourdes, Colón, Departamento de la Libertad. La fecha de su audiencia es aún desconocida, pero se prevee que se apliquen los plazos propios del regimen de excepción en vigencia, esto es, quince días después de la detención para que se obtenga una fecha. El allanamiento de la oficina de UNIDEHC duró hasta las 16:00 horas del 26 de febrero. Según los miembros de la organización los policías y fiscales dijeron que tenían una orden de allanamiento para las oficinas de UNIDEHC, emitida por un Juzgado de Paz de Santa Tecla, por el proceso de legalización de tierras de la Hacienda La Floresta. Sin embargo, en el allanamiento, las autoridades se llevaron documentos relativos a otros casos, por ejemplo, acusaciones contra funcionarios que habrían cometido delitos en el marco del régimen de excepción, y incluso documentos de otras oficinas y organizaciones que no eran UNIDEHC y que se ubican en el mismo edificio. En la misma tarde, sobre las 16:30 horas, la Fiscalía allanó arbitrariamente la vivienda de Ivania Cruz, quien se encontraba en España participando en acciones de incidencia sobre la situación de derechos humanos en El Salvador. Las autoridades ingresaron en su casa de manera violenta, quebrando la puerta principal. En la casa, estaba su madre, adulta mayor y diabética, quien no se opuso al allanamiento y solicitó la presencia de un abogado. Solo ante la llegada del abogado, la Fiscalía presentó el documento con la orden de allanamiento. De la vivienda llevaron únicamente una caja fuerte con documentos privados del hermano de Ivania Cruz. La detención del Sr. Zavala y los allanamientos de la sede de UNIDEHC y de la vivienda de Ivania Cruz ocurrieron en el contexto de un operativo conjunto de la Policía y de la Fiscalía, en el cual detuvieron a 21 líderes comunitarios de la Hacienda La Floresta, ubicada en el distrito de San Juan Opico, departamento de La Libertad, incluyendo a dos mujeres embarazadas, que se organizaban para frenar el desalojo de unas 250 familias que hace 12 años habitan ese lugar. La Fiscalía acusa a los detenidos de crímenes de agrupaciones ilícitas y de intentar comercializar terrenos que no eran de su propiedad. Previamente a la detención, el Sr. Zavala acababa de acompañar, en esa mañana, la presentación de una denuncia ante la Procuraduría para la Defensa de los Derechos Humanos, en relación con la detención de dos líderes de esa comunidad. El Observatorio recuerda el 9 de febrero de 2022, el Sr. Zavala, quien en ese momento era empresario, fue detenido bajo acusaciones de estafa. Permaneció trece meses en detención preventiva en los centros penitenciarios de Mariona y Cutumay Camones. Un mes después de su arresto, en marzo de 2022, el régimen de Nayib Bukele decretó el régimen de excepción, el cual continúa vigente. El 9 de marzo de 2024, un tribunal lo declaró inocente, al determinar que no existían pruebas suficientes para sostener las acusaciones en su contra. Tras su liberación, el Sr. Zavala denunció públicamente los abusos cometidos durante el régimen de excepción, incluyendo las capturas masivas, los malos tratos, la tortura y los asesinatos dentro de las cárceles salvadoreñas. Describió la cárcel de Mariona como una caverna y relató haber estado hacinado en celdas con entre 100 y 120 personas. Además, afirmó haber presenciado la salida de un gran número de cadáveres en “bolsas negras” desde estos centros penitenciarios. El 17 de julio de 2024, la UNIDEHC, a través del Sr. Zavala abrió ante la Fiscalía un proceso en contra del viceministro de Seguridad Pública y director general de Centros Penales, Osiris Luna, y a los directores del Centro Penal "La Esperanza", conocido como "Mariona", y el Centro Industrial de Cumplimiento y Rehabilitación de Santa Ana, por tortura, corrupción, actos arbitrarios e incumplimiento de deberes. El Observatorio denuncia la detención arbitraria de Fidel Zavala y los actos de hostigamiento y allanamiento contra Ivania Cruz y la UNIDEHC, que constituyen represalias e intimidación por su labor de defensa de derechos humanos y de denuncia de malos tratos, tortura y detenciones arbitrarias. El Observatorio urge las autoridades salvadoreñas a liberar de manera inmediata e incondicional al Sr. Zavala y a poner fin a todo acto de hostigamiento contra él, así como contra Ivania Cruz y la UNIDEHC. El Observatorio también exige a las autoridades de El Salvador a frenar la persecución sistemática y el hostigamiento físico y judicial contra las personas defensoras, comunidades y organizaciones de derechos humanos que defienden derechos en el país.]]> Guatemala: Persecución penal contra defensores de la libertad académica y la autonomía de la USAC https://observatoryfordefenders.org/es/alert/guatemala-persecucion-penal-contra-defensores-de-la-libertad-academica-y-la-autonomia-de-la-usac/ Thu, 23 Nov 2023 12:56:13 +0000 https://observatoryfordefenders.org/?post_type=alert&p=21060 Ginebra-París-Ciudad de Guatemala- 23 de noviembre de 2023. Estudiantes, líderes y lideresas sociales, personal académico y personas defensoras de derechos humanos guatemaltecas fueron sujetas a un proceso de allanamiento y detención arbitraria por el ejercicio de sus derechos a la libertad académica y la defensa de la autonomía universitaria, denunció el Observatorio (OMCT-FIDH) y la UDEFEGUA. El pasado 16 de noviembre de 2023, el Ministerio Público (MP) de Guatemala giró 31 órdenes de allanamiento y 27 órdenes de aprehensión contra estudiantes, personal académico y personas defensoras de derechos humanos por los delitos de “usurpación agravada en forma continuada”, “depredación de bienes culturales en formación continuada”, “sedición en forma continuada” y “asociación ilícita”. Hasta el 23 de noviembre, seis personas han sido detenidas y se encuentran actualmente privadas de su libertad en la cárcel Mariscal Zavala: Eduardo Antonio Velásquez Carrera; Andrea Marcela Blanco Fuentes; Rodolfo Chang Shium; Javier Alfonso de León Gómez; Alfredo Enrique Beber Aceituno y Martín Jorge Macario. Desde el martes 21 de noviembre, se han iniciado las audiencias de primera declaración, siendo la próxima sesión el viernes 24 de noviembre, en la cual se podría definir la situación de las seis personas detenidas. El MP ha justificado la apertura de esta investigación dado los hechos vinculados a la ocupación pacífica por más de 383 días de la Universidad Estatal de San Carlos de Guatemala (USAC) en abril de 2022, buscando señalar a las personas que supuestamente lideraron las movilizaciones en las que la comunidad estudiantil denunciaba irregularidades en el proceso de la elección interna del Rector de la universidad. El MP está acusando a las personas responsables utilizando como base de prueba, en la mayor parte de los casos, publicaciones en redes sociales, tales como muestras de apoyo al movimiento o fotografías de las personas señaladas en eventos relacionados a la ocupación de la Universidad. El Observatorio recuerda que el 27 de abril de 2022, tras unas elecciones, fue designado como rector de la USAC el Sr. Walter Mazariegos, quien ha sido acusado de actos de corrupción y vínculos con el gobierno actual, y señalado en julio de 2023 en el informe de Actores Corruptos y Antidemocráticos del Departamento de Estado de los Estados Unidos. La comunidad estudiantil calificó las elecciones de fraudulentas dado el secretismo con el que se llevó a cabo el proceso y el bloqueo a la participación de las plantillas encabezadas por candidatos impulsados por la comunidad académica, Jordán Rodas y Carlos Valladares, lo cual benefició a Mazariegos, por lo que iniciaron las movilizaciones. Posteriormente, el 9 de junio de 2023, la Coordinadora General de Estudiantes (CGE) abandonó las instalaciones y el cuerpo académico verificó el buen estado de éstas. Sin embargo, horas después, la Fiscalía Especializada contra los Delitos de Usurpación anunció que iniciaría una investigación por los hechos. Estos actos se dan en un contexto de grave crisis política y deterioro del espacio democrático y cívico en el país, además de mostrar el deterioro de las libertades, la violación al derecho a la libertad de expresión, a la educación, a la reunión, a la libertad de asociación, así como los derechos laborales y sindicales, entre otros. Organizaciones de la sociedad civil han denunciado que uno de los principales argumentos del MP contra las personas criminalizadas es que los actos eran una especie de complot de miembros del Movimiento Semilla, para ganar las elecciones y usar la institución como botín político. Es en este contexto que el MP también ha solicitado el antejuicio de Bernardo Arévalo y Karin Herrera, presidente y vicepresidenta electos en los pasados comicios del 20 de agosto de 2023. El rol de las y los estudiantes, personal académico, investigadores y demás personas vinculadas a la comunidad académica es esencial para la promoción de los principios democráticos, el combate al autoritarismo y la apropiación de los derechos humanos, tal cual lo ha señalado la Comisión Interamericana de Derechos Humanos (CIDH) en los Principios Interamericanos sobre Libertad Académica y Autonomía Universitaria. El Observatorio y UDEFEGUA urgen a las autoridades guatemaltecas detener todo acto de criminalización contra todas las personas que defienden el derecho a la libertad académica y autonomía universitaria y que están siendo señaladas por el MP; liberar inmediatamente a las seis personas injustamente detenidas hasta la fecha; y detener las órdenes de captura contra las 21 personas restantes y en riesgo de detención. Asegurando en todo momento el respeto a sus derechos humanos y su integridad física y mental.]]> Ginebra-París-Ciudad de Guatemala- 23 de noviembre de 2023. Estudiantes, líderes y lideresas sociales, personal académico y personas defensoras de derechos humanos guatemaltecas fueron sujetas a un proceso de allanamiento y detención arbitraria por el ejercicio de sus derechos a la libertad académica y la defensa de la autonomía universitaria, denunció el Observatorio (OMCT-FIDH) y la UDEFEGUA. El pasado 16 de noviembre de 2023, el Ministerio Público (MP) de Guatemala giró 31 órdenes de allanamiento y 27 órdenes de aprehensión contra estudiantes, personal académico y personas defensoras de derechos humanos por los delitos de “usurpación agravada en forma continuada”, “depredación de bienes culturales en formación continuada”, “sedición en forma continuada” y “asociación ilícita”. Hasta el 23 de noviembre, seis personas han sido detenidas y se encuentran actualmente privadas de su libertad en la cárcel Mariscal Zavala: Eduardo Antonio Velásquez Carrera; Andrea Marcela Blanco Fuentes; Rodolfo Chang Shium; Javier Alfonso de León Gómez; Alfredo Enrique Beber Aceituno y Martín Jorge Macario. Desde el martes 21 de noviembre, se han iniciado las audiencias de primera declaración, siendo la próxima sesión el viernes 24 de noviembre, en la cual se podría definir la situación de las seis personas detenidas. El MP ha justificado la apertura de esta investigación dado los hechos vinculados a la ocupación pacífica por más de 383 días de la Universidad Estatal de San Carlos de Guatemala (USAC) en abril de 2022, buscando señalar a las personas que supuestamente lideraron las movilizaciones en las que la comunidad estudiantil denunciaba irregularidades en el proceso de la elección interna del Rector de la universidad. El MP está acusando a las personas responsables utilizando como base de prueba, en la mayor parte de los casos, publicaciones en redes sociales, tales como muestras de apoyo al movimiento o fotografías de las personas señaladas en eventos relacionados a la ocupación de la Universidad. El Observatorio recuerda que el 27 de abril de 2022, tras unas elecciones, fue designado como rector de la USAC el Sr. Walter Mazariegos, quien ha sido acusado de actos de corrupción y vínculos con el gobierno actual, y señalado en julio de 2023 en el informe de Actores Corruptos y Antidemocráticos del Departamento de Estado de los Estados Unidos. La comunidad estudiantil calificó las elecciones de fraudulentas dado el secretismo con el que se llevó a cabo el proceso y el bloqueo a la participación de las plantillas encabezadas por candidatos impulsados por la comunidad académica, Jordán Rodas y Carlos Valladares, lo cual benefició a Mazariegos, por lo que iniciaron las movilizaciones. Posteriormente, el 9 de junio de 2023, la Coordinadora General de Estudiantes (CGE) abandonó las instalaciones y el cuerpo académico verificó el buen estado de éstas. Sin embargo, horas después, la Fiscalía Especializada contra los Delitos de Usurpación anunció que iniciaría una investigación por los hechos. Estos actos se dan en un contexto de grave crisis política y deterioro del espacio democrático y cívico en el país, además de mostrar el deterioro de las libertades, la violación al derecho a la libertad de expresión, a la educación, a la reunión, a la libertad de asociación, así como los derechos laborales y sindicales, entre otros. Organizaciones de la sociedad civil han denunciado que uno de los principales argumentos del MP contra las personas criminalizadas es que los actos eran una especie de complot de miembros del Movimiento Semilla, para ganar las elecciones y usar la institución como botín político. Es en este contexto que el MP también ha solicitado el antejuicio de Bernardo Arévalo y Karin Herrera, presidente y vicepresidenta electos en los pasados comicios del 20 de agosto de 2023. El rol de las y los estudiantes, personal académico, investigadores y demás personas vinculadas a la comunidad académica es esencial para la promoción de los principios democráticos, el combate al autoritarismo y la apropiación de los derechos humanos, tal cual lo ha señalado la Comisión Interamericana de Derechos Humanos (CIDH) en los Principios Interamericanos sobre Libertad Académica y Autonomía Universitaria. El Observatorio y UDEFEGUA urgen a las autoridades guatemaltecas detener todo acto de criminalización contra todas las personas que defienden el derecho a la libertad académica y autonomía universitaria y que están siendo señaladas por el MP; liberar inmediatamente a las seis personas injustamente detenidas hasta la fecha; y detener las órdenes de captura contra las 21 personas restantes y en riesgo de detención. Asegurando en todo momento el respeto a sus derechos humanos y su integridad física y mental.]]> Turkey: Wave of detentions and arrests against human rights lawyers https://observatoryfordefenders.org/es/alert/turkey-wave-of-detentions-and-arrests-against-human-rights-lawyers/ Fri, 21 Jul 2023 16:06:05 +0000 https://observatoryfordefenders.org/?post_type=alert&p=20606 Paris-Geneva, July 21, 2023 – Over 25 lawyers, all of them members of Lawyers for Freedom Association (Özgürlük için Hukukçular Derneği – ÖHD), were judicially harassed in Turkey over the past two months due to their professional activities. The Observatory (FIDH-OMCT) denounces this clear attempt to prevent lawyers from performing their duties and defending human rights and calls on the authorities to guarantee their right to carry out their legitimate activities without any hindrance and fear of reprisals.

In the early hours of April 25, 2023, as part of an operation involving 3500 police officers directed by the Diyarbakır Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, a total of 191 people, including lawyers, artists and journalists, were detained across 21 cities in Turkey, the majority of them Kurdish cities. On the same day, the Minister of Interior Süleyman Soylu published a video production on his Twitter account showing footages of police operations the dates of which are unknown, alongside a caption stating that those detained were "financing the terrorist organisation, acting as lawyers on behalf of the terrorist organisation and supplying members to the organisation".

As part of the operation, the prosecution issued detention orders against a total of 25 lawyers, all members of the ÖHD, an association which provides legal support to victims of human rights violations. The lawyers’ houses and offices, as well as the headquarters of ÖHD, were searched by the police. During the searches, procedural safeguards were violated. Particularly, the search orders did not contain any information about the alleged charges, and neither a bar association representative nor the prosecutor were present during the searches of the lawyers' homes, as required under domestic law. In addition, a search was conducted in the ÖHD Headquarters and the Diyarbakır Branch offices, even though the organisation is not under investigation and its premises are not used as a lawyers' office. Some documents related to applications made by torture survivors for legal support were confiscated. Another lawyer’s computer and digital equipment used for his professional activities and containing case files of his clients, in addition to legal documents, were confiscated, despite objections by the lawyer and other lawyers present during the search, who were also removed from the office by the prosecutor. The documents were examined by the police and later returned to the lawyer on May 6, 2023.

The 17 lawyers detained following the raids were barred from meeting with their own lawyers for 24 hours, as per the Diyarbakır 3 Peace Criminal Judgeship's decision. Those detained and their lawyers were also prevented from reviewing the case file due to a confidentiality order on the investigation decided by the same Judgeship. Lawyers' objections to both decisions were denied without any reason, leaving those detained not knowing what they were being charged with.

The lawyers of the detainees were only able to meet with their clients on April 26, 2023. The detained lawyers were charged with “membership to an armed organisation” under Article 314/2 of the Turkish Penal Code and were interrogated over several days by the law enforcement and the prosecution. They were asked if they represent clients "under the orders of the terrorist organisation" and whether "ÖHD operates as a shadow bar association".

On April 27, 2023, a total of 48 people were arrested, including four ÖHD members, Özüm Vurgun, Burhan Arta, Serhat Hezer and Şerzan Yelboğa. The other detained lawyers were released under judicial control. On May 25, 2023, the four arrested lawyers were also released under judicial control measures.

On May 21, 2023, Süleyman Soylu stated that "Whenever PKK [Kurdistan Workers’ Party]'s lawyers are locked up, then there will be no PKK in Turkey. They are the target. It’s as clear as day" and that "PKK is poisoning Turkey via lawyers." The Diyarbakır Bar Association condemned Mr Soylu's comments criminalising and targeting the legal profession, and underlined that this declaration constitutes a threat of a new investigation.

On June 9, 2023, ÖHD members Gülhan Kaya and Mustafa Taylan Savran were detained. Savran was released after two days of questioning whereas Kaya was arrested on June 12, 2023, under charges of “membership to an armed organisation”. The Peace Criminal Judgeship referred to Kaya’s meetings with her clients as part of her professional duties in the arrest order. Other ÖHD members are also being investigated: Kader Tonç was released after providing a statement to the prosecution whereas there are detention orders against Sezin Uçar and Özlem Gümüştaş, both lawyers of the Law Office for the Oppressed (Ezilenlerin Hukuk Bürosu – EHB).

The Observatory underlines that these mass detentions and the Minister of Interior’s declarations, which mainly target human rights defenders and the legal profession, took place weeks before the May 14 parliamentary and presidential elections in Turkey, in what seems to be an attempt to silence any dissenting voices in the country and to influence the outcome of the elections. The most recent detentions and arrest, which followed Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s re-election as president and a parliamentary majority of the alliance his party is leading, show a clear willingness to perpetuate this repressive environment for lawyers in the country.

The Observatory strongly denounces the abusive use of "anti-terrorism" legislations to target human rights defenders and lawyers, and to instrumentalise and denigrate their work, having a detrimental effect on civic space, especially during and after a critical election period.

The Observatory calls on the authorities in Turkey to immediately release Gülhan Kaya and put an end to the systematic criminalisation and harassment of human rights defenders in the country, including members of the ÖHD and EHB, and to ensure that they are able to operate in a favourable environment that enables them to carry out their legitimate activities in all circumstances, without any hindrance and fear of reprisals.

The Observatory further urges Turkey to abide by its obligations under international law, and to respect internationally recognised human rights standards, in particular the UN Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers. Principle 16 states that lawyers should be able to perform all of their professional functions without intimidation, hindrance, harassment or improper interference and shall not suffer, or be threatened with, prosecution or administrative, economic or other sanctions for any action taken in accordance with recognised professional duties, standards and ethics.

]]> Paris-Geneva, July 21, 2023 – Over 25 lawyers, all of them members of Lawyers for Freedom Association (Özgürlük için Hukukçular Derneği – ÖHD), were judicially harassed in Turkey over the past two months due to their professional activities. The Observatory (FIDH-OMCT) denounces this clear attempt to prevent lawyers from performing their duties and defending human rights and calls on the authorities to guarantee their right to carry out their legitimate activities without any hindrance and fear of reprisals.

In the early hours of April 25, 2023, as part of an operation involving 3500 police officers directed by the Diyarbakır Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, a total of 191 people, including lawyers, artists and journalists, were detained across 21 cities in Turkey, the majority of them Kurdish cities. On the same day, the Minister of Interior Süleyman Soylu published a video production on his Twitter account showing footages of police operations the dates of which are unknown, alongside a caption stating that those detained were "financing the terrorist organisation, acting as lawyers on behalf of the terrorist organisation and supplying members to the organisation".

As part of the operation, the prosecution issued detention orders against a total of 25 lawyers, all members of the ÖHD, an association which provides legal support to victims of human rights violations. The lawyers’ houses and offices, as well as the headquarters of ÖHD, were searched by the police. During the searches, procedural safeguards were violated. Particularly, the search orders did not contain any information about the alleged charges, and neither a bar association representative nor the prosecutor were present during the searches of the lawyers' homes, as required under domestic law. In addition, a search was conducted in the ÖHD Headquarters and the Diyarbakır Branch offices, even though the organisation is not under investigation and its premises are not used as a lawyers' office. Some documents related to applications made by torture survivors for legal support were confiscated. Another lawyer’s computer and digital equipment used for his professional activities and containing case files of his clients, in addition to legal documents, were confiscated, despite objections by the lawyer and other lawyers present during the search, who were also removed from the office by the prosecutor. The documents were examined by the police and later returned to the lawyer on May 6, 2023.

The 17 lawyers detained following the raids were barred from meeting with their own lawyers for 24 hours, as per the Diyarbakır 3 Peace Criminal Judgeship's decision. Those detained and their lawyers were also prevented from reviewing the case file due to a confidentiality order on the investigation decided by the same Judgeship. Lawyers' objections to both decisions were denied without any reason, leaving those detained not knowing what they were being charged with.

The lawyers of the detainees were only able to meet with their clients on April 26, 2023. The detained lawyers were charged with “membership to an armed organisation” under Article 314/2 of the Turkish Penal Code and were interrogated over several days by the law enforcement and the prosecution. They were asked if they represent clients "under the orders of the terrorist organisation" and whether "ÖHD operates as a shadow bar association".

On April 27, 2023, a total of 48 people were arrested, including four ÖHD members, Özüm Vurgun, Burhan Arta, Serhat Hezer and Şerzan Yelboğa. The other detained lawyers were released under judicial control. On May 25, 2023, the four arrested lawyers were also released under judicial control measures.

On May 21, 2023, Süleyman Soylu stated that "Whenever PKK [Kurdistan Workers’ Party]'s lawyers are locked up, then there will be no PKK in Turkey. They are the target. It’s as clear as day" and that "PKK is poisoning Turkey via lawyers." The Diyarbakır Bar Association condemned Mr Soylu's comments criminalising and targeting the legal profession, and underlined that this declaration constitutes a threat of a new investigation.

On June 9, 2023, ÖHD members Gülhan Kaya and Mustafa Taylan Savran were detained. Savran was released after two days of questioning whereas Kaya was arrested on June 12, 2023, under charges of “membership to an armed organisation”. The Peace Criminal Judgeship referred to Kaya’s meetings with her clients as part of her professional duties in the arrest order. Other ÖHD members are also being investigated: Kader Tonç was released after providing a statement to the prosecution whereas there are detention orders against Sezin Uçar and Özlem Gümüştaş, both lawyers of the Law Office for the Oppressed (Ezilenlerin Hukuk Bürosu – EHB).

The Observatory underlines that these mass detentions and the Minister of Interior’s declarations, which mainly target human rights defenders and the legal profession, took place weeks before the May 14 parliamentary and presidential elections in Turkey, in what seems to be an attempt to silence any dissenting voices in the country and to influence the outcome of the elections. The most recent detentions and arrest, which followed Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s re-election as president and a parliamentary majority of the alliance his party is leading, show a clear willingness to perpetuate this repressive environment for lawyers in the country.

The Observatory strongly denounces the abusive use of "anti-terrorism" legislations to target human rights defenders and lawyers, and to instrumentalise and denigrate their work, having a detrimental effect on civic space, especially during and after a critical election period.

The Observatory calls on the authorities in Turkey to immediately release Gülhan Kaya and put an end to the systematic criminalisation and harassment of human rights defenders in the country, including members of the ÖHD and EHB, and to ensure that they are able to operate in a favourable environment that enables them to carry out their legitimate activities in all circumstances, without any hindrance and fear of reprisals.

The Observatory further urges Turkey to abide by its obligations under international law, and to respect internationally recognised human rights standards, in particular the UN Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers. Principle 16 states that lawyers should be able to perform all of their professional functions without intimidation, hindrance, harassment or improper interference and shall not suffer, or be threatened with, prosecution or administrative, economic or other sanctions for any action taken in accordance with recognised professional duties, standards and ethics.

]]> Bolivia: Violento ataque a la sede de la APDHB https://observatoryfordefenders.org/es/alert/bolivia-violento-ataque-a-la-sede-de-la-apdhb/ Wed, 28 Jun 2023 20:33:14 +0000 https://observatoryfordefenders.org/?post_type=alert&p=20524 Ukraine/Russia: Administrative detention of Crimean Tatar rights defender Abdureshit Dzhepparov https://observatoryfordefenders.org/es/alert/ukraine-russia-administrative-detention-of-crimean-tatar-rights-defender-abdureshit-dzhepparov/ Thu, 27 Apr 2023 16:16:09 +0000 https://observatoryfordefenders.org/?post_type=alert&p=20332 Abdureshit Dzhepparov, an indigenous and minority Crimean Tatar rights defender and coordinator of the Crimean Contact Group on Human Rights, a non-governmental organisation that monitors and documents human rights violations, provides legal support to victims and investigates enforced disappearances in occupied Crimea. On April 25, 2023, members of the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation (FSB) and of the Centre for Combatting Extremism, masked and armed with firearms, conducted a search in the apartment of Abdureshit Dzhepparov in the Sary-Su village of Bilogorsk District, in the Russian-occupied Crimea. Mr Dzhepparov’s mobile phone and video recorder, as well as his wife and daughter’s phones were seized. The Russian law enforcement officers also confiscated his Ukrainian international passport, as well as an award he had received from the Ukrainian government. Mr Dzhepparov was subsequently arrested and taken to an unknown location. His fate and whereabouts remained unknown for more than 12 hours. On April 26, 2023, it became known that, following his arrest, Mr Dzhepparov was brought before the Bilohirsk District Court, was charged with “disobedience to police officer” (Article 19.3 of the Code of Administrative Offences of the Russian Federation) and sentenced to 12 days of administrative detention. His lawyer was not present in the courthouse, because he was denied any information about Mr Dzhepparov’s whereabouts, place of detention and any procedures against his client. According to the version events of the Russian law enforcement, the charge is related to the alleged resistance he put up to prevent the seizure of his laptop during the search. Mr Dzhepparov later told his lawyer that this accusation was false, given that it was impossible for him to put up any resistance against the armed men ,and that he knows how to behave in the context of a search. At the time of this Urgent Appeal, Mr Dzhepparov remained detained in solitary confinement in the Special Detention Centre in Simferopol. The Observatory recalls that this is not the first time Mr Dzhepparov is arbitrarily arrested. On March 16, 2022, following a search in his apartment conducted by several FSB officers, he was arrested along with two of his nephews. On the same day, Mr Dzhepparov was sentenced to 15 days of administrative detention under Article 20.3 of the Code of Administrative Offences of the Russian Federation (“propaganda and public display of Nazi paraphernalia and symbols”). The charges were related to Mr Dzhepparov’s publication of a five-minute video on his social media channels stating that the Soviet military march known as “Aviators march” was copied from the Nazi Germany military march. He served his sentence in Evpatoria Temporary Detention Centre and was released on March 31, 2022. The Observatory further notes that since the occupation of Crimea by the Russian Federation in 2014, Crimean Tatars and those who defend their rights have been particularly targeted by the Russian authorities, including through enforced disappearances, torture and ill-treatment, arbitrary and administrative detentions, judicial harassment and arbitrary searches, such as the arbitrary detentions of Edem Semedlyaev and Nariman Dzhelyal. In this framework, since 2014, Abdureshit Dzhepparov and his family have faced multiple acts of harassment, threats and attacks from the Russian authorities, including the abduction of his son Islyam Dzhepparov and nephew Dzhevdet Islyamov on September 27, 2014, whose fate and whereabouts remain unknown since then. The Russian occupying authorities in Crimea have not launched any investigation into their disappearance. The Observatory expresses its utmost concern over the administrative detention of Abdureshit Dzhepparov and urges the Russian authorities to immediately and unconditionally release him, to drop all charges against him and to put an end to all acts of harassment, including at the administrative and judicial levels, against him and all human rights defenders and organisations in Crimea.]]> Abdureshit Dzhepparov, an indigenous and minority Crimean Tatar rights defender and coordinator of the Crimean Contact Group on Human Rights, a non-governmental organisation that monitors and documents human rights violations, provides legal support to victims and investigates enforced disappearances in occupied Crimea. On April 25, 2023, members of the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation (FSB) and of the Centre for Combatting Extremism, masked and armed with firearms, conducted a search in the apartment of Abdureshit Dzhepparov in the Sary-Su village of Bilogorsk District, in the Russian-occupied Crimea. Mr Dzhepparov’s mobile phone and video recorder, as well as his wife and daughter’s phones were seized. The Russian law enforcement officers also confiscated his Ukrainian international passport, as well as an award he had received from the Ukrainian government. Mr Dzhepparov was subsequently arrested and taken to an unknown location. His fate and whereabouts remained unknown for more than 12 hours. On April 26, 2023, it became known that, following his arrest, Mr Dzhepparov was brought before the Bilohirsk District Court, was charged with “disobedience to police officer” (Article 19.3 of the Code of Administrative Offences of the Russian Federation) and sentenced to 12 days of administrative detention. His lawyer was not present in the courthouse, because he was denied any information about Mr Dzhepparov’s whereabouts, place of detention and any procedures against his client. According to the version events of the Russian law enforcement, the charge is related to the alleged resistance he put up to prevent the seizure of his laptop during the search. Mr Dzhepparov later told his lawyer that this accusation was false, given that it was impossible for him to put up any resistance against the armed men ,and that he knows how to behave in the context of a search. At the time of this Urgent Appeal, Mr Dzhepparov remained detained in solitary confinement in the Special Detention Centre in Simferopol. The Observatory recalls that this is not the first time Mr Dzhepparov is arbitrarily arrested. On March 16, 2022, following a search in his apartment conducted by several FSB officers, he was arrested along with two of his nephews. On the same day, Mr Dzhepparov was sentenced to 15 days of administrative detention under Article 20.3 of the Code of Administrative Offences of the Russian Federation (“propaganda and public display of Nazi paraphernalia and symbols”). The charges were related to Mr Dzhepparov’s publication of a five-minute video on his social media channels stating that the Soviet military march known as “Aviators march” was copied from the Nazi Germany military march. He served his sentence in Evpatoria Temporary Detention Centre and was released on March 31, 2022. The Observatory further notes that since the occupation of Crimea by the Russian Federation in 2014, Crimean Tatars and those who defend their rights have been particularly targeted by the Russian authorities, including through enforced disappearances, torture and ill-treatment, arbitrary and administrative detentions, judicial harassment and arbitrary searches, such as the arbitrary detentions of Edem Semedlyaev and Nariman Dzhelyal. In this framework, since 2014, Abdureshit Dzhepparov and his family have faced multiple acts of harassment, threats and attacks from the Russian authorities, including the abduction of his son Islyam Dzhepparov and nephew Dzhevdet Islyamov on September 27, 2014, whose fate and whereabouts remain unknown since then. The Russian occupying authorities in Crimea have not launched any investigation into their disappearance. The Observatory expresses its utmost concern over the administrative detention of Abdureshit Dzhepparov and urges the Russian authorities to immediately and unconditionally release him, to drop all charges against him and to put an end to all acts of harassment, including at the administrative and judicial levels, against him and all human rights defenders and organisations in Crimea.]]> Russia: Home raids and criminal proceedings against seven members of International Memorial and Oleg Orlov https://observatoryfordefenders.org/es/alert/russia-home-raids-and-criminal-proceedings-against-seven-members-of-international-memorial-and-oleg-orlov/ Mon, 27 Mar 2023 13:29:18 +0000 https://observatoryfordefenders.org/?post_type=alert&p=20079 Oleg Orlov, co-chair of Memorial Human Rights Center (HRC “Memorial”), a member organisation of FIDH, as well as the raid on his and at least seven members of the dissolved NGO International Memorial’s homes or family’s homes, namely: Yan Rachinsky, head of the management of International Memorial; Nikita Petrov, deputy chair of the organisation; and employees Alexandra Polivanova, Alexandre Guryanov, Galina Jordanskaya, Alena Kozlova and Irina Ostrovskaya. On March 21, 2023, early in the morning, officials of the Investigative Committee and the Main Directorate for Countering Extremism of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (Center “E”) raided the homes of Oleg Orlov, Yan Rachinsky, Nikita Petrov, Alexandre Guryanov, Galina Jordanskaya, Alena Kozlova, Irina Ostrovskaya, as well as Alexandra Polivanova’s mother’s home in Moscow. Lawyers were not allowed to enter the premises. During the searches, computers, phones, flash drives, documents and items with the logo of Memorial, including a calendar and a face mask, were confiscated. The searches were based on an investigator’s warrant but not a court order, due to alleged "time-sensitivity” of the case. After the search, the eight human rights defenders were taken to the Investigative Committee of the Tverskoy District, Moscow, for questioning. On the same day, all of them, except Oleg Orlov, were released pending investigation under witness status, and were given an order of non-disclosure of details of the case. Mr Orlov was released pending investigation under suspect status and had to sign a statement of intention not to leave the country. According to the search warrants, on March 3, 2023, Russian authorities initiated a criminal case for “exoneration of Nazism” against “unidentified employees” of HRC Memorial and International Memorial under Article 354.1 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. The case is based on the fact that International Memorial’s database on victims of political repression, which includes over 3 million records, contains the names of three men who allegedly collaborated with the Nazi authorities during the Second World War. Information on the men was based on so-called "memory books" listing the victims of political repressions. Regional state authorities, including the regional offices of the Federal Security Services (FSB), were involved in the publication of these books. The Observatory notes that data verification related to the alleged crimes these three individuals would have committed cannot be conducted as public access to archived criminal case files is restricted in Russia. On March 21, the Investigative Committee opened criminal proceedings against Oleg Orlov on charges of "public actions aimed at discrediting the use of the armed forces of the Russian Federation" (Article 280.3(1) of the Criminal Code) for writing an article titled “Russia: they wanted fascism, they got it” (“Russie : ils voulaient le fascisme, ils l’ont eu”) published on the French blogging platform Le Club de Mediapart on November 13, 2022. At the time of publication of this Urgent Appeal, the investigation was ongoing. The Observatory recalls that on December 28, 2021, Russia’s Supreme Court ruled to liquidate International Memorial for allegedly violating the “Foreign Agent” Law. The Presidium of the Supreme Court dismissed International Memorial’s appeal on February 28, 2022, and a supervisory appeal to the Presidium of the Supreme Court was likewise dismissed. HRC Memorial was likewise liquidated by the authorities following a series of appeals and despite a ruling by the European Court of Human Rights requiring Russia to halt liquidation proceedings with respect to both organizations pursuant to Rule 39. The Observatory further recalls that this is not the first time Oleg Orlov is targeted for his legitimate human rights work and that he has already been found guilty and been charged twice under administrative law for “discrediting the Russian Armed forces” (Article 20.3.3 of the Russian Code of Administrative Offences) for his anti-war pickets. The Observatory strongly condemns the raid on the homes and the judicial harassment of Oleg Orlov, Yan Rachinsky, Nikita Petrov, Alexandre Guryanov, Galina Jordanskaya, Alena Kozlova, Irina Ostrovskaya and Alexandra Polivanova, as well as the ongoing brutal crackdown on human rights defenders and civil society organisations in Russia, which further escalated after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The Observatory urges the authorities to put an end to all acts of harassment, including at the judicial and administrative levels, against Oleg Orlov, Yan Rachinsky, Nikita Petrov, Alexandre Gurianov, Galina Jordanskaya, Alena Kozlova, Irina Ostrovskaya, Alexandra Polivanova and all human rights defenders in the country. The Observatory further urges the authorities to guarantee, in all circumstances, the rights to freedom of expression, assembly and association, as enshrined in international human right law, and particularly in Articles 19, 21 and 22 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.]]> Oleg Orlov, co-chair of Memorial Human Rights Center (HRC “Memorial”), a member organisation of FIDH, as well as the raid on his and at least seven members of the dissolved NGO International Memorial’s homes or family’s homes, namely: Yan Rachinsky, head of the management of International Memorial; Nikita Petrov, deputy chair of the organisation; and employees Alexandra Polivanova, Alexandre Guryanov, Galina Jordanskaya, Alena Kozlova and Irina Ostrovskaya. On March 21, 2023, early in the morning, officials of the Investigative Committee and the Main Directorate for Countering Extremism of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (Center “E”) raided the homes of Oleg Orlov, Yan Rachinsky, Nikita Petrov, Alexandre Guryanov, Galina Jordanskaya, Alena Kozlova, Irina Ostrovskaya, as well as Alexandra Polivanova’s mother’s home in Moscow. Lawyers were not allowed to enter the premises. During the searches, computers, phones, flash drives, documents and items with the logo of Memorial, including a calendar and a face mask, were confiscated. The searches were based on an investigator’s warrant but not a court order, due to alleged "time-sensitivity” of the case. After the search, the eight human rights defenders were taken to the Investigative Committee of the Tverskoy District, Moscow, for questioning. On the same day, all of them, except Oleg Orlov, were released pending investigation under witness status, and were given an order of non-disclosure of details of the case. Mr Orlov was released pending investigation under suspect status and had to sign a statement of intention not to leave the country. According to the search warrants, on March 3, 2023, Russian authorities initiated a criminal case for “exoneration of Nazism” against “unidentified employees” of HRC Memorial and International Memorial under Article 354.1 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. The case is based on the fact that International Memorial’s database on victims of political repression, which includes over 3 million records, contains the names of three men who allegedly collaborated with the Nazi authorities during the Second World War. Information on the men was based on so-called "memory books" listing the victims of political repressions. Regional state authorities, including the regional offices of the Federal Security Services (FSB), were involved in the publication of these books. The Observatory notes that data verification related to the alleged crimes these three individuals would have committed cannot be conducted as public access to archived criminal case files is restricted in Russia. On March 21, the Investigative Committee opened criminal proceedings against Oleg Orlov on charges of "public actions aimed at discrediting the use of the armed forces of the Russian Federation" (Article 280.3(1) of the Criminal Code) for writing an article titled “Russia: they wanted fascism, they got it” (“Russie : ils voulaient le fascisme, ils l’ont eu”) published on the French blogging platform Le Club de Mediapart on November 13, 2022. At the time of publication of this Urgent Appeal, the investigation was ongoing. The Observatory recalls that on December 28, 2021, Russia’s Supreme Court ruled to liquidate International Memorial for allegedly violating the “Foreign Agent” Law. The Presidium of the Supreme Court dismissed International Memorial’s appeal on February 28, 2022, and a supervisory appeal to the Presidium of the Supreme Court was likewise dismissed. HRC Memorial was likewise liquidated by the authorities following a series of appeals and despite a ruling by the European Court of Human Rights requiring Russia to halt liquidation proceedings with respect to both organizations pursuant to Rule 39. The Observatory further recalls that this is not the first time Oleg Orlov is targeted for his legitimate human rights work and that he has already been found guilty and been charged twice under administrative law for “discrediting the Russian Armed forces” (Article 20.3.3 of the Russian Code of Administrative Offences) for his anti-war pickets. The Observatory strongly condemns the raid on the homes and the judicial harassment of Oleg Orlov, Yan Rachinsky, Nikita Petrov, Alexandre Guryanov, Galina Jordanskaya, Alena Kozlova, Irina Ostrovskaya and Alexandra Polivanova, as well as the ongoing brutal crackdown on human rights defenders and civil society organisations in Russia, which further escalated after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The Observatory urges the authorities to put an end to all acts of harassment, including at the judicial and administrative levels, against Oleg Orlov, Yan Rachinsky, Nikita Petrov, Alexandre Gurianov, Galina Jordanskaya, Alena Kozlova, Irina Ostrovskaya, Alexandra Polivanova and all human rights defenders in the country. The Observatory further urges the authorities to guarantee, in all circumstances, the rights to freedom of expression, assembly and association, as enshrined in international human right law, and particularly in Articles 19, 21 and 22 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.]]> Israel/OPT: Stand against raids and closures of seven Palestinian organisations https://observatoryfordefenders.org/es/alert/israel-opt-stand-against-raids-and-closures-of-seven-palestinian-organisations/ Mon, 22 Aug 2022 20:06:11 +0000 https://observatoryfordefenders.org/?post_type=alert&p=18684 Addameer Prisoner Support and Human Rights Association, Al-Haq Law in the Service of Man (Al-Haq), Bisan Center for Research and Development, Defense for Children International-Palestine (DCI-P), Health Work Committees (HWC), the Union of Agricultural Work Committees (UAWC), and the Union of Palestinian Women’s Committees (UPWC). FIDH condemns Israel’s assault on prominent Palestinian human rights organisations: read here. On the morning of 18 August 2022, the Israeli occupying forces (IOF) raided and sealed the doorways into the offices of the seven Palestinian organisations. The IOF also confiscated documents and equipment and destroyed items in the offices. On the doors of the organisations, military orders were left behind ordering the closure of the offices under Article 319 of the Emergency Regulations of 1945. This development follows the 19 October 2021, Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz designation of six leading Palestinian civil society organisations as terrorist organisations under Israel’s Anti-Terrorism Law (2016), which was then extended to the West Bank on 3 November 2021 by a military order that outlawed the same organisations. We urge the international community to unequivocally condemn Israel’s targeting of Palestinian civil society and tactics to further repress of freedom of expression. States must take all necessary action to support and protect Palestinian human rights defenders and ensure the continuation of their invaluable work. These raids and closures represent the latest escalation in Israel’s widespread campaign aiming to silence and discredit any Palestinian individual or organisation that dares to seek accountability for Israel’s grave human rights violations, war crimes, and crimes against humanity. The “persecution of organisations and persons, by depriving them of fundamental rights and freedoms, because they oppose apartheid” is a method used by Israel, amounting to acts of apartheid prosecutable under the Rome Statute, to maintain its domination and oppression over the Palestinian people. The organisations remain at an additional risk of closure of bank accounts, travel bans and movement restrictions, and the arrest and detention of staff members for their work. Israel’s attacks against these organisations pose an existential threat to independent Palestinian human rights organisations and civil society who work to monitor and document violations of human rights and provide basic services to the Palestinian people. - We call upon the international community to demand that Israel immediately revoke its designations of Palestinian human rights and civil society organisations as “terrorist organisations”, reverse the military orders designating the organisations and closing their offices and repeal its Anti-Terrorism Law (2016) as it does not meet basic human rights standards. - Moreover, we call on the international community to take effective measures to end all other actions that deny Palestinians their inalienable human rights. - Lastly, we call on the members of the international community to continue their support and increase funding to the organisations and engage with financial institutions to ensure the transfer of funds to the organisations.]]> Addameer Prisoner Support and Human Rights Association, Al-Haq Law in the Service of Man (Al-Haq), Bisan Center for Research and Development, Defense for Children International-Palestine (DCI-P), Health Work Committees (HWC), the Union of Agricultural Work Committees (UAWC), and the Union of Palestinian Women’s Committees (UPWC). FIDH condemns Israel’s assault on prominent Palestinian human rights organisations: read here. On the morning of 18 August 2022, the Israeli occupying forces (IOF) raided and sealed the doorways into the offices of the seven Palestinian organisations. The IOF also confiscated documents and equipment and destroyed items in the offices. On the doors of the organisations, military orders were left behind ordering the closure of the offices under Article 319 of the Emergency Regulations of 1945. This development follows the 19 October 2021, Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz designation of six leading Palestinian civil society organisations as terrorist organisations under Israel’s Anti-Terrorism Law (2016), which was then extended to the West Bank on 3 November 2021 by a military order that outlawed the same organisations. We urge the international community to unequivocally condemn Israel’s targeting of Palestinian civil society and tactics to further repress of freedom of expression. States must take all necessary action to support and protect Palestinian human rights defenders and ensure the continuation of their invaluable work. These raids and closures represent the latest escalation in Israel’s widespread campaign aiming to silence and discredit any Palestinian individual or organisation that dares to seek accountability for Israel’s grave human rights violations, war crimes, and crimes against humanity. The “persecution of organisations and persons, by depriving them of fundamental rights and freedoms, because they oppose apartheid” is a method used by Israel, amounting to acts of apartheid prosecutable under the Rome Statute, to maintain its domination and oppression over the Palestinian people. The organisations remain at an additional risk of closure of bank accounts, travel bans and movement restrictions, and the arrest and detention of staff members for their work. Israel’s attacks against these organisations pose an existential threat to independent Palestinian human rights organisations and civil society who work to monitor and document violations of human rights and provide basic services to the Palestinian people. - We call upon the international community to demand that Israel immediately revoke its designations of Palestinian human rights and civil society organisations as “terrorist organisations”, reverse the military orders designating the organisations and closing their offices and repeal its Anti-Terrorism Law (2016) as it does not meet basic human rights standards. - Moreover, we call on the international community to take effective measures to end all other actions that deny Palestinians their inalienable human rights. - Lastly, we call on the members of the international community to continue their support and increase funding to the organisations and engage with financial institutions to ensure the transfer of funds to the organisations.]]> México: Allanamiento ilegal del domicilio de Juan Carlos Flores Solís y Myriam Vargas Teutle https://observatoryfordefenders.org/es/alert/mexico-allanamiento-ilegal-del-domicilio-de-juan-carlos-flores-solis-y-myriam-vargas-teutle/ Tue, 26 Apr 2022 00:00:00 +0000 https://pods.local/alert/mexico-allanamiento-ilegal-del-domicilio-de-juan-carlos-flores-solis-y-myriam-vargas-teutle/ Juan Carlos Flores Solís y de la Sra. Myriam Vargas Teutle, ambos integrantes del Frente de Pueblos en Defensa de la Tierra y el Agua (FPDTA-MPT), organización que defiende los derechos humanos, la tierra, el territorio, el medio ambiente y la libre determinación de los pueblos indígenas en los estados de Puebla, Morelos y Tlaxcala. El 5 de abril de 2022, personas desconocidas allanaron el domicilio de Juan Carlos Flores y de Myriam Vargas Teutle en el pueblo de Santa María Zacatepec, municipio de Juan C. Bonilla, estado de Puebla. La reja de su terreno y la puerta del domicilio fueron forzadas y su habitación registrada. Ambos defensores encontraron sus documentos personales tirados en el suelo. Los perpetradores sustrajeron varios objetos de valor y les dejaron mensajes amenazantes en el domicilio, como un cuchillo encima de la cama y la manipulación de una foto suya y de su familia. Estos actos constituyen una amenaza directa contra la integridad y la vida de Juan Carlos Flores, de Myriam Vargas Teutle y de su familia. El 10 de abril de 2022, Juan Carlos Flores encontró su domicilio nuevamente allanado a pesar de haber alertado a las autoridades mexicanas sobre los hechos violentos ocurridos el 5 de abril. Los perpetradores rompieron el cristal de la ventana para acceder al interior de la vivienda, donde, una vez dentro, removieron las pertenencias de ambos defensores de derechos humanos y quitaron el cuchillo de la cama que, previamente el Sr. Flores y la Sra. Vargas habían dejado intacto con la intención de preservar las pruebas del delito. El 15 de abril de 2022, ambos defensores se apersonaron a la casa y descubrieron que se había producido un nuevo allanamiento, el cual habría ocurrido entre el 11 y la madrugada del 15 de abril. En esta ocasión, los perpetradores se llevaron documentos e identificaciones del Sr. Flores para eventos políticos. Asimismo, dejaron las identificaciones de la Sra. Vargas tiradas en el jardín. En este último año, el trabajo de Juan Carlos Flores como integrante y abogado del FPDTA-MPT, se ha enfocado en acompañar a distintas comunidades indígenas Nahuas que luchan contra la extracción y contaminación del agua, tanto del río Cuautla, en el municipio de Ayala, Morelos, como en Juan C. Bonilla, Puebla. Varias empresas han sido señaladas como interesadas en estos territorios para explotar los recursos de éstas y generar energía eléctrica suficiente para garantizar un plan de industrialización en la región. A la par, la comunidad de Santa María Zacatepec inició un proceso para el reconocimiento de su libre determinación como pueblo indígena, el cual fue acompañado legalmente por Juan Carlos Flores. El Observatorio recalca que Juan Carlos Flores ha sido objeto de hostigamientos y amenazas durante los últimos ocho años. En 2014, fue encarcelado durante 10 meses como represalia por su trabajo de defensa de los derechos humanos y en contra del Proyecto Integral Morelos (PIM). Al mismo tiempo, enfrentó tres procesos judiciales con órdenes de aprehensión, consiguiendo su libertad completa en mayo de 2018. Un año después, en febrero de 2019, Juan Carlos Flores, después del asesinato del líder comunitario y defensor de los derechos de los pueblos indígenas Samir Flores Soberanes, recibió amenazas que indicaban que sería una de las siguientes víctimas. El Observatorio condena vehemente el allanamiento de domicilio y las amenazas contra Juan Carlos Flores Solís, Myriam Vargas Teutle, y su familia, que constituyen represalias por su trabajo legítimo en defensa de los derechos humanos, de la tierra, el territorio, el agua y los derechos de los pueblos indígenas. El Observatorio expresa profunda preocupación por los riesgos de seguridad que enfrentan Juan Carlos Flores Solís, Myriam Vargas Teutle y su familia, así como los colectivos y comunidades de las cuales son parte. El Observatorio urge a las autoridades federales mexicanas y a las autoridades de Puebla a poner fin al hostigamiento judicial contra Juan Carlos Flores Solís, Myriam Vargas Teutle y su familia. El Observatorio exhorta a las autoridades competentes a llevar a cabo una investigación independiente e imparcial entorno a los allanamientos de su vivienda, así como las amenazas contra ellos, con el fin de que los responsables sean llevados ante un tribunal competente, independiente, justo e imparcial, y les sean aplicadas las sanciones penales, civiles y/o administrativas previstas por la ley. Finalmente, el Observatorio hace un llamado a las autoridades a adoptar de manera inmediata medidas efectivas para garantizar la seguridad y la integridad física y psicológica del conjunto de personas que forman parte de colectivos y comunidades de las cuales son parte Juan Carlos Flores, Myriam Vargas Teutle y su familia, incluyendo los miembros del Frente de Pueblos en Defensa de la Tierra y el Agua (FPDTA-MPT).  ]]> Juan Carlos Flores Solís y de la Sra. Myriam Vargas Teutle, ambos integrantes del Frente de Pueblos en Defensa de la Tierra y el Agua (FPDTA-MPT), organización que defiende los derechos humanos, la tierra, el territorio, el medio ambiente y la libre determinación de los pueblos indígenas en los estados de Puebla, Morelos y Tlaxcala. El 5 de abril de 2022, personas desconocidas allanaron el domicilio de Juan Carlos Flores y de Myriam Vargas Teutle en el pueblo de Santa María Zacatepec, municipio de Juan C. Bonilla, estado de Puebla. La reja de su terreno y la puerta del domicilio fueron forzadas y su habitación registrada. Ambos defensores encontraron sus documentos personales tirados en el suelo. Los perpetradores sustrajeron varios objetos de valor y les dejaron mensajes amenazantes en el domicilio, como un cuchillo encima de la cama y la manipulación de una foto suya y de su familia. Estos actos constituyen una amenaza directa contra la integridad y la vida de Juan Carlos Flores, de Myriam Vargas Teutle y de su familia. El 10 de abril de 2022, Juan Carlos Flores encontró su domicilio nuevamente allanado a pesar de haber alertado a las autoridades mexicanas sobre los hechos violentos ocurridos el 5 de abril. Los perpetradores rompieron el cristal de la ventana para acceder al interior de la vivienda, donde, una vez dentro, removieron las pertenencias de ambos defensores de derechos humanos y quitaron el cuchillo de la cama que, previamente el Sr. Flores y la Sra. Vargas habían dejado intacto con la intención de preservar las pruebas del delito. El 15 de abril de 2022, ambos defensores se apersonaron a la casa y descubrieron que se había producido un nuevo allanamiento, el cual habría ocurrido entre el 11 y la madrugada del 15 de abril. En esta ocasión, los perpetradores se llevaron documentos e identificaciones del Sr. Flores para eventos políticos. Asimismo, dejaron las identificaciones de la Sra. Vargas tiradas en el jardín. En este último año, el trabajo de Juan Carlos Flores como integrante y abogado del FPDTA-MPT, se ha enfocado en acompañar a distintas comunidades indígenas Nahuas que luchan contra la extracción y contaminación del agua, tanto del río Cuautla, en el municipio de Ayala, Morelos, como en Juan C. Bonilla, Puebla. Varias empresas han sido señaladas como interesadas en estos territorios para explotar los recursos de éstas y generar energía eléctrica suficiente para garantizar un plan de industrialización en la región. A la par, la comunidad de Santa María Zacatepec inició un proceso para el reconocimiento de su libre determinación como pueblo indígena, el cual fue acompañado legalmente por Juan Carlos Flores. El Observatorio recalca que Juan Carlos Flores ha sido objeto de hostigamientos y amenazas durante los últimos ocho años. En 2014, fue encarcelado durante 10 meses como represalia por su trabajo de defensa de los derechos humanos y en contra del Proyecto Integral Morelos (PIM). Al mismo tiempo, enfrentó tres procesos judiciales con órdenes de aprehensión, consiguiendo su libertad completa en mayo de 2018. Un año después, en febrero de 2019, Juan Carlos Flores, después del asesinato del líder comunitario y defensor de los derechos de los pueblos indígenas Samir Flores Soberanes, recibió amenazas que indicaban que sería una de las siguientes víctimas. El Observatorio condena vehemente el allanamiento de domicilio y las amenazas contra Juan Carlos Flores Solís, Myriam Vargas Teutle, y su familia, que constituyen represalias por su trabajo legítimo en defensa de los derechos humanos, de la tierra, el territorio, el agua y los derechos de los pueblos indígenas. El Observatorio expresa profunda preocupación por los riesgos de seguridad que enfrentan Juan Carlos Flores Solís, Myriam Vargas Teutle y su familia, así como los colectivos y comunidades de las cuales son parte. El Observatorio urge a las autoridades federales mexicanas y a las autoridades de Puebla a poner fin al hostigamiento judicial contra Juan Carlos Flores Solís, Myriam Vargas Teutle y su familia. El Observatorio exhorta a las autoridades competentes a llevar a cabo una investigación independiente e imparcial entorno a los allanamientos de su vivienda, así como las amenazas contra ellos, con el fin de que los responsables sean llevados ante un tribunal competente, independiente, justo e imparcial, y les sean aplicadas las sanciones penales, civiles y/o administrativas previstas por la ley. Finalmente, el Observatorio hace un llamado a las autoridades a adoptar de manera inmediata medidas efectivas para garantizar la seguridad y la integridad física y psicológica del conjunto de personas que forman parte de colectivos y comunidades de las cuales son parte Juan Carlos Flores, Myriam Vargas Teutle y su familia, incluyendo los miembros del Frente de Pueblos en Defensa de la Tierra y el Agua (FPDTA-MPT).  ]]>