Weekly News Recap (3 - 9 June 2024)
© Photo by World Humanitarian Summit via Flickr
- Russia: Journalist Alsu Kurmasheva’s Detention Prolonged by Russian Authorities
Pakistan: Former Prime Minister Acquitted in High-Profile Cipher Case
ICJ: Intervention Sought by Palestine in case between South Africa and Israel
Greece: Appeals Court Reimposes Prison Sentence on Extreme Far Right Golden Dawn Leader
Russia: French Citizen Jailed in Moscow for Alleged Espionage
France: Ukrainian-Russian Man Charged with Terror-Related Crimes
International Justice Section
Russia: Journalist Alsu Kurmasheva’s Detention Prolonged by Russian Authorities
On 2 June 2024, it was reported that a Russian court extended the detention of American-Russian journalist Alsu Kurmasheva until 5 August 2024, following her failure to register as a foreign agent. The decision, made on 31 May 2024, denies her house arrest. Kurmasheva, who works for RadioFreeEurope/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), was detained in October 2023 for not disclosing her US citizenship, as required by Russian law. She faces charges under Part 3 of Article 330.1 and Part 2(e) of Article 207.3 of the Russian Criminal Code, related to failing to register as a foreign agent and distributing a book opposing the invasion of Ukraine. Kurmasheva has expressed concerns about her deteriorating health and lack of adequate medical care in detention. Her husband criticised the US State Department’s indecision regarding her wrongful detention status, urging the US government to secure her release. The Committee to Protect Journalists has also called for her immediate release and appropriate medical attention.
https://www.voanews.com/a/russian-court-extends-detention-of-journalist-alsu-kurmasheva/7637641.html
Pakistan: Former Prime Minister Acquitted in High-Profile Cipher Case
On 3 June 2024, the Islamabad High Court in Pakistan acquitted former Prime Minister Imran Khan and ex-Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi in the widely known Cipher Case. This decision overturns a special court’s previous sentence of 10 years of imprisonment handed down in January 2024. The court, led by Chief Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb, accepted the defendants’ appeal, bringing relief to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Party (PTI), which Khan founded. The case involved allegations of mishandling diplomatic communications with the US, purportedly containing threats from the US Government. The prosecution argued this breach endangered national security, while the defence countered that there was no evidence of intentional wrongdoing or resultant damage to international relations. The High Court found the prosecution’s evidence insufficient to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt and highlighted inconsistencies in their case. Despite this acquittal, Khan and Qureshi remain incarcerated due to other convictions.
https://apnews.com/article/pakistan-imran-khan-cipher-acquittal-78b83ec482e2dbc647cec49ca1584828
ICJ: Intervention Sought by Palestine in case between South Africa and Israel
On 4 June 2024, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) announced that the State of Palestine filed an application to intervene in the ongoing case of South Africa v. Israel. This application follows Palestine’s formal acceptance of the ICJ’s jurisdiction through Security Council Resolution 9 (1946) and Article IX of the Genocide Convention, which Palestine joined in April 2024. Palestine seeks to intervene under Article 62 of the ICJ Statute, claiming a legal interest in the case, and under Article 63, which allows states notified of related conventions to participate in proceedings. The case itself, initiated by South Africa on 29 December 2023, alleges Israel’s violation of the Genocide Convention through its military actions in Gaza. The ICJ previously urged Israel to avoid genocidal actions and ensure humanitarian access for Palestinians. According to the UN, the conflict has resulted in over 36,000 Palestinian and 1,200 Israeli deaths. Israel has initiated investigations into the deaths of Palestinian detainees, with a committee appointed to review conditions in military facilities.
https://www.icj-cij.org/sites/default/files/case-related/192/192-20240603-pre-02-00-en.pdf
Greece: Appeals Court Reimposes Prison Sentence on Extreme Far Right Golden Dawn Leader
On 4 June 2024, the Lamia Appeals Justices’ Council in Greece revoked the parole of Nikos Michaloliakos, the founder of the extreme far-right Golden Dawn political party, and sentenced him to imprisonment, as reported by the Athens News Agency. Michaloliakos was originally sentenced to 13 years and six months imprisonment but had been released on parole. The Council determined that he remained unrepentant and posed a risk of reoffending, citing his continued support for Nazi activities associated with the Golden Dawn party and therefore must serve the remainder of his sentence of imprisonment. This court decision follows the ruling on 7 October 2020 of the Athens Court of Appeals, which classified the Golden Dawn as a criminal organisation and convicted Michaloliakos and 67 other members of various crimes, including directing a criminal organisation and murder. Despite a prosecutor’s objections, a judicial council had previously granted Michaloliakos parole under strict conditions. He will now remain in prison until his sentence is completed.
https://apnews.com/article/greece-golden-dawn-michaloliakos-prison-3b9dd1c7f00bcffbd628f026a2e64373
KSC: Journalist Testifies at Trial of Former Kosovo Prime Minister Regarding Alleged Crimes Committed at Detention Facilities
On 6 June 2024, Kosovar journalist Nuhi Bytyci testified at the trial of former President Hashim Thaci and three co-accused Kadri Veseli, Jakup Krasniqi, and Rexhep Selimi, who all face charges at the Kosovo Specialist Chambers for alleged crimes committed at at Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) detention facilities, including 102 murders. In his testimony, Bytyci admitted that he exaggerated the strength of the KLA during the 1998-99 war and asked the court not to use his subsequently published book as evidence, emphasising it was based on his journalistic perspective, and not upon historical facts. Bytyci, who reported for Radio Television of Pristina, recounted travelling with Thaci and Selimi, where local KLA members refused them permission to film. He aimed to present the KLA as stronger to international audiences. Following Bytyci’s testimony, witness Zoran Stankovic described being beaten by KLA guerrillas in June 1999, leading to long-term trauma. Prosecutors allege the KLA systematically attacked civilians perceived as opponents. All four defendants pleaded not guilty.
ECtHR: Court Rules Italy Violated Fundamental Rights of Man Subjected to Compulsory Psychiatric Detention
On 6 June 2024, the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) ruled that Italy violated the rights of Fabio Cramesteter, a man subjected to compulsory psychiatric detention for nearly a decade. The court found that this detention contravened Italy’s legislative shift toward deinstitutionalization. Cramesteter, convicted in 2003 on charges of weapons possession and theft, was acquitted by reason of insanity in 2004. He was subsequently transferred to a forensic psychiatric hospital (Ospedali Psichiatrici Giudiziari; OPG) for what was supposed to be a two-year term. However, his detention was repeatedly extended, ultimately lasting until 2016. The ECtHR found that Italy breached Cramesteter’s rights to liberty and security, and his right to compensation for unlawful detention, as enshrined in the European Convention on Human Rights (Article 5, sections 1, 3, and 5). Italy was ordered to pay Cramesteter 8,000 euros in damages.
Russia: French Citizen Jailed in Moscow for Alleged Espionage
On 7 June 2024, a Moscow court ordered the detention of Laurent Vinatier, a French national, on charges of espionage. Vinatier was arrested on 6 June 2024 for allegedly failing to register as a “foreign agent” while collecting sensitive military data in Russia. Russian authorities claim that he made multiple trips to gather information on Russia’s military activities, a crime that could lead to a five-year prison sentence. In court, Vinatier confessed, claiming ignorance of the registration requirement, and issued an apology. His arrest intensifies the already tense relations between Moscow and Paris amidst geopolitical frictions.
https://apnews.com/article/russia-french-citizen-arrested-d71fccf771743122dbb480ffec581d48
France: Ukrainian-Russian Man Charged with Terror-Related Crimes
On 7 June 2024, a 26-year-old Ukrainian-Russian man was charged in France with plotting a violent act as part of a terrorist conspiracy. The National Anti-Terrorism Prosecutor’s Office (PNAT) stated that the man arrived in France several days before and was detained by the domestic intelligence agency after injuring himself in an explosion. The suspect was charged with participating in a “terrorist conspiracy” and possessing substances or explosives with intent to harm. Authorities had found materials intended for making explosive devices in his hotel room. The man, who suffered serious burns in the explosion, was initially treated by a fire brigade before being taken into custody. The investigation is ongoing to identify other potential accomplices.
International Peace & Security Section
Georgia: Government Enacts Controversial Foreign Agent Law Despite Opposition Protests
On 3 June 2024, Georgia enacted a controversial “foreign agent” law despite significant domestic protests and international opposition. Georgian parliament speaker Shalva Papuashvili signed the law, which mandates an open register for media and non-profit organisations receiving over 20% of their funding from abroad. Initially proposed in February 2023, the bill faced large-scale protests, leading to its rejection in March 2023. However, the bill resurfaced in 2024, sparking further protests in Tbilisi. The Georgian parliament approved the law on 14 May 2024, but President Salome Zurabishvili vetoed it, citing its similarity to a controversial Russian law and potential unconstitutionality. Despite this, the parliament overrode the veto on 28 May 2024. Many NGOs have declared they will not comply with the law. International human rights groups and civil society organisations have urged European leaders to halt Georgia’s EU integration, warning that the law could be used to suppress civil society and independent media. The United States has also condemned the Georgian parliament’s decision to override the presidential veto.
Palestine: Israeli Attack on School in Gaza Resulting in 33 Fatalities
On 6 June 2024, Israel launched an attack at a school in Gaza which killed at least 33 people, including 12 women and children. The al-Sardi school is run by the United Nations Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA) and sheltered refugees from northern Gaza who fled Israeli operations and air raids. According to the hospital report, there were three women, nine children, and 21 men killed during the attack. Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, the spokesperson for the Israeli military, claimed that the strike was based on intelligence which indicated that 30 suspected Hamas militants were planning and conducting attacks from inside the classrooms. Philippe Lazzarini, the Commissioner-General of UNRWA, said that they cannot verify claims that armed groups were inside.
Lebanon: Human Rights Report Accuses Israel of Deploying White Phosphorus Munitions in Southern Lebanon
On 5 June 2024, Human Rights Watch (HRW) reported that Israeli forces had been using white phosphorus munitions in at least 17 municipalities in South Lebanon since October 2023. In five of the municipalities where there are over-populated residential areas, disproportionate airburst munitions were used. According to international humanitarian law, it is illegal to abuse an indiscriminate amount of airburst white phosphorus in populated areas since it can cause civilian harm. Lebanon’s Ministry of Public Health claimed that up until 28 May 2024, at least 173 people have suffered from the consequences of inhaling white phosphorus. According to HRW, the Israeli military has deployed the use of artillery-fired white phosphorus in south Lebanon and Gaza in October 2023 as well as back in 2009. The tensions between Israel and Lebanon have been escalating since October 2023, resulting in the death of at least 88 civilians and more than 300 fighters.
https://www.hrw.org/news/2024/06/05/lebanon-israels-white-phosphorous-use-risks-civilian-harm
Pakistan: Extreme Heat Waves Could Worsen Food Insecurity
On 3 June 2024, the International Rescue Committee (IRC) issued a warning that the rising temperatures in Pakistan could pose a threat to the population of 8.6 million, who are already experiencing food shortages. It is estimated 26 districts could be affected by the heatwaves, which could further exacerbate already existing problems associated with drought and flooding. Since July 2022, food prices have risen due to loss of agricultural land, resulting in households unable to provide food for their families. The situation has also affected education services, with communities hardest hit by the heatwaves, the provinces of Sindh and Balochistan, reporting school closures. A recent IRC report indicated that the effects of the July 2022 flooding on education was worse than the two years of school closures during the Covid-19 pandemic. March 2020 saw 2 million children unable to access education, while 3.5 million face disruptions to education following the flooding. Shabnam Baloch, IRC Pakistan Director, stated “Pakistan is bearing the brunt of climate change with the most devastating consequences”, and went on to add that “the responsibility of responding to the damage caused by events like heat waves and flooding must be shared across the international community”.
Australia: Parliamentary Joint Committee Report Recommends Enactment of Human Rights Act
On 4 June 2024, Australia’s Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights released a report on the country’s human rights framework. The first recommendation in the report was to establish a Human Rights Act. The existing laws in Australia lead to people and groups, mainly marginalised slipping through the cracks. The report notes that the current approach to human rights is inadequate to “ensure rights and freedoms are properly respected, protected and promoted”. The report expressed the need for human rights to be real in everyday decision-making, and not an afterthought. The report’s release was welcomed by Australian civil society groups. Australia is behind other democracies by not having a national human rights act or charter. Canada, the US and South Africia all have rights in their constitutions. The UK and New Zealand have human rights acts. Countries such as India, Argentia and Timor-Leste have constitutional guarantees on human rights. While the European Convention on Human Rights has binding rights on 47 countries. An Australian Human Rights Act is important as it would strengthen obligations already made under international law, as well as impose standards to enable individuals to seek redress for rights violations. The Australian government now has evidence supporting the need for a human rights act and should look to introduce draft legislation as soon as possible in order to protect human rights of all people in Australia. According to Human Rights Watch (HRW), the Australian Parliament really needs to enact a human rights act as Australia’s current legal frameworks do not adequately protect human rights. Only the right to live free from discrimination is protected. But the rights to healthcare, education and housing are not protected.
https://lsj.com.au/articles/parliamentary-report-recommends-federal-human-rights-act/
https://www.hrw.org/news/2024/06/02/australia-needs-human-rights-act
USA: President Biden Unveils Long-Planned Asylum Restrictions Aimed to Control US-Mexico Border Migration
On 4 June 2024, US President Joe Biden announced new restrictions on migrants seeking asylum at the US-Mexico border to address immigration ahead of the November 2024 elections. The restrictions, which go into effect when border encounters exceed 2,500 per day, aim to manage the overwhelmed border situation. Biden criticised Republicans and former US President Trump for hindering legislative solutions, prompting his unilateral action. Under the new order, migrants without a fear of returning home will face immediate removal, while those seeking asylum will undergo stricter screenings. The U.N. and immigration rights advocates expressed concern about these measures, emphasising the need to uphold asylum rights. Despite recent declines in border encounters, Biden’s directive aims to address ongoing high numbers and anticipated seasonal increases. The administration faces challenges in implementing the directive due to funding constraints and existing legal obligations. Biden’s plan, invoking Section 212(f) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, differs from Trump’s previous policies, providing exemptions for certain vulnerable groups and utilising the CBP One app for asylum appointments. Critics, including Republicans and immigration advocates, question the feasibility and motivations behind the new measures.
UN: Security Council Elects Pakistan, Somalia, Panama, Denmark and Greece as Non-Permanent Members
On 6 June 2024, five countries were elected to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) as non-permanent members for two-year terms beginning on 1 January 2025. They will replace Ecuador, Japan, Malta, Mozambique and Switzerland, whose terms end on 31 December 2024. In a secret ballot, the elected countries obtained the required two-thirds majority of Member States present and voting in the 193-member General Assembly. The new members will join existing permanent members Algeria, Guyana, Republic of Korea, Sierra Leone and Slovenia, whose term started on 1 January 2024. The five permanent Council members China, France, Russia, the US, and the UK hold a veto power. The 15-member Security Council is responsible for the maintenance of international peace and security under the UN Charter. The 10 non-permanent members on the Security Council are distributed according to four regional groupings: two from African and Asia-Pacific, one for Latin America and the Caribbean; and two for Western Europe and other States.
https://news.un.org/en/story/2024/06/1150726
Sudan: Internally Displaced People Could Top 10 Million With Famine Imminent
On 6 June 2024, the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) issued a warning that the number of displaced people in Sudan could soon reach 10 million. It is already the world’s worst internal displacement crisis and is continuing to deteriorate, with famine looming and disease adding to the turmoil. The IOM’s Displacement Tracking Matrix recorded 9.9 million people displaced across all 18 states in Sudan this week. It was 2.8 million prior to the April 2023 war, making it 7.1 million since then. More than half of internally displaced people are women, and over a quarter are children under the age of five. IOM Director General, Amy Pope, stated that “humanitarian needs in Sudan are massive, acute, and immediate”. However, only 19% of the funds requested have been delivered to Sudan. Pope added that action is needed “to avoid a looming famine”. 12 million people have been forced to flee their homes, and more than two million people have fled across the borders into neighbouring countries Chad, South Sudan and Egypt. After years of tensions, full-scale civil war broke out in mid-April 2023 when fighting between the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) broke out in the capital Khartoum and spread across the country. There have been reports of violations of human rights including ethnic violence, rape and gang rapes as methods of war. 70% of people who fled are trying to survive in places at risk of famine, with poor humanitarian access. The upcoming rainy season could cause further issues and lead to climate-related disasters and the spread of disease. Last week, the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) issued a warning that the situation in Sudan had reached catastrophic levels. In the capital of North Darfur, Al Fasher, the conflict has left more than 800,000 people trapped. Vital infrastructure such as health care has collapsed, while basic essentials have become unaffordable, including food, water and fuel.
https://www.iom.int/news/sudan-internal-displacement-set-top-10-million-famine-looms-iom
Panama: Increase in Migrant Numbers Crossing Darién Gap from Panama to Colombia
On 7 June 2024, Reuters reported that in the first five months of this year, 170,000 migrants crossed the dangerous Darién Gap that connects Panama to Colombia. This number is 2% higher than for the same period of last year, which saw 167,000 make the treacherous journey, seeking better opportunities in the US. Last year was a record year for migration through the Darién Gap, with more than half a million migrants making the trek through the stretch of jungle where they faced the risks of robbery, violence, human trafficking and sexual abuse. The record numbers drove the Panamanian authorities to seek international help and tighten their border security, but the numbers have still continued to increase. A new Panamanian government, due to commence on 1 July 2024, is looking to tighten its southern border in an attempt to stop migration, but it has not detailed its strategy. While the numbers of migrants were up through 2024, the National Migration Service (SNM) recorded a decline in April and May due to the rainy season. Authorities outlined the largest numbers of groups crossing the Darién Gap were from Venezuela, a country facing an economic and political crisis. SNM stated nearly 5,000 people have made the crossing in the first six days of June 2024, with 901 of them children. This year’s increase in migrants may be impacted by a broad asylum ban imposed by US President Joe Biden this week that could discourage people from making the journey. The outcome of the US election in November 2024, which could see former President Donald Trump return to the White House, may also impact migrant numbers.
Yemen: Houthi Rebels Detain 11 UN Employees Amidst Escalating Tensions
On 7 June 2024, Houthi rebels in Yemen detained 11 UN personnel, as confirmed by UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric. The UN is deeply concerned and is working to clarify the situation and secure their immediate release. The detained include nine men and two women, with six working for various UN human rights agencies. This action is part of a larger Houthi crackdown affecting other international aid groups, including Save the Children and CARE International, whose staff have also been detained. The Mayyun Organisation for Human Rights condemned the detentions, citing violations of international law protections for UN employees. The situation arises amid increased economic struggles and retaliatory airstrikes against the Houthis, who have recently attacked shipping in the Red Sea, escalating tensions and drawing international focus. Human Rights Watch has criticised the Houthis for not disclosing the detainees’ locations or allowing communication with their families. Activists have launched a campaign demanding their release, warning of Yemen’s potential further isolation. The international community continues to monitor the situation closely, urging the Houthis to release the detained UN employees and aid workers to maintain critical humanitarian operations in Yemen.