Belarus v. Viktor Dmitrievich Babariko
On July 6, 2021, the Supreme Court of the Republic of Belarus convicted Viktor Dmitrievich Babariko, a leading opponent of incumbent Belarusian President Lukashenko during the 2020 Belarusian elections, of bribery and money laundering offenses. He was sentenced to a 14-year prison term.
Malaysia v. Malaysiakini and Steven Gan
From July 2020 to February 2021, the Clooney Foundation for Justice monitored contempt of court proceedings against the news outlet Malaysiakini and its editor-in-chief Steven Gan. Malaysiakini’s prosecution represents a shot across the bow to independent media outlets in Malaysia.
The Case of Paul Rusesabagina
The ABA Center for Human Rights has been monitoring criminal proceedings against Paul Rusesabagina in Rwanda since September 2020. This report details many aspects of the proceedings thus far which cause grave disquiet as to their fairness, and which may have irretrievably prejudiced the defense.
Kyrgyzstan v. Gulzhan Pasanova
Gulzhan Pasanova was prosecuted for and convicted of the offense of grievous bodily harm for fatally injuring her husband. Ms. Pasanova, who had been subjected to long-term domestic abuse by her husband, claimed she acted in self-defense.
Hong Kong Special Administrative Region v. 9 Pro-Democracy Protesters
The nine defendants in this case are all well-known pro-democracy figures in Hong Kong. On April 18, 2020, these nine individuals were arrested and charged with knowingly participating in and organising an unlawful assembly in violation of the Public Order Ordinance.
Hong Kong Special Administrative Region v. Bao Choy Yuk-ling
Journalist Bao Choy, a freelance producer with Radio Television Hong Kong, was charged with making false statements to access a public database. Bao Choy requested vehicle registration information as part of her investigation into an attack on pro-democracy protesters.
Tunisia vs. Myriam Bribri
Myriam Bribri is facing charges under Article 86 of the Telecommunications Code for “offend[ing] security officials.” The charges stem from expletive-laced comments that she posted on social media in response to a video circulating of a police officer beating someone.
Cambodia v. Theary Seng
In November 2020, Theary Seng, a Cambodian-American lawyer and outspoken government critic, learned through a court summons that charges had been filed against her for conspiracy to commit treason and incitement to social disorder. She is facing a 12-year prison sentence.
Russian Federation v. Server Mustafayev and Others
All eight of the defendants are Crimean Tatars, practicing Muslims, and human rights activists. The prosecution charged each man “preparation for a forcible seizure of power or forcible retention of power” and “organising” or “participating” in the activities of a terrorist organization.
Russian Federation v. Yulia Tsvetkova
Yulia Tsvetkova faces up to six years in prison for the alleged distribution of pornography to minors. The charges stem from Tsvetkova’s drawings of female genitalia on a social media page she entitled “Vagina Monologues.” The drawings were part of a body-positive women’s empowerment campaign.
Kazakhstan v. Alnur Ilyashev
Alnur Ilyashev was prosecuted under Article 274 of Kazakhstan’s Criminal Code for “disseminat[ing] knowingly false information” in a state of emergency on the basis of three Facebook posts that criticized the ruling Nur Otan party for corruption and incompetence, including in response to COVID-19.
Cambodia v. Ros Sokhet
In late 2020, the ABA Center for Human Rights monitored the criminal trial of journalist Ros Sokhet in Cambodia as part of the CFJ’s TrialWatch initiative. Mr. Sokhet was criminally prosecuted, convicted, and sentenced for non-violent political speech, violating his right to freedom of expression.
Uganda v. Moses Bwayo
Journalist and filmmaker Moses Bwayo was charged with unlawful assembly for shooting a scene for a documentary about opposition activist, presidential candidate, and musician Bobi Wine: the authorities alleged that the gathering and filming constituted subversion of the Ugandan government.
Cambodia v. Kong Raiya
Kong Raiya was prosecuted and convicted for “incitement to disrupt social order.” The case against him stemmed from Facebook posts in which he advertised the sale of t-shirts commemorating a slain critic of the Cambodian government.
Morocco v. Omar Radi
The trial of journalist Omar Radi for ‘insulting the judiciary’ based on a single tweet about a judge’s ruling did not meet basic international human rights standards for assuring a fair trial.