Matthew Schaaf

Uzbekistan targets 'undesirable' foreigners and stateless persons in move likely to lead to rights violations. Tashkent should stick to its pledges on freedom of speech & better rules for NGOs and revise this new law @HRW hrw.org/news/2024/11/2…

What's the big deal with the election and referendum in #Moldova? How do elections in Moldova work? Check out @IFES1987 FAQ: ifes.org/tools-resource…

From the Editorial Board: Another major climate conference helps a despotic regime wapo.st/487rFXz

I'm hearing that on 13 September #Kazakhstan rejected Karakalpak HRD Aqylbek Muratbai’s asylum request. He faces extradition to #Uzbekistan & allegedly up to 18 y in prison under art 244 & 244.1 of Criminal Code in retaliation for his human rights work. @KazakhPM_UNOG @uzbekmfa

Wrote a piece with Serik Beissembayev for Carnegie Endowment about the unfulfilled promises of Tokayev's Jana Qazaqstan ("New Kazakhstan"): carnegieendowment.org/russia-eurasia…

I’m looking forward to being in Uzbekistan 19-21 Sept & seeing local human rights activists, diplomats. Concerned @MihraRittmann didn’t get visa to join me. Also disappointed Uzbek govt has declined to meet @hrw for first time since 2017. Our latest: hrw.org/news/2024/09/1…

18 human rights organisations urge the new Secretary General of @coe to address the unprecedented repression in Azerbaijan and call for the release of Anar Mammadli and human rights defenders, activists, and journalists. @Free_Anar #FreeAnar #COP29 nhc.no/en/freedom-for…

The Norwegian Helsinki Committee is happy to announce our call for proposals on human rights in Central Asia. Read more about our renewed small grants program here: nhc.no/en/call-for-pr…

Authorities in #Kazakhstan are misusing extremism and terrorism legislation to target peaceful government critics and others, in violation of international human rights law. New @hrw report - hrw.org/news/2024/08/2…

BREAKING NEWS 🇺🇦 After many years of delays, President Zelensky submitted a bill on the ratification of the Rome Stature, including Kampala amendments with respect to the crime of aggression, to 🇺🇦 parliament 🧵 (1)

It's been 1 year since Dr. Gubad Ibadoghlu was wrongfully imprisoned in #Azerbaijan. We join our colleagues in calling for his release and the release of all political prisoners in the country. freedom-now.org/azerbaijan-end…

Please join us on Tuesday, July 23 at 10am EST for the launch of our new report: Now and Then: Grassroots Activism Under the Taliban. Register here - forms.microsoft.com/pages/response…

DDOT has issued a notice of intent to reduce the speed limit on GA Ave to 25MPH. You can comment at the NOI site directly ddot.dc.gov/service/notice…

Important discussion with Karakalpak activist Mynaim, @HughAWilliamson and @l_seiitbek about the situation in Karakalpakstan, repressions by Uzbekistan authorities. Rights of Karakalpak people must be respected.

⚡️More than 70% of Ukrainians believe that LGBTQ people should have the same rights as other citizens, representing a 3% increase from 2023, according to a poll released by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS) on June 18. kyivindependent.com/poll-more-than…

Ahead of today's #HFAC hearing on Americans detained abroad, I am thinking of our @RFERL colleague Alsu Kurmasheva who has been unjustly detained in Russia for nearly 8 months. @StateDept has yet to designate her as wrongfully detained #FreeAlsu foreignaffairs.house.gov/hearing/the-pl…

The largest-scale ever repression of civil society is unfolding in Azerbaijan with monthly, sometimes weekly, arrests of independent journalists, HRDs, CSO leaders, activists, and independent researchers. Baku Investigation Isolator No.1 is full with bright and innocent people.

Today is Ihar Losik's 32nd birthday. The @RFERL journalist has spent his last three birthdays imprisoned in Belarus serving an unjust, 15-year sentence. He must be released and reunited with his family. #JournalismIsNotACrime #FreeIhar about.rferl.org/advocacy/impri…

After the government moved to protect Soviet-era mosaics in Tashkent from destruction, a nice website detailing them has been created, including locations so people can go and find them #Uzbekistan mosaic.tashkent.uz/en

🚨🚨 WE'RE HIRING!🚨🚨 We are looking for an Advocacy and Campaigns Director to join our staff. Full details and how to apply can be found here - freedom-now.org/advocacy-and-c…