Stories about Governance from July, 2022
Indonesia blocks Yahoo, Paypal, and gaming websites over new licensing rules
"The obligation of registration will open the gate for the government to intervene and censor. It's not just an administrative matter."
Azerbaijan and EU energy deal prioritizes energy over human rights
Azerbaijan and EU sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in the capital Baku outlining the plans for a strategic energy deal. Critics view the new deal with skepticism.
War in Ukraine is fundamentally changing the relationship between the internet and geopolitics
Russia's invasion of Ukraine confirmed what internet and war scholars have long predicted: the line between civil and military reality is being erased, further fracturing the world along "sovereign internets."
Sri Lanka: The evolution of the Gotagogama protest site and its periphery, in photos
Sri Lankan photographer Sandesh Bartlett captures how the peaceful occupy protest against the Rajapaksa government at Galle Face Green in the capital Colombo materialized, from March to July 2022.
Georgia’s ruling party antagonizes Western officials amid EU bid
Since October 2020, Georgia's ruling Georgian Dream party has dragged the country into political uncertainty. The party's decision to apply for candidacy into the EU has been stalled amid international tensions.
Unfreedom Monitor Report: Brazil
Advox research into digital authoritarianism in Brazil is now in a report. Read an excerpt and download the full pdf.
Digital authoritarianism in Bangladesh: Weaponising a draconian law to silence dissent in the pandemic era
The COVID-19 pandemic provided the government with a pretext to censor free speech, harass critics, and effectively curb dissent – accelerating what has been an ongoing turn towards authoritarianism in Bangladesh.
Superstar wrestler jailed for murder as high crime rate alarms Mongolians
The court of the Khan-Uul district of the Mongolian capital Ulaanbaatar sentenced the champion judoka and the former president of the Mongolian National Olympic Committee Tüvshinbayar to 16 years in jail
Vietnam’s Zalo Connect app: Digital authoritarianism hidden in peer-to-peer aid platforms
The app connects users in need with private donors. It exemplifies a humanitarian trend that centres on extracting data from vulnerable communities as a precondition to receiving aid.
Nigeria deteriorates into a perilously insecure nation
Armed banditry, Jihadist terrorism, kidnappings, and sports-related violence all impact the safety and livelihoods of citizens across the country.
In Azerbaijan, a war veteran's suicide sparks public outcry
By some accounts, at least 50 war veterans have attempted suicide since the 44-day war that Armenia and Azerbaijan fought in 2020.
In Georgia, leaked recordings suggest the state is surveilling newsrooms
The director of Mtavari Arkhi called on the public defender's office, non-governmental and international organizations as well as ambassadors to hold the perpetrators of surveillance on journalists to account.
Flood of false bomb threats raise security concerns in Kosovo
The wave of false bomb alerts in the Balkan region has also affected Kosovo. Threatening messages from anonymous addresses were sent to the University, schools, airport and bus stations.
Nigeria’s Lagos gangs terrorize citizens, extort transport workers, and wreak havoc
Area boys (agbèrò) make life hellish for Lagosians. They tax cab drivers, peddle illicit drugs, collide with politicians as thugs and make life insecure with their numerous gang fights.
Eight Trinidad & Tobago Police Service officers detained in connection with fatal shooting incident
Soon after the killings in 2020, lawyers representing the deceased men's families called the police officers' actions “extra-legal,” “arbitrary” and “summary executions.”
Zé Du, Angolan president who was in power for 38 years, dies in Spain
José Eduardo dos Santos was head of state between 1979 and 2017, having served one of the longest presidential terms in the world.
Cambodian human rights groups continue to demand justice for murdered analyst Kem Ley
"We will still remember Kem Ley because he spoke the truth in society and dared to talk about the shortcomings of the authorities."
Armenia's Prosecutor General wants to monitor internet content
In a letter addressed to the government of Armenia on July 4, Armenia's Prosecutor General, Artur Davtyan said the internet should be under state control and regulated through legislation.
Turkey clashes with the top European human rights court
On July 11, the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR), said Turkey failed to fulfill its obligation under Article 46/1 to comply with the court's 2019 judgement to release Kavala.
A new era of politics begins in Sri Lanka
A peaceful mass uprising on July 9 brought about the end of a political era that started with the promulgation of the 1978 constitution of Sri Lanka, which undermined democracy.
Sri Lankan president agrees to resign after protesters storm his official residence
Sri Lanka witnessed a successful people's uprising on July 9, 2022, as they demanded the resignation of the President due to rising prices and acute shortage of fuel, food and medicines.
