Stories about Law from January, 2009
Russia: Medvedev vs Putin's Espionage Law
RFE/RL's The Power Vertical reports that president Medvedev “has instructed his administration to re-work a controversial bill broadening the definition of treason and espionage to assure that it doesn't violate...
Erin Brockovich wanted in Egypt
Egyptian Blogger sued for slander and looses. Zeinobia wrote about Tamer Mabrouk who blogs from Port Said and who published a report supported by photography showing how “Trust Chemical Industries” Company was polluting the Lake Manzala with its chemical wastes from their factory. Author of “El Hakika” blog has to pay L.E 2500 as a fine and L.E 40,000 compensation for the company !!
Armenia: No PACE Sanctions
Life in the Armenian Diaspora comments on yesterday's decision by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe not to suspend Armenia's voting rights in the influential body. The blog...
Bahrain: Bloggers united against decision to block websites
Bloggers in Bahrain are fuming at a decision by the country's Minister of Information to block access to scores of websites, as well as prevent access to proxy sites which enable surfers to get to sites in a round about manner. Ayesha Saldanha reviews reactions from Bahrain.
Armenia: Council of Europe Reprieve
Yesterday's meeting of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) gave Armenia one last chance to avoid sanctions following last year's clashes between opposition supporters and security forces in the aftermath of a bitterly contested presidential election. Armenian bloggers react to the news.
Mexico: Startling Discovery in Tijuana
Hache [es] writes about the recent discovery of a man hired by drug cartels in Tijuana, Mexico who disposed the bodies of a reported 300 murdered victims in cauldrons of...
Poland: Racism, Bad Roads and Euro 2012
Writing about Euro 2012 and racism, the beatroot concludes: “There are some nasty little racists at Poland’s football stadia, but believe me, Poland’s roads are a lot bigger threat to...
Latvia: Politics Updates
Two updates on the post-Jan. 13 politics in Latvia – at Baltic, here and here: “Whoever you speak today in this Baltic country recognizes that discontent about the present political...
Brazil: Extradition refusal threatens relations with Italy
The Brazilian government calls Cesare Battisti a political activist. For the Italian government, the writer is a convicted terrorist. The controversial decision of the Brazilian government to guarantee political refugee status for him, two weeks ago, has divided opinions in Brazil.
Bulgaria: Martin Borilski Petition
Maya's Corner writes about an online petition to “[demand] just sentences for the culprits and punishments for prosecutors and judges responsible for the outrageous acquittal” of two Bulgarians implicated in...
Reporting the University of Philippines Student Referendum
Student publications led by the Philippine Collegian are conducting an online real-time coverage of the week-long Student Regent Referendum at the University of the Philippines (UP). The referendum will ratify...
Peru: Police Officers Killed in Pómac Forest Reserve
Three police officers, who were following a court order, were killed when they attempted to remove peasant families that had been illegally occupying lands in the Pómac Forest Reserve in Northwest Peru. Many Peruvians are mourning the loss of the 3 officers and are placing blame on officials for not providing enough resources and support for the security force. Others are providing their thoughts on those who are occupying the lands and their objectives for doing so.
Trinidad & Tobago: Big and Bad?
Following a statement from the Urban Development Company of Trinidad and Tobago‘s chief operating officer that implied that the company was answerable to no-one, Jumbie's Watch says: “When yuh big,...
St. Vincent & the Grenadines: Call for Justice
“Let the courts speak loudly on behalf of all the little children whose voices are silenced by these criminals”: Blogging from St. Vincent & the Grenadines, Abeni is all for...
Haiti, U.S.A.: Obama & Abortion
Haitian diaspora blogger Finian says: “This is where Obama loses my support. I believe abortion on demand is wrong.”
Russia, Ukraine: “Gas War IV”
Leopolis analyzes the Ukraine-Russia gas dispute and the agreement signed: “There is a natural temptation to assess the ‘winners’ and ‘losers’ of the Russian-Ukrainian Gas War IV, which emerged from...
Russia: Finno-Ugric Dimension of Gas Dispute
Window on Eurasia writes about the Finno-Ugric dimension of the Russian-Ukrainian gas dispute.
Russia: Pro-Government Rallies
Window on Eurasia writes about “Moscow’s plan to organize pro-government demonstrations.”
Russia: More on Markelov and Baburova
More on the killings of Markelov and Baburova – at Sean's Russia Blog.
Russia: “Mourning Markelov”
Robert Amsterdam writes: “Russia was a safer place when Markelov was still alive, because at the very least, his advocacy was ultimately emblematic of moral outrage – seemingly our last...
Russia: “Creeping Police State or Looming Anarchy”
RFE/RL's The Power Vertical writes that “[r]ecent commentary on Russia has tacked back-and-forth between these two apparently contradictory narratives — the creeping police state vs. looming anarchy.”