Not sure about David Cameron stirring plov in Tashkent or posing for photos further exotifying the region adds to UK soft power in Uzbekistan/Central Asia (Why do Western diplomats think such cheesy acts still matter?) but this is an insightful discussion to listen.

I’m hearing disturbing news that prominent human rights defender and chairman of the Election Monitoring and Democracy Studies Centre in #Azerbaijan was detained by the police today Az Mission Geneva

An extremely dangerous speech that will chill anyone who cares about Georgia 🇬🇪 to the bone. There will be plenty of commentary but no summary can convey the full-on conspiracy-minded paranoia. Bidzina Ivanishvili seems to believe this stuff. Read in full civil.ge/archives/602348

What stands behind #CentralAsia ’s ugly problem with domestic violence globalvoices.org/2024/04/29/wha… via Global Voices

Wie die ZDF Magazin Royale Recherche zu #Hanau klar zeigt, versagen Politik & Behörden nicht nur bei der Aufklärung des rassistischen Angriffs dort, sondern auch bei der Bekämpfung von strukturellem Rassismus.

Dazu mehr von Human Rights Watch/Almaz Teffera:
hrw.org/de/news/2024/0…

#SayTheirNames

Germany is falling short in curbing anti-Muslim racism.

Germany lacks
👉🏽 understanding & recognition of the phenomenon
👉🏽 standardized data collection on anti-Muslim racism
👉🏽 investments in institutional & advice support for victims

*New* from Human Rights Watch

hrw.org/news/2024/04/3…

🧵

Another Human Rights Problem in #Kazakhstan : Domestic Abuse bitterwinter.org/another-human-…

Nice to be back on the Majlis Podcast where I joined Dr. Aijan Sharshenova + Ben Godwin to discuss David Cameron’s recent visit to #CentralAsia . Thanks to Bruce Pannier for the invitation. rferl.org/a/majlis-podca…

With all the scrutiny on Azerbaijan after round after round of arrests of journalists, civic activists, even as it prepares to host upcoming #COP29 , authorities detain prominent civic activist Anar Mammadli. A truly brazen move. He should be released immediately.

The private jet that brought the UK foreign secretary to #CentralAsia on his tour last week cost £42 million. He announced a mere £50 million in development funds over five countries during the visit
theguardian.com/politics/2024/…

High-profile murder trial in Kazakhstan boosts awareness of domestic violence, with comment by Human Rights Watch’s Vika Kim.
voanews.com/a/high-profile…

How A Secretive Uzbek Firm Linked To The President's Family Earned Millions On Sweetheart Deals - latest Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty investigation on alleged cronyism in #Uzbekistan rferl.org/a/uzbekistan-g…

Yesterday (April 25) European Parliament (EP) adopted urgency resolution on #Azerbaijan
The text is not available yet but here is a briefer: europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-…
What is there to add:
- for starters GoA continues to violate 65 CoE treaties it has signed and ratified;+

10 steps to ensuring people with disabilities can enjoy their right to fully participate in (political and public) life 👇 Neil Crowther BBC Access All #CRPD

Today OSCE #MoscowMechanism experts presented their report on “arbitrary deprivation of liberty of Ukrainian civilians by the Russian Federation” to the #OSCE ’s Permanent Council. Read more: bit.ly/44fd4qV #Ukraine #HumanRights #ОБСЕ #ОБСЄ

Did David Cameron talk about human rights improvements in #Tajikistan which also has one of the worst rights records in the world.

I find Kazakhstan’s diplomatic corps to be highly professional, but there is one issue that bothers me a lot. It is the lack of women in senior positions, and I worry MFA’s leadership does not see as an issue. 1/7

Two well-known Kazakh journalists are facing charges for their support of Азаттық Радиосы Радио Азаттык - Казахстан Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty Radio Free Europe/Radio LibertyPress us in Kazakhstan.

Its important that David Cameron Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office went to Turkmenistan. I hope he linked his visit to concrete commitments by host govt to human rights improvements & discussed these in his meetings; Turkmenistan has one of worst rights records in the world @HRW