There are strong indications that the proceedings against Evgeniy Zhovtis failed to meet international fair trial standards, the ICJ said today, as it published the final report of a trial observation of the appeal hearing.
The ICJ today expressed satisfaction that the Italian judiciary and prosecutors have begun to address some of the worst human rights abuses arising in the post-11 September environment.
The Tribunal of Milan convicted 23 of 26 CIA agents charged with the kidnapping and enforced disappearance of Nasr Osama Mustafa Hassan (known as Abu Omar) in February 2003. Abu Omar was abducted by CIA agents from the streets of Milan in February 2003, with the cooperation of Italian officials, and transferred through Germany to Egypt, where he was subjected to torture.
Italy-Abu Omar case-press release-2009 (full text, PDF)
The ICJ today expressed its concern at deficiencies in the appeal process in which the conviction of the prominent Kazakh human rights defender Evgeniy Zhovtis was upheld this week.
ICJ Commissioner Karinna Moskalenko observed the appeal hearing on 20 October, on behalf of the ICJ, to assess its compliance with international fair trial standards.
Kazakhastan-ICJ questions fairness of appeal hearing-press release-2009-eng (full text, PDF)
Kazakhastan-ICJ questions fairness of appeal hearing-press release-2009-rus (full text, PDF)
The ICJ today expressed its concern about the criminal prosecution of Magistrate Baltasar Garzón for his investigation into crimes against humanity committed during and after the Spanish Civil War.
Judge Garzón is being prosecuted before the Second Chamber (Criminal) of the Spanish Supreme Court for intentionally issuing an unjust judgment or ruling (the offence of prevaricación).
Spain-Garzón-press release-2009-eng (full text in English, PDF)
Following the abduction and murder of Chechen human rights defender Natalya Estemirova, the ICJ today expressed its deep concern at threats to the safety of human rights defenders in Russia.
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