Jul 4, 2019 | News
The ICJ called today on the Italian Government to reject the incendiary statements issued by Matteo Salvini, Vice-President of the Council of Ministers and Minister of Interior, calling for the “reform” of the judiciary after a court issued a judgement with which he did not agree.
On 2 and 3 July, Minister Salvini issued a series of press statements and tweets that accused a judge in Agrigento of having made a “political judgment” for having ordered the release of the captain of the rescue boat SeaWatch3, Carola Rackete.
She is alleged to have rammed a boat of the law enforcement officers of the Guardia di Finanza in an effort to rescue 53 migrants stranded at sea for more than two weeks.
Minister Salvini followed his complaints with a direct request “to reform the judiciary, select and promote those who administer it in Italy and change the criteria of appointment, because this is not the justice that is useful for a country that wants to grow.”
“The declarations by Minister Salvini are unbecoming of a representative of an Executive and constitute a direct threat to the independence of the Italian judiciary” said Massimo Frigo, Senior Legal Adviser of the ICJ Europe Programme.
“Calling for a reform of the system of appointments and dismissal of judges in the wake of pernicious accusations of “politicization” are a clear threat to the independence of the judiciary and to any judge that would rule against the wishes of Mr Salvini,” he added.
“The Italian Government should publicly reject the threats by Matteo Salvini and ensure that any justice reform is fully in compliance with international and national constitutional standards on the independence of the judiciary”, said Frigo.
The ICJ emphasizes that international standards on the independence of the judiciary forbid such inappropriate interference with judicial process by the exective.
In that connection, the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, which includes Italy, has affirmed that “[i]f commenting on judges’ decisions, the executive and legislative powers should avoid criticism that would undermine the independence of or public confidence in the judiciary. They should also avoid actions which may call into question their willingness to abide by judges’ decisions, other than stating their intention to appeal.”
On Twitter, Mr Salvini has also issued declarations that undermine the right to presumption of innocence under articles 14.2 ICCPR and 6.2 ICCPR by calling Carola Rackete an “outlaw” and a “criminal” before and after the ruling of the judge on release.
The ICJ has informed the UN Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers of the situation.
Background
On 2 July 2019, the judge for preliminary investigations (Giudice per le Indagini Preliminari – G.I.P.) of Agrigento, Sicily, Italy – i.e. the judge competent under Italian criminal procedure law to decide on the lawfulness of one’s pre-trial detention – ruled that the detention of Carola Rackete, captain of the boat SeaWatch3, was unlawful and ordered her immediate release.
The judge based her decision on the Italian Constitution that dictates the primacy of international law standards over national law. Following this principle, she found that the criminal offences of which Carola Rackete was charged could not stand.
She was accused of disregarding the orders of the Italian law enforcement officers (Guardia di Finanza) not to disembark at Lampedusa (Sicily) harbour and to have hit with her boat the boat of the Guardia di Finanza that was standing between the SeaWatch3 and the point of disembarkment. Carola Rackete held that she was acting upon her duty to rescue and disembark the people on her boat and that there was urgency to do so.
With regard to the criminal charge of “resistance or violence against a military vessel” (article 1100 of the Navigation Code), the judge found it inapplicable because the boat concerned could not be considered a “military vessel”. On the merits of the criminal offence of “resistance to a public officer under article 337 of the Criminal Code, the judge ruled that the clause of exclusion of criminal responsibility of “implementation of a duty” provided by law (article 51 Criminal Code) did apply and therefore that Carola Rackete could not hold any criminal responsibility. The duty to implement was identified as the duty of rescue at sea that international maritime law foresees for all captains of maritime vessels.
The judge ruled that such duty has primacy in Italian law and further found that the legal provision under which the Minister of Interior, Matteo Salvini, ordered the prohibition of disembarkment on Lampedusa (article 11-ter of d.lgs. 286/98, introduced by Law Decree 53/2019, the so-called “Salvini Decree-bis”) had to respect international law as envisaged by the provision itself.
Carola Rackete remains under investigation for facilitation of irregular migration under a separate criminal proceeding.
Jul 4, 2019 | Доклады, Доклады судебного наблюдения, Новости, Публикации
Сегодня МКЮ опубликовала юридическое заключение, в котором анализируется пересмотр уголовного дела в отношении правозащитника из Кыргызстана Азимжана Аскарова. Пересмотр дела имел место в свете решения Комитета по правам человека ООН, признавшего многочисленные нарушения прав человека в ходе первого судебного процесса по делу. МКЮ пришла к выводу о том, что данные нарушения не были исправлены в ходе пересмотра дела.
В частности, МКЮ отмечает, что в ходе пересмотра не были должным образом исследованы заявления Аскарова о пытках, которым он подвергался во время заключения под стражей. Не было проведено новое расследование, суд не допросил новых свидетелей и не подверг критическому анализу доказательства, которые легли в основу обвинительного приговора. В результате в ходе пересмотра дела не была соблюдена презумпция невиновности и требования справедливого судебного разбирательства.
Следовательно, обвинительный приговор по делу Азимжана Аскарова подлежит отмене, а сам Аскаров должен быть освобожден, заявляет МКЮ.
«Проведенный нами анализ показал, что несмотря на многолетний процесс Азимжан Аскаров был лишен права на справедливое судебное разбирательство и эффективное расследование по жалобам на пытки. Мы призываем власти Кыргызстана принять меры в свете данных выводов и отменить обвинительный приговор в отношении Аскарова, а самого Аскарова освободить из-под стражи. Если этого не будет сделано, решение Комитета ООН по правам человека останется неисполненным», – заявила Роушин Пиллей, директор Региональной программы МКЮ по странам Европы и Центральной Азии.
МКЮ пришла к выводу о необходимости возбудить расследование по жалобам на пытки и иные нарушения прав человека в отношении Аскарова, и ему должно быть предоставлено надлежащее возмещение ущерба, причиненного в связи с указанными нарушениями.
Общие сведения
15 сентября 2010 года Азимжан Аскаров, известный правозащитник из Кыргызской Республики, был признан виновным в убийстве сотрудника правоохранительных органов, покушении на соучастие во взятии заложника, незаконном ношении оружия, возбуждении межэтнической ненависти и организации массовых беспорядков.
Международная комиссия юристов (МКЮ) наблюдала за процессом с самого начала судебного разбирательства вплоть до осуждения Аскарова, и выявила многочисленные нарушения прав человека в ходе содержания Аскарова под стражей, судебного разбирательства по его делу и вынесения обвинительного приговора в 2010 году.
В 2016 г. Комитет по правам человека ООН (КПЧ) принял Соображения, в которых признал нарушения прав Аскарова, гарантированных Международным пактом о гражданских и политических правах (МПГПП). КПЧ указал, что Кыргызстан обязан выплатить Аскарову надлежащее возмещение ущерба, принять необходимые меры к его незамедлительному освобождению, отменить обвинительный приговор и, при необходимости, осуществить пересмотр дела с соблюдением гарантий справедливого судебного разбирательства.
По итогам решения КПЧ Верховный Суд Кыргызской Республики направил дело Азимжана Аскарова на новое рассмотрение по вновь открывшимся обстоятельствам в Чуйский областной суд. Пересмотр дела проходил с 4 октября 2016 года по 24 января 2017 г. Обвинительный приговор отменен не был: имело место лишь «возобновление» производства по делу.
В основу Юридического заключения МКЮ легли выводы наблюдателей, присутствовавших на ряде заседаний в Чуйском областном суде, а также анализ материалов дела. Судебный процесс анализируется в свете национального законодательства Кыргызстана, а также относимого международного права и соответствующих стандартов. От лица МКЮ заключение подписали следующие комиссары: Азхар Качалия, судья Верховного апелляционного суда ЮАР; Николас Братца, бывший председатель Европейского суда по правам человека; профессор Хуан Мендес, бывший Специальный докладчик ООН по вопросу о пытках и иных видах жестокого, бесчеловечного и унижающего достоинство обращения и наказания.
Полный текст юридического заключения доступен по ссылке: Kyrgyzstan-Askarov report II-Publications-Reports-Trial Observation reports-RUS
Jul 4, 2019 | News, Publications, Reports, Trial observation reports
In a legal opinion issued today analyzing the retrial of the Kyrgyz human rights defender Azimjan Askarov, which followed the UN Human Rights Committee finding of multiple human rights violations in his first trial, the ICJ concludes that these violations have not been remedied by the retrial.
In particular, the ICJ finds that the retrial did not effectively examine allegations of the torture of Askarov in detention. It failed to conduct new investigations, hear new witnesses or question the elements on which the initial conviction was based. As a result, the retrial did not respect the presumption of innocence or comply with the requirements of a fair trial.
As a consequence, Azimjan Askarov’s conviction should be quashed and he should be released, the ICJ said.
“This analysis shows that despite years of court hearings, Azimjan Askarov has never been afforded a fair trial or an effective investigation into his allegations that he was tortured. We call on the Kyrgyz authorities to act on these findings and to quash his conviction and release him from detention. Without this, the decision of the UN Human Rights Committee will remain unimplemented ” said Róisín Pillay, ICJ Europe and Central Asia Director.
An investigation into allegations of torture and other violations of Askarov’s human rights should be launched, the ICJ concluded, and he should be accorded full reparations for violations of his human rights.
Background
Azimjan Askarov, a prominent human rights defender in the Kyrgyz Republic, was convicted on 15 September 2010 of complicity in the murder of a law enforcement officer, attempted complicity in hostage-taking, illegal possession of firearms, incitement of interethnic hatred, and organization of riots.
The ICJ has followed his case since the initial trial and Askarov’s eventual conviction – and identified multiple violations of his human rights in detention, trial and conviction in 2010.
In 2016, the UN Human Rights Committee (HRC) adopted Views in which it found violations of Askarov’s rights under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). The HRC decided that Kyrgyzstan was to make full reparation to Askarov; take appropriate steps to immediately release him; quash his conviction and, if necessary, conduct a new trial in due compliance with fair trial guarantees.
Following the HRC decision, the Supreme Court of the Kyrgyz Republic remanded the case of Azimjan Askarov for retrial to the Chuy Regional Court due to new circumstances. The retrial took place from 4 October 2016 to 24 January 2017. The retrial proceeded without quashing the defendant’s conviction but with “resumption” of the proceedings in the case.
The ICJ legal opinion is based on the findings from the observation of a number of hearings before the Chuy Regional Court and analysis of documents in the case. It assesses the proceedings in light of Kyrgyzstan’s domestic law as well as relevant international law and standards. The opinoin is signed on behalf of the ICJ by ICJ Commissioners Justice Azhar Cachalia, Judge of the Supreme Court of Appeal of South Africa; Justice Nicolas Bratza, former President of the European Court of Human Rights, Professor Juan Mendez, former UN Special Rapporteur on Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment or Punishment.
The full text of the legal opinion is available below.
In English: Kyrgyzstan-Askarov report II-Publications-Reports-Trial observation report-2019-ENG
In Russian: Kyrgyzstan-Askarov report II-Publications-Reports-Trial observation reports-2019-RUS
Jun 29, 2019 | News
Between 26 and 29 June 2019, in Guatemala City, ICJ and its partner, Fundación de Antropología Forense de Guatemala (FAFG), with the support of the Asociación Guatemalteca de Jueces por la Integridad (AGJI) and the Bufete de Derechos Humanos (BDH), undertook trainings of more than 12 judges and 20 prosecutors on the international law and standards that apply to the investigation of unlawful death and enforced disappearances.
The workshops were conducted as part of the project under the ICJ’s Global Accountability Initiative entitled, Promoting justice for extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances in Colombia, Guatemala and Peru, supported by the EU European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR).
Opening remarks were given by Tomás Pallás Aparisi, Head of Cooperation at the EU Delegation to Guatemala, Delia Dávila, Magistrate from the Supreme Court of Guatemala and Haroldo Vasquez, President of the Asociación Guatemalteca de Jueces por la Integridad AJGI.
Ramón Cadena, Director of the ICJ’s Central America Office, addressed the international law and standards that apply to the investigation and prosecution of unlawful death and enforced disappearances and their relevance to Guatemala. Edgar Pérez, director of Bufete de Derechos Humanos (BDH) discussed the situation of enforced disappearances in Guatemala and the value and applicability of international law and standards. Marco García, a representative of FAFG, outlined the role of forensic science in the investigation of unlawful death and enforced disappearances.
Kingsley Abbott, Senior Legal Adviser & Coordinator of the ICJ’s Global Accountability Initiative, provided an overview of the revised Minnesota Protocol on the Investigation of Potentially Unlawful Death (2016), which formed the core of the materials used at the workshops.
The ICJ took the opportunity of the workshops to visit the office of its partner, the Asociación de Familiares de Detenidos-Desaparecidos de Guatemala (FAMDEGUA) and meet with Justice Delia Marina Davila Salazar of the Supreme Court of Justice of Guatemala.
Contacts:
Kingsley Abbott, Senior Legal Adviser & Coordinator of the ICJ’s Global Accountability Initiative, email: kingsley.abbott(a)icj.org
Carolina Villadiego Burbano, ICJ Legal and Policy Adviser, Latin America, and Regional Coordinator of the Project, email: carolina.villadiego(a)icj.org
Jun 29, 2019 | Artículos, Noticias
Entre el 26 y el 29 de junio de 2019, en la Ciudad de Guatemala, la CIJ, junto con la Fundación de Antropología Forense de Guatemala (FAFG), y el apoyo de la Asociación Guatemalteca de Jueces por la Integridad (AGJI) y el Bufete de Derechos Humanos (BDH), llevó a cabo actividades de capacitación dirigidas a más de 12 jueces y 20 fiscales, acerca de los estándares internacionales que se aplican en la investigación de las ejecuciones extrajudiciales y las desapariciones forzadas.
Las actividades se llevaron a cabo en el marco del proyecto “Promoviendo justicia para ejecuciones extrajudiciales y desapariciones forzadas en Colombia, Guatemala y Perú”, bajo la Iniciativa Global de rendición de cuentas de la CIJ, y con el apoyo del Instrumento Europeo para la Democracia y los Derechos Humanos (IEDDH).
Las actividades contaron con la presencia de Tomás Pallás Aparisi, Jefe de Cooperación de la Delegación de la Unión Europea en Guatemala; Delia Dávila, Magistrada de la Corte Suprema de Guatemala; y Haroldo Vásquez, Presidente de la Asociación Guatemalteca de Jueces por la Integridad (AGJI).
En estas actividades, Ramón Cadena, director de la Oficina de Centroamérica de la CIJ, se refirió a la importancia de los estándares internacionales aplicables a la investigación y al enjuiciamiento de las ejecuciones extrajudiciales y desapariciones forzadas. Además, Edgar Pérez, director del Bufete de Derechos Humanos (BDH), analizó la situación de las desapariciones forzadas en Guatemala y el valor y la aplicabilidad de los estándares internacionales en el país.
Asimismo, Marco García, miembro de la FAFG, describió el papel de la ciencia forense en la investigación de estas graves violaciones a los derechos humanos. Finalmente, Kingsley Abbott, asesor legal senior y coordinador de la Iniciativa Global de Rendición de Cuentas de la CIJ, proporcionó una visión general acerca de los contenidos del “Protocolo de Minnesota sobre la Investigación de Muertes Potencialmente Ilícitas” (versión revisada de 2016).
La CIJ aprovechó la realización de estas actividades de capacitación para visitar a la Asociación de Familiares de Detenidos-Desaparecidos de Guatemala (FAMDEGUA) y reunirse con la jueza Delia Marina Dávila, de la Corte Suprema de Justicia de Guatemala.
Contactos:
Kingsley Abbott, asesor legal senior y coordinador de la iniciativa global de rendición de cuentas de la CIJ. Correo electrónico: kingsley.abbott(a)icj.org
Carolina Villadiego, Asesora Legal, América Latina, y coordinadora regional del proyecto. Correo Electrónico: carolina.villadiego(a)icj.org
