Clean elections17. April
Freedom of expression and alternative sources of information10. April
Russia raids independent newspaper after Memorial outlawed
One of Russia's leading opposition newspapers has been targeted in the latest blow to several critical organisations which have come under increasing political pressure in recent years.
Clean elections10. April
Orbán accuses Hungarian opposition of plotting unrest
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán faces his greatest electoral challenge at the weekend after 16 years at the top and is clearly gettimg nervous. He has now accused the oppostion of trying to engineer his defeat
Freedom of expression and alternative sources of information09. April
UN troubled by Serbia poll violence and media curbs
Local elections were held in Serbia at the end of March, following which there were reports of violence and irregularities. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has now commented on this – as well as on the state of the media in the EU candidate country.
Freedom of association09. April
Russia brands Nobel Prize-winning rights group Memorial 'extremist'
The decision comes as no real surprise, and its practical implications are just as significant as the signal it sends: In Russia, the country's Supreme Court has now classified the human rights organisation Memorial as “extremist”. Critics are calling it an affront.
Freedom of expression and alternative sources of information09. April
Protests in Lithuania over proposed public broadcaster reforms
In many countries, press freedom is under greater pressure than in the past – and many people are deeply concerned about this. In Lithuania, too, people have now taken to the streets to protest against planned changes.
Clean elections08. April
Faroe Islands: 29-year-old Conservative becomes head of government
The North Atlantic archipelago is getting a new government. At its head will be the youngest prime minister in the history of the Faroe Islands, the conservative Beinir Johannesen.
Clean elections08. April
Vance talks up Hungary's Orbán in Budapest visit days before key vote
Days away from important elections in Hungary, US Vice President Vance paid a visit to Budapest intended to shore up support for Viktor Orbán. Earlier, a Council of Europe delegation expressed serious concerns about the democratic nature of the electoral process in Hungary.
Political corruption08. April
Sarkozy says not a cent of Libyan money flowed into 2007 campaign
In the long-running trial over allegations of illegal election campaign funding, former French President Nicholas Sarkozy continues to insist on his innocence. His sentencing last year was the harshest penalty given to a former French head of state in modern history.