Last Chance to Save Navalny: Daily Brief
Russian opposition leader in danger of dying in custody; crimes against humanity in Xinjiang, China; Thai pro-democracy activists should be released; killings and ‘disappearances’ during military operations in Mali; Rio de Janeiro needs to curb police killings; and Reporters Without Borders 2021 Index.
Last summer, Russian opposition leader Alexey Navalny narrowly survived an assassination attempt, widely believed to have been organized by Russia's security services. Now, without concerted action, he may die from medical neglect in a Russian penal colony, where the authorities locked him up following a mockery of a trial. In addition, his support groups may now be banned as “extremists” by the Moscow prosecutor's office.
The Chinese government is committing crimes against humanity toward Uyghurs and other Turkic Muslims in the northwest region of Xinjiang, according to a new report.
Thai authorities should immediately release pro-democracy activists detained on charges of insulting the monarchy. The charges violate their rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. Parit Chiwarak and Panusaya Sithijirawattanakulm, the detainees, have been on hunger strike to protest their pre-trial detention, for 35 days and 21 days respectively.
According to a new report, Malian soldiers have allegedly killed at least 34 villagers, forcibly disappeared at least 16 people, and severely mistreated detainees during counterterrorism operations in Mali’s central Mopti region.
After the Rio attorney general's decision to weaken the city's police oversight, Cesar Munoz testified before Brazil's Supreme Court that Rio de Janeiro needs an immediate plan to curb police killings and ensure accountability.
Reporter Without Borders has released its 2021 press freedom index. The Index data reflect a dramatic deterioration in people's access to information and an increase in obstacles to news coverage.