Global Freedom of Expression, Columbia University: Newsletter

The Frontier of Expression: Russia and Central Asia

Russia
On February 4, 2020, Russian civic organizations Agora International Human Rights Group and Roskomsvoboda published a report on the extent to which the Russian authorities restricted internet freedoms in 2019. The report, titled “Internet Freedom 2019: Plan ‘Fortress’” paints a bleak picture. More Russians than ever access the internet at the second lowest cost in the world. At the same time, internet censorship is on the rise. Laws on sovereign internet, fake news, and insult of the authorities were passed in 2019. Internet shutdowns have become more common. The report’s authors noted that government repression evolved, turning harsher and further focused on government critics, online personalities, activists and even successful tech entrepreneurs. Overall, 438,981 restrictions of online expression were documented in 2019, most concerning website and service blocking. There were 57 acts or threats of violence, in 36 of which the victims were media workers and the attackers were law enforcement personnel. Agora and Roskomsvoboda concluded on a somewhat positive note, finding that although the  Russian authorities have worked hard to create a sovereign and restricted internet, their attempts have generally not been successful due to the ingenuity of Russian users to circumvent the restrictions.

Kazakhstan
On February 14, 2020, a human rights defender and member of Uzbekistan’s opposition party “Erk” was arrested in Kazakhstan on charges related to human trafficking. Hurram Berdiyev was one of the founders of the human rights defense center “Mazlum” and led one of its regional offices. In 1991, he became a member of the Uzbek opposition party “Erk,” whose leadership was either arrested or fled Uzbekistan due to political persecution. In 2005, Berdiyev began facing increasing government pressure following his public call to the European Union to initiate an international investigation of the Andijan Massacre, which resulted in hundreds of civilian deaths, although the exact figure is unknown to this day. In August 2007 he disappeared after visiting a Regional Office of the Ministry of Interior to resolve a passport issue, only to be discovered in the same office by his relatives two months later. Soon after he fled Uzbekistan, first to Russia and then to Kazakhstan. In 2014, two other “Mazlum” human rights defenders were tried for human trafficking and the prosecution’s witnesses claimed that Berdiyev was also involved. The Uzbek authorities then issued a warrant for his arrest. There is a real risk that Berdiyev will be extradited to Uzbekistan. Kazakhstan has repeatedly extradited political refugees to Uzbekistan who upon refoulement received lengthy prison sentences.

● The Tahrir Institute for Middle East Policy has issued an open call for Nonresident Fellows. The fellowship program provides an opportunity for researchers, advocates, and lawyers working in, across, and on the region to produce solutions-oriented, policy-forward analytical pieces; to join a network of like-minded organizations, individuals, and decisionmakers, ultimately strengthening their work; and to access media, convening, and policy opportunities. Deadline: 28 February 2020

●  The International Journal of Press/Politics has issued a call for papers on “Media, Accountability and Dissent in the Middle East and North Africa.” This special issue aims to provide new research perspectives on the momentous upheavals that took place in the Middle East and North Africa in the past ten years by shedding light on the interactions between citizens, social movements, and different types of media actors. Deadline: 15 June 2020