Julie Chadbourne is the NHC local representative in Kosovo

The Norwegian Helsinki Committee suggests that the controversial Kurti Case in Kosovo may be a case for retrial.
Having monitored the Albin Kurti trial since it began in autumn 2007, the Norwegian Helsinki Committe and the Danish Helsinki Committee today stated that concerns about his case are so serious that a retrial may be required.
The statement criticizes the way in which the internationalized courts in Kosovo have handled the case so far.
- Mr. Kurti was under extended detention for more than ten months until about mid December 2007 when all restrictive measures were removed. Numerous human rights groups have expressed concern about the legal justification for such measures. The court appears to have violated a number of procedural requirements throughout the process as well, raising concern that the case is in short unfair.
- Regardless of what people think of Mr. Kurti or his politics, he must have a fair trial. His freedom and liberty also cannot be unnecessarily restricted, says Norwegian Helsinki Committee's Kosovo representative, Julie Chadbourne.
Read the press release Read the statement Read Balkan Insight article

    Regional and local human rights school coordinators from the West Balkan countries are gathered in Oslo this weekend to discuss and plan their work for the upcoming year.
   The regional network of youth groups is a result of the Norwegian Helsinki Committee's human rights schools in the West Balkans over the past decade. The youth groups are now a definite force to reckon with for the promotion of human rights in the Balkans, and the main objective for the current meeting is to redefine organisational management so as to be less administratively and financially dependent on the Norwegian Helsinki Committee.
Read more on their own website: www.humanrightschools.org

   The Norwegian Helsinki Committee challenges Kyrgyz politicans on women's rights before the upcoming parliamentary elections on Sunday.
   Sentral Asia representative Ivar Dale has written an open letter to the twelve parties running for Parliament asking for their stand in the issue of bride-kidnapping. The letter is printed in the newspaper Vecherniy Bishkek today:
   "Political parties bear one main responsibility - to find the path that the country is going to take in the future. Human rights are part of that path. Among the complaints I hear the most among my Kyrgyz friends and from Bishkek's talkative cab drivers, is that they do not know what the different parties really stand for. They find it impossible to choose. Here is your chance to change that. I challenge the country's political parties to clearly state what their stand on bride-kidnapping and womens' rights are. Perhaps you too believe that it is a human rights violation. If so, let the electorate know how you intend to stop it. Or perhaps you believe that bride-kidnapping indeed is part of Kyrgyz tradition, and that it should be preserved. If so, let the electorate know this."
Read the full text in English Read the full text in Russian

   A new Kosovo Helsinki Council adopted statues and elected its first board yesterday.
   The Council's mission is ”to promote human rights and fundamental freedoms for all Kosovo citizens regardless of their ethnic, religious, social and political differences, with special attention to the rights of ethnic minorities and vulnerable and marginalized groups by supporting and fulfilling the principles of the [Helsinki] Final Act.”
   It was formed following a conference hosted by the Norwegian Helsinki Committee 7-9 November in Mavrovo, Macedonia.

   The Russian politician and friend of the Norwegian Helsinki Committee, Farid Babajev, was shot in Dagestan on november 21 and died from the injuries three days later.
   "On November 21, 2007 in Makhachkala there was an attempt on the life of Farid Babaev, a Dagestani public figure, human rights defender, candidate to the MP of the State Duma of the Russian Federation. According to the sinister tradition, the assassin was waiting for Farid at the stairwell of the block of flats where he lived with his family. Four bullet injuries turned out incompatible with life. Three days later Farid deceased."
Read obituary by Memorial Human Rights Center Read appeal to Russian authorities

Oleg Orlov, Chair of board of Memorial human rights center

   The Norwegian Helsinki Committee expresses concern to Ingushetia's President Murat Zyazikov about the attack on three journalists and Oleg Orlov from Memorial on Saturday 24 November.
   Says the letter dated 27 November 2007:
   "We are deeply concerned that this brutal and unjustified attack on journalists, demonstrators and internationally well-known human rights defenders reflects a policy of withdrawing from international legal and political obligations, which are binding also for the Ingush republican authorities. The events of 23 and 24 November 2007 amounted to abuse of power by state representatives, in our view. We kindly ask you to use your authority to ensure that the incident is investigated under the proper articles of the Russian Criminal Code, and that the aggrieved parties receive proper restitution and reparation, as well as guarantees that the rights of human rights defenders will be respected in the future".
Read the letter

   The Norwegian Helsinki Committee has contributed information to a law study on pre-charge detention in terrorism cases.
   A prominent human rights organisation, Liberty, wrote the report to compare world-wide policies and advice British authorities on the maximum extent of time terrorist suspects should be kept in pre-charge detention. NHC supplied information on Norwegian legislation. Read the report