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This site presents an overview of Norwegian Helsinki Committee news and reports published in English.
See also the news archives sorted by year.
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(17/07-2006)
 The Norwegian Human Rights House demonstrated at Eidsvoll Plass outside the Parliament today with the parole RUSSIA - SUPPORT HUMAN RIGHTS, DO NOT UNDERMINE THEM!
Appeals were held by Bjørn Engesland (Norwegian Human Rights House), Jon Lilletun (member of the Standing Committe of Foreign Affairs of the Norwegian Parliament), Ann-Magrit Austenå (Norwegian Union of Journalists), Nina Witoszek (Solidarity Europe) and Torbjørn Røe Isaksen (Young Conservatives).
Youth parties and organisations behind the Solidarity 16 action and Solidarity Europe collaborated.
The Human Rights House in Oslo urged the Norwegian Prime Minister to address the human rights situation in Russia and Belarus during the visit of the Russian Prime Minister.  Read the letter to Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg
(21/03-2006)
- The mass arrests of peaceful democracy advocates that are currently taking place in Belarus are fully unacceptable and represent a serious crackdown on civil society. The international community should denounce these developments and lend their support to the democratic forces in Belarus, state the Norwegian Helsinki Committee, the Swedish Helsinki Committee, the Belarusian Helsinki Committee and the International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights. Read the media release
(16/01-2006)
 Aliaksandr Bialiatski, head of Human Rights Center 'Viasna' in Belarus is granted the Andrei Sakharov Freedom Award 2006 for his committment to human rights and democracy through two decades.
Bialiatski is a central figure in the community of non-governmental organisations and the opposition movement in Belarus. Through Viasna he has provided political and practical assistance to victims of the totalitarian regime. His organisastion is a widely recognised source of information about human rights, politics and the civil society situation in Belarus.
Read more about the award, the award winner and the human rights situation in Belarus
(16/12-2005)
 Young people from different political parties and organisations gathered with torches in front of the Norwegian Foreign Ministry today to demonstrate their support for the "Day of Solidarity with Belarus".
On October 16 the first silent demonstration against the oppressive regime took place in Belarus, as people across the country turned off all electricity in their apartments and lit candles in their window sills.
One of the speakers told the Norwegian demonstrators and passers-by why:
- Tonight people in Belarus will light a candle because it is the only way they can express their disagreement and unhappiness with the authorites. It is a quiet signal that the fight is far from over even though they have been supressed by the regime.
Another speaker said:
- It is important to show solidarity with those who are not able to do what we take for granted: work in politics.
 Read More
(14/12-2005)
Russian rights activists have accused the European Union of whitewashing reality by giving an optimistic assessment of Chechnya’s parliamentary election.
The EU hailed last month’s poll, won by the pro-Kremlin United Russia party, as “an important step”. But in an open letter to the EU, seven rights groups said that such a statement called into question the EU’s commitment to human rights. Read the story in Moscow News Read the letter
(02/12-2005)
The Norwegian Helsinki Committee (NHC) strongly condemns the expulsion of Taciana Khoma from Belarus State Economic University on November 25. The official reason for Ms Khoma's expulsion was that she did not report her travel to the National Unions of Students in Europe meeting in Reims, France at 11-13 November, beforehand. The decision was taken without any warning to Ms Khoma, and she was forced to leave the dormitory within hours of being expelled from the University. NHC considers the decision to expel Ms. Khoma from the University as politically motivated, and a totally disproportional reaction against a senior student. In a letter to the Belarusian Minister of Education, the Norwegian Helsinki Committee and the Human Rights House Foundation ask that the unlawful decision to expel Ms Khoma made by the university administration be annulled. Read the letter
(02/12-2005)
In a Climate of Fear. “Political Process” and Parliamentary Elections in Chechnya
Joint Publication of the International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights (IHF), International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), Norwegian Helsinki Committee, Center “Demos”, Human Rights Center “Memorial”
Report November 2005. Stapled version Order Report or read the pdf
(01/12-2005)
 The Norwegian Helsinki Committee strongly condemn the brutal use of police violence against demonstrators on November 26.
Hundreds of police forces used water cannons, tear gas and truncheons against peaceful citizens to disperse the protest action at the Qabala Square. Police beat and detained hundreds of demonstrators, among them women and children. 63 people have been seriously injured as a consequence of the police action. At least 12 journalists working for various news media were attacked as they were photographing the police dispersing protesters. The action against the demonstrators was totally disproportionate. In a letter to president Ilham Aliev the Norwegian Helsinki Committee and Human Rights House Foundation ask Azerbaijani authorities to initiate an immediate and impartial investigation of the violent outcome of the demonstration and make sure that those responsible for ordering and executing the attacks on civilians will be brought to justice. We also ask Azerbaijani authorities to release all those detained in connection with the event, as well as to immediately provide full information about the whereabouts of the participants lost. Read the letter to president Aliev
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Norsk Forside
On November 29 the British Presidency of the European Union welcomed the parliamentary elections in the Russian republic of Chechnya of 27 November as “an important step towards broader representation of a range of views in Chechen society.” 