Huge crowds protest Hungary’s new constitution as the country’s political elite celebrates legislation which cements their power. Sándor Orbán reports
Hungary faces squeeze on freedoms
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Index on Censorship
Burma: Film festival to test promised freedom
A film festival featuring Burma’s leading artists and dissidents will test the regime’s commitment to reform. Wei Mar reports
Havel and the legacy of Jan Palach
Pavel Theiner: Havel and the legacy of Jan Palach
“My brother is dying in silence”
One year on from the crackdown on the opposition in Belarus, Irina Bogdanova, sister of political prisoner Andrei Sannikov, calls for international action against Europe’s last dictatorship
Pyongyang unwrapped
Technology has revolutionised reporting on North Korea. David McNeill reveals how a clandestine network is getting the word out despite restrictions
An artists’ manifesto for Belarus
In one of his last public acts, dissident, playwright and president Václav Havel signed this statement calling for free speech in Belarus, along with Ai Weiwei, Sir Tom Stoppard and many more
Is China using censorship to sculpt national sentiment?
Is China’s foreign policy shaped by national public opinion or is the government shaping public opinion to justify its foreign policy? An interesting new analysis by the Brookings Institute has it that the government is manipulating nationalist...
Ireland: Government weighs in on TV priest libel row
As the controversy surrounding high profile defamation case of RTE and Father Kevin Reynolds continues, Michael Foley explores the involvement of the Irish government.
Hungary: airbrushing row highlights media law failings
Activists are on hunger strike to protest against manipulation of TV images.
Thomas Escritt reports
PLUS: Read Mike Harris on “Hungary – How Not To Regulate The Press“
Russia urges Putin to step down
Elena Vlasenko reports from Saturday’s momentous Moscow protest
International Human Rights Day podcast
John Kampfner: International Human Rights Day podcast
Belarus: European ministers meet activists
UK’s Europe Minister David Liddington visits Human Rights House Viasna alongside Index on Censorship; Irish Foreign Minister Eamon Gilmore emphasizes NGO involvement
Plus: Conference urges ministers to “suspend Belarus from the OSCE”