[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]“I will be arrested the minute I land in Uzbekistan and then thrown in prison,” an Uzbek human rights activist tells me, “and what happens with me afterwards is a good question.” For his family’s safety, I cannot...
CATEGORY: Europe and Central Asia

Pussy Riot supporters detained for protesting against criminal prosecution
Tens of people gathered near Moscow’s Tagansky Court on Wednesday to protest against the prosecution of members of feminist punk group Pussy Riot.

Azerbaijan anti-censorship petition goes to Houses of Parliament
British MPs back Index campaign to protect free speech in Eurovision host state

Keep Belarus off the rink
Despite a deplorable human rights record, Belarus will host the 2014 World Ice Hockey Championship. German MP Marina Schuster argues organisers should take the competition elsewhere.
ACTA voted down by European Parliament
The European Parliament today voted to throw out the controversial Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA). The legislation, which was introduced to combat piracy, came under fire from activists who warned that its vague language threatened...

Turkey: Index award winner faces jail
The conviction of Ferhat Tunç signals the marginalisation of dissident Turkish voices, says Kaya Genç
Libel reform is no joke
Comics Dara Ó Briain and Dave Gorman and scientist Professor Brian Cox joined Index and the Libel Reform Campaign at Downing Street to demand a public interest defence in the defamation bill

European ministers call for Azerbaijan to release political prisoners
The Azerbaijani government must resolve the cases of 89 political prisoners and put an end to politically motivated arrests, the Council of Europe (CoE) said on 26 June. The resolution followed the publication of a report on Azerbaijan by Christoph...
There must be a new public interest defence in the Defamation Bill, scientists, entertainers and campaigners tell Government
[<a href="http://storify.com/indexcensorship/final-push-for-libel-reform" target="_blank">View the story "Final push for libel reform" on Storify</a>]

Libel reform comes around less often than Halley’s comet. Let’s get it right
The defamation bill will do little to stop corporations suing individuals and should include a public interest defence says Index’s Mike Harris