The European Parliament has awarded its prestigious Sakharov Prize for human rights and freedom of thought to two Iranian dissidents. European Parliament President Martin Schulz announced Friday in Strasbourg, France, that human rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh and filmmaker Jafar Panahi received the annual prize. Schulz said the award is a message of “solidarity and recognition […]
EU Awards Rights Prize to 2 Iranian Dissidents
Posted October 26th, 2012 at 3:00 pm (UTC-5)
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Italy’s Berlusconi Guilty of Tax Fraud
Posted October 26th, 2012 at 1:05 pm (UTC-5)
Former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has been convicted of tax fraud and sentenced to a year in prison. A Milan court Friday found the 76-year-old media magnate guilty in a case linked to the purchase of U.S. film and television rights on behalf of Mediaset, Italy’s largest private television company that he controls. Prosecutors […]
Russian Activist Udaltsov Charged in Plotting Riots
Posted October 26th, 2012 at 12:50 pm (UTC-5)
Russian investigators have charged another opposition activist with plotting riots as part of an apparent Kremlin crackdown on the anti-Putin protest movement. Russia’s State Investigations Committee filed charges Friday against Sergei Udaltsov, who faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted. He was not detained but has been ordered to stay in Moscow pending […]
Italy’s Berlusconi Guilty of Tax Fraud
Posted October 26th, 2012 at 12:10 pm (UTC-5)
Former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has been convicted of tax fraud and sentenced to four years in prison. A Milan court Friday found the 76-year-old media magnate guilty in a case linked to the purchase of U.S. film and television rights on behalf of Mediaset, Italy’s largest private television company that he controls. Prosecutors […]
EU Expresses Concern About Russia Treason Law
Posted October 25th, 2012 at 3:45 pm (UTC-5)
European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton has expressed concern about Russia’s new legislation which broadens the definition of treason. Ashton’s office issued a statement Thursday, saying that “the new law would expand the scope for prosecution of and reduce the burden of proof for charges of treason and espionage.” Current law describes high treason […]
Ukraine Blames ‘Foreign’ Security Forces in Russian Activist’s Disappearance
Posted October 25th, 2012 at 3:10 pm (UTC-5)
Ukrainian officials say foreign security agencies are responsible for the disappearance of a Russian opposition activist, who said he was kidnapped and forcibly taken to Moscow. An Interior Ministry spokesman said Thursday it is clear that criminal elements were not involved in last week’s disappearance of Leonid Razvozzhayev, an assistant deputy of the opposition Just […]
British Police: 300 Possible Victims in Savile Abuse Scandal
Posted October 25th, 2012 at 12:10 pm (UTC-5)
British police say they have identified 300 potential victims of alleged child abuse by the late BBC entertainer Jimmy Savile. Police Commander Peter Spindler said Thursday authorities have so far spoken with 130 people, all but two of whom are women. He said the majority of alleged offenses involve Savile but other people might also […]
Georgia Parliament Confirms New PM
Posted October 25th, 2012 at 10:25 am (UTC-5)
Georgia’s parliament has approved billionaire politician Bidzina Ivanishvili as the country’s new prime minister. Mr. Ivanishvili’s Georgia Dream movement won the October 1 parliamentary election, ending the nine-year rule of President Mikheil Saakashvili’s United National Movement party. With a vote of 88 to 54 Thursday, lawmakers approved Mr. Ivanishvili and his new Cabinet. In remarks […]
Russian Police Kill 2 Suspected Assassins
Posted October 25th, 2012 at 9:35 am (UTC-5)
Russian security officials say two men killed by police in Tatarstan were suspects in a murder plot targeting a top Muslim cleric. The two men killed Wednesday in Kazan are said to have been planning a major terrorist attack during Eid al-Adha, the Muslim holiday beginning at sundown Thursday. One member of the federal security […]
Georgia’s Next PM Says Will Quit in 18 Months
Posted October 24th, 2012 at 12:00 pm (UTC-5)
Georgia’s future prime minister, Bidzina Ivanishvili, says he plans to quit politics in 18 months. The billionaire politician made the announcement to opposition lawmakers in parliament on Wednesday. Mr. Ivanishvili, who has previously said he has no long-term political aspirations, says he will stick to his election promises but leave politics after a year-and-a-half. He […]
