Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Source: Amnesty International –

Reacting to the Kremlin’s latest abuse of the criminal justice system to target Yabloko, the last remaining officially registered political party in Russia that has been openly calling for an end to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Marie Struthers, Amnesty International’s Director for Eastern Europe and Central Asia, said:

“In preparation for the September 2026 parliamentary election, Russian authorities are steadily dismantling what remains of peaceful political opposition. It is clear they want to purge the political landscape of any groups which are not under the Kremlin’s control and do not share its agenda, including its ongoing war of aggression against Ukraine.

It is clear [that the Russian authorities] want to purge the political landscape of any groups which are not under the Kremlin’s control and do not share its agenda, including its ongoing war of aggression against Ukraine

Marie Struthers, Amnesty International’s Director for Eastern Europe and Central Asia

“The pressure on Yabloko’s leadership is relentless. Deputy Chair Lev Shlosberg, convicted under the “foreign agents” law, faces a new criminal case opened today. Another Deputy Chair, Maksim Kruglov, was arrested in October, and party leader Nikolai Rybakov is farcically convicted for “extremism.” These reprisals are a deliberate effort to silence the last organized political force in Russia that consistently calls for peace and speaks out against human rights violations.

“Criminalizing calls for a ceasefire and prosecuting individuals for peacefully expressing views on Russia’s ongoing war against Ukraine are blatant attacks on freedom of expression. The Russian authorities must immediately and unconditionally overturn these convictions and drop all the baseless charges against the Yabloko leadership, as well as release all those detained solely for their anti-war views, and repeal war censorship legislation that criminalizes dissent.”

Background

On 5 November 2025, Lev Shlosberg was sentenced to 420 hours of community service for “violation of foreign agent’s duties”. The authorities claimed that he had not marked five videos posted on social media with the “foreign agent” disclaimer. The second criminal case against him – under the “discreditation of Armed Forces” charge – is ongoing.

On 5 December 2025, authorities opened a third criminal case against Lev Shlosberg for “spreading false information about the Armed Forces” over a repost from February 2022. It happened just days before he was due to be released from six months of house arrest that could no longer be legally extended, under a previous “discreditation” case. A day earlier, in two separate cases, St Petersburg courts fined party Chair Nikolai Rybakov RUB 1,500 (USD 19.5) and senior politician, Boris Vishnevsky, RUB 15,000 (USD 195). Rybakov was fined for “sharing extremist symbols” – namely, a photograph of the late opposition figure Aleksei Navalny which Rybakov posted on the day of Navalny’s death. Vishnevsky was fined for allegedly “cooperating with an undesirable organization” in an interview with the elections-monitoring group Golos, which authorities claim is linked to the banned European Network of Election Monitoring Organizations.

These fines serve as pretexts for further reprisals: Rybakov’s “extremism” case already bars him from running in the September 2026 parliamentary election, while the case against Vishnevsky paves the way for subsequent criminal prosecution if he is accused of “cooperation with an undesirable organization” again.

On 2 October 2025, Yabloko’s Deputy Chair Maksim Kruglov was arrested and placed in pre-trial detention over two 2022 Telegram posts referring to UN estimates of civilian casualties in Ukraine and the killings of civilians in Bucha.

At least five other Yabloko party regional leaders and members have been prosecuted. Around 50 administrative cases have been initiated against Yabloko members across Russia’s regions. Eleven Yabloko members, including Nobel Peace Prize laureate Dmitry Muratov and veteran human rights defender Svetlana Gannushkina, have been designated “foreign agents.”  

Source: Amnesty International –

Responding to an announcement on 04 December that Burkina Faso’s government has decided to reintroduce the death penalty seven years after it was abolished for ordinary crimes as part of a reform of the Penal Code, Marceau Sivieude, Amnesty International’s Regional Director for West and Central Africa said:

“The death penalty is the ultimate cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment, and an irreversible denial of the right to life.

“This punishment has no unique deterrent effect, it disproportionately affects those from disadvantaged backgrounds and carries the danger of being used as a repressive tool to punish dissent.

Burkina Faso must immediately halt any plans to reinstate the death penalty regardless of the nature of the offences or crimes committed.

Marceau Sivieude, Amnesty International’s Regional Director for West and Central Africa

“The Transitional National Council must oppose the reintroduction of death penalty in the Penal Code, which would set Burkina Faso against the goal of abolition of the death penalty enshrined under various international and regional human rights treaties and instruments.

“Burkina Faso must immediately halt any plans to reinstate the death penalty regardless of the nature of the offences or crimes committed. Countries that still retain the death penalty are an isolated minority as the world continues to move away from this cruel punishment.”

Source: Greenpeace Statement –

Responding to reports that machines mining minerals in the deep ocean have been found to cause significant damage to life on the seabed, reducing the number of animals found in the tracks of the vehicles by 37% compared to untouched areas, Georgia Whitaker, Deep Sea Mining Campaigner at Greenpeace International, said: 

“Once again the science is making it clear that deep sea mining would make things worse, and this was just a test with a machine half the size of those intended to be used. The Metals Company is trying to spin attention away from the headline bad news but we’re talking about harming unique and precious newly-discovered marine creatures. It is misleading for TMC to claim that only the mining site itself would be affected. 

“Millions of people across the world are calling on governments to resist the dire threat of deep sea mining. Even those that were previously in favour, like Norway and the Cook Islands, are turning away from this industry. The UK government is reviewing its sponsorship of deep sea mining exploration licences. It must focus its efforts on building further support for a global moratorium. We must not let this industry destroy unique marine life, not in the Clarion Clipperton Zone, the Arctic or anywhere.”

Ends

Contact: 

Alexandra Sedgwick, Greenpeace UK press officer, +44 7739 963 301, alexandra.sedgwick@greenpeace.org 

Editors’ notes: 

BBC News – ‘Deep-sea mining tests impact over a third of seabed animals – scientists’ 

A recent study by scientists at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa and published in the journal Nature Communications found that the sediment plumes caused by deep sea mining operations can disrupt marine life in the water column. It found evidence that the murky plume produced by mining operations dilutes the organic-rich food normally consumed by tiny drifting animals like zooplankton. Researchers warn that this could harm over half of these critical small organisms, potentially causing system-wide disruptions that impact bigger creatures.

BBC News – ‘Oxygen discovery defies knowledge of the deep ocean’ 

EE News – ‘Scientists, deep-sea miner spar over ‘dark oxygen’ discovery’

France 24 – ‘’Significant declines’ in some species after deep-sea mining: research’ 

Forbes – ‘Deep-Sea Mining Could Push Sharks and Rays Closer To Extinction’

British Geological Survey – ‘New study reveals long-term effects of deep-sea mining and first signs of biological recovery’ 

University of Exeter – ‘Deep-sea mining could harm remote ocean ecosystems’

Source: Amnesty International –

Reacting to today’s vote by the Faroese parliament (the ‘Lagtinget’/‘Løgting’) to amend the law to permit access to abortion on request up until the end of the twelfth week of pregnancy, Turið Maria, Director of Amnesty International Faroe Islands said:    

“Today’s vote amending the Faroe Islands’ deeply outdated and restrictive abortion law is an important step towards ensuring the provision of safe and legal abortion.    

Whilst today’s vote is a positive step, the stark reality remains that those who provide or help facilitate abortion still face criminalization

“It is the result of years of tireless campaigning by activists who have fought to lift restrictions on access to abortion. These restrictions – some of the most severe in Europe -have had a devastating impact on generations of women and other people who need abortion care, endangering lives, jeopardizing health and forcing many to make costly trips abroad, mostly to Denmark. 

“Whilst today’s vote is a positive step, the stark reality remains that those who provide or help facilitate abortion still face criminalization. Decriminalizing abortion is essential to ensuring all people who need abortion services, as well as abortion providers, activists and advocates, are not threatened with criminal or other punitive sanctions for accessing, assisting someone to access, or delivering abortion services.”   

Background    

Faroe Islands are a self-governing autonomous territory within Denmark.    

The new abortion law will replace the 1956 Abortion Act that allowed abortions only in cases of rape or incest, life or health of the pregnant woman, foetus impairment or social grounds.   

Today’s vote saw MPs voting in favour of the law follows a first vote in parliament on 3 December which passed, 17 votes to 16.   

For more information contact [email protected] or Turið Maria Jóhansdóttir at [email protected]   

    

Source: Greenpeace Statement –

Lokolama — 4 December 2025. Greenpeace Africa has completed a community training exchange on agroecology and beekeeping in Lokolama, Equateur Province, bringing together Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLCs) from the villages of Lokolama and Penzele. The initiative aims to advance food sovereignty, increase climate resilience, and safeguard the Congo Basin’s forests and peatlands — some of the world’s most essential carbon stores.

This hands-on training deepened a collaboration first established in April during a community experience-sharing workshop. With growing interest from local leaders and community members, the sessions focused on developing sustainable livelihood strategies rooted in Indigenous knowledge and ecological practices.

Agroecology Training: Strengthening Food Sovereignty

Participants received practical and theoretical training in agroecology, enhancing their understanding of sustainable agriculture, soil protection, and climate-resilient farming techniques. These skills aim to reduce community dependence on forest resources while improving food security.

Despite challenges — including limited training time and difficulties accessing quality seeds — the session succeeded in reinforcing community capacity and motivation for ecological farming.

Beekeeping: A Pathway to Income Diversification and Forest Protection

The beekeeping component, facilitated by local experts, combined traditional Indigenous knowledge with modern sustainable techniques. Participants engaged in:

• theoretical sessions on hive construction, site selection, and seasonal dynamics,
• practical construction of 20 community beehives,
• installation of two experimental beekeeping sites (10 hives per village).

This initiative will serve as a local training hub, ensuring that skills are passed on within the community and providing a long-term source of income while reducing pressure on forest ecosystems.

Women’s participation was strongly encouraged despite the physical nature of the activities — an important step in strengthening gender inclusion within local forest governance.

A Model of Community-Led Climate Solutions

Greenpeace Africa emphasizes that supporting Indigenous and local communities is fundamental to protecting the Congo Basin. Through agroecology and beekeeping, communities are equipped to take concrete action in defense of their forests while securing sustainable livelihoods.

This participatory training was “highly appreciated by the communities and marks an important step in promoting local forest solutions and strengthening self-determination,” according to the field report.

A total of 20 participants took part in the training, with strong representation from young people and women.

Next Steps

To consolidate progress, Greenpeace Africa recommends:

• a follow-up mission by February 2026 to assess hive colonization and honey harvesting timelines,
• a second phase of training on honey extraction, packaging and commercialization,
• support for community governance structures to manage local forest concessions,
• more time on the ground for monitoring and mentorship.

END

Contact:

Raphael Mavambu, Communication and Media, [email protected], Greenpeace Africa

Source: Amnesty International –

Florida’s ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ found to operate in inhuman, unsanitary, and unregulated conditions

Krome detention centre plagued by overcrowding, medical neglect, and violent abuse

‘These findings confirm a deliberate system built to punish, dehumanise, and hide the suffering of people in detention’ – Ana Piquer

Amnesty International today released a new report exposing cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment at two immigration detention centres in Florida: the Everglades Detention Facility (“Alligator Alcatraz”) and the Krome North Service Processing Center.

The 61-page report – Torture and enforced disappearances in the Sunshine State: Human rights violations at “Alligator Alcatraz” and Krome in Florida – reveals human rights violations that, in some cases amount to torture, occurring at Krome and “Alligator Alcatraz” within an increasingly hostile anti-immigrant climate in Florida under Governor Ron DeSantis, whose administration has intensified criminalisation and mass detention of migrants and people seeking safety. Findings were gathered during a September 2025 research mission. 

“Alligator Alcatraz”: a Florida State-run human rights disaster 

The research concluded that people arbitrarily detained in “Alligator Alcatraz” are living in inhuman and unsanitary conditions including overflowing toilets with fecal matter seeping into where people are sleeping, limited access to showers, exposure to insects without protective measures, lights on 24-hours-a-day, poor quality food and water, and lack of privacy – including cameras above the toilets.  

People interviewed shared that access to medical care is inconsistent, inadequate, or denied all together, placing individuals at serious risk of physical and mental harm. People reported being always shackled when they were outside their cell. Other treatment which those detained have endured amounts to torture, including being put in “the box”, a 2×2 foot cage-like structure as punishment – sometimes for hours at a time, exposed to the elements with hardly any water – with their hands and feet attached to restraints on the ground.  

“Alligator Alcatraz” operates outside federal oversight, without the basic registration or tracking systems used in ICE facilities constituting enforced disappearances when the whereabouts of a person being detained there is denied to their family, and they are not allowed to contact their lawyer.   

Krome: overcrowded, chaotic, and dangerous 

At ICE’s Krome Detention Center, operated by a private for-profit company, the research confirmed that despite having medical facilities on site, those detained reported serious medical negligence including failure to provide treatments and medical assessments. People detained at Krome confirmed previous reports of human rights violations. For example, there were reports of overcrowding, prolonged and arbitrary solitary confinement, lack of adequate medical care, overflowing toilets, lack of access to showers, constant illumination, and broken air conditioning.  

People shared stories of violence and ill-treatment from guards. Amnesty staffers witnessed a guard violently slam a metal flap of a door to a solitary confinement room against a man’s injured hand. Other people reported being hit and punched by guards. People also reported difficulty in accessing counsel and not knowing how long they would be detained nor what would happen next. 

“Everybody who’s in a detention facility is suffering”: immigration enforcement and detention in Florida 

In February, Florida passed extreme and discriminatory immigration laws that are putting immigrant communities at grave risk. The expansion of 287(g) agreements that deputise local law enforcement to act as immigration officials and detain people for immigration purposes have led to wrongful arrests, racial profiling, and widespread fear that prevents families from accessing schools, hospitals, and other essential services. 

Florida has become a testing ground for abusive immigration enforcement policies, closely aligned with the Trump administration’s anti-immigrant and racist agenda. Under Governor Ron DeSantis, the state has intensified the criminalisation of migration and relied on sweeping emergency powers to rapidly scale up mass detention. Since January 2005, Florida has increased the number of people in immigrant detention by more than 50 percent. Between June and August this year alone, the state issued 34 no-bid contracts totalling more than US$360 million for “Alligator Alcatraz”, with annual operating costs projected at US$450 million – all while cutting billions from essential health, food security, emergency response, and housing programmes.  

Immigration detention in the United States has a long record of abuses. President Trump has increased its use by nearly 70% since his first term, while conditions in detention have sharply deteriorated. Of the at least 24 people who have died in ICE custody since October 2024, six deaths occurred in Florida facilities, including four at Krome.  

Urgent Reforms Needed in Florida and Federal Immigration Detention

Amnesty is calling on both the government of Florida and the US government to address systemic human rights violations within immigration detention facilities. Amnesty urges Florida officials to close Alligator Alcatraz and to prohibit the use of any state-run immigration detention. The state must end the misuse of emergency powers, halt all no-bid procurement, and redirect detention funding towards essential health care, housing, and disaster-relief programmes. The recommendations also include banning shackling, solitary confinement, and punitive outdoor confinement; ensuring confidential access to legal counsel and interpretation services; conducting transparent and independent investigations into torture and medical neglect; and establishing meaningful, independent oversight for all detention facilities. 

At the federal level, the US government must end its cruel mass immigration detention machine, stop the criminalisation of migration, and bar the use of state-owned facilities for federal immigration custody. The US government must ensure thorough investigations into all deaths, allegations of torture in custody and other abuses, and comply with international human rights standards. Also, the federal government must undertake a comprehensive review of ICE contracts with state and private actors to ensure human rights compliance, the restoration of protections for “sensitive locations” such as schools, hospitals, and churches, and increased federal funding to support universal legal representation and interpretation services in immigration proceedings. 

Ana Piquer, Amnesty International’s Director for the Americas, said:

“These findings confirm a deliberate system built to punish, dehumanise, and hide the suffering of people in detention.

“Immigration enforcement cannot operate outside the rule of law or exempt itself from human rights standards. What we are seeing in Florida should alarm the entire region.

“These despicable and nauseating conditions at Alligator Alcatraz reflect a pattern of deliberate neglect designed to dehumanise and punish those detained there. Krome’s extreme overcrowding, medical neglect, and reports of humiliating and degrading treatment paint a picture of harrowing human right violations.

“The choice to prioritise punishment, dehumanisation and cruelty over public welfare is as shortsighted as it is appalling. The conditions we documented at Alligator Alcatraz and Krome are not isolated – instead they represent a deliberate system of cruelty designed to punish people seeking to build a new life in the US.

“We must stop detaining our immigrant community members and people seeking safety and instead work towards humane, rights-respecting migration policies.” 

Source: Amnesty International –

Amnesty International today released a new report documenting cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment at two immigration detention centers in Florida: The Everglades Detention Facility (“Alligator Alcatraz”) and the Krome North Service Processing Center (Krome).  

The report, Torture and enforced disappearances in the Sunshine State: Human rights violations at “Alligator Alcatraz” and Krome in Florida, reveals human rights violations that, in some cases amount to torture, occurring at Krome and “Alligator Alcatraz” within an increasingly hostile anti-immigrant climate in Florida under Governor Ron DeSantis, whose administration has intensified criminalization and mass detention of migrants and people seeking safety. Findings were gathered during a September 2025 research mission. 

“These findings confirm a deliberate system built to punish, dehumanize, and hide the suffering of people in detention,” said Ana Piquer, Amnesty International’s Regional Director for the Americas. “Immigration enforcement cannot operate outside the rule of law or exempt itself from human rights standards. What we are seeing in Florida should alarm the entire region.” 

These findings confirm a deliberate system built to punish, dehumanize, and hide the suffering of people in detention”.

Ana Piquer, Amnesty International’s Regional Director for the Americas.