A/HRC/23/51 - Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights

Date
Type
Case No
Country Mandate(s) Summary <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> allegation transmitted Reply
21/01/2013
JAL
RUS 1/2013
Russian
Federation
Freedom <strong>of</strong>
expression; Freedom
<strong>of</strong> peaceful assembly
and <strong>of</strong> association;
Human rights
defenders;
Allegations <strong>of</strong> repeated undue restrictions related to <strong>the</strong> right to freedom <strong>of</strong>
peaceful assembly and <strong>of</strong> association affecting mostly human rights
defenders and activists. According to <strong>the</strong> information received, on 13
November 2012, a demonstration <strong>of</strong> about 15 participants took place in
Saint Petersburg. Reportedly, when <strong>the</strong> assembly ended, its organizer Mr.
Andrey Yakimov, was arrested by <strong>the</strong> police and charged for organizing an
assembly ―exceeding <strong>the</strong> number <strong>of</strong> participants initially planned for <strong>the</strong>
rally‖, although he had reportedly indicated in his request that he expected
<strong>the</strong> participation <strong>of</strong> about 20 participants. At <strong>the</strong> end <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> assembly, Mr.
Vitaliy Leonov, one <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> participants, was also arrested and accused <strong>of</strong>
‗disobedience‘ after he had tried to prevent police from destroying some
pictures and flowers put down by demonstrators. It is reported that Mr.
Yakimov was acquitted on 21 January 2013. On 19 December 2012 police
<strong>of</strong>ficers reportedly carried out searches in <strong>the</strong> Human Rights House <strong>of</strong>
Voronezh. They reportedly briefly handed to some employees <strong>of</strong> one
organization targeted a warrant to enter all NGOs‘ <strong>of</strong>fices, but refused
<strong>the</strong>reafter to present it again to representatives <strong>of</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r organizations subject
to <strong>the</strong> search. On <strong>the</strong> same day, <strong>the</strong> apartment <strong>of</strong> Ms. Natalia Zvyagina, a
human rights activist, was also searched. On 2 January 2013, Mr. Alexey
Kozlov, a human rights and environmental activist from Voronezh, received
two threatening anonymous phone calls. On 12 January 2013, Mr. Vitaly
Ponomarev, head <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Central Asia programme <strong>of</strong> Human Rights Centre
(<strong>HRC</strong>) Memorial, received several anonymous death threats through
electronic mail.
18/03/2013
49
22/01/2013
JAL
IRN 29/2012
Iran (Islamic
Republic <strong>of</strong>)
Adequate housing;
Internally displaced
persons; Minority
issues;
Alleged lack <strong>of</strong> adequate housing for a large number <strong>of</strong> victims <strong>of</strong> an
earthquake that shook north-western Iran on 11 August 2012. According to
<strong>the</strong> information received, a large number <strong>of</strong> people still lived under tents
over four months after an earthquake shook north-western Iran, East
Azerbaijan province, on 11 August 2012. At least 399 villages were affected
by <strong>the</strong> earthquake. Over 100,000 persons - mostly ethnic Azerbaijani Turks
- were reportedly <strong>of</strong>fered shelter in <strong>the</strong> weeks following <strong>the</strong> earthquake. As
winter settled, many <strong>of</strong> those affected were reportedly still living under
tents, unprotected from <strong>the</strong> cold. The extent <strong>of</strong> Government support to those
affected, in particular housing reconstruction, is unclear and has been
reported to be slow.
A/<strong>HRC</strong>/<strong>23</strong>/<strong>51</strong>