Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Human Rights Foundation (HRF) @hrf.org · 30m

HRF calls for the lawyers’ unconditional and immediate release. Representing a political prisoner should never be a criminal offense.

Human Rights Foundation (HRF) @hrf.org · 30m

These three are now serving a prison sentence of an average of four years and eight months for defending Navalny. After an unsuccessful appeal, they will soon be transferred to a Russian penal colony, where conditions are known to be extremely harsh.

1

Human Rights Foundation (HRF) @hrf.org · 30m

The three men ensured Navalny had access to legal representation at a time of urgent need. They tirelessly advocated for better prison conditions for him, including challenging actions by the regime aimed at isolating him.

1

Human Rights Foundation (HRF) @hrf.org · 30m

In the early morning of Oct. 13, 2023, officials from Russia’s special forces unit and National Guard entered the homes of Sergunin and Lipster to arrest them. Kobzev was arrested near the penal colony, where Navalny was serving his sentence.

1

Human Rights Foundation (HRF) @hrf.org · 30m

Two years ago, Russian lawyers Vadim Kobzev, Alexei Liptser, and Igor Sergunin were arrested for defending the late opposition leader Alexei Navalny.

1 1

Human Rights Foundation (HRF) @hrf.org · 3d

Chakwera’s decision to concede allowed the country to avoid a political crisis as in 2019, when Malawi's Constitutional Court annulled the election based on evidence of large-scale fraud in favor of Mutharika, prompting a court-ordered rerun in 2020. www.nytimes.com/2025/09/24/w...

Malawi President Concedes Election to His Predecessor

www.nytimes.com

1

Human Rights Foundation (HRF) @hrf.org · 3d

Reports of irregularities and accusations of vote tampering tainted the vote; however, it is not clear to what extent the alleged manipulation would have changed the outcome, particularly given Chakwera’s unpopularity due to worsening economic conditions. www.france24.com/en/live-news...

Malawi ruling party claims tampering in vote count

Malawi's ruling party claimed on Friday that it had discovered irregularities in the vote count in nearly half the country's districts after this week's elections, while police announced the arrests…

www.france24.com

1

Human Rights Foundation (HRF) @hrf.org · 3d

Malawi’s Sept. 16 presidential election polls took place in a calm and orderly environment, with Mutharika winning in a landslide against incumbent Lazarus Chakwera in a rematch of the 2020 polls in which Chakwera had unseated Mutharika in a similar landslide. www.bbc.com/news/article...

Peter Mutharika defeats Lazarus Chakwera in Malawi election, commission declares

Peter Mutharika defeated the incumbent, Lazarus Chakwera, the election commission announces.

www.bbc.com

1

Human Rights Foundation (HRF) @hrf.org · 3d

HRF applauds Malawi's fourth handover of power as Peter Mutharika was sworn in last week. But Malawians must remain vigilant; Mutharika is a former ruler with a record tainted by repression, electoral fraud, and graft accusations.

1

Human Rights Foundation (HRF) @hrf.org · 3d

Today’s recognition underscores the extraordinary courage of those who continue to fight for democracy in one of the world’s most repressive environments.

Human Rights Foundation (HRF) @hrf.org · 3d

For 20 years, HRF has worked to amplify Venezuelan voices of dissent, expose human rights abuses by the Maduro regime, and connect leaders like Machado with global allies in the struggle for freedom.

1

Human Rights Foundation (HRF) @hrf.org · 3d

HRF has long stood in solidarity with Machado and the Venezuelan people. In 2024, Machado addressed the @oslofreedomforum.com via video message in a live conversation, urging the international community to support Venezuela ahead of the July 2024 elections. www.youtube.com/watch?v=tnAH...

María Corina Machado in Conversation with Thor Halvorssen

YouTube video by Oslo Freedom Forum

www.youtube.com

1

Human Rights Foundation (HRF) @hrf.org · 3d

HRF celebrates today’s announcement that Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado has been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for her decades-long commitment to freedom, democracy, and human dignity in Venezuela.

1 1 4

Human Rights Foundation (HRF) @hrf.org · 4d

Polepole, a member of the ruling CCM, resigned as Tanzanian ambassador to Cuba in July and has since railed against President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s legitimacy as the party’s presidential candidate and accused her of authoritarianism and corruption. www.theafricareport.com/389592/tanza...

Tanzania: Samia strips Polepole of diplomatic status amid widening CCM rift - The Africa Report.com

The former ambassador has accused President Samia Suluhu of enabling state capture and unconstitutional leadership.

www.theafricareport.com

Human Rights Foundation (HRF) @hrf.org · 4d

Police say they have opened an investigation. www.bbc.com/news/article...

Humphrey Polepole: Tanzania's ex-ambassador and government critic abducted, family says

His brother says he found the door to the house broken and a large amount of blood spilled.

www.bbc.com

1

Human Rights Foundation (HRF) @hrf.org · 4d

Unknown assailants suspected to be Tanzanian security agents forcefully seized Polepole, a former diplomat, from his home in Dar es Salaam in the early hours of Oct. 6. Family members found the home ransacked, signs of forced entry, and a trail of bloodstains from the sitting room to the gate.

1

Human Rights Foundation (HRF) @hrf.org · 4d

HRF condemns the abduction and forcible disappearance since Oct. 6 of Tanzanian regime critic Humphrey Polepole, amid ongoing repression against critics of President Samia Suluhu Hassan ahead of the Oct. 29 elections.

1 1 1

Human Rights Foundation (HRF) @hrf.org · 4d

Hong Kong’s film censorship is an example of how authoritarians extend their “rule-by-law” control into pop culture to normalize self-censorship and accelerate the erosion of fundamental freedoms.

Human Rights Foundation (HRF) @hrf.org · 4d

Of the 104, 50 were modified due to “national security” concerns. Thirteen titles were banned from screening. hongkongfp.com/2025/10/08/h...

HK bars 13 films from screening on nat. sec grounds since 2021 censorship law

A total of 50 films have been required to be edited, and 13 titles have not been approved for screening on national security grounds since HK amended the Film Censorship Ordinance in 2021, according t...

hongkongfp.com

1

Human Rights Foundation (HRF) @hrf.org · 4d

According to a local newspaper, more than 39,000 films have been submitted for review since 2021. Only 104 were reportedly allowed to be screened after content edits.

1

Human Rights Foundation (HRF) @hrf.org · 4d

The government can demand content removals, revoke approvals retroactively, and conduct warrantless searches.

1

Human Rights Foundation (HRF) @hrf.org · 4d

The ordinance was last amended in October 2021 to include national security clauses, mandating all films to be reviewed and approved by the Office for Film, Newspaper, and Article Administration (OFNAA) before public screenings.

1

Human Rights Foundation (HRF) @hrf.org · 4d

HRF expresses concern surrounding the Hong Kong government’s use of the amended Film Censorship Ordinance to suppress freedom of expression. HRF calls for transparency in censorship decisions and urges an independent audit of how “national security” assessments are made.

1 2

Human Rights Foundation (HRF) @hrf.org · 4d

In August 2024, Kenya’s regime abducted and forcibly disappeared Njagi for 32 days in retaliation for his participation in nationwide mass protests against an unpopular tax bill. khrc.or.ke/press-releas...

We were forcefully disappeared and tortured—but we refuse to be broken

ICC called to intervene.

khrc.or.ke

Human Rights Foundation (HRF) @hrf.org · 4d

Both activists are leaders of the Free Kenya Movement and had expressed support for Wine’s campaign to challenge dictator Yoweri Museveni’s 40-year grip on power ahead of Uganda’s January 2025 elections. www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/speci...

Two Kenyan rights activists missing after Bobi rally

Mr Rusoke said “those fellows are not in police custody. Reach out to any other [security] agency maybe, just in case”

www.monitor.co.ug

1