All articles tagged with #government repression
Following a disputed election in Tanzania, security forces reportedly used lethal force against protesters, leading to numerous deaths, abductions, and a crackdown reminiscent of authoritarian regimes, with international concern and calls for investigations.
In St. Petersburg, 18-year-old street musicians Diana Loginova and Alexander Orlov have been detained for the third time in a month for performing anti-war songs and organizing unsanctioned gatherings, facing charges including discrediting the Russian military, amid ongoing government repression of dissenting voices.
The U.S. State Department has released significantly shortened and less detailed human rights reports, removing many categories of violations and reducing the scope of documented abuses, which critics say undermines transparency and accountability in foreign human rights practices.
The director of the Miss Nicaragua pageant, Karen Celebertti, is wanted for arrest by Nicaraguan police on charges of rigging contests to ensure that anti-government beauty queens would win, as part of a plot to overthrow the government. The charges stem from the participation of Miss Nicaragua, Sheynnis Palacios, in the 2018 anti-government protests. The government of President Daniel Ortega, who claimed the protests were a coup attempt, was initially pleased with Palacios' win at the Miss Universe competition but turned sour when her involvement in the protests was revealed. The government has cracked down on opposition groups and individuals, closing universities and arresting and expelling opponents. Celebertti's son and husband have reportedly been taken into custody, while she remains at large.
Nicaragua's government initially celebrated the victory of Miss Nicaragua Sheynnis Palacios in the Miss Universe competition, but their joy turned to anger when it was revealed that Palacios had participated in protests against the regime in 2018. Ordinary Nicaraguans, who are largely forbidden from protesting, took the opportunity to celebrate in the streets using the national flag, which angered the government. The opposition hailed Palacios' win as a victory, while the government condemned it as an attempt to undermine their regime. Nicaragua has been marked by government repression, with thousands fleeing into exile and the closure of universities and civic groups.