On the anniversary of the 1976 military coup, Argentines push back against leaders revising history

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina — As Argentina on Sunday marked the most traumatic date in its modern history — the 1976 military coup that ushered in a brutal dictatorship — President Javier Milei posted a startling video that demanded justice. Not for those who suffered repression under the junta, but for those victims of leftist guerrillas … Read more

Chevron manager jailed in Venezuela amid crackdown on government critics

MIAMI — A former fighter pilot jailed in Venezuela in February for his ties to a prominent human rights attorney is an employee of U.S. oil firm Chevron, The Associated Press has learned, an arrest that combined with other recent repressive acts by Nicolás Maduro’s government is straining efforts by the Biden administration to pave … Read more

Human rights experts decry new evidence of torture of Ukrainian POWs by Russia

GENEVA — U.N.-backed human rights experts said Friday they have gathered new evidence of “horrific” torture of Ukrainian prisoners of war by their Russian jailers, saying such practices could amount to war crimes. The Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine said human rights violations have been widespread since Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered his troops to … Read more

Who are the Russian dissidents still serving time after Alexei Navalny died behind bars?

TALLINN, Estonia — Russian President Vladimir Putin is expected to secure his fifth term in power this month on the heels of opposition leader Alexei Navalny’s death in prison, which devastated Kremlin critics and spurred concerns about the safety of other imprisoned dissidents. Putin has gone from tolerating dissent to suppressing anyone who dared challenge … Read more

How Putin’s crackdown on dissent became the hallmark of the Russian leader’s 24 years in power

TALLINN, Estonia — When charismatic opposition leader Boris Nemtsov was gunned down on a bridge near the Kremlin in February 2015, more than 50,000 Muscovites expressed their shock and outrage the next day at the brazen assassination. Police stood aside as they rallied and chanted anti-government slogans. Nine years later, stunned and angry Russians streamed … Read more

UN rights chief urges end to ‘repression’ of independent voices in Russia after Navalny’s death

GENEVA — The U.N. human rights chief called Monday for a quick end to the “repression of independent voices” in Russia and expressed concerns about the “persecution” of opposition leader Alexei Navalny, who died in prison last month. Volker Türk, in a wide-ranging speech, also lamented dozens of conflicts around the world, widespread violations of … Read more

Violence and rights abuses threaten South Sudan’s stability, a UN report warns

JUBA, South Sudan — Mass violence and gross human rights violations in South Sudan continue unabated ahead of landmark elections due to take place in December, a report by the UN Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan has warned. Patterns of violence, violations and entrenched impunity continue to blight the lives of an extremely … Read more

Indonesia’s likely next president made 4-star general despite links to alleged human rights abuses

JAKARTA, Indonesia — Indonesian President Joko Widodo on Wednesday awarded an honorary four-star general rank to Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto, a former high-ranking army officer who is linked to human rights abuses and who emerged as the apparent winner of the Feb. 14 presidential election. Widodo gave the honorary promotion to Subianto, 72, in front … Read more

Warlord involved in hundreds of murders sent to Colombia after serving drug sentence in the US

BOGOTA, Colombia — Colombian warlord Salvatore Mancuso was sent to his native country Tuesday after serving a drug trafficking sentence in the United States and being denied several requests to be sent to Italy, where he also has citizenship. Mancuso arrived in Bogota’s El Dorado Airport on a charter flight that also carried dozens of … Read more

Russia seeks to imprison veteran rights advocate for nearly 3 years over Ukraine war criticism

The Russian authorities on Monday sought a prison sentence of nearly three years for a veteran human rights advocate who spoke out against the war in Ukraine. The prosecution demanded that Oleg Orlov, 70, be convicted of “repeatedly discrediting” the Russian army and sentenced to two years and 11 months in prison, in a retrial … Read more