A Perfect Storm: Democracy on the Defensive in Trump's America
#International #World #UnitedStates #DonaldTrump #HumanRights

Coronavirus, economic collapse and now mass demonstrations for racial equality: The United States is facing a trio of deep crises․ Instead of offering leadership, President Donald Trump is exacerbating divisions and showing authoritarian tendencies․ With the presidential election still several months away, the country's health is at stake․

Poland Is Home to Over 100 "LGBT-Free" Communities
#International #Europe #Poland #Homosexuality #HumanRights

Towns and cities in eastern Poland have been mobilizing against the LGBT+ community for some time․ The culture war is an indicator of just how divided the country has become․

Paul Rusesabagina: Did the “Hotel Rwanda” Hero Become a Terrorist?
#International #World #Rwanda #Africa #HumanRights

As the manager of the Hôtel des Mille Collines in Kigali, Paul Rusesabagina saved more than a thousand people from genocide in Rwanda․ Now he’s on trial in the country on charges that he's a member of a terrorist organization․

In the Sinister Disneyland of Xinjiang: China's Ongoing Oppression of the Uighurs
#International #World #China #HumanRightsinChina #HumanRights

Western countries have accused China of genocide for its treatment of the Uighurs in Xinjiang․ Beijing claims that everything is just fine in the homeland of the Muslim minority․ We went there to take a look for ourselves․

Interview with Merkel’s Former Foreign Policy Adviser: “I Have Eliminated the ‘West’ from My Vocabulary”
#International #Germany #AngelaMerkel #TransAtlanticRelations #Russia #HumanRights #China #GermanForeignPolicy #EuropeanUnion

Christoph Heusgen served for 12 years as Angela Merkel’s top foreign policy adviser․ In an interview, he speaks about the chancellor’s successes, mistakes, the amateurish nature of Donald Trump’s government and the right approach to an ascendant China․

Interview with Osman Kavala: Arts Patron at Center of Turkish Diplomatic Dispute Speaks from Jail
#International #World #Turkey #RecepTayyipErdogan #HumanRights #CouncilofEurope

The case of Osman Kavala is causing strife between Turkey and the West․ In an interview with DER SPIEGEL, the imprisoned patron of the arts talks about the government's conspiracy theories – and his hope that he will be released early․

Belarus: How Refugees Are Getting Trapped by Alexander Lukashenko
#International #Europe #Belarus #AsylumandMigration #HumanRights #EuropeanUnion

Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko is luring refugees from the Middle East to his country with the promise they will be allowed to seek asylum in Germany․ But the borders are closed and thousands of people seeking protection are now stranded in Minsk․

Witness, Defendant, Deserter: Case in Germany Raises Questions about How to Try Assad's Atrocities
#International #World #Syria #WarCrimes #HumanRights #MiddleEast #SyrianCivilWar

The crimes committed by Bashar al-Assad's power apparatus are finally getting the legal attention they deserve as a trial for crimes against humanity in Syria comes to a close in Germany․ But there's an important hitch: The men being tried actually deserted from the regime․

Putin's Russia: Alexei Navalny Remains Unbroken after a Year in Prison
#International #World #VladimirPutin #Russia #HumanRights #HumanRightsinRussia

Alexei Navalny is locked away in one of the most notorious prisons in Russia, and it isn't clear when he might ever be released․ The Kremlin has destroyed his opposition movement, but the Putin opponent remains steadfast․ How does he do it?

Opposition Figure Describes Detention of Ugandan Writer Kakwenza Rukirabashaija
#International #World #Africa #HumanRights

Uganda's perpetual president, Yoweri Museveni, is grooming his son as his successor․ When satirical writer Kakwenza Rukirabashaija went after the scion on Twitter, he was arrested and tortured․ His opposition ally Stella Nyanzi spoke with DER SPIEGEL about the situation in her country․

The Opposition Flee from Russia: They Leave Knowing They Are Cursed Everywhere
#International #World #HumanRights #VladimirPutin #Russia #HumanRightsinRussia #Georgia #RussiasWarAgainstUkraine #Ukraine

Russia is currently experiencing the most invisible exodus in history – the mass flight of journalists, artists and programmers․ They are part of a long tradition of intellectuals who have been forced to flee from Moscow's heavy hand․

A Trio of Russia Experts Discuss Putin's War: "If Putin Does Back Off, It's Always Just a Pause"
#International #Europe #RussiasWarAgainstUkraine #Ukraine #VladimirPutin #Russia #HumanRights #WarCrimes

Kremlin experts Nina Khrushcheva, Sabine Fischer and Masha Gessen are concerned about what Vladimir Putin might do next․ They are concerned that the war in Ukraine may get even more brutal – and that Russia will be isolated for the foreseeable future․

The Russian Patient: How Much Blame Does Society Bear for Putin's War Crimes?
#International #World #RussiasWarAgainstUkraine #Russia #VladimirPutin #HumanRights #HumanRightsinRussia #Ukraine

Many Russians have fled their country as a result of Putin's invasion of Ukraine․ DER SPIEGEL reporter Timofey Neshitov, born and raised in St․ Petersburg, recently visited his fellow compatriots in exile․ A personal journey to the origin of evil․

Russian War Atrocities in Ukraine: The Torture Chambers of Balakliya
#International #World #RussiasWarAgainstUkraine #Ukraine #VladimirPutin #Russia #HumanRights

Russian troops occupied the town of Balakliya for six months, before Ukrainian troops regained control earlier this month․ During that period, say residents and investigators, torture and imprisonment of the locals was common․