Mihra Rittmann
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mihrarittmann.bsky.social
Mihra Rittmann
@mihrarittmann.bsky.social
Senior Central Asia Researcher / Human Rights Watch
Reposted by Mihra Rittmann
At a time when saving water has become a matter of vital importance in Uzbekistan, it is no less crucial to monitor how the allocated funds are used.
Uzbekistan’s Water Crisis Spells Debts for Farmers
At a time when saving water has become a matter of vital importance, it is no less crucial to monitor how the allocated funds are used.
buff.ly
November 2, 2025 at 11:29 AM
Central Asia-US Summit: Address Region’s Growing Repression
Human Rights Should be Key to Economic, Security Ties

www.hrw.org/news/2025/11...
Central Asia-US Summit: Address Region’s Growing Repression
(Berlin, November 3, 2025) – Governments attending the Central Asia-US summit on November 6, 2025, should focus on improving their human rights records amid discussions of economic and security cooper...
www.hrw.org
November 3, 2025 at 2:42 PM
#Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev will pay a high-level visit to Brussels on October 24, 2025, to sign a partnership deal with the EU, but the EU has missed an important opportunity to bring about positive change, says @hrw.org.

www.hrw.org/news/2025/10...
EU to Sign Uzbekistan Partnership Deal Despite Rights Abuses
(Brussels, October 22, 2025) - Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev will pay a high-level visit to Brussels on October 24, 2025 to sign a partnership deal with the EU setting out a new stage of c...
www.hrw.org
October 22, 2025 at 1:22 PM
Reposted by Mihra Rittmann
🧵 As #EU governments prepare to meet amid a fragile #Gaza ceasefire, pressure is mounting for them to "drop the stick" they never used on #Israel

Caving to that pressure would be yet another blow to their credibility, and to hopes for rights and justice: hrw.org/news/2025/10... #EUCO #FAC ⤵️ 1/7
Ceasefire or Not, EU Should Keep Pressure on Israel to End Abuses
As European Union leaders and foreign ministers prepare for meetings to discuss the situation in Israel and Palestine, some of their representatives in Brussels, and Israel’s new ambassador to the EU,...
hrw.org
October 17, 2025 at 8:40 AM
Reposted by Mihra Rittmann
HRW's Europe & Central Asia division is hiring an associate to work in Brussels or Berlin to support our work in the region. If you're a recent grad, interested in human rights, have admin skills, and looking for a job, check out the job announcement below:

job-boards.greenhouse.io/humanrightsw...
Associate, Europe and Central Asia
Multiple Locations Considered
job-boards.greenhouse.io
September 19, 2025 at 8:32 AM
Reposted by Mihra Rittmann
Man-made starvation, bombardment & gunfire around flawed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation facilities, but also enforced disappearances of civilians - @UN_SPExperts report.

Int'l community's and EU's inaction only enables #Israel army's abhorrent crimes.

www.ohchr.org/en/press-rel...
August 28, 2025 at 11:55 AM
Was privileged to share the waters with them over the weekend!

Ukrainian war veterans, some amputees, swim Istanbul’s Bosphorus on Ukraine’s independence day

www.latimes.com/world-nation...
Ukrainian war veterans, some amputees, swim Istanbul's Bosphorus on Ukraine's independence day
On Monday, Coast guard and maritime police vessels in Istanbul were searching for a Russian swimmer who went missing during the race, Turkish state-run media reported.
www.latimes.com
August 26, 2025 at 11:46 AM
Reposted by Mihra Rittmann
#Kazakhstan 🇰🇿 @rsf-interfr.bsky.social condemns the refusal to renew accreditation for seven @rferl.org.web.brid.gy
Kazakh journalists: "The judiciary is endorsing a cynical legal sleight of hand aimed at hindering the work of RFE/RL's local bureau". buff.ly/ONRuU4s
August 26, 2025 at 11:02 AM
#Kazakhstan: Instead of penalizing Bakhytzhan Toregozhina for her human rights work, Kazakh authorities shld recognize her posts for what they are: an important public record of rights violations in Kazakhstan that the government itself should be working to address.

www.hrw.org/news/2025/08...
Kazakhstan Tries to Shoot the Messenger
On August 17, police in Kazakhstan detained veteran human rights defender Bakhytzhan Toregozhina and held her for several hours apparently in connection to a criminal investigation on charges of parti...
www.hrw.org
August 21, 2025 at 5:47 AM
Kyrgyzstan: Rights Defender on Trial After Publishing Activist’s Letter
www.hrw.org/news/2025/08...
Kyrgyzstan: Rights Defender on Trial After Publishing Activist’s Letter
The trial of a Kyrgyz human rights defender who published a letter from a political activist on her Facebook page is scheduled to start on August 15, 2025.
www.hrw.org
August 15, 2025 at 8:40 AM
Reposted by Mihra Rittmann
The draft media law has been in the works since 2022 and has been criticized by journalists, civil society, and human rights organizations from the outset.
Kyrgyzstan adopts new, draconian media law
The draft media law has been in the works since 2022 and has been criticized by journalists, civil society, and human rights organizations from the outset.
globalvoices.org
August 14, 2025 at 12:00 PM
Reposted by Mihra Rittmann
European leaders should make clear to Trump that release & return of 1000s civilians, including children, protection of civilians & accountability for war-time crimes should be at center of his meeting w/ Putin.

Read @HRW Rachel Denber's take 👇
www.hrw.org/news/2025/08... @vonderleyen.ec.europa.eu
Trump-Putin Meeting Sidelines Civilian Protection, Justice
United States President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin will meet in Alaska on August 15, reportedly to discuss ending Russia’s war in Ukraine.
www.hrw.org
August 13, 2025 at 7:19 AM
Reposted by Mihra Rittmann
Activists up in arms as plans to build at Bozzhyra in west #Kazakhstan resurface (company linked to Azeri ruling family, controversially given construction contract at Charvak in #Uzbekistan). Development at Kok Zhaylau near Almaty also back on agenda
vlast.kz/obsshestvo/6...
«Отсутствие большой гостиницы в Бозжыре не мешает развивать туризм» - Аналитический интернет-журнал Власть
Сразу два противоречивых проекта застройки природных мест, ранее замороженных после общественного резонанса, вновь вернулись в повестку: сначала Кок Жайлау в Алматы, теперь Бозжыра в Мангистау. Пять ...
vlast.kz
August 11, 2025 at 11:32 AM
Human rights defender from #Kazakhstan Bakhytzhan Toregozhina fined for social media post via Front Line Defenders

www.frontlinedefenders.org/en/case/bakh...
Bakhytzhan Toregozhina fined for social media post
www.frontlinedefenders.org
August 5, 2025 at 4:45 PM
#Kazakhstan's Mining Industry Sees Growing Abuse
A new report highlights growing allegations of violations of labor and environmental laws

vlast.kz/english/6578...
Kazakhstan's Mining Industry Sees Growing Abuse - Аналитический интернет-журнал Власть
Читайте этот материал на русском.
vlast.kz
August 1, 2025 at 3:05 PM
Kazakhstani Human Rights Activist Found Guilty of Spreading Disinformation
Bakhytzhan Toregozhina has been outspoken in her support of political prisoners

vlast.kz/english/6588...
Kazakhstani Human Rights Lawyer Found Guilty of Spreading Disinformation - Аналитический интернет-журнал Власть
Последние новости Алматы и Казахстана от интернет-журнала Власть. Новостной портал со своим мнением. Будьте в курсе событий!
vlast.kz
August 1, 2025 at 3:04 PM
Reposted by Mihra Rittmann
🚨 Israeli forces have killed hundreds of starving Palestinians seeking food in Gaza. These are not isolated incidents; these are war crimes. Our latest investigation lays out the evidence. #Gaza #WarCrimes
🔗 www.hrw.org/news/2025/08...
August 1, 2025 at 4:41 AM
Would love to see such a victory in Central Asia too, in either (both!) Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan, countries that continue to criminalize same-sex relations between men.
In a landmark victory, Saint Lucia has decriminalized consensual same-sex conduct.

The decision strikes down laws that criminalized intimacy between same-sex partners, which are discriminatory and inconsistent with international human rights standards.
Saint Lucia High Court Decriminalizes Same-Sex Conduct
In a landmark victory for human rights, Saint Lucia has decriminalized consensual same-sex conduct. The High Court’s decision strikes down laws that criminalized intimacy between same-sex partners, wh...
www.hrw.org
July 31, 2025 at 7:57 PM
Reposted by Mihra Rittmann
Our @nikolamikovic.bsky.social observes that Ukraine intensifies diplomatic efforts in Central Asia, seeking support amid war with Russia, but faces economic and logistical challenges timesca.com/ukraine-eyes... #Ukraine #CentralAsia #Diplomacy #Geopolitics
Ukraine Eyes Central Asia: Can War-Weary Kyiv Forge New Regional Alliances? - The Times Of Central Asia
Despite the ongoing war with Russia, Ukraine is attempting to intensify its diplomatic and economic ties with Central Asia. Kyiv is seeking the region’s de
timesca.com
July 31, 2025 at 9:01 AM
Reposted by Mihra Rittmann
Tune in to Turan Tales, where I talked to @aga-pik.bsky.social about the long shadow Nazarbayev casts over #Kazakhstan even six years after he stepped down as president after 30 years in power substack.com/@turantales/no…
https://substack.com/@turantales/no…
July 31, 2025 at 9:40 AM
Reposted by Mihra Rittmann
Motherfucking wind farms…
July 30, 2025 at 5:02 PM
During its 102nd session in April 2025, the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention issued Opinion 18/2025 concerning the detention of Mr. Marat Zhylanbaev (Kazakhstan), finds Zhylanbaev's detention arbitrary & says appropriate remedy is to "release Zhylanbaev immediately."
ohchr.org/sites/defaul...
ohchr.org
July 30, 2025 at 4:39 PM
#Kazakhstan is prosecuting the rights defender Bakhytzhan Toregozhina on administrative charges of "disseminating false information" in connection w/ her FB post(s) abt Marat Zhylanbaev, a political opposition activist serving an unfounded 7 yr prison term, whose health has deteriorated in prison.
July 30, 2025 at 2:58 PM