Norwegian Helsinki Committee
@nhcno.bsky.social
Human rights and democracy in Europe, South Caucasus, and Central Asia.
Considering the ongoing human rights violations in Georgia and Azerbaijan, their @pace.coe.int credentials should not be renewed without strict conditions. Anything less than decisive action would undermine the Council of Europe’s standing as the continent’s foremost human rights defender.
Parliamentary credentials for Georgia and Azerbaijan should not be restored without conditions
Georgia and Azerbaijan at the Council of Europe: Parliamentary credentials should not be restored without conditions.
nhc.no
January 26, 2026 at 1:50 PM
Considering the ongoing human rights violations in Georgia and Azerbaijan, their @pace.coe.int credentials should not be renewed without strict conditions. Anything less than decisive action would undermine the Council of Europe’s standing as the continent’s foremost human rights defender.
Together with Freedom for Eurasia, the Human Rights Society of Uzbekistan “Ezgulik”, and the Uzbek Forum for Human Rights, we demand that #Uzbekistan must initiate an investigation into allegations of torture against convict Nozimjon Abdullaev and bring those responsible to justice.
Uzbekistan: Serious Torture Allegations by Convicted Prisoner Demand Immediate Investigation
We call on the Uzbek authorities to conduct a thorough investigation into the allegations of torture against convict Nozimjon Abdullaev and bring those responsible to justice.
nhc.no
January 23, 2026 at 10:46 AM
Together with Freedom for Eurasia, the Human Rights Society of Uzbekistan “Ezgulik”, and the Uzbek Forum for Human Rights, we demand that #Uzbekistan must initiate an investigation into allegations of torture against convict Nozimjon Abdullaev and bring those responsible to justice.
Ales Bialiatski is free and in Norway! We are beyond relieved and happy that our long-term friend and partner is free❤️ Yesterday, Ales made a visit to the NHC. Today, we continue the fight for freedom and democracy in Belarus, 1000+ political prisoners remain behind bars. @beritlindeman.bsky.social
January 8, 2026 at 4:05 PM
Ales Bialiatski is free and in Norway! We are beyond relieved and happy that our long-term friend and partner is free❤️ Yesterday, Ales made a visit to the NHC. Today, we continue the fight for freedom and democracy in Belarus, 1000+ political prisoners remain behind bars. @beritlindeman.bsky.social
The #EU, its members, and international institutions should increase their support for independent media and civil society in #Kyrgyzstan, while publicly condemning the imprisonment of journalists, says @beritlindeman.bsky.social and @mariusfossum.bsky.social. Read the op-ed in @euobserver.com
Why the EU should pay attention to Putin’s Kyrgyzstan visit
The size and composition of Vladimir Putin's delegation, including Roman Abramovich and the head of the Central Bank, and their red-carpet reception in Bishkek shows accelerating rapprochement between...
euobserver.com
December 18, 2025 at 4:02 PM
The #EU, its members, and international institutions should increase their support for independent media and civil society in #Kyrgyzstan, while publicly condemning the imprisonment of journalists, says @beritlindeman.bsky.social and @mariusfossum.bsky.social. Read the op-ed in @euobserver.com
Authorities in #Kazakhstan have targeted independent journalists and media outlets in recent weeks. End attacks on journalism and withdraw the bill curbing freedom of expression, says a coalition of 9 human rights groups, among them @amnesty.org, @crdefenders.bsky.social, @hrw.org, @iphr.bsky.social
Kazakhstan: Journalism, Free Expression in Further Peril
Authorities in Kazakhstan have targeted independent journalists and media outlets in recent weeks, a coalition of nine human rights groups said today. The authorities have searched the newsroom of an ...
nhc.no
December 17, 2025 at 3:33 PM
Authorities in #Kazakhstan have targeted independent journalists and media outlets in recent weeks. End attacks on journalism and withdraw the bill curbing freedom of expression, says a coalition of 9 human rights groups, among them @amnesty.org, @crdefenders.bsky.social, @hrw.org, @iphr.bsky.social
The Lukashenko regime has released 123 political prisoners. Still, hundreds remain arbitrarily detained in #Belarus. We call for the immediate and unconditional release of all political prisoners and the end of reprisals against civil society. @fidh-official.bsky.social @omctorg.bsky.social
Belarus: Release of political prisoners is a necessary but insufficient step – all arbitrarily detained human rights defenders must be released
The regime has released over a hundred political prisoners. Still, hundreds of human rights defenders remain arbitrarily detained.
nhc.no
December 16, 2025 at 2:35 PM
The Lukashenko regime has released 123 political prisoners. Still, hundreds remain arbitrarily detained in #Belarus. We call for the immediate and unconditional release of all political prisoners and the end of reprisals against civil society. @fidh-official.bsky.social @omctorg.bsky.social
Together with the #People1st - the International campaign for the release of captives held as a result of Russia’s invasion of #Ukraine - we demand that #Russia immediately disclose the whereabouts of Ukrainian citizen Snezhana Kozlova and release her without delay!
nhc.no/en/free-snez...
nhc.no/en/free-snez...
Free Snezhana - Free Ukrainian civilian hostages
We demand that the Russian Federation immediately disclose the whereabouts of Ukrainian citizen Snezhana Kozlova and release her.
nhc.no
December 16, 2025 at 9:40 AM
Together with the #People1st - the International campaign for the release of captives held as a result of Russia’s invasion of #Ukraine - we demand that #Russia immediately disclose the whereabouts of Ukrainian citizen Snezhana Kozlova and release her without delay!
nhc.no/en/free-snez...
nhc.no/en/free-snez...
We are disappointed and saddened to learn that three staff members of the @fidh-official.bsky.social, International Federation for Human Rights, a human rights umbrella organisation of which the NHC is a member, were barred from entering #Kyrgyzstan upon arrival at Manas Int. Airport in Bishkek.
Kyrgyzstan: Reverse entry ban on FIDH staff, international HRDs
Statement PDF Ilya Nuzov, Head of the Eastern Europe and Central Asia Desk, his colleague Raphael Lopoukine and one further FIDH staff member, were deported from Kyrgyzstan the same day. Border guards...
nhc.no
December 15, 2025 at 8:28 AM
We are disappointed and saddened to learn that three staff members of the @fidh-official.bsky.social, International Federation for Human Rights, a human rights umbrella organisation of which the NHC is a member, were barred from entering #Kyrgyzstan upon arrival at Manas Int. Airport in Bishkek.
Ales Bialiatski, Maria Kalesnikava, Uladzimir Labkovich and 120 other political prisoners are free🤍❤️🤍
We are beyond happy and relieved. There are still 1200 political prisoners behind bars in #Belarus, including Marfa Rabkova and Valiantsin Stefanovich. We will continue the fight for them all!
📸: AP
We are beyond happy and relieved. There are still 1200 political prisoners behind bars in #Belarus, including Marfa Rabkova and Valiantsin Stefanovich. We will continue the fight for them all!
📸: AP
December 14, 2025 at 1:02 PM
Ales Bialiatski, Maria Kalesnikava, Uladzimir Labkovich and 120 other political prisoners are free🤍❤️🤍
We are beyond happy and relieved. There are still 1200 political prisoners behind bars in #Belarus, including Marfa Rabkova and Valiantsin Stefanovich. We will continue the fight for them all!
📸: AP
We are beyond happy and relieved. There are still 1200 political prisoners behind bars in #Belarus, including Marfa Rabkova and Valiantsin Stefanovich. We will continue the fight for them all!
📸: AP
The short film “Bir Çiçek Bir Bavula Nasıl Sığar/How Does a Flower Fit in a Suitcase” is selected as finalist in the #EU Human Rights Short Film Competition. It's produced by a participant in the project implemented by our Advocate for Change grantee Nar, with our support. Congratulations! #Türkiye
December 11, 2025 at 11:01 AM
Congratulations to our Deputy Secretary General Gunnar M. Ekeløve-Slydal @ekelove.bsky.social, who has been granted the 2024 M.C. Bassiouni Justice Award 'in recognition of his insightful writings, which reflect a holistic understanding of international criminal and human rights law and practice.'
M.C. Bassiouni Justice Award to Gunnar M. Ekeløve-Slydal
Our Deputy Secretary General has been granted the 2024 M.C. Bassiouni Justice Award in recognition of his insightful writings.
nhc.no
December 4, 2025 at 11:02 AM
Congratulations to our Deputy Secretary General Gunnar M. Ekeløve-Slydal @ekelove.bsky.social, who has been granted the 2024 M.C. Bassiouni Justice Award 'in recognition of his insightful writings, which reflect a holistic understanding of international criminal and human rights law and practice.'
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya awarded our Secretary General @beritlindeman.bsky.social the Medal for Distinguished Work for the Benefit of Belarus, and Ambassador Ole Terje Horpestad the Cross of Good Neighbourhood. We have the utmost respect for her tireless work in keeping the attention on Belarus 🤍❤️🤍
Tsikhanouskaya awarded Berit Lindeman a medal for Belarus work
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya visited the NHC and awarded Berit Lindeman a medal 'For Distinguished Work for the Benefit of Belarus'.
nhc.no
December 3, 2025 at 10:26 AM
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya awarded our Secretary General @beritlindeman.bsky.social the Medal for Distinguished Work for the Benefit of Belarus, and Ambassador Ole Terje Horpestad the Cross of Good Neighbourhood. We have the utmost respect for her tireless work in keeping the attention on Belarus 🤍❤️🤍
Are you a human rights defender in Central Asia with an idea to promote human rights and democracy in your country? We are pleased to announce our Small Grants Program for Human Rights in Central Asia. We invite NGOs, civil society groups, human rights defenders, activists, and journalists to apply.
Small Grants Programme for Central Asia 2025-2026
Обьявление на русском языке здесь The Norwegian Helsinki Committee is glad to announce that we are now accepting proposals for our Small Grants Program for human rights in Central Asia. We invite non-...
nhc.no
December 2, 2025 at 12:14 PM
Are you a human rights defender in Central Asia with an idea to promote human rights and democracy in your country? We are pleased to announce our Small Grants Program for Human Rights in Central Asia. We invite NGOs, civil society groups, human rights defenders, activists, and journalists to apply.
We express deep concern over the arrest of human rights lawyer Zabil Gahramanov in #Azerbaijan. We see the charges as politically motivated and intended to silence his defence of political prisoners and other vulnerable groups, said Secretary General @beritlindeman.bsky.social
Azerbaijan: Release Politically Detained Human Right Lawyer
As a practicing lawyer, Gahramanov is known for his involvement in politically sensitive cases, including the defense of many political prisoners, and for his outspoken criticism of police abuse, whic...
nhc.no
November 24, 2025 at 3:33 PM
We express deep concern over the arrest of human rights lawyer Zabil Gahramanov in #Azerbaijan. We see the charges as politically motivated and intended to silence his defence of political prisoners and other vulnerable groups, said Secretary General @beritlindeman.bsky.social
Yesterday, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya and SergeyTikhanovsky received the #MagnitskyAward for ‘outstanding political opposition’. They are marathon runners for democracy, at significant personal cost. The NHC congratulates both of them. (Norw.)
@gmjcampaign.bsky.social
@gmjcampaign.bsky.social
Magnitskij-prisen til Sviatlana Tikhanovskaja og Sergej Tikhanovskij
- Vi må aldri gi opp å arbeide for et fritt og demokratisk Belarus, sa Sviatlana Tsikanouskaja da hun mottok Magnitskij-prisen for 2025.
nhc.no
November 14, 2025 at 3:08 PM
Yesterday, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya and SergeyTikhanovsky received the #MagnitskyAward for ‘outstanding political opposition’. They are marathon runners for democracy, at significant personal cost. The NHC congratulates both of them. (Norw.)
@gmjcampaign.bsky.social
@gmjcampaign.bsky.social
The Georgian journalist Mzia Amaghlobeli is imprisoned for protests. Her case is emblematic of a wider campaign of harassment, intimidation, and repression against independent, critical voices in #Georgia. Nominated by the NHC, she was awarded @frittord.bsky.social's Free Media Award 📣
Free Media Award to imprisoned Georgian journalist
Mzia was detained after placing a sticker calling for a nationwide strike, in solidarity with a colleague who had been arrested for the same act. She was later released, arrested again and sentenced t...
nhc.no
November 13, 2025 at 11:54 AM
The Georgian journalist Mzia Amaghlobeli is imprisoned for protests. Her case is emblematic of a wider campaign of harassment, intimidation, and repression against independent, critical voices in #Georgia. Nominated by the NHC, she was awarded @frittord.bsky.social's Free Media Award 📣
Today, lawmakers in #Kazakhstan adopted a draft law with amendments that would ban “propaganda of non-traditional sexual orientation". Seven international human rights groups strongly urge the Kazakh parliament to reject the anti-LBGTIQ+ legislation ⛔
nhc.no/en/kazakhsta...
nhc.no/en/kazakhsta...
Kazakhstan: Reject "LGBT Propaganda" Legal Proposals
UPDATE: On November 12, the lower house of parliament (the Mazhilis) adopted the amendments introducing a ban on propaganda of so-called “non-traditional sexual relations”. The bill will be considered...
nhc.no
November 12, 2025 at 11:05 AM
Today, lawmakers in #Kazakhstan adopted a draft law with amendments that would ban “propaganda of non-traditional sexual orientation". Seven international human rights groups strongly urge the Kazakh parliament to reject the anti-LBGTIQ+ legislation ⛔
nhc.no/en/kazakhsta...
nhc.no/en/kazakhsta...
On November 6, US President #Trump will host #CentralAsia leaders. They need to discuss human rights. US should return to international human rights mechanisms and respect press freedoms, while Central Asian leaders should stop repressive laws, the crackdown on media, and release political prisoners
Central Asian leaders and the US must urge each other to respect human rights
While the summit presents a vital opportunity to strengthen economic ties and enhance regional security, the meeting should not overlook persistent human rights violations across Central Asia and a recent backsliding in rights in the region. The U.S. administration should seize the opportunity to establish closer ties and deeper integration with the Central Asian countries, […]
nhc.no
November 5, 2025 at 2:17 PM
On November 6, US President #Trump will host #CentralAsia leaders. They need to discuss human rights. US should return to international human rights mechanisms and respect press freedoms, while Central Asian leaders should stop repressive laws, the crackdown on media, and release political prisoners
Pressure and attacks on democracy are increasing in Central Asia, the South Caucasus, and Europe. #Norway should increase its support for democracy and human rights, and support #civilsociety as the first line of defence for democracy in our region! Read our proposals for the national budget (Norw)
Styrk motstandskraften, støtt sivilsamfunnet
Økt press mot sivilsamfunnet i Russland, Sør-Kaukasus, Sentral-Asia og andre europeiske land bør medføre økt støtte til demokrati og menneskerettigheter i disse områdene som er svært utsatt for russis...
nhc.no
October 28, 2025 at 4:05 PM
Pressure and attacks on democracy are increasing in Central Asia, the South Caucasus, and Europe. #Norway should increase its support for democracy and human rights, and support #civilsociety as the first line of defence for democracy in our region! Read our proposals for the national budget (Norw)
#Türkiye: Withdraw the proposed law! 18 press and freedom of expression organisations call for the removal of the reported anti-LGBTQ+ provision from the 11th Judicial Package, which would restrict individuals and possibly criminalise media reporting on the LGBTQ+ community.
Journalists reporting LGBTQ+ issues risk criminalisation: Withdraw the proposed law!
(In Turkish below) The draft of the 11th Judicial Package was shared with the members of the press last week and is expected to be submitted to Parliament in the coming days. Under the heading “Obscen...
nhc.no
October 23, 2025 at 8:25 AM
#Türkiye: Withdraw the proposed law! 18 press and freedom of expression organisations call for the removal of the reported anti-LGBTQ+ provision from the 11th Judicial Package, which would restrict individuals and possibly criminalise media reporting on the LGBTQ+ community.
As the war in #Ukraine continues, victims and survivors are waiting for justice. We join @glsurvivorsfund.bsky.social's call for a portion of sanctioned Russian assets to be allocated to funding reparations for victims and survivors of human rights violations in Ukraine.
nhc.no/en/ukraine-r...
nhc.no/en/ukraine-r...
Ukraine: EU must dedicate a share of asset-backed loan to reparations for victims and survivors of human rights violations
As a EUR 140 billion loan to Ukraine is on the table, a portion must be assigned for victims of gross human rights violations.
nhc.no
October 21, 2025 at 2:26 PM
As the war in #Ukraine continues, victims and survivors are waiting for justice. We join @glsurvivorsfund.bsky.social's call for a portion of sanctioned Russian assets to be allocated to funding reparations for victims and survivors of human rights violations in Ukraine.
nhc.no/en/ukraine-r...
nhc.no/en/ukraine-r...
We congratulate María Corina Machado on winning the #NobelPeacePrize for her work promoting democratic rights for the people of #Venezuela. It is gratifying that the Norwegian Nobel Committee emphasises the promotion of democracy when it is under threat, says @beritlindeman.bsky.social
A peace prize for a democracy activist
The NHC congratulates María Corina Machado, awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for her work for democratic rights for the people of Venezuela. ‘María is a shining example of a woman fighting for a peaceful...
nhc.no
October 10, 2025 at 10:53 AM
We congratulate María Corina Machado on winning the #NobelPeacePrize for her work promoting democratic rights for the people of #Venezuela. It is gratifying that the Norwegian Nobel Committee emphasises the promotion of democracy when it is under threat, says @beritlindeman.bsky.social
Democracy prevails in #Moldova! The elections were marked by Russian efforts at vote buying and manipulation, but the country’s democratic institutions held firm—delivering a clear victory for the pro-European Party for Action and Solidarity.
@beritlindeman.bsky.social
nhc.no/en/elections...
@beritlindeman.bsky.social
nhc.no/en/elections...
September 29, 2025 at 12:11 PM
Democracy prevails in #Moldova! The elections were marked by Russian efforts at vote buying and manipulation, but the country’s democratic institutions held firm—delivering a clear victory for the pro-European Party for Action and Solidarity.
@beritlindeman.bsky.social
nhc.no/en/elections...
@beritlindeman.bsky.social
nhc.no/en/elections...
#France stands out by the scale of the restrictions on civil liberties. A report shows that hostile narratives, administrative dissolutions, reductions in public funding, and the criminalisation of mobilisations are suffocating civil society and endangering civic rights.
@fidh-official.bsky.social
@fidh-official.bsky.social
France: New report documents declining freedoms
A new report by The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders (FIDH-OMCT) and the Ligue des droits de l’Homme (LDH) details an alarming deterioration of public freedoms in France. Often...
nhc.no
September 26, 2025 at 1:50 PM
#France stands out by the scale of the restrictions on civil liberties. A report shows that hostile narratives, administrative dissolutions, reductions in public funding, and the criminalisation of mobilisations are suffocating civil society and endangering civic rights.
@fidh-official.bsky.social
@fidh-official.bsky.social
Together with civil society worldwide, we urgently call on States Parties to the Rome Statute to do everything in their power to stop the proposed U.S. sanctions against the ICC. We need an independent judicial institution with a mandate to confront impunity for the gravest crimes known to humanity.
Save the International Criminal Court and the rule of law
Reliable sources indicate that the United States (US) plans to sanction the International Criminal Court (ICC) as an institution in the coming weeks. This follows a series of designations, first again...
nhc.no
September 26, 2025 at 1:28 PM
Together with civil society worldwide, we urgently call on States Parties to the Rome Statute to do everything in their power to stop the proposed U.S. sanctions against the ICC. We need an independent judicial institution with a mandate to confront impunity for the gravest crimes known to humanity.