Stories about Governance
Georgian police crack down on pro-EU demonstrators after halting EU membership bid ‘until 2028’
Georgian riot police in Tbilisi have violently cracked down on a pro-EU demonstration sparked by Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze’s earlier announcement that Georgia was halting its EU membership bid “until 2028.”
How tech companies enable censorship in Vietnam
"Our findings show a concerning situation where these companies almost always comply with an increasing number of content moderation requests from the Vietnamese government."
In Turkey, women's march marked with violence, arrests as well as threats of deportations
As in previous years, bans on public gatherings, roadblocks, heavy police presence and subsequent violence did not go unnoticed.
The COP29 is over, and so is the spotlight on Azerbaijan
What's next for the country's civil society now that COP29 is over and the spotlight has shifted?
Indonesia’s new government pushes transmigration plan, stirring protests in Papua
"Transmigration has produced structural discrimination in education, land rights, and employment. There is high level of income and wealth inequality between Papuans and Indonesians, while migrants dominate the labour market."
The great Pakistan firewall and use of religion as a tool for digital authoritarianism
Pakistan has implemented a national firewall to regulate online content and mandated the registration of lawful VPN usage, with a ban on unregistered VPNs set to take effect from December 1.
Reflections on youth-led movements against state repression in Bangladesh and Indonesia
Grassroots approaches not only ensure the continuity of the movement but could also strengthen solidarity and trust among protesters, deepening the connection to local communities, which is vital for sustained resistance.
Failed assassination attempt sparks speculations of power struggle in Uzbekistan
The timing of the incident stirred discussions of a possible power struggle unfolding among different groups close to President Shavkat Mirziyoyev to solidify their position as his future successor.
Nigeria ranks lowest among Sub-Saharan African countries in women’s representation in parliament
Nigeria ranks lowest among Sub-Saharan African countries in terms of women’s representation in politics. Some of the barriers include an unfavorable political system, social and cultural barriers, and gender-based violence.
In Russia, people with diabetes face an unending financial burden
For many in Russia's interior regions, many of whom are barely making ends meet, managing diabetes can be an expensive and stressful process.
Torture, abuse, and degredation are rampant in Azerbaijani prisons
In Azerbaijani prisons, torture and ill-treatment are common. But for queer inmates, the persecution is much worse. The existing legislation offers no legal remedies.
Nuclear referendum disheartens Kazakhstan’s opposition
A few days before the referendum, police detained about 40 activists across the country.
Explosions and one person dead show extremism is still a looming threat in Brazil
Less than two years after Brazil was rocked by a coup attempt, a one-man terrorist attack is reigniting the conversation about potential amnesty for the insurrectionists and consequences for the attackers.
Palau newspaper faces defamation charges over leaked tax report
"The council sees this legal action as an assault on press freedom and an attempt to undermine the accountability that is vital to democracy."
Impunity continues to threaten the work of journalists across Southeast Asia
"While there is inherent risk in journalism and media work, attacks against journalists cannot be normalized."
Greece's struggle for workers’ rights: Firefighters championed as heroes in summer, repressed in autumn
In Greece, annual wildfires are becoming more frequent and severe due to the worsening climate crisis. However, when firefighters protested for better stronger labor protections, Greek police violently lashed out.
Can Trump help Pakistan's Imran Khan?
The United States is often seen as meddling in Pakistan's internal affairs, but supporters of Imran Khan hope Donald Trump may throw his support behind the imprisoned former Prime Minister.
First the flag and now the anthem: How Kyrgyzstan's leadership is changing its national symbols
“Why don't we now write an anthem for future generations about the fact that our people have a five-thousand-year history?” concluded Japarov.
A divided Moldova: Why the diaspora had to rescue President Maia Sandu's victory, and what's next?
The second Moldova lives mainly in Moldova's emptying villages and small towns, often lacking basic utilities like centralized water and sewage systems.
Activists sound alarm over rising forced disappearance cases in the Philippines
"No marker…no name carved in stone yet we remember those who have disappeared. They will forever live in our defiance."
A temporary welcome: Russians in Turkey since February 2022
Since early 2023, Turkey is increasingly a stopover before further migration or sometimes a return home, with many Russian exiles being refused residence permits
