Reports from Belarus indicate that thousands of Belarusians residing abroad are no longer able to renew their passports due to a decree that took effect last year. Emerging from the constitutionally-disputed presidency of Alexander Lukashenko, Decree No. 278 “On the Procedure for Issuing Documents and Performing Actions” makes it nearly impossible for Belarusian citizens abroad…
The common misconception that rulings limiting the speech activities of state bar associations also prohibit those activities was discussed at length in the decision of a case on November 13 by the US Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. The case, Boudreaux v. Louisiana State Bar Association, did not prevent mandatory bars from speaking…
Fawad Chaudhry, Pakistan’s former Information Minister, has announced that he will join a group in boycotting the Pakistani general elections, alleging that the whole electoral process is fraudulent. Chaudhry was a key figure in former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s party, Pakistan Tahreek-i-Insaf (PTI). Following Khan’s arrest over corruption charges on May 9, 2023, Chaudhry cut…
US District Judge Thomas Schroederissued an opinion to block a new North Carolina provision designed to restrict same-day voter registration, deeming it unconstitutional. The opinion from Judge Schroeder found that the recently introduced provision was potentially infringing on voter’s14th Amendment due process rights. The provision in question was part ofSenate Bill (SB) 747, an amalgamation…
In a recently published report, Human Rights Watch (HRW) criticized Senegal for its pre-election conduct, including the repression of opposition, media, critics, and other civil society members. Notably, the presidential elections in this West African nation are due in February. The report pointed at the leadership of President Macky Sall for orchestrating the onslaught on…
On Monday, the Hong Kong Eastern Magistrates’ Courts imposed a suspended sentence of two months imprisonment, with a delay of two years, upon a woman who pled guilty to stirring others to cast invalid votes publicly. Her actions go counter to section 27A of the Elections (Corrupt and Illegal Conduct) Ordinance. The defendant confessed to…
The dispute over redistricting in Michigan took a significant turn recently as the Supreme Court declined to intervene in the ongoing battle. On Jan 22, 2024, the justices, in a brief unsigned order, denied a request by Michigan’s independent redistricting commission for a hold on a lower court’s ruling. The lower court had required the…
A recent development has resurfaced in the ongoing litigation involving Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, where her testimony in a divorce proceeding has been deferred by a judge in Georgia. The deferment decision follows the divorce case of an attorney Willis hired in relation to the high-profile election-conspiracy case against Donald Trump. The deferred…
Last Thursday, the European Parliament officially invoked a procedure in accordance with Article 7(2) of the Treaty on European Union (TEU). The Parliament has requested that the European Council ascertain whether Hungary has persistently violated EU values outlined in Article 2 of the TEU, particularly in regards to respect for fundamental rights, the rule of…
Mass protests occurred in 114 cities across Germany last Saturday as a response to the country’s far-right political party, Alternative für Deutschland (AfD). The demonstrations were sparked off due to the party’s increasing popularity and speculations that party members attended a clandestine meeting to discuss mass deportation. The activist group, Together Against The Right, reported…
Friday saw a victory for Rudy Giuliani’s legal team as a New York bankruptcy court gave the green light for another trial in relation to the $148 million defamation penalty the former attorney faced. The original penalty was a result of damaging allegations made against two Georgia poll workers. This matter dates back to the…
Social media platforms in Pakistan underwent a significant disruption on Saturday, as reported by internet monitor Netblocks, coinciding with a virtual rally of the political party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), led by the controversial former Prime Minister, Imran Khan. Netblocks asserted that their official metric showed disturbances to popular platforms including X (previously Twitter), Facebook, Instagram…
The Constitutional Council of Senegal on Saturday released its final list of the 20 presidential candidates predicted to participate in the West African nation’s 2024 presidential election. Notably absent from the list is leading opposition candidate Ousmane Sonko. The list includes a successor chosen by incumbent President Macky Sall, Prime Minister Amadou Ba, as well…
A formal complaint, officially referred to as a first information report (FIR), has recently been lodged against an election awareness initiative orchestrated by India’s primary opposition party and its chief instigator, as reported by the Press Trust of India’s law enforcement correspondents. The FIR, submitted on Thursday, accuses the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, a campaign…
Unknown assailants abducted Khayal Ahmad Kastro, former Punjab provincial minister and election candidate of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), outside a local court in Pakistan. The incident took place on a Friday where Kastro had arrived seeking bail for a case dated May 9 according to video released by PTI. The video footage appears to reveal several…
In an unexpected move that has stirred up the legal community, former President Donald Trump has urged the US Supreme Court to keep him on the 2024 Colorado state ballot, arguing that the Colorado Supreme Court overstepped its boundaries by barring him over his alleged role in the Jan. 6 Capitol riot and efforts to…
In a surprising series of events, a scandal involving Trump prosecutor Nathan Wade has been revealed in the midst of a contentious divorce. Accusations of misconduct and conflict of interest are now swirling around Wade, which could have serious implications on the legal proceedings against former president Donald Trump and his associates. Nathan Wade was…
The Democratic Republic of Congo’s (DRC) national election commission has come under scrutiny following allegations of mismanagement of state funds, according to a recent European Union-funded civil society report. The Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI), the focus of these claims, is facing accusations of failing to account for approximately $400 million of state funds which…
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, expressed concern over the situation in the Comoros following protests against the recent presidential elections results. Türk has urged Comoros authorities to safeguard rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. After President Azali Assoumani secured a fourth term, the main opposition party, Juwa, appealed for…
International human rights organization, Article 19, has expressed concerns over recently implemented disinformation and “fake news” laws in Senegal, identifying them as a potential threat to the freedom of speech and expression. The issue comes to light as the West African nation gears up for its upcoming elections on February 25th. Article 19 has sounded…
Extensive protests have erupted in Germany following the reports of a proposed deportation plan allegedly formulated by far-right extremists in a purportedly clandestine gathering. Among the protesters were eminent governmental figures including German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock. The demonstration took place in the capital, Berlin, and in Potsdam, in vocal opposition…
Hong Kong courts handed a suspended sentence to Man Wing Fung this Monday, following his plea of guilty for illegal conduct to encourage others not to vote during the time of the election. This activity contravenes section 27 of the Elections (Corrupt and Illegal Conduct) Ordinance, and Fung was given a two-month prison sentence, suspended…
Bernardo Arévalo, Guatemala’s new president, was formally inaugurated and sworn into office on Monday. This follows an attempted coup d’état which disrupted an initial ceremony on Sunday. International observers have referred to the event as an “orchestrated coup d’état.” In a message that Arévalo posted on X (formerly known as Twitter) just before the rescheduled…
In a significant legal twist to Pakistan’s political sphere, the country’s Supreme Court has upheld the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP)’s decision to revoke the “cricket bat” election symbol of former prime minister Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) party. PTI is a major opposition party in Pakistan, making this decision an impactful one for the…
Pakistan’s senate put forth another resolution this Sunday, calling for a delay in the general elections scheduled to be held in February. This is the fourth such resolution to be tabled in recent weeks, indicating growing momentum for a postponement of the forthcoming elections. The latest appeal for a delay was championed by independent senator…