Human Rights Watch (HRW) urged Magyar’s incoming government to take immediate steps to restore democratic norms in Hungary. The organization called for the immediate dissolution of the Sovereignty Protection Office, a body established in 2023 with broad powers to investigate journalists, civil organizations, and academics that receive foreign funding. HRW also pressed for an end to emergency decree powers that have allowed Orbán’s executive to bypass parliamentary debate since 2020.

HRW urged the incoming government to drop criminal charges against Budapest Mayor Gergely Karácsony, who is being prosecuted for holding the city’s Pride March last June in defiance of a ban imposed by Orbán’s government, and against Géza Buzás-Hábel, organizer of the Pride march in Pécs.

Orbán’s measures against dissent of course mirror those of Vladimir Putin, and indeed his defeat dimishes an emerging pro-Russian bloc on the continent, also including Slovakia and (outside the EU) Serbia and Belarus. The fall of Orbán is expected to free up a €17 billion loan to Ukraine that his government had effecitvely blocked.

However, Péter Magyar is a creature of the center-right, and a former Orbán ally. His Respect & Freedom (Tisza) party broke from Fidesz in 2020, in response to Orbán’s growing authoritarianism. His proclivities are fundamnetally conservative, and he may not mean a full de-Orbánification. In a bad sign, Magyar on April 15 held what the Israeli Foreign Ministry called a “warm introductory phone call” with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, pointing to a continuity in ties. Orbán’s Hungary and Donald Trump’s United States are the only two countries Netanyahu has been able to safely visit since the International Criminal Court issued a warrant for his arrest to face war crimes charges in November 2024.

Nonetheless, among those around the world taking courage in the fall of Orbán are the Israeli protesters who have mounted a campaign of militant demonstrations against Netanyahu and his wars. (Jurist, JP, PRI, EuroNews)

Sidelined by the world media spotlight, a more stark struggle with stakes just as high for the survival of democratic norms is emerging in the South American nation of Peru. As Hungarians voted, so did Peruvians, in a crowded field of 35 candidates following years of political chaos that have seen 10 presidents in as many years. Leading the field was Keiko Fujimori, perennial candidate of the hard-right Fuerza Popular.

Keiko is the daughter of ex-dictator Alberto Fujimori, who shamefully died a free man in December 2024, having been released from prison after 17 years following a pardon for his convictions for corruption and human rights abuses. The younger Fujimori remained an unabashed supporter of the elder to the very end, and her potential election promises a reversal of the process of de-Fujimorification that Peru has undergone since the fall of his eight-year period of strongman rule in 2000.

A decision on who Keiko Fujimori would face in a run-off was delayed by several days after the National Office of Electoral Process (ONPE) found that a private contractor failed to deliver ballots to dozens of polling stations across the province of Lima, preventing more than 52,000 citizens from voting on time. One of her two leading contenders, former Lima mayor Rafael López Aliaga, alleged widespread fraud and called for the vote to be annulled. The EU election observer mission reported that it had found no evidence of fraud. But tension mounted as López Aliaga’s supporters mobilized to the street.

López Aliaga, known by his appropriate nickname “Porky,” is also a figure of the hard right, although of a more Catholic bent than Fujimori, and has similarly run on pledges of a harsh crackdown on soaring crime and the narco economy. In an echo of Trump’s Alligator Alcatraz, he has proposed building penal colonies in the Amazon rainforest, surrounded by moats filled with vipers.

López Aliaga has not dropped his demands for annullment, but it now emerges that Fujimori will face a contender from the left in the June 7 run-off. This is Roberto Sánchez Palomino of Juntos por el Perú. Sánchez is the political heir of imprisoned ex-president Pedro Castillo, a political outsider of campesino origins whose 2021 election shook up Peru’s establishment. Castillo’s ouster and detention by order of Congress the following year ended his contentious rule and sparked weeks of protests that were met with massive deadly repression. Sánchez, who had served in Castillo’s cabinet, similarly ran with strong support from rural Andean regions, traditionally exlcuded from Peruvian politics, and similarly wears a traditional campesino sombrero.

There is a sense of deju vu here, as Keiko Fujimori has made it as far as a presidential run-off in 2011, 2016 and 2021. During the first run, she brought in Rudolph Giuliani as “national security advisor.” In the second run (taking place five months before Trump was first electedhere in Gringolandia), she was defeated by the center-right Pedro Pablo Kuczynski after Verónika Mendoza, the left-wing candidate who was bumped out of the race in the first round, threw her support behind him to avoid a re-Fujimorification of the country. As persident, it was Kuczynski who pardoned Alberto Fujimori, in a betrayal of the progressive-minded Peruvians who had helped elect him.

With the center now having effectively collapsed in Peruvian politics, this kind of outcome, at least, is excluded from possibility. However, a win by Keiko Fujimori on her fourth try for the presidency portends a far worse outcome. (Americas Quarterly, Jurist, France24, France24, AFP, Reuters)

Peru may seem far removed from the world stage compared to Hungary, but the Great Powers are definitely playing their chess game here as well. Florida Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar has called on Peru’s next government to “take back” the Chinese-controlled port of Chancay, portraying the deepwater facility as a military threat to the hemisphere. Salazar, chair of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, said during a hearing on April 16 that Washington must help Peru wrest the megaport from Chinese hands. “The new Peruvian government, which will be elected next June, must take it back, that port, take it back, and the United States will help them,” Salazar said.

She argued that the port, just up the coast from Lima, has “dual usage” potential, meaning it could shift from commercial to military operations, allowing Chinese submarines, warships and aircraft carriers to operate from Peru’s territory. (SCMP)

Even a new President Fujimori would be unlikely to take this bait from Washington, as China, like the US, is a free-trade partner of Peru and top investor in its lucrative mineral sector. But there’s much contention about Chinese versus North American influence in the country. The last interim president, José Jerí, who had faced a wave of Gen Z protests last year, was finally removed by Congress this February following unregistered meetings with two Chinese businessmen. The incumbent interim president José María Balcázar is of the left, and popular anger at Peru’s traditional political class is palpable.

Whether it is the populist left of Sánchez or the populist right of Fujimori that prevails in June, the Great Power pressures on Peru will remain. The implications for Peru internally, however, will be very different—and this also has regional implications, as the right has made recent electoral gains throughout Latin America: just over the past months, in Chile, Bolivia and Costa Rica. A new right-authoritarian bloc is emerging, just as the Trump regime is launching new adventures in gunboat diplomacy.

Photo: Wikipedia

“For the first time in the history of this war, an enemy position was taken exclusively by unmanned platforms—UGVs and drones. The occupiers surrendered, and this operation was carried out without the participation of infantry and without losses on our side,” Zelensky said in a video statement released April 13. The video showed Zelensky speaking in a room full of various drones and UGVs. He did not give a precise location for the territory taken in the operation.

The president said various robotic systems, including the Ratel, Termit, Ardal, Lynx, Snake, Protector and Volya, have carried out more than 22,000 missions over the past three months, aimed at reducing risks to personnel.

“Lives were saved more than 22,000 times—a robot went into the most dangerous areas instead of a soldier. This is about high technologies in defense of the highest value—human life,” Zelensky said.

Earlier this month, Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense reported a sharp increase in the use of ground robots on the front lines, with more than 9,000 missions completed in March alone. This marks a sharp rise from roughly 2,900 operations in November 2025.

Military analysts believe these UGVs are for the most part remotely controlled rather than fully autonomous, but the technology is developing rapidly. (SOFX, PRI)

Photo via Nashaniva.com

Over 343 organizations have been deemed “undesirable,” 1,173 individuals and groups have been designated as “foreign agents,” and 830 organizations and 20,813 individuals have been put on “terrorist” and “extremist” watch lists.

This has recently escalated with the targeting of several key Russian human rights organizations. On April 8, six activists from the Vesna youth movement were sentenced to between eight and 12 years imprisonment for participating in an “extremist organization” because of their opposition to the Ukraine war.

These efforts to restrict fundamental freedoms have escalated since the start of the war against Ukraine in 2022. The rapporteurs describe a “repressive toolbox” used by authorities, stating:

[T]he government has deployed methods like massive designations or organisations as “undesirable” or “foreign agent,” along with the intstrumentalisation of national security and public safety legislation to target lawyers, journalists, anti-war activists, and human rights defenders.

On April 9, Russia’s Ministry of Justice requested that Nobel Peace Prize laureate International Memorial Movement be designated as an “extremist organization.” If granted by the courts, the designation would expose individuals and organizations associated with Memorial to criminal liability, including imprisonment. The move follows the liquidation of two Memorial-affiliated organizations under the “foreign agents” law in 2021. The rapporteurs said this new designation “reflects a deliberate and calculated strategy to spread fear among Russian people and deprive them from independent information, human rights defence, advocacy, and legal assistance.”

The Memorial Human Rights Defence Center in a statement highlighted its 40-year history of investigating Soviet-era state terror and political persecution, and asserted: “We understand that the case against ‘Memorial’ is yet another attempt to intimidate all dissenting voices in the country and silence civil society.”

Russian authorities have also targeted indigenous human rights defenders. For example, in June 2024, the Supreme Court of Russia grouped together 55 indigenous and minority organizations as a “movement” to label them as “extremist,” a move met with condemnationby the International Committee of Indigenous Peoples of Russia. This has also resulted in arbitrary detentions of rights advocates Daria Egereva and Natalya Leongardt. They were charged for their involvement with Aborigen Forum, an informal network of indigenous defenders.

Other examples show how widespread this pattern of repression has been throughout the Ukraine war. In November 2025, Russian authorities proscribed Human Rights Watch as an “undesirable organization,” which effectively criminalized involvement in the group. Around the same time, the prosecutor general’s office opened a case against Russian feminist punk band Pussy Riot seeking to have them designated as extremists, a designation already imposed on several individual members. Additionally, authorities labelled the Anti-Corruption Foundation, founded by the late opposition leader Aleksei Navalny a “terrorist organization.”

Human Rights Watch has also recently warned of escalating online censorship, including internet and cellular access shutdowns and the blocking of Telegram, one of the most popular social media platforms in Russia.

From JURIST, April 11. Used with permission. Internal links added.

See our last report on resistance and repression in Russia. See our last podcasts on the internet crackdown and the persistence of dissidence.

Photo: Pavel Kazachkov via Wikipedia

In related news, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said last week that he and Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa hope to see 80% of Syrian refugees in Germany return to Syria in the coming three years. Merz’s call for Syrians to “go back to their homeland,” which came after his meeting with al-Sharaa in Berlin, drew condemnation from human rights monitors who pointed to continued violence and insecurity in Syria. (TNH, Jurist)

Photo: Sara Creta/TNH

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Composite image by CounterVortex from Ilya Efimovich Repin via Wikimedia Commons and Sasha Braulov via Instagram

Photo: US Navy via Wikimedia Commons

Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, the international community imposed sanctions, and used international legal tools to counter the Russian aggression and support Ukraine. A year after the invasion, the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant against Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has yet to be taken into court custody.

Recently, rights groups have noted diminishing pressure on Russia from the international community, raising concerns about human rights protections and prospects for peace in Ukraine. Notably, US President Donald Trump briefly halted military aid to Ukraine in 2025, followed by a sharp reduction in funds provided for Ukraine in the 2026 budget compared to previous years. This comes amid an escalation of the conflict despite US-brokered peace talks, as 2025 was the deadliest year for civilians in Ukraine since 2022.

Amnesty International’s senior director for research and advocacy Erika Guevara-Rosas commented: “Despite the ongoing aggression, international resolve to oppose Russia’s crimes under international law and support its victims has come under increasing strain in recent months, particularly since the beginning of Donald Trump’s presidency. Commitments to justice and human rights are weakening as powerful actors grow emboldened to disregard international law and further erode the rules-based order.”

World leaders have warned that an erosion of the rules-based order continues to shift the international order into unchartered territory.

Despite drastic shifts in international attitude, many countries continue to support Ukraine. Canada recently unveiled a new set of sanctions against Russia, aimed at increasing economic costs to Russia and degrading its military capabilities. Additionally, EU members states have agreed to extend protection for Ukrainian refugees into 2027.

From JURIST, Feb. 24. Used with permission.

See our last reports on Russian war crimes, and the (still limited) sanctions.

Photo of Russian embassy in London: Kwh1050 via Wikimedia Commons

Marie Struthers, Amnesty International’s Eastern Europe director, stated: “Releasing a prisoner of conscience after he has suffered a stroke is not justice, it is the sign of its profound absence. Belarusian authorities must end the practice of imprisoning activists, journalists, and other government critics for peacefully exercising their rights to freedom of expression, association, and assembly.” She also highlighted the cases of imprisoned rights defenders Nasta Loika, Marfa Rabkova, Valiantsin Stefanovich and Vital Chopik.

Statkevich was one of 52 Belarusian prisoners released in September 2025 following a deal with the US. Upon their release, Belarusian authorities attempted to deport the 52 former prisoners. While they were being brought to the Lithuanian border, Statkevich forced his way out of the bus, declaring, “I will keep fighting.” Statkevich was then reportedly detained by masked men and transported to a penal colony.

Statkevich was serving a 14-year sentence following his arrest in 2020 on charges of “organization of mass unrest,” under Article 293(1) of the Criminal Code. In his latest imprisonment since 2020, he was held in isolation for long weeks before suffering a stroke on Jan. 21. The stroke precipitated his release, but Amnesty stressed that being released due to failing health does not constitute justice.

The Belarusian Human Rights Centre Viasna reports that 1,142 political prisoners remain incarcerated in Belarus.

From JURIST, Feb. 22. Used with permission. Internal links added.

Image: Monument to Belarusian political prisoners in Bydgoszcz, Poland. Source: Паўлюк Шапецька via Wikimedia Commons

After a trial held in absentia, the Moscow City Court on Dec. 12 sentenced Prosecutor Karim Khan and eight ICC judges under the Russian Criminal Code for “unlawfully prosecuting Russian citizens in The Hague,” and subsequently placed them on an international wanted list. Prosecutor Khan received a 15‑year prison term, with the others receiving sentences of between three and 15 years.

The experts stated that the ICC’s prosecution of Russian citizens, including President Vladimir Putin, concerns charges of war crimes “committed in the context of Russia’s war against Ukraine.” They emphasized that Article 48 of the Rome Statute grants functional immunity to prosecutors and judges “acting in exercise of their official functions,” and asserted that Russia’s move is an attempt to intimidate ICC officials:

The latest attack on ICC officials is part of a deliberate and calculated strategy which exposes the profound insecurity of a Government that fears accountability… Threats against the ICC promote a culture of impunity and send a dangerous signal, implying that States can use domestic jurisdictions to intimidate those tasked with investigating and prosecuting the most serious crimes under international law.

Noting that the trial was held in absentia, the experts called this a violation of due process and the right to a fair trial. They charged that the decision to try the officials in absentia was exemplary of Russia’s broader pattern of using in absentia criminal proceedings against dissenters.

The UN experts called on the Russian government to withdraw the warrants, annul the convictions, comply with international law and human rights obligations, and “end the abuse of criminal law against international judicial officials.”

From JURIST, Feb. 5. Used with permission.

See our last reports on Russian war crimes, the ICC case against Russia, and Great Power moves against the ICC.

Photo: Wikipedia

Hundreds of Danish veterans and supporters staged a silent march on Jan. 31 from the historic Kastellet fortress to the US Embassy in Copenhagen as part of a “No Words” mobilization to protest recent US rhetoric that organizers said demeans Denmark’s combat contributions alongside American forces.

Organizers also linked the march to the status of Greenland, upholding the right of self-determination for the Danish island territory. Recent demands by President Donald Trump for US annexation of Greenland, and comments seeming to question the courage of Danish soldiers, have stirred a sense of betrayal for many in Denmark, particularly those who fought alongside US troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The march gathered at the Monumentet for Danmarks Faldne (Monument to Denmark’s Fallen) inside Kastellet, began with one minute of silence before departure, and concluded with five minutes of silence at the embassy. Organizers advised attendees to wear their service medals and stated that flags and banners were welcome.

In published remarks, organizers stated that 52 Danish flags bearing the names of Danes killed in US-led post-9-11 operations would be planted in front of the embassy following the march. Participants then faced the embassy in silence to honor the fallen.

In an English-language address prepared for delivery outside the embassy, organizers recalled how Denmark “immediately” joined the international response after the invocation of NATO Article 5 following the World Trade Center attacks. Over 27,000 Danish soldiers served in US- and NATO-led operations in Afghanistan and Iraq, with over 200 wounded and 52 killed. Denmark’s Armed Forces separately noted that 44 Danish soldiers died in Afghanistan while serving in NATO-led missions.

Greenland is governed under Denmark’s 2009 Act on Greenland Self-Government, which recognizes Greenland native inhabitants as a “people” under international law, with a right to self-determination, and sets out procedures for any future change in status. The march invoked core international law constraints, including the UN Charter prohibition on threats or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of states, and the centrality of self-determination to the international system.

In a Jan. 14 statement, UN experts urged the US to respect international law and Greenland’s right to self-determination, warning that rhetoric suggesting plans to “take” or control the territory undermines the UN Charter and international order. Protesters similarly accused the US of failing to respect alliances and the rule of law, emphasizing Denmark’s sacrifices in post-9-11 coalition missions and Greenlanders’ right to determine their political future.

Denmark and Greenland leaders have adamantly rejected US designs on the territory following the US appointment of a special envoy to Greenland in December. Last month, President Trump threatened tariffs on EU and Nordic countries that do not support his efforts to annex Greenland, but has since walked back his threat.

From JURIST, Feb. 2. Used with permission. Internal links added.