Jailed, exiled and silenced: smothering East Africa’s political opposition Abdi Latif Dahir New York Times November 27, 2020
In several countries, entrenched leaders are taking advantage of coronavirus restrictions and a world distracted by the pandemic to clamp down hard on prominent political opponents.
Trump’s attempts to overturn the election are unparalleled in U.S. history David E. Sanger New York Times November 19, 2020 (news analysis)
The president’s push to prevent states from certifying electors and get legislators to override voters’ choice eclipses even the bitter 1876 election as an audacious use of brute political force.
They championed Venezuela’s revolution. They are now its latest victims. Isayen Herrera, Anatoly Kurmanaev, Tibisay Romero and Sheyla Urdaneta New York Times November 19, 2020
In an effort to complete his consolidation of power, Nicolás Maduro is cracking down on the leftist activists who once supported him, but have begun to speak up against his administration’s corruption and cronyism.
Farcical coverage of Julian Assange’s farcical hearing Joshua Cho Fair November 13, 2020
Barr hands prosecutors the authority to investigate voter fraud claims Katie Benner and Michael S. Schmidt New York Times November 9, 2020
The attorney general said that he had authorized “instances” of investigative steps but that inquiries should not be based on specious claims. Mr. Barr’s authorization prompted the Justice Department official who oversees investigations of voter fraud, Richard Pilger, to step down from the post within hours.
The election that could break America Barton Gellman The Atlantic November 2020
If the vote is close, Donald Trump could easily throw the election into chaos and subvert the result. Who will stop him?
Texas Gov. Abbott restricts absentee ballot locations Nicole Via y Rada NBC News October 1, 2020
Some Texas counties include millions of people stretched over hundreds of square miles and will require lengthy drives to deliver ballots.
Revealed: pro-Trump activists plotted violence ahead of Portland rallies Jason Wilson and Robert Evans The Guardian September 23, 2020
Patriots Coalition members suggested political assassinations and said ‘laws will be broken, people will get hurt’, leaked chats show.
A MAGA Militia? How the President’s campaign is recruiting an “Army For Trump” Seth Cohen Forbes September 21, 2020
Police and racist vigilantes: Even worse than you think John Knefel The American Prospect September 10, 2020
‘Kill all you see’: In a first, Myanmar soldiers tell of Rohingya slaughter Hannah Beech, Saw Nang and Marlise Simons New York Times September 8, 2020
Trump administration to tap into frozen Venezuelan government funds to revive efforts to oust Maduro Karen DeYoung and Anthony Faiola Washington Post August 20, 2020
Aleksei Navalny hospitalized in Russia in suspected poisoning Andrew Higgins New York Times August 20, 2020
The prominent opposition leader was reported to be in serious but stable condition in intensive care in Siberia after his flight to Moscow was forced to make an emergency landing.
The legal battle to hold the EU to account for Libya migrant abuses Eric Reidy New Humanitarian August 10, 2020
What happens to migrants forcibly returned to Libya? Mat Nashad New Humanitarian August 5, 2020
The killing last week of three young men after they were intercepted at sea by the EU-funded Libyan Coast Guard has thrown the spotlight on the fate of tens of thousands of migrants and asylum seekers returned to Libya to face detention, abuse and torture by traffickers, or worse.
Aleksei Navalny hospitalized in Russia in suspected poisoning Andrew Higgins New York Times August 20, 2020
The prominent opposition leader was reported to be in serious but stable condition in intensive care in Siberia after his flight to Moscow was forced to make an emergency landing.
‘We will persevere’: A newspaper faces the weight of Hong Kong’s crackdown Tiffany May and Austin Ramzy New York Times August 12, 2020
Apple Daily, a pro-democracy paper known for celebrity gossip and hard-hitting investigations, has become a target in Beijing’s new national security law in Hong Kong.
Former Saudi official accuses the Crown Prince of trying to kill him Ben Hubbard and Mark Mazzetti New York Times August 6, 2020
Saad Aljabri, a former top intelligence official, filed suit in Washington alleging that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman sent a team of agents to Canada to kill him.
Voices from Kashmir: Inside India’s year-long crackdown Niha Masih, Shams Irfan and Joanna Slater Washington Post August 4, 2020
Hachalu Hundessa, Ethiopian singer and activist, is shot dead Abdi Latif Dahir New York Times May 30, 2020
The musician, 34, was known for political songs that provided support for the ethnic Oromo group’s fight against repression and a soundtrack for antigovernment protests.
Filmmaker who mocked Egypt’s president dies in prison Declan Walsh New York Times May 2, 2020
Shady Habash had been held without trial at a maximum-security prison for two years. His lawyer said the cause of death was unknown.
Amazon fires New York worker who led strike over coronavirus concerns Kenya Evelyn The Guardian March 31, 2020 Citing ‘vein of toxicity’ and firing of whistleblowers, Amazon VP resigns in disgust Julia Conley Common Dreams May 4, 2020
After exposing corruption in Russian courts, he’s now in jail himself Ivan Nechepurenko New York Times March 27, 2020
Pretending to be a senior official, Sergei Davydov induced judges to fix cases, then revealed the conversations. Then the system struck back.
Coronavirus outrage spurs China’s internet police to action Paul Mozur New York Times March 16, 2020
Online enforcers are dragging in hundreds for questioning as an assault on online speech continues. They are a sign of how Beijing has given censors a more punitive role.
Chinese tycoon who criticized Xi’s response to coronavirus has vanished Javier C. Hernández New York Times March 14, 2020
Ren Zhiqiang appears to be the latest government critic silenced by the Communist Party as it cracks down on dissent over the epidemic.
Journalist’s murder puts a tycoon, and a nation, on trial Miroslava German Sirotnikova and Marc Santora New York Times February 28, 2020
The killing of Jan Kuciak and his fiancée shocked Slovakia. The trial of the businessman accused of ordering it promises to expose corruption in high places.
China sentences Hong Kong bookseller Gui Minhai to 10 years in prison Austin Ramzey New York Times February 25, 2020
Mr. Gui, a Chinese-born Swedish citizen, ran a publishing house that appeared to anger the Communist Party. The bookseller disappeared under mysterious circumstances from his home in Thailand in 2015 only to emerge as a target in a campaign by China’s Communist Party to silence dissent even beyond the mainland.
In Memoriam: 28 indigenous rights defenders murdered in Latin America in 2019 Cultural Survival January 28, 2019
Mexican butterfly conservationist is found dead, two weeks after vanishing Kirk Semple and Paulina Villegas New York Times January 29, 2020
How the environmental lawyer who won a massive judgement against Chevron lost everything Sharon Lerner The Intercept January 29, 2020
Bulgaria charges three Russian agents in poisoning case Michael Schwirtz New York Times January 23, 2020
The trio, members of a secretive group within Russia’s military intelligence agency, are accused of trying to kill an arms dealer, his son and one of his top executives in 2015.