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Human Rights Foundation (HRF)

@hrf.org

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We promote and protect democracy & human rights around the world, with a focus on authoritarian regimes. 👉 Join our human rights conference: @oslofreedomforum.com ✊ Together, we can beat tyranny: https://hrf.org/?form=donate

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Human Rights Foundation (HRF) @hrf.org · 5d

HRF celebrates today’s announcement that Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado has been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for her decades-long commitment to freedom, democracy, and human dignity in Venezuela.

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Human Rights Foundation (HRF) @hrf.org · 4h

HRF strongly condemns the Chinese government’s detention of Pastor Mingri “Ezra” Jin, founder of one of the largest known underground church networks in China, and calls for his immediate and unconditional release.

Human Rights Foundation (HRF) @hrf.org · 4h

HRF stands in solidarity with the Jin family and calls for the immediate release of all detained leaders of Zion Church.

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Human Rights Foundation (HRF) @hrf.org · 4h

🎙️ Tatyana Eatwell, Doughty Street Chambers barrister
🎙️ Anaïse Kanimba, daughter of Paul Rusesabagina and Africa Bitcoin Institute director

Human Rights Foundation (HRF) @hrf.org · 4h

🎙️ Nizar Zakka, Hostage Aid Worldwide founder and president
🎙️ Roger Carstens, McCain Institute senior fellow and former US Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs

Human Rights Foundation (HRF) @hrf.org · 4h

The panel featured leading voices in international justice and hostage advocacy:

Human Rights Foundation (HRF) @hrf.org · 4h

They explored how democracies can counter hostage diplomacy with coordinated action, principled foreign policy, and support for survivors.

Human Rights Foundation (HRF) @hrf.org · 4h

HRF Chief Advocacy Officer Roberto González moderated a timely conversation at the Forum 2000 Conference: "Confronting Hostage-Taking by Authoritarian Regimes: Crafting Effective Policies." As hostage-taking by authoritarian regimes is on the rise, global cooperation is more critical than ever.

Human Rights Foundation (HRF) @hrf.org · 23h

Closing the embassy in the host country of the Nobel Peace Prize sends a chilling message to dissidents and reinforces the regime’s commitment to isolating itself from the democratic world.

Read the full New York Times article by Claire Moses: www.nytimes.com/2025/10/14/w...

Venezuela Closes Embassy in Norway After Activist Receives Peace Prize

www.nytimes.com

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Human Rights Foundation (HRF) @hrf.org · 23h

HRF CEO Thor Halvorssen described the move as “an act of political vengeance,” underscoring Nicolas Maduro’s hostility toward democratic recognition.

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Human Rights Foundation (HRF) @hrf.org · 23h

Venezuela has announced the closure of its embassy in Norway, just days after opposition leader María Corina Machado was awarded the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize for her “tireless work promoting democratic rights.”

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Human Rights Foundation (HRF) @hrf.org · 1d

Hundreds remain arbitrarily imprisoned over four years later, enduring inhumane conditions and torture. english.elpais.com/internationa...

The punishment for protesting in Cuba: Beatings, solitary confinement and sleep deprivation

Human Rights Watch has gathered testimonies from those detained during the July 11, 2021 protests. Four years on, hundreds remain behind bars

english.elpais.com

Human Rights Foundation (HRF) @hrf.org · 1d

Ferrer was among the more than 2,000 people detained for participating in the July 11, 2021 (11J) protests demanding democracy and freedom in one of the world’s most repressive regimes.

Human Rights Foundation (HRF) @hrf.org · 1d

The regime has ramped up its efforts to silence all forms of discontent, targeting protesters who take to the streets to denounce the regime-made humanitarian crisis, marked by power outages and shortages of food and medicine. www.infobae.com/america/amer...

La dictadura cubana condenó a 15 manifestantes a penas de hasta nueve años de prisión por protestar contra los apagones

El Tribunal Supremo Popular informó que los acusados recibieron sentencias por delitos como desórdenes públicos, resistencia y desacato, tras las marchas del 17 de marzo de 2024 en Santiago de Cuba y ...

www.infobae.com

Human Rights Foundation (HRF) @hrf.org · 1d

Ferrer was among those who still dared to challenge the Cuban dictatorship.

Human Rights Foundation (HRF) @hrf.org · 1d

This week, leading Cuban opposition leader and pro-democracy activist José Daniel Ferrer entered a United States-negotiated exile after years of suffering extensive physical and psychological torture while imprisoned under politically motivated charges. edition.cnn.com/2025/10/13/p...

Cuban dissident José Daniel Ferrer arrives in US after being freed from prison | CNN Politics

Cuban dissident José Daniel Ferrer has arrived in the United States after being freed from prison in Cuba, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Monday.

edition.cnn.com

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Human Rights Foundation (HRF) @hrf.org · 1d

HRF condemns the Cuban regime’s systematic human rights violations and persecution of dissidents. Protecting political prisoners is essential, but exile must never be normalized as a solution to dictatorship. Democracies must unite to demand that Cuba end its crimes against its people.

Human Rights Foundation (HRF) @hrf.org · 1d

HRF calls for the lawyers’ unconditional and immediate release. Representing a political prisoner should never be a criminal offense.

Human Rights Foundation (HRF) @hrf.org · 1d

These three are now serving a prison sentence of an average of four years and eight months for defending Navalny. After an unsuccessful appeal, they will soon be transferred to a Russian penal colony, where conditions are known to be extremely harsh.

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Human Rights Foundation (HRF) @hrf.org · 1d

The three men ensured Navalny had access to legal representation at a time of urgent need. They tirelessly advocated for better prison conditions for him, including challenging actions by the regime aimed at isolating him.

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Human Rights Foundation (HRF) @hrf.org · 1d

In the early morning of Oct. 13, 2023, officials from Russia’s special forces unit and National Guard entered the homes of Sergunin and Lipster to arrest them. Kobzev was arrested near the penal colony, where Navalny was serving his sentence.

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Human Rights Foundation (HRF) @hrf.org · 1d

Two years ago, Russian lawyers Vadim Kobzev, Alexei Liptser, and Igor Sergunin were arrested for defending the late opposition leader Alexei Navalny.

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Human Rights Foundation (HRF) @hrf.org · 5d

Chakwera’s decision to concede allowed the country to avoid a political crisis as in 2019, when Malawi's Constitutional Court annulled the election based on evidence of large-scale fraud in favor of Mutharika, prompting a court-ordered rerun in 2020. www.nytimes.com/2025/09/24/w...

Malawi President Concedes Election to His Predecessor

www.nytimes.com

Human Rights Foundation (HRF) @hrf.org · 5d

Reports of irregularities and accusations of vote tampering tainted the vote; however, it is not clear to what extent the alleged manipulation would have changed the outcome, particularly given Chakwera’s unpopularity due to worsening economic conditions. www.france24.com/en/live-news...

Malawi ruling party claims tampering in vote count

Malawi's ruling party claimed on Friday that it had discovered irregularities in the vote count in nearly half the country's districts after this week's elections, while police announced the arrests…

www.france24.com

Human Rights Foundation (HRF) @hrf.org · 5d

Malawi’s Sept. 16 presidential election polls took place in a calm and orderly environment, with Mutharika winning in a landslide against incumbent Lazarus Chakwera in a rematch of the 2020 polls in which Chakwera had unseated Mutharika in a similar landslide. www.bbc.com/news/article...

Peter Mutharika defeats Lazarus Chakwera in Malawi election, commission declares

Peter Mutharika defeated the incumbent, Lazarus Chakwera, the election commission announces.

www.bbc.com

Human Rights Foundation (HRF) @hrf.org · 5d

HRF applauds Malawi's fourth handover of power as Peter Mutharika was sworn in last week. But Malawians must remain vigilant; Mutharika is a former ruler with a record tainted by repression, electoral fraud, and graft accusations.