Iskra Kirova
@iskrakirova.bsky.social
Advocate and policy analyst. Advocacy Director for Europe and Central Asia at Human Rights Watch @hrw.org.
#Bulgaria has delayed its exit from coal, trailing behind most EU countries in its transition, and risking breach of new #EU air quality standards. Fresh @hrw.org report shows this contributes to serious health harms, esp for children. It may cost Bulgaria EU funds too. www.hrw.org/news/2025/12...
Bulgaria: Delayed Coal Phaseout Fuels Health Harm
Bulgaria’s delayed decommissioning of coal-fired power plants contributes to dangerous air pollution, risks breaching new air quality standards, and is slowing down the country’s transition away from ...
www.hrw.org
December 8, 2025 at 10:30 AM
#Bulgaria has delayed its exit from coal, trailing behind most EU countries in its transition, and risking breach of new #EU air quality standards. Fresh @hrw.org report shows this contributes to serious health harms, esp for children. It may cost Bulgaria EU funds too. www.hrw.org/news/2025/12...
A right-wing parliamentary body has started hearings on NGO activities under the guise of transparency for EU funds. Amidst widespread assault on civil society groups, EU lawmakers should support their essential work, not fuel smear campaigns and conspiracy theories www.hrw.org/news/2025/12...
EU Right-Wing Lawmakers Target Civil Society
Nongovernmental groups have sounded the alarm as the European Parliament’s new “Scrutiny Working Group” on funding for nongovernmental groups held its first meeting on November 26. The inquiry is pain...
www.hrw.org
December 2, 2025 at 10:58 AM
A right-wing parliamentary body has started hearings on NGO activities under the guise of transparency for EU funds. Amidst widespread assault on civil society groups, EU lawmakers should support their essential work, not fuel smear campaigns and conspiracy theories www.hrw.org/news/2025/12...
Reposted by Iskra Kirova
Amazing news from #Tunisia: lawyer & commentator Sonia Dahmani released from arbitrary detention; at same time as Euro-Parliament adopted critical resolution on her case
Public diplomacy works. A lesson for @eudiplomacy.bsky.social: Silence is never an option
www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/pres...
Public diplomacy works. A lesson for @eudiplomacy.bsky.social: Silence is never an option
www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/pres...
November 27, 2025 at 12:56 PM
Amazing news from #Tunisia: lawyer & commentator Sonia Dahmani released from arbitrary detention; at same time as Euro-Parliament adopted critical resolution on her case
Public diplomacy works. A lesson for @eudiplomacy.bsky.social: Silence is never an option
www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/pres...
Public diplomacy works. A lesson for @eudiplomacy.bsky.social: Silence is never an option
www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/pres...
As president Trump’s “peace plan” attempts to sideline accountability for Russia’s crimes in #Ukraine, read my colleague’s @hrw.org powerful and personal account of why justice matters. kyivindependent.com/the-light-uk...
The light Ukraine cannot lose: Justice
About the author: Kseniya Kvitka is an assistant researcher with Human Rights Watch’s Europe and Central Asia Division. She is based in Kyiv.
As I sat down to write this, my apartment, like many othe...
kyivindependent.com
November 27, 2025 at 2:43 PM
As president Trump’s “peace plan” attempts to sideline accountability for Russia’s crimes in #Ukraine, read my colleague’s @hrw.org powerful and personal account of why justice matters. kyivindependent.com/the-light-uk...
Reposted by Iskra Kirova
EU-AU summit must see release of European humanitarian hostage
EU-AU summit must see release of European humanitarian hostage
As leaders gather for the European Union-African Union Summit in Angola, we urge them to press for the immediate release of humanitarian Joseph Figueira Martin.
euobserver.com
November 24, 2025 at 4:01 PM
EU-AU summit must see release of European humanitarian hostage
The #EU prepares to empower its coast guard agency #Frontex with a new expanded mandate, staff and resources. 🏆Our award-winning campaign calls on Frontex to use these powers to do more to save lives at sea.
We’re thrilled to share that Human Rights Watch’s #WithHumanity campaign has been selected as a Gold award winner at the Anthem Awards. 🙌
www.anthemawards.com/winners/list...
www.anthemawards.com/winners/list...
November 19, 2025 at 9:48 AM
Despite ongoing abuses, #EU will tomorrow sign a new partnership deal with #Uzbekistan without demanding concrete change.
The EU should insist that rights obligations are non-negotiable.
www.hrw.org/news/2025/10...
@eucopresident.consilium.europa.eu @vonderleyen.ec.europa.eu @kajakallas.bsky.social
The EU should insist that rights obligations are non-negotiable.
www.hrw.org/news/2025/10...
@eucopresident.consilium.europa.eu @vonderleyen.ec.europa.eu @kajakallas.bsky.social
EU to Sign Uzbekistan Partnership Deal Despite Rights Abuses
(Brussels, October 22, 2025) - Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev will pay a high-level visit to Brussels on October 24, 2025 to sign a partnership deal with the EU setting out a new stage of c...
www.hrw.org
October 23, 2025 at 9:20 AM
Despite ongoing abuses, #EU will tomorrow sign a new partnership deal with #Uzbekistan without demanding concrete change.
The EU should insist that rights obligations are non-negotiable.
www.hrw.org/news/2025/10...
@eucopresident.consilium.europa.eu @vonderleyen.ec.europa.eu @kajakallas.bsky.social
The EU should insist that rights obligations are non-negotiable.
www.hrw.org/news/2025/10...
@eucopresident.consilium.europa.eu @vonderleyen.ec.europa.eu @kajakallas.bsky.social
Reposted by Iskra Kirova
On October 21, will EU member states finally vote under Art. 7 to hold Hungary accountable for Orbán's destruction of democracy & rule of law?
The time to act is now!
www.hrw.org/news/2025/10...
The time to act is now!
www.hrw.org/news/2025/10...
EU: Crucial Hearing on Hungary’s Rule of Law Crisis
European Union member states meeting on October 21, 2025 to discuss Hungary’s erosion of the rule of law should vote on whether Hungary is at risk of a serious breach of EU treaty values, Human Rights...
www.hrw.org
October 16, 2025 at 12:39 PM
On October 21, will EU member states finally vote under Art. 7 to hold Hungary accountable for Orbán's destruction of democracy & rule of law?
The time to act is now!
www.hrw.org/news/2025/10...
The time to act is now!
www.hrw.org/news/2025/10...
Reposted by Iskra Kirova
We’re honored that our With Humanity campaign calling on the EU to uphold the rights and dignity of people on the move is a finalist at the Shorty Awards!
Please help amplify this call by voting here: https://shortyawards.com/10th-impact/with-humanity-campaign
Please help amplify this call by voting here: https://shortyawards.com/10th-impact/with-humanity-campaign
October 8, 2025 at 7:06 PM
We’re honored that our With Humanity campaign calling on the EU to uphold the rights and dignity of people on the move is a finalist at the Shorty Awards!
Please help amplify this call by voting here: https://shortyawards.com/10th-impact/with-humanity-campaign
Please help amplify this call by voting here: https://shortyawards.com/10th-impact/with-humanity-campaign
EU institutions have long overlooked the capture of the judiciary and complete breakdown of rule of law in #Bulgaria.
This is an emblematic case.👇
The #EU can still avert a worst case scenario in a member state if it acts now.
www.politico.eu/article/bulg...
This is an emblematic case.👇
The #EU can still avert a worst case scenario in a member state if it acts now.
www.politico.eu/article/bulg...
Jailed mayor urges EU to halt Bulgaria’s slide toward authoritarianism
Varna Mayor Blagomir Kotsev seeks “more pressure” on the Bulgarian government, while liberals in the EU Parliament call for Sofia to lose funding over his arrest.
www.politico.eu
September 26, 2025 at 11:14 AM
EU institutions have long overlooked the capture of the judiciary and complete breakdown of rule of law in #Bulgaria.
This is an emblematic case.👇
The #EU can still avert a worst case scenario in a member state if it acts now.
www.politico.eu/article/bulg...
This is an emblematic case.👇
The #EU can still avert a worst case scenario in a member state if it acts now.
www.politico.eu/article/bulg...
Reposted by Iskra Kirova
When politicians undermine the European Court of Human Rights, we all lose. With Europe facing some of the gravest threats since the end of WW2, European governments should be bolstering regional institutions, not undermining them.
Read my new analysis for @HRW
www.hrw.org/news/2025/09...
Read my new analysis for @HRW
www.hrw.org/news/2025/09...
When Politicians Undermine Europe’s Rights Court, We All Lose
The European Court of Human Rights and the European Convention on Human Rights are under attack again.
www.hrw.org
September 18, 2025 at 9:28 AM
When politicians undermine the European Court of Human Rights, we all lose. With Europe facing some of the gravest threats since the end of WW2, European governments should be bolstering regional institutions, not undermining them.
Read my new analysis for @HRW
www.hrw.org/news/2025/09...
Read my new analysis for @HRW
www.hrw.org/news/2025/09...
Withdrawal of 5 EU member states from mine ban treaty puts civilians at risk and erodes core international disarmament norms. They were made for peace and for war time. #EU institutions and member states should uphold block's longstanding position on the convention. www.hrw.org/news/2025/07...
Five European States Withdraw from Mine Ban Treaty
The withdrawal of five European countries from a longstanding and effective international treaty prohibiting antipersonnel landmines unnecessarily puts civilians at risk.
www.hrw.org
July 3, 2025 at 12:44 PM
Withdrawal of 5 EU member states from mine ban treaty puts civilians at risk and erodes core international disarmament norms. They were made for peace and for war time. #EU institutions and member states should uphold block's longstanding position on the convention. www.hrw.org/news/2025/07...
Pleased to be joining this community (and leaving X!). I’ll be posting about human rights and EU policy, and the odd personal tweet every now and then.
June 25, 2025 at 11:43 AM
Pleased to be joining this community (and leaving X!). I’ll be posting about human rights and EU policy, and the odd personal tweet every now and then.