Russia should revise a law that is having “obstructive, intimidating and stigmatizing effects” on the country’s non-governmental organizations, three United Nations experts said today. The report coincides with growing concern that a former Kremlin ideologue’s resignation signals that the regime …

Last month’s deadly earthquake in China’s Sichuan Province may have generated political as well as geological seismic shocks that could ultimately present a “fundamental threat” to the ruling Communist party, analysts suggest.

“The rapid grass-roots response to the …

Tunisia’s Islamist-majority government has cracked down on the operations of Ansar al-sharia, the hardline Salafist group suspected of involvement in the attack on the US embassy in Tunis last year.

The initiative coincides with expressions of concern by international and …

“Wednesday’s dismissal of Deputy Prime Minister Vladislav Surkov (above left), once a trusted aide, has underlined how isolated Putin is a year into his third term,” writes Reuters’ Timothy Heritage:

His replacement by a less sophisticated operator, …

“I’m a trouble maker. I’ve been one all my life,” Laura Alonso told Lillian Cunningham:

Alonso, an outspoken congresswoman in Argentina representing Buenos Aires, ….. took office in December 2009, after years of working as an activist for …

“Pakistan is about to cross an important threshold: this weekend’s elections, if all goes to plan, will mark the country’s first transition between elected governments. But this is not a moment for triumphalism,” writes a prominent analyst.

Opinion surveys …

Central and East European democrats with direct experience of democratic transitions are better qualified to offer advice on democratization, according to the head of the new European Endowment for Democracy. The EED is “inspired” by the example of the US-based …

Tunisia’s major parties may have ended a months-old stalemate by negotiating a provisional agreement on the country’s future constitution, but the country’s democratic transition faces an overlapping threat from violent jihadists and ultra-conservative Salafists, say analysts.  

“We have overcome …

“Fears over the safety of women voting in next week’s elections in Pakistan are rising after letters have been circulated in regions of the country warning men not to allow their wives, sisters and daughters out to the polling stations,” …

Maina Kiai participated in the Civil Society Forum of the 7th Ministerial Conference of the Community of Democracies.

The ongoing crackdown on civil society groups’ ability to receive foreign funding is a violation of international law, says Maina Kiai (above), …