About: authoritarian regime
Von der Leyen warns against democratic backsliding without mentioning Hungary
European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen warned on Tuesday (31 March) that coronavirus emergency measures by EU countries must be "limited", in a veiled reference to Hungary's nationalist leader Viktor Orbán, who used the pandemic to take on sweeping powers.
Coronavirus to father EU’s ‘first dicatatorship’?
A "dictatorship" at the heart of the EU? A draft law to grant anti-coronavirus emergency measures set for adoption by Budapest has alarmed observers who fear it will hand Prime Minister Viktor Orbán unlimited power.
Putin approves changes allowing him to stay in power until 2036
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday (10 March) opened the door to constitutional changes that would allow him to remain in power until 2036, but said he favored term limits once the country became politically “mature”.
More secrets of China’s Xinjiang camps leaked to foreign media
Classified Chinese government documents made public by an international group of journalists describe the repressive inner workings of detention camps in Xinjiang, in a second rare leak in days of secret files concerning the troubled western region.
Observers slam Belarus polls for flouting democratic norms
Parliamentary polls in Belarus did not show respect for democracy, international observers said Monday (18 November), after the opposition to authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko failed to win a single seat.
Opposition wins no seats in Belarus election
Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko maintained his hold on power after results published early on Monday (18 November) showed not a single opposition candidate had won a seat in parliamentary elections over the weekend.
Thousands rally in Moscow to demand release of jailed protesters
More than 20,000 Russians took to the streets of Moscow on Sunday (29 September) to demand the release of protesters jailed over the summer in what opponents of the Kremlin say is a campaign to stifle dissent.
Thousands protest again law to create autonomous Russian internet
Thousands of people took to the streets of Moscow and two other cities on Sunday (10 March) to rally against tighter internet restrictions, in some of the biggest protests in the Russian capital in years.
Human rights violations in Egypt: EU must speak out!
The EU should be aware of plans to amend the Egyptian Constitution that could extend the power of the President indefinitely, showing the true intentions of an authoritarian state, writes Wahid Al-Asmar.
Thousands protest against Serbian President Vucic
Thousands of demonstrators defied heavy snow Saturday (15 December) in Belgrade to protest what they say is a crackdown by the government of President Aleksandar Vučić on opposition parties and the media.
Orbán exempts pro-government behemoth media group from scrutiny
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has exempted a mammoth pro-government media group from scrutiny by the national competition watchdog, according to a decree published late on Wednesday (5 December).
Turkey court upholds conviction of prominent jailed Kurdish leader
A Turkish court on Tuesday (4 December) rejected an appeal by jailed pro-Kurdish leader Selahattin Demirtaş against his conviction for “terrorist propaganda”, his lawyer said, in a fresh blow to the prominent politician considered a potential rival to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Demirtaş,...
Erdogan says he will consider referendum on Turkey’s EU bid
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said on Thursday (4 October) he would consider putting Turkey's long-stalled bid to join the European Union to a referendum, signalling exasperation with a process he says has been waylaid by prejudice against Muslims.
Turkey reboots with masterplan for Erdogan one-man rule until 2028
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan will be sworn in for a second term today (9 July), wielding hefty new constitutional powers as he oversees a radically different system of government.
Chilly Western reactions to Erdogan’s win
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan yesterday (26 June) celebrated winning sweeping new powers in a decisive election victory, as his main rival accepted the outcome despite complaints over an unequal campaign that alarmed the EU.
EU, rights activists express outrage over police brutality, arrests in Russia
Foreign governments and rights activists on Sunday (6 May) expressed outrage over mass arrests in Russia and the brutality with which protests were broken up on the eve of Vladimir Putin's inauguration.
Turkey vows to launch new cross-border military operations
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Sunday (6 May) said Turkey would launch cross-border offensives, like previous military operations in Syria, in the "new era" after snap polls on 24 June.
Erdogan: Austria will ‘pay a price’ for banning Turkish campaigning
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan Saturday (21 April) criticised Austria for planning to ban any possible campaigning for the June elections, saying that countries attempting to undermine his country's democratic struggle would "pay a price".
Armenian president calls for dialogue as opposition chants ‘Say no to Serzh’
Armenian President Armen Sargsyan on Thursday (19 April) called for dialogue, as thousands continued to protest on the streets against the appointment of the new prime minister, who was president for 10 years before switching jobs this month.
Erdogan calls early elections under state of emergency, new purges underway
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Wednesday (18 April) called snap elections for 24 June, saying economic challenges and the war in Syria meant Turkey must switch quickly to the powerful executive presidency that goes into effect after the vote. The...
Hahn: Turkey taking ‘huge strides’ away from EU
Turkey is moving rapidly away from the path of European Union membership, the top EU official in charge of negotiations said on Tuesday (17 April), as Brussels delivered its harshest criticism yet of what it sees as Ankara's shift towards authoritarianism.
Thousands protest Sargsyan’s PM bid in Armenia, several hurt in scuffles
Around 6,000 gathered in Armenia's capital on Monday (16 April) in protest at what the opposition calls a power grab by former president Serzh Sargsyan and several people were injured in scuffles with police.
Philippines bars EU party official critical of Duterte
The Philippines has barred entry to an EU party official critical of President Rodrigo Duterte's brutal drugs crackdown, in a move denounced by critics Monday (16 April) as a gag on dissent.