www.rferl.org posted:

Global freedoms declined for a 17th consecutive year in 2022 as the struggle for democracy approaches a turning point amid a curtailment of freedom of expression in countries such as Russia and Iran.

Human rights watchdog Freedom House said in its annual report on freedoms around the world, released on March 9, that the number of countries to score zero for freedom of expression rose on the year to 33 from 14, with media freedom coming under pressure in at least 157 countries and territories during 2022.

The report showed the Nordic countries of Sweden, Norway, and Finland were the most free in the world with scores of 100, while Tibet Syria, and South Sudan were the worst, scoring only 1 point. Turkmenistan placed next to last with a score of 2.

"The most serious setbacks for freedom and democracy were the result of war, coups, and attacks on democratic institutions by illiberal incumbents," it said.

The report singled out Russian President Vladimir Putin's "authoritarian regime" for launching a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 "in a bid to scuttle that country’s hard-won democratic progress."

"Whatever false justifications for this war of aggression have been promulgated by the Kremlin’s state-controlled media, its clear purpose is to remove the elected leadership in Kyiv and deprive Ukrainians of their fundamental right to free self-government," the report, which ranks Russia as "not free," said.

"In his desire to destroy democracy in Ukraine and deny Ukrainians their political rights and civil liberties, Putin has caused the deaths and injuries of thousands of Ukrainian civilians as well as soldiers on both sides, the destruction of crucial infrastructure, the displacement of millions of people from their homes, a proliferation of torture and sexual violence, and the intensification of already harsh repression within Russia," it added.

The decline in freedoms in Russia appeared to influence its neighbors as well, the report showed, noting that three decades after the fall of the Soviet Union, "authoritarianism dominates Eurasia."

The report showed that no formerly Soviet countries were designated as "free," aside from the three Baltic states -- Estonia, Lithuania, and Latvia, all of which are European Union and NATO members.

"This lack of democratic governance has destabilized the region, as strongman rulers use military force to lash out at their neighbors and smother domestic dissent," the report said.

In addition to Turkmenistan lingering at the bottom of the table, Tajikistan had a score of 7, followed by Belarus and Afghanistan (8) and Azerbaijan (9). Uzbekistan and Iran had scores of 12, while Russia scored 16 points.

"The limited space for free media in Eurasia has diminished further due to new criminal laws and legislative restrictions," the report said.

Still, it lauded the countries of the Caucasus and Central Asia for "declining to recognize Russia's annexation of Ukrainian territory" and for complying with international sanctions imposed against Russian banks.

The same, however, could not be said for Belarus, Freedom House noted.

Belarus, which authoritarian ruler Alyaksandr Lukashenka has closely aligned with Russia during the war against Ukraine, was tied for eighth worst in terms of freedoms, sharing the spot with Afghanistan, which saw Taliban militants seize power in 2021 after international forces withdrew from the country.

On the other end of the report, Kosovo was praised for being one of the most improved countries in terms of freedom, being given the designation as "partly free."
. . .

CODChimera posted:

can you even imagine this war going on for another 2 years

Son of Thunderbeast posted:

Yeah actually

CODChimera posted:

can you even imagine this war going on for another 2 years

CODChimera posted:

oh yeah i meant more like imagine the state of ukraine and russia in 2 years

Zodium posted:

the former minister is claus hjort frederiksen, charge is revealing state secrets. afaik the case is held in secret so we won't know anything other than guilty/not guilty eventually.

speng31b posted:

if anyone wants a grosse biden on their rap sheet lmk

fits my needs posted:

https://twitter.com/danieljzalewski/status/1633747284793110528?s=20

Cromulent_Chill posted:

Endman posted:

Mr Chairman, my country yearns for freedom!! We are suffering under the fascist oppression of Canberra, please send Chengdu J-20 stealth fighter to liberate us!!

ContinuityNewTimes posted:

I'm waiting for Al-Saqr's final say

Zeroisanumber posted:

I wonder what a negotiated settlement between Ukraine and Russia will look like.

OctaMurk posted:

maybe there just wont be a settlement and the frontline will just stop moving noticably, and theyll just sign a ceasefire and thats what the border is (but neither side recognizes the others claims or amything)

DancingShade posted:

Another decade if all goes well.

One fun side effect people haven't focused on:

Ukraine unstable disrupts China's belt & road project to eastern Europe. Means they are reliant on western shipping instead of eastern rail for trade.

Who profits if that gets held up?

Ah. Haha. I'm sure it's all just a cosmic coincidence. Chortles heartily.

speng31b posted:

if anyone wants a grosse biden on their rap sheet lmk

Endman posted:

The most pissweak way to end a war imo

Weka posted:

Hopefully it spurs the development of the Iran to Istanbul segment.

crepeface posted:

the derpy uk fish makin me laugh

Deadly Ham Sandwich posted:

What is wrong with this demon cracker country? Russia, China, now Mexico and anyone with Lithium. Where is the US not starting poo poo? Antarctica?

quote:

https://www.state.gov/key-topics-office-of-ocean-and-polar-affairs/antarctic/

US DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Antarctic Region
OFFICE OF OCEAN AND POLAR AFFAIRS

The United States has strong diplomatic interests in Antarctica. In particular, the United States seeks to promote Antarctica’s status as a continent reserved for peace and science in accordance with the provisions of the Antarctic Treaty of 1959. The United States played a major role in negotiating this Treaty, which was signed in Washington, and it participates actively in all aspects of the Antarctic Treaty System. There are currently 53 Parties to the Treaty, of which 29 are Consultative Parties having the right to participate in decision-making.

The Department of State coordinates U.S. policy on Antarctica, and works closely with the National Science Foundation , the federal agency that administers the U.S. Antarctic Program . The United States maintains three year-round scientific stations on Antarctica and has more personnel based in Antarctica than any other country. The Department of State leads the U.S. delegation to the annual Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting (ATCM), where the international community discusses a range of issues pertaining to the Continent. The Department also maintains close ties to the Antarctic Treaty Secretariat (based in Buenos Aires) which facilitates communication among parties to the Antarctic Treaty.

Seven countries (Argentina, Australia, Chile, France, New Zealand, Norway, and the United Kingdom) maintain territorial claims in Antarctica, but the United States and most other countries do not recognize those claims. While the United States maintains a basis to claim territory in Antarctica, it has not made a claim.

More information about the State Department’s role in promoting U.S. interests in Antarctica is available by emailing Antarctica@state.gov.

fizzy posted:

The US "maintains a basis to claim territory in Antarctica" and does not recognise the claims of other claimants.

mawarannahr posted:

if there's one thing I have in common with the stage department it's that I don't even consider recognizing France, Norway, and the United Kingdom. it's not their hemisphere; they're not supposed to be there!

Delta-Wye posted:

remember, when russia invades its smaller neighbor on its southwestern border, its very very bad

likewise, when the usa invades its smaller neighbor on its southwestern border, its very very good

https://twitter.com/thehill/status/1633131464488370182

its not even a big us government with a broad set of opinions, its lindsey graham prancing about setting things on fire for any excuse he can come up with

mawarannahr posted:

oh poo poo... the judgment has been rendered
Rights Watchdog Says Global Freedom Declined For 17th Year

what is "that country’s hard-won democratic progress?"

OhFunny posted:

I think this is the first time I've seen Freedom House carve Tibet out of China on the map.

OhFunny posted:

I think this is the first time I've seen Freedom House carve Tibet out of China on the map.

OhFunny posted:

I think this is the first time I've seen Freedom House carve Tibet out of China on the map.