Courts continue to pursue cases related to the Bosnian civil war. The trial of eight Bosnian Muslims [JURIST report] for their alleged war crimes during the civil war began earlier this month. In February the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) [official website; JURIST news archive] sentenced Milan Tupajic to two months in prison [JURIST report] on two counts of contempt for refusing to testify against Radovan Karadzic. In January a Bosnian court upheld the original conviction and 31-year sentence of Radomir Vukovic, who was captured earlier that month [JURIST reports].

Prison overcrowding is a common problem across the globe. In February Human Rights Watch [advocacy website] called for the reduction of overcrowding [JURIST report] to improve poor prison conditions in Latin America following a prison fire in Honduras. In August Venezuelan Minister for Prisons Iris Varela announced that she plans to release up to 40 percent [JURIST report] of the country's prisoners in an effort to reduce prison overcrowding. The US also has prison overcrowding concerns, particularly in California. Last year, the US Supreme Court upheld [opinion, PDF] an order requiring California to release up to 46,000 prisoners [JURIST report] to remedy the state's overcrowded prisons. California submitted a plan to comply with the court's order, but the state's Legislative Analyst's Office has concluded that California is unlikely to meet [JURIST reports] the Supreme Court's two-year deadline.

Last week, Tymoshenko was returned to prison after being sent to a clinic for medical treatment. The former prime minister has refused to be treated [JURIST report] by the prison doctors for back problems she has been experiencing, as she believes they are under the direction of political rival President Viktor Yanukovych. She is currently appealing a conviction and seven-year prison sentence [JURIST reports] to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) and has discontinued all appeals [JURIST report] in the Ukraine on that issue. Although her previous conviction was on charges of corruption and abuse of power during her time as Prime Minister, Tymoshenko is now accused of hiding $165 million of corporate revenue and accumulating $5.8 million through tax fraud while the head of the UESU.

Somali pirates have been garnishing much attention lately from the international community. Last month, the US government handed over 15 suspected Somali pirates [JURIST report] it captured in January to the Republic of Seychelles for prosecution. The suspects are accused of attacking a ship and kidnapping 13 Iranian fisherman, all of whom the US Navy rescued. In December, Seychelles President James Michel asked world leaders to address security problems in Somalia [JURIST report] with greater urgency in order to lower the rate of Somali pirate attacks in the southern Indian Ocean. In November, Assistant Secretary-General for Political AffairsTaye-Brook Zerihoun told the UN Security Council that in order to successfully combat piracy, member states must increase security and legal action against pirates [JURIST report] and provide further support to the Somalian economy. Zerihoun stated that although recent efforts in the international community have reduced the instances of piracy in the East African region, many nations have failed to prosecute accused pirates.

Chen was placed under house arrest in 2010 after he was released from serving four years in prison [JURIST report] for damaging property and "organizing a mob to disturb traffic." After placing him under house arrest, Chinese authorities increased surveillance of his home and family, bringing into question the authenticity of his release [press release]. Family members alleged that Chen suffers from health problems caused by mistreatment he received while in prison, including beatings and repeated food poisonings [WP report]. Chen claims the charges were retribution for his documentation of forced sterilizations and abortions performed by Chinese officials to enforce China's one-child policy.