EU leaders press Putin on Russia human rights at summit News
EU leaders press Putin on Russia human rights at summit

[JURIST] German Chancellor Angela Merkel [official website] and other European Union (EU) leaders criticized Russia's human rights record [JURIST news archive] in a series of exchanges at a press conference with Russian President Vladimir Putin [official website] Friday, marking the end of a summit between the EU and Russia. Merkel, speaking to reporters, raised concerns about Russia's democratic freedoms with reports that Russian officials have detained protesters traveling to the city of Samara, where the summit was being held. Putin dismissed the reports, insisting that all protests violently dispersed by police were illegal demonstrations not staged "in accordance with the law."

Putin in turn criticized the EU for not responding to the death of a Russian citizen in Estonia [Reuters report] during a clash between ethnic Russians and police over removal of a Red Army war memorial [IHT report]. AP has more.

THIS DAY @ LAW

US Supreme Court ruled Indians not US citizens

On November 3, 1884, the US Supreme Court ruled in Elk v. Wilkins that John Elk, an American Indian who had tried to vote in a federal election in Omaha, Nebraska, was not a US citizen entitled to the protection of the 14th and 15th Amendments of the US Constitution. Native Americans became eligible for citizenship in 1887 under the Dawes Act, but only in 1924, under the Indian Citizenship Act, were all Native Americans born in the US made citizens.

Last public execution at Tyburn Gallows in London

On November 3, 1783, the last public execution took place at Tyburn Gallows in London, when John Austin was hanged for highway robbery. From the hanging of William Fitz Osburn in 1196 until Austin's execution, Tyburn served as London's primary location for public executions.

Learn more about the trial of John Austin.