The Kyrgyzstan Parliament, meeting for the fourth time on the issue of former President Askar Akayev , finally accepted his formal resignation Monday by a majority vote. The parliament had struggled to approve the resignation, as some members wanted to initiate impeachment proceedings or even a criminal trial against Akayev. While some members still view [...]

A Moscow court adjourned Monday to begin consideration in the criminal case against former Yukos CEO Mikhail Khodorkovsky on charges of embezzlement and tax evasion. Defense counsel finished its defense Friday , alleging that the charges against Khodorkovsky were trumped up by the government to quiet the politically active millionaire. Prosecutors asked the court for [...]

The International Court of Justice , the principle judicial organ of the UN, will begin hearing oral arguments Monday in the case of Armed Activities on the Territory of the Congo (Democratic Republic of the Congo v. Uganda). The case, filed in 1999, concerns DRC allegations that Uganda invaded its territory, violated international human rights law, [...]

Here's a run-down of law-related events, expected developments and live webcasts on JURIST's docket for Monday, April 11. The US Senate convenes at 2 PM ET today. At 3 PM ET, it will begin consideration of H.R. 1268 , the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act for Defense, the Global War on Terror, and Tsunami Relief. Following [...]

Chinese officials say they will ask China's top legislative panel, the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress , to settle a term limit dispute between Beijing and pro-democracy lawmakers in Hong Kong. The issue arose last month when Hong Kong's Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa announced his resignation because of poor health. Hong Kong lawmakers [...]

The Canadian Parliament will vote Tuesday on opposition-proposed amendment to Bill C-38 , the federal legislation that would extend civil marriage to same sex couples. The amendment introduced by federal Conservative party leader Stephen Harper would reverse the intent of the bill by defining marriage as between one man and one woman. Thousands protested against [...]

France's far-right leader Jean-Marie Le Pen , who surprised observers with his strong performance in the 2002 French presidential election, has called for voters to reject the proposed European Constitution in a May 29th referendum. Le Pen has called the document "an instrument of destruction of nations," arguing that it creates a super-state at the [...]

Survivors mourned the thousands killed and urged people to be vigilant against hate in marking the 60th anniversary of the liberation of the Buchenwald , concentration camp in Germany on Sunday. Their message echoed that of a similar gathering held at Auschwitz in January. Around 56,000 people died at Buchenwald, and as many as 1.5 [...]

Cardinal Bernard Law , who resigned as the Archbishop of Boston in 2002 amid accusations that he covered up sexual abuse of children by priests {JURIST news archive], will on Monday lead one of nine memorial masses for Pope John Paul II. Members of the Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests is traveling to [...]

Guantanamo detainee court papers, transcripts; Associated Press, April 9, 2005 . Review the full text of the court papers, organized in alphabetical order by detainee. Reported in JURIST's Paper Chase here.