Rights groups allege violations in run-up to Russia parliamentary elections News
Rights groups allege violations in run-up to Russia parliamentary elections

[JURIST] Human rights groups have expressed concerns about repression and rights violations in the run-up to Russian parliamentary elections scheduled for Sunday. Amnesty International (AI), [advocacy website] alleged Wednesday that the Russian government has interfered with opposition parties' rights of freedom of expression and free assembly [AI press release]. It characterized opposition candidate and former chess grandmaster Garry Kasparov – arrested [JURIST report] in Moscow Saturday at an anti-Putin rally – as a prisoner of conscience, and called for his immediate release. Russian human rights group Golos [advocacy website, in Russian] has meanwhile said that election observers have been prevented from effectively observing the elections [Moscow Times article] because of a politically-motivated criminal prosecution. AP has more.

United Russia [party website, in Russian] the political party of Russian President Vladimir Putin [JURIST news archive; official website] has launched a massive publicity campaign [NYT report] to win the elections, which it is already expected to dominate.

THIS DAY @ LAW

38 Santee Sioux hanged by US for rebellion

On December 26, 1862, 38 Santee Sioux men were hanged in a mass execution for their roles in a rebellion against US authorities in Minnesota which left hundreds dead and made refugees of some 40,000 white settlers. Government annuities promised under a treaty with the Sioux had failed to arrive on schedule and credit for purchases was not advanced in the meantime, threatening the tribe with starvation. The Santee Sioux Tribe's members were deported first to South Dakota and ultimately to Nebraska, where they remain today. Learn more about the 1862 Minnesota Sioux Rebellion.

Louis XVI put on trial during French Revolution

On December 26, 1792, Romain de Sèze, a defense attorney for deposed King Louis XVI, presented a defense of his client. The former King was on trial before a French Revolutionary court on thirty-three charges, including treason and other crimes against the state. He was convicted on January 15, 1793 executed by guillotine on the following January 21.