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Corruption and criminality in Kosovan politics

Christophe Solioz
Are the accusations levelled at Kosovar PM fuelled by anti-Americanism and simply a trick of the "Moscow/Belgrade axis", or are they serious and genuine allegations that should be investigated with the full force of international law? Denis MacShane sees political machinations at work while Christoph Solioz would like to see more and better investigation for the good not only of justice but also of Albania and Kosovo

Russian justice: don’t cross the Leader!

Dmitri Travin
On 27 December Mikhail Khodorkovsky was found guilty of money laundering and probably faces another long stretch in prison. 4 days earlier retired colonel Vladimir Kvachkov was suddenly arrested. Examining these two, and one other, apparently dissimilar cases, Dmitry Travin finds that the threads lead back to Prime Minister Putin and perceived challenges to his power and/or interests.

Defend the Human Rights Act: the Aso Mohammed Ibrahim case shows the need for a strong response

Geoffrey Bindman
It is time not only to defend the UK's Human Rights Act but to counter-attack the falsehoods and distortions of those who misrepresent it. The Labour Party must speak up for the Act which it courageously introduced to enable people to defend their fundamental rights from arbitrary power.
Wednesday 29th December

Kettling - an attack on the right to protest

Oliver Huitson, 29 December 2010
The British police have developed a controlling method of containing demonstrators in addition to their usual techniques. But up against large numbers and used as collective punishment it is a threat to liberty

The Human Organs of the Council of Europe: there is no evidence in the Marty report

Denis MacShane, 29 December 2010
Dick Marty's report to the Council of Europe reflects the unfortunate politicisation of that body by Russia since accession in 1995. Kosovan politics is not clean, but there is no evidence of organ trafficking by Thaçi. And Marty's judgement is clouded by his anti-American instincts. Christophe Solioz disagrees here

Organ trafficking allegations against Kosovo PM need serious investigation with full cooperation of the EU and the USA

Christophe Solioz, 29 December 2010
Dick Marty's Council of Europe report is serious and credible. It alleges organ trafficking and other crimes and corruption at the heart of the Kosovo Liberation Army and implicates the Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaçi. Justice now demands a proper judicial enquiry. Denis MacShane disagrees here

Defend the Human Rights Act: the Aso Mohammed Ibrahim case shows the need for a strong response

Geoffrey Bindman, 29 December 2010
It is time not only to defend the UK's Human Rights Act but to counter-attack the falsehoods and distortions of those who misrepresent it. The Labour Party must speak up for the Act which it courageously introduced to enable people to defend their fundamental rights from arbitrary power.

Russian justice: don’t cross the Leader!

Dmitri Travin, 29 December 2010
On 27 December Mikhail Khodorkovsky was found guilty of money laundering and probably faces another long stretch in prison. 4 days earlier retired colonel Vladimir Kvachkov was suddenly arrested. Examining these two, and one other, apparently dissimilar cases, Dmitry Travin finds that the threads lead back to Prime Minister Putin and perceived challenges to his power and/or interests.

Tuesday 28th December

Poland’s tragedy: sorrow, and anger

Adam Chmielewski and Denis Dutton, 28 December 2010

The air-crash which decapitated Poland’s state elite may owe something to reckless behaviour, official negligence - and the flaws of modern democracy itself, say Adam Chmielewski & Denis Dutton.

This article was first published on 13 April 2010, and is republished in tribute to Denis Dutton, who died on 28 December 2010

Monday 27th December

Student Protests 2010 (Music (c) Dan Le Sac Vs Scroobius Pip)

OurKingdom, 27 December 2010

Russia's security services: back in charge, out of control

Susan Richards, 27 December 2010
Russia’s security apparatus is back in charge — as powerful, and with less holding it back than ever before. Susan Richards reflects on Wikileaks and reviews a fascinating account of Russia's unofficial second state
Friday 24th December

Best of 50.50 in 2010

Jane Gabriel, 24 December 2010
A global debate for democracy is neither global nor democratic without the female half of humanity. Read seven of the best articles on 50.50 that argue for the equal reality, importance and democratic implication of women’s experience of the world.

Best of OurKingdom 2010

Niki Seth Smith, 24 December 2010
A very brief look back across OK's 2010

The End of the Revolutionary Line: The Demise of Scotland's Tommy Sheridan

Gerry Hassan, 24 December 2010
A Glasgow socialist heads for prison - what does this tell us about the unique world of Scotland's love of hard men
Thursday 23rd December

Alexander Lukashenka’s new test

Natalia Leshchenko, 23 December 2010
The Belarusian president’s latest election victory and the violent crackdown after it clarify the national challenge he faces, says Natalia Leshchenko.

oD Drug Policy Forum: Front Line Report - Week of December 20th, 2010

Mark Weiss and Charles Shaw, 23 December 2010
We lead this weeks report with news of a petition to stop the abusive treatment of prisoners in Georgia and support the demands of the Georgia Prisoners Strike.

What next for the UK's student movement?

Guy Aitchison, 23 December 2010
The volcanic eruption of student anger and militancy in Britain over the last few months has blown the political space wide open, making a broad-based movement against austerity thinkable. Whether or not it can grow and ultimately succeed will depend on the next steps the movement takes.

Drilling for war

Ángel Gómez-de-Ágreda, 23 December 2010
Provocative demonstrations of US military might are no way to avert conflict in east Asia, argues Angel Gómez-de-Ágreda

The Con-Dem Christmas Carol

Niki Seth-Smith, 23 December 2010
The ’12 Cuts of Christmas’, sung by student protesters on the tuition fee demonstration at Parliament Square, summed up this year’s defiantly festive spirit. You can join in the iconoclast carol with the video and lyrics in this post.
Wednesday 22nd December

The toll of the world

Paul Rogers, 22 December 2010
The casualties of 19th-century industrial disasters in northern England and tragedies in Bangladesh and Iraq today are connected by deep economic and political forces - and by an ethical understanding that stretches decades ahead.

Bringing Belarus in from the Cold

Jana Kobzova, 22 December 2010
It is said that Belarusian president Alexander Lukashenka never misses an opportunity to surprise partners and foes alike. But the outcome of the last weekend’s presidential elections in Belarus may have taken by surprise even the country’s long-standing ruler.

Sinterklaas: light and darkness

Philip Ebels, 22 December 2010
An annual holiday in the Netherlands that mixes Christmas cheer with racial stereotyping is provoking debate - even if most Dutch people can’t see what the fuss is about, says Philip Ebels.

Pining for the fjord: Obama and the Middle East peace process

Bob Bowker, 22 December 2010
Declaring defeat in his efforts to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is not a viable option for President Obama, whatever the reality may be.
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