Anti-racism campaigner banned from north sparking criticism
Fact: Turkish Cypriot authorities have barred Cameroonian anti-racism campaigner Emmanuel Achiri from entering the north, where he had lived for almost a decade.
freedoms
The fifth freedom: Corporate mobility within the EU
The text discusses the impact of Directive (EU) 2019/2121, which amends Directive (EU) 2017/1132, on the legal and business environment in Cyprus. This Directive enhances the mobility of companies within the EU internal market by facilitating cross-border conversions, mergers, and divisions, thus acting as an extension of the freedom of establishment. It aims to promote economic growth, competitiveness, and stability within the European single market by harmonizing rules and procedures across member states. The Directive includes provisions to protect the interests of shareholders, employees, and creditors during cross-border operations. Its implementation in Cyprus is expected to increase cross-border business activity, enhance competitiveness, improve legal certainty, and ensure stakeholder protections, but it may also present challenges in terms of compliance and adaptation for Cypriot companies. The text also notes that the existing Companies Law in Cyprus, CAP 113, already regulates cross-border mergers and the transfer of company seats in line with the Directive, but the new provisions on cross-border divisions represent a significant development for the Cyprus legal corporate system.
DISY criticises Pelekanos-ELAM alliance
The Democratic Rally (DISY) criticized Marios Pelekanos for deciding to join the European Parliament ballot of ELAM, accusing him of using cheap tactics for vote fishing that they believe will benefit AKEL. They expressed disappointment in Pelekanos, noting his previous opposition to ELAM in the media, and announced his automatic removal from the party’s membership list due to his candidacy with another party.
UN says Russia consolidates control of occupied Ukraine with , ‘climate of fear’
Russia is consolidating control over occupied Ukrainian territory through arbitrary detention, killings, and torture, creating a climate of fear. The U.N. Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (HRMMU) reported on rights breaches by Russia, including censorship, surveillance, political oppression, repression of free speech, and movement restrictions. Russia denies committing atrocities or deliberately attacking civilians, calling its actions a “special military operation.” Russia controls over 17% of Ukraine’s territory, affecting several million people. The HRMMU’s findings are based on interviews with over 2,300 individuals. Initial rights violations involved killings, torture, and arbitrary detention, targeting those linked to Ukrainian security forces or supportive of Ukraine. This was followed by restrictions on movement, assembly, and expression, and efforts to replace Ukrainian state institutions with Russian ones, violating international humanitarian law. Schools were forced to adopt the Russian language and curriculum, and the justice system jailed people in Russian prisons. Civil servants were compelled to comply with new systems. At the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, workers faced threats, intimidation, and arbitrary arrest if they resisted. Russia also pushed for residents to take Russian citizenship, linking access to services like healthcare and social security to holding a Russian passport. Residents were encouraged to spy on each other, and communication links between Ukrainians in occupied areas and those in territories controlled by Kyiv were cut, isolating families.
Article 23: what you need to know about Hong Kong’s new national security laws
Hong Kong’s 90-seat legislature passed a new national security law, known as Article 23, which updates or introduces laws to prohibit treason, sabotage, sedition, the theft of state secrets, and espionage. It includes sentences of up to life imprisonment for several offenses and up to 20 years for espionage. The law aims to tighten control over foreign political bodies and organizations in the city and includes provisions against “external interference.” The need for these laws is stipulated in Article 23 of the Basic Law, which has guided Hong Kong’s relations with China since 1997. A previous attempt to enact Article 23 in 2003 was halted after significant public protest. The law also introduces a new offense related to endangering national security through the unlawful use of computers or electronic systems, with a penalty of up to 20 years in prison. Concerns have been raised about the broad definition of state secrets and the potential impact on research and information gathering. Hong Kong’s leader, John Lee, claims the laws meet international standards and protect rights and freedoms. Additionally, Beijing imposed a national security law on Hong Kong in 2020, addressing some offenses and allowing mainland national security officers to operate in the city. China updated its own state secrets laws in 2023, with Hong Kong’s legislation aiming to be compatible with the standards of British-based common law.