[JURIST] Rights violations being committed in Central Asia are comparable to abuses perpetrated in the former Soviet Union, according the annual report [press release; text] released Tuesday by the International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights (IHF). The IHF was particularly critical of Uzbekistan [JURIST news archive] and Turkmenistan [Wikipedia backgrounder]. According to the report, problems in those countries include government interference in the courts, widespread use of torture, and the suppression of political opposition, media and civil society.

Belarus and the Russian North Caucasus region, particularly Chechnya [JURIST news archives], were listed as priority regions as well. The report also criticized the US for arbitrary detentions at Guantanamo Bay [JURIST news archive] and other rights violations in its fight against terrorism. RFE/RL has more.