US accuses Moscow of harassing Putin-critic Navalny in jail
September 10, 2022, 8:28 am

US accuses Moscow of harassing Putin-critic Navalny in jail

Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny takes part in a rally to protest against proposed amendments to the country's constitution, in Moscow, Russia, February 29, 2020. (Reuters)

The United States on Friday (Sep 9) accused Russian authorities of violating the rights of jailed opposition leader Alexei Navalny by restricting his contact with lawyers and repeatedly subjecting him to solitary confinement, according to the AFP, the al-Arabiya English said.

Navalny, President Vladimir Putin’s most vocal domestic critic, is serving nine years in jail on a series of charges he says are politically motivated.

The State Department said in a statement late Friday: “The United States is deeply concerned by the Russian Government’s escalating, arbitrary interference with Aleksey Navalny’s rights.”

The agency said prison authorities had interfered with Navalny’s access to legal defense by supervising his meetings with his lawyers and delaying exchanges of documents and communication between them.

Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny supporters protest his arrest in Moscow. (Reuters)

The statement went on: “This interference, along with his repeated diversion to solitary confinement for minor alleged infractions, is further evidence of politically motivated harassment.”

In recent weeks, the 46-year-old leader jailed near the town of Vladimir some 200 kilometers (125 miles) outside Moscow, has said he was placed in solitary confinement on several occasions as punishment, including for having tried to start a union at the prison where he is jailed.

Kremlin critic Navalny in solitary confinement for fourth time

Describing Navalny’s arrest as “already shameful,” the State Department said Moscow’s “insistence on harassing him further only highlights its insecurity and fear of those who speak the truth.”

Images of the father of two published last week by independent Russian media, show him emaciated and exhausted.

And his aides have raised alarm, saying the new communication procedures prevent them from knowing what is happening with him.

Source: alarabiyaenglish

UN report: 250M in Africa affected by high water scarcity New York declares disaster as polio makes comeback

BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”