A Russian nurse, Olga Menshikh, was sentenced to eight years in a penal colony for criticizing Moscow’s military campaign in Ukraine on social media. This sentence highlights the harsh crackdown on dissent in Russia and the severe consequences for speaking out against the war.
Zhu Hengpeng, a respected economist and deputy director at the Institute of Economics at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), has reportedly been detained and stripped of his roles after allegedly criticizing President Xi Jinping’s economic policies. His comments, made in a private WeChat group chat, are said to have included subtle criticism of Xi and China’s struggling economy. The incident highlights the increasing suppression of dissent and negative commentary on China’s economic health.
A prominent Chinese economist, Zhu Hengpeng, has disappeared after allegedly criticizing President Xi Jinping’s economic policies in a private WeChat group. This incident highlights the increasing suppression of dissent in China under Xi’s leadership.
While Iran launched an attack on Israel, it also initiated a domestic campaign targeting individuals perceived to be violating Islamic dress code regulations. The move has drawn criticism and concern from both activists and politicians, who fear it aims to suppress broader dissent during a period of vulnerability for the ruling regime. The campaign has resulted in police presence on the streets and reports of arrests and violence against women, raising questions about the government’s priorities and the potential for further unrest.
Dalit PhD scholar Ramadas Prini Sivanandan has been suspended by the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) for two years for his alleged involvement in protests. The institute accused him of staging a demonstration outside Parliament and screening a banned BBC documentary. Ramadas has refuted the allegations and claimed that he was exercising his constitutional rights and demanding education for all. The suspension has drawn sharp criticism from student organizations and political parties, who have demanded an immediate revocation of the order.
