Türkei

Regierungsform: Militärdemokratur
Fähnchenpegel: Wie gewohnt auf Raki-Niveau
Verfolgte Minderheit: Kurden
Verweigerte Menschenrechte: In the wake of increased political uncertainty and army interventions, nationalist sentiment and violence increased. Freedom of expression continued to be restricted. Allegations of torture and other ill-treatment and the use of excessive force by law enforcement officials persisted. Prosecutions for violations of human rights were ineffective and insufficient, and fair trial concerns persisted. The rights of refugees and asylum-seekers were violated. There was little progress in providing shelters for victims of domestic violence. (ai-Menschenrechtsbericht 2008 )

Deutschland

Regierungsform: Parlamentarische Kanzlokratie mit gelegentlicher Volkswahlbelustigung
Fähnchenpegel: Nach lange Selters inzwischen wieder Starkbier
Verfolgte Minderheit: Raucher
Verweigerte Menschenrechte: Germany failed to address human rights violations committed in the context of the US-led “war on terror”, including its involvement in renditions (unlawful transfers of suspects between countries). Additionally, Germany made attempts to obtain diplomatic assurances in deportation cases where individuals may be at risk of serious human rights abuses, in violation of its obligations under international law. (ai-Menschenrechtsbericht 2008 )

Spanien

Regierungsform: Wie Deutschland nur mit König
Fähnchenpegel: Je nach Region Essig (Baskenland) oder Osborne (Madrid)
Verfolgte Minderheit: Basken
Verweigerte Menschenrechte: Reports of human rights violations by law enforcement officers and subsequent impunity continued to be widespread. Asylum-seekers and migrants were denied access to Spanish territory and processed in extra-territorial centres in conditions that did not comply with international standards. Unaccompanied minors were expelled without adequate guarantees for their safety. Victims of domestic violence continued to face obstacles in obtaining protection, justice and reparation, with migrant women facing additional difficulties in accessing essential resources. The armed Basque group Euskadi Ta Askatasuna (ETA) declared its “permanent ceasefire” over in June and resumed bomb attacks. (ai-Menschenrechtsbericht 2008 )

Russland

Regierungsform: Gefühlte Diktatur
Fähnchenpegel: Vodka Putin
Verfolgte Minderheiten: Tschetschenen (u.a.)
Verweigerte Menschenrechte: The Russian authorities were increasingly intolerant of dissent or criticism, branding it ‘unpatriotic’. A crackdown on civil and political rights was evident throughout the year and in particular during the run-up to the State Duma (parliament) elections in December. Given the strict state control of TV and other media, demonstrations were the flashpoint during the year for political protests, with police detaining demonstrators, journalists, and human rights activists, some of whom were beaten. Activists and political opponents of the government were also subjected to administrative detention. The number of racist attacks that came to the attention of the media rose; at least 61 people were killed across the country. Although authorities recognized the problem and there was an increase in the number of prosecutions for racially motivated crimes, these measures failed to stem the tide of violence. The European Court of Human Rights ruled that Russia was responsible for enforced disappearances, torture and extrajudicial executions in 15 judgments relating to the second Chechen conflict which began   in 1999. There were fewer reported cases of disappearances in the Chechen Republic than in previous years; however, serious human rights violations were frequent and individuals were   reluctant to report abuses, fearing reprisals.   Ingushetia saw an increase in serious violations, including enforced disappearances and extrajudicial executions. NGOs were weighed down by burdensome reporting requirements imposed by changes to legislation. Torture was used by police against detainees, including to extract “confessions”; violence against inmates in prisons was also reported. (ai-Menschenrechtsbericht 2008 )