Litigation
Justice Initiative lawyers have represented scores of individuals and groups before domestic and international human rights courts and tribunals around the world. These cases seek not only to vindicate individual claims, but to establish and strengthen the law’s protection for all.
Hospital Attacks in Syria
Russia’s air force deliberately attacked Kafr Nabl hospital in Syria in 2019. A legal filing, brought on behalf of victims and survivors, seeks a ruling from the UN Human Rights Committee on the attack—part of a wider pattern of attacks against health care facilities in Syria by Russian forces.
Last update: May 02, 2024Sentsov and Kolchenko v. Russia
The imposition of Russian nationality on Ukrainian citizens in Crimea resulted in the violation of the applicants' fair trial rights.
Last update: November 20, 2019Askarov v. Kyrgyzstan
Human rights defender Azimjan Askarov was detained and tortured by police in Kyrgyzstan after documenting human rights violations committed during inter-ethnic conflict in 2010. Askarov was given a life sentence after being denied a fair trial and died in July 2020.
Last update: October 01, 2019Akmatov v. Kyrgyzstan
Turdubek Akmatov was taken to the local police station in Kyrgyzstan and severely beaten during ten hours in custody. He died a few hours after being released without charge.
Last update: October 01, 2019Ernazarov v. Kyrgyzstan
The Ernazarov case concerns the death in custody of Rahmanberdi Enazarov, who was arrested in November 2005 and charged with the serious sexual offense of forced sodomy.
Last update: October 01, 2019Janowiec v. Russia
In 1940, Josef Stalin ordered the killing of tens of thousands of Polish prisoners of war, captured after the Soviet invasion of their country. To this day the full truth of what happened in 1940 has not come out.
Last update: October 17, 2013Magnitsky v. Russia
Sergei Magnitsky died in pretrial detention in Russia after being denied essential medical care, in retaliation for exposing a $230m fraud involving senior Interior Ministry officials.
Last update: October 17, 2012Akunov v. Kyrgyzstan
The death of a political activist in police custody in April 2007 after undergoing a severe beating reflects a larger pattern of violence in Kyrgyzstan.
Last update: October 03, 2011