A/HRC/51/47
reporting and self-censorship due to the high level of risks and a widespread environment of
fear (TKM 1/2021). The Government responded, 188 stating that the allegations were
groundless and informing that Mr. Halykov was sentenced based on fraudulent activity.
148. According to information received by OHCHR, Mr. Halykov continues to serve his
sentence in the eastern Lebap region and has not been able to receive family visits or phone
calls during the reporting period. Allegedly, when his case is publicly reported, Mr. Halykov
is at increased risk of further reprisals; he is reportedly placed in solitary confinement
between three to five days and is not allowed to move in the colony with other inmates.
27.
United Arab Emirates
149. The case of Mr. Ahmed Mansoor, advisor to the Gulf Centre for Human Rights and
Human Rights Watch’s Middle East and North Africa Division, was included in the 2014,
2017, 2018, 2019, 2021 and 2021 reports of the Secretary-General.189 Mr. Mansoor is alleged
to have suffered intimidation and reprisals for his collaboration with UN human rights
mechanisms. In 2011, his detention was deemed arbitrary by the Working Group on Arbitrary
Detention (A/HRC/WGAD/2011/64). In January 2021, special procedure mandate holders
raised concerns about the continued imprisonment and alleged ill treatment of Mr. Mansoor,
and his placement in solitary confinement since 2018 (ARE 1/2021), 190 to which the
Government responded.191 According to information received by OHCHR, Mr. Mansoor’s
detention conditions worsened further after the publication in a London-based media outlet
in July 2021 of a letter he had written from prison in October 2020 describing the human
rights violations he allegedly was subjected to. Reportedly, following the publication of the
letter, Mr. Mansoor was moved into a smaller and more isolated cell, his reading glasses were
removed, access to medical care was denied, and he remained in solitary confinement.
28.
Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of)
150. The case of the NGO Azul Positivo and its five members, Messrs. Johan Manuel León
Reyes, Yordy Tobias Bermúdez Gutierrez, Layners Christian Gutierrez Díaz, Alejandro
Gómez Di Maggio, and Luis Ramón Ferrebuz Canbrera, was included in the 2021 report of
the Secretary-General regarding the detention and criminal charges allegedly in connection
to their work as UN implementing partners (VEN 1/2021). The Government responded and
rejected the allegations made by several mandate holders, specifying that the accused persons
were in detention for the commission of financial crimes and that fair trial and due process
rights were upheld during the proceedings.192 Azul Positivo provided humanitarian aid to
communities in Zulia, in particular people living with HIV/AIDS. In its 2021 report, OHCHR
cited the connection of the case of Azul Positivo with the implementation of cash transfer
programmes as part of the United Nations humanitarian response plan, and noted that those
events generated a climate of fear and led to the suspension of humanitarian assistance
programmes. 193 According to information received, as of 30 April 2022, the criminal
proceedings against the five members of Azul Positivo are still ongoing.
188
189
190
191
192
193
68
A/HRC/48/28, Annex I, para. 110; and
https://spcommreports.ohchr.org/TMResultsBase/DownLoadFile?gId=36065.
A/HRC/27/38, para. 38; A/HRC/36/31, para. 60 and Annex I, paras. 86–87; A/HRC/39/41, Annex II,
para. 55; A/HRC/42/30, para. 79 and Annex II, paras. 103–104; A/HRC/45/36, Annex II, paras. 126–
127; A/HRC/48/28, Annex II, paras. 133–135.
https://spcommreports.ohchr.org/TMResultsBase/DownLoadPublicCommunicationFile?gId=25866;
https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2021/02/uae-release-human-rights-defendersserving-longterm-prison-sentences-urges.
https://spcommreports.ohchr.org/TMResultsBase/DownLoadFile?gId=36081.
https://spcommreports.ohchr.org/TMResultsBase/DownLoadFile?gId=35987.
A/HRC/47/55, para. 71.