28/08/2015 UA 28/08/2015 JUA Case No Country Mandate(s) Summary of the allegation transmitted Reply BGR 2/2015 Bulgaria Minority issues; 08/10/2015 Allegations concerning the implementation of eviction orders against sixty-one Roma households from the Maksuda Roma settlement in Mladost sub-municipality of Varna. According to the information received, the affected Roma communities were not informed regarding the date of eviction, which reportedly commenced on 20 August 2015, and over 1000 persons have been affected, including over 400 children. The evicted Roma have not been provided with any alternative accommodation. The only alternative provided by the municipality has been to offer to place evicted children in social institutions, including orphanages, thus separating families. Most of the affected families have indicated that they do not wish to place their children in institutionalized care. These latest evictions reportedly take place within a broader context of ongoing marginalization of the Roma community in Varna, including a number of prior evictions of Roma in 2014. A previous communication regarding the planned eviction of Roma in the city of Gurmen was sent on 13 July 2015, see above, case no. BGR 1/2015. ITA 4/2015 Italy Freedom of expression; Freedom of peaceful assembly and of association; Human rights defenders; Torture; Allegations concerning the arrest and risk of imminent extradition of a human rights defender to Algeria. According to the information received, on 17 March 2004, Mr. Rachid Mesli, the co-founder and legal director of Alkarama, was sentenced in absentia to 20 years in prison by the Criminal Court of the Judicial Council of Algiers for “belonging to a terrorist group acting abroad.” On 6 April 2002, an international arrest warrant had been issued against him. On 19 August 2015, Mr. Mesli was arrested at the Swiss-Italian border on the basis of the international arrest warrant from 2002. He was subsequently detained in Aosta prison. On 22 August 2015, Mr. Mesli was released pending appearance before the Turin Court of Appeal. On 25 August 2015, during his hearing, Mr. Mesli was informed by the judge that there was an arrest warrant against him and that the Algerian authorities would have 10 days to formally request his extradition. A/HRC/31/79 90 Date Type