received funds from abroad, which the authorities claimed could have come from “ foreign extremist organizations” .94 • An NGO defending the rights of LGBT people suffered harassment throughout the reporting period. The local governor’ s office demanded its closure, arguing that the name and objectives of the group were offensive to the “ moral values and family structure” of the country the NGO was operating in the country. The prosecutor’ s office rejected the complaint, but the governor’ s office pursued the case to a higher court.95 1.5. Freedom of assembly of human rights defenders Challenges and obstacles to freedom of assembly continued, including violent dispersal of assemblies and the use of force against human rights defenders exercising the right to peaceful assembly, excessive interference with freedom of peaceful assembly, and a lack of sufficient police protection for demonstrators. The following examples describe some of the circumstances and challenges affecting defenders. Violent dispersal of assemblies and use of force against human rights defenders exercising the right to peaceful assembly • A country’ s ombudsman was beaten by police after he protested police actions during anti-government protests, where police beat individuals who were not resisting them.96 • A rally to protest kidnappings, police violence, and poor economic conditions was violently dispersed, and some 60 people were arrested.97 • A protest organized by a group advocating international freedom of movement was forcibly dispersed by border guards wielding batons and pepper spray, allegedly without any prior warning. Several protesters were allegedly injured.98 94 Case of the Chechen Committee for National Salvation (Russian Federation), “ Defamation campaign against international NGOs” , Observatory FIDH/OMCT, 11 April 2008. The government of the Russian Federation noted that, in 2007, an inspection of the Chechen Committee for National Salvation was conducted jointly by the Justice Ministry and the Interior Ministry. The inspection revealed that the NGO did not submit all the necessary documentation according to the law; therefore, a warning was issued to the NGO with a requirement to submit the necessary documentation by 15 January 2008. In January 2008, the NGO temporarily suspended its activities. 95 Case of Lambda Istanbul Cultural Centre (Turkey), “ Turkey: end harassment of gay rights group” , Human Rights Watch, press release, 16 April 2008; Amnesty International, op. cit., note 56, p. 303. In June 2008, the higher court ruled in favour of the complaint and ordered the closure of the group. 96 Case of Sozar Subari (Georgia), “ Authorities must promptly investigate police actions in dispersing demonstrators” , Amnesty International, 8 November 2007. 97 Case of a protest in Nazran (Russian Federation), Urgent Appeal, Observatory FIDH/OMCT, 28 November 2007. The government of the Russian Federation noted that this was an unsanctioned meeting that resulted in violations of public order and violence against law-enforcement personnel. A criminal investigation was opened into the case, and nine people were briefly detained. The investigation into the case is ongoing. 98 Case of No Border Camps (United States), “ Amnesty International calls for inquiry into force used by the US Border Patrol against ‘No Border Camps’ protesters” , Amnesty International, 15 November 2007. 23