This appears to be more political than judicial. As per so many other cases around the world where leaders are convicted for corruption and denied the right to contest another election. The victim of the campaign is a right-wing politician, and the government in power is left-wing with exceptional influence over the judiciary.
These are not attempts to clean up corruption but rather to eliminate political opposition. This is happening everywhere, and it's astonishing that no one in the media has clued in on it.
Ex-Colombian President Álvaro Uribe given
12 years of house arrest
Former Colombian President Álvaro Uribe Vélez was also ordered to pay a fine equivalent to $820,000 and was barred from holding public office for more than eight years during his sentencing Friday to 12 years of house arrest for bribery in criminal proceedings and procedural fraud. File Photo by Carlos Ortega/EPA
Aug. 1 (UPI) -- Former Colombian President Álvaro Uribe Vélez was sentenced Friday to 12 years of house arrest for bribery in criminal proceedings and procedural fraud.
Uribe also was ordered to pay a fine equivalent to $820,000 and was barred from holding public office for more than eight years.
Judge Sandra Liliana Heredia found Uribe guilty Thursday of those crimes and issued a historic ruling against him, making him the first former Colombian president to be criminally convicted in the country's modern judicial history.
The ruling has polarized the country. While Uribe's supporters denounce it as "political persecution," many victims of human rights violations say it finally sets a precedent for justice.
Uribe's legal team is to have Bogotá Superior Court consider an appeal Aug. 11, leaving uncertainty over whether the sentence will be enforced or suspended while the appeal process proceeds.
The case began in 2012, when then-Sen. Álvaro Uribe filed a complaint against Sen. Iván Cepeda Castro, accusing him of witness tampering in an effort to link Uribe to illegal armed groups. But the investigation soon took an unexpected turn.
The Supreme Court of Justice, which initially investigated Cepeda, found evidence that individuals close to Uribe had offered financial, legal and administrative benefits to former paramilitaries and guerrilla fighters in exchange for testimony against Cepeda.
Uribe was then charged with manipulating evidence and misleading the justice system to influence judges and secure rulings favorable to his interests -- in the very investigation he had initiated against Cepeda.
After the sentencing, Historical Pact Sen. Wilson Arias said. "Twelve years in prison for Álvaro Uribe-- and no, this is not political persecution. No one reported him: he initiated a vendetta against Iván Cepeda and, along the way, committed the crimes of witness tampering and procedural fraud," the Colombian newspaper El Mundo reported.
On her X account, Rep. Alexandra Vásquez wrote that "justice has spoken and stood above economic and political power."
Former President Iván Duque released a video in which he claimed that a group of 28 former presidents from IDEA and Libertad y Democracia have called for international oversight due to serious irregularities in the case against Álvaro Uribe Vélez.
"Human rights treaties were violated, and there is not a single piece of evidence to justify a conviction. Uribe is innocent," he said.
Christian Garcés Aljure, a member of Colombia's House of Representatives, wrote on X: "They want to silence our top leader -- the man holding back the socialist advance in South America. They will not defeat us!"
During his presidency, Uribe implemented a policy known as "Democratic Security," which reduced kidnapping and homicide rates and supported the demobilization of paramilitary and guerrilla forces.
However, Uribe also faced sharp criticism over alleged human rights violations and the demobilization of paramilitary groups with impunity. His presidency was further overshadowed by the "false positives" scandal, in which thousands of civilians were killed by the military and falsely labeled as guerrilla fighters killed in combat.
According to the investigation, between 2012 and 2018, imprisoned paramilitaries were paid and pressured to change their testimony linking Uribe to illegal armed groups.
Ex-South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol
in solitary confinement
Former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, shown arriving at court to attend a hearing on his arrest warrant earlier this month, is being held in solitary confinement, his legal mentor said. Photo by Kim Hong-Ji/EPA/Pool
SEOUL, July 30 (UPI) -- Former South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol is being held in solitary confinement under conditions that have prompted concern from his legal adviser.
According to his mentor, Shin Pyung, who recently visited him at the Seoul Detention Center, Yoon's treatment is "unfit for a human being" and may constitute a violation of both domestic and international human rights standards.
Yoon is confined in 71-square-foot cell with no desk or chair. Instead, he sits on a makeshift cardboard platform, using it to eat meals and read the Bible -- which, according to his attorney, has become his only means of intellectual engagement during confinement.
He eats meals while squatting, and his physical movement is limited to brief periods of outdoor exercise -- in isolation.
Shin, who was granted access under attorney-client privilege, described the environment as "hell on Earth," noting that the former president lies flat on the floor at night without space to stretch.
Despite evident physical discomfort and digestive issues, Yoon was said to maintain a calm and composed demeanor during the visit, even offering a faint smile when asked how he was doing.
Claims of political retribution
Shin condemned the conditions as politically motivated and accused the current administration of engaging in retributive justice. He further appealed to the international community to recognize the situation as an "uncivilized and barbaric act," urging diplomatic pressure from democratic allies to ensure humane treatment.
The harsh conditions have sparked debate about whether South Korea is upholding its constitutional principle of equal dignity for all citizens -- including former heads of state -- while also observing international norms on the treatment of detainees.
South Korea's Ministry of Justice has defended the detention center's actions, saying that Yoon is being treated like any other inmate under remand. Authorities said he has access to a fan for cooling during the summer heat, but denied that he is receiving any special accommodations due to his former status.
The ministry also clarified that solitary confinement is standard for high-profile detainees during the investigative phase, primarily to prevent contact with other inmates and reduce the risk of evidence tampering.
Comparisons with former presidents
Critics note that previous presidents charged with criminal offenses, such as Park Geun-hye and Lee Myung-bak, were confined under significantly less austere conditions. Park was given a converted cell with more space and access to reading materials, while Lee was allowed to use a private bathroom and had access to a separate visitation room.
Further back, former presidents Chun Doo-hwan and Roh Tae-woo were housed in specially constructed annexes with separate facilities, designed to respect the dignity of their former office.
Either presidents in South Korea are incredibly corrupt, or this method of political assassination has been active in the country for a long time.
I asked Grok about Yoon Suk-yeol, and sure enough, he is a right-wing politician which falls in line with almost all other persecuted politicians around the world.
What is Yoon Suk-yeol in jail for?
Yoon Suk Yeol, the former president of South Korea, is currently in detention facing multiple charges related to his short-lived declaration of martial law on December 3, 2024. The primary charge against him is insurrection, stemming from his attempt to impose martial law, which involved banning political and parliamentary activities, controlling the media, and ordering the military to detain political opponents. This decree, which lasted only six hours before being overturned by the National Assembly, is considered by prosecutors to constitute a rebellion, a charge that carries the potential for life imprisonment or the death penalty, as South Korean presidents do not have immunity from such grave offenses.
Additional charges include obstruction of justice, abuse of power, and falsifying official documents, as alleged by a special counsel investigation. These accusations arise from actions such as Yoon’s alleged failure to follow legal procedures for declaring martial law (e.g., not holding a formal Cabinet meeting) and his use of presidential security forces to resist initial arrest attempts in January 2025. Furthermore, prosecutors have claimed Yoon ordered military drones to fly over North Korea to provoke a reaction that would justify his martial law declaration, adding to the charges of abuse of authority.
Yoon was first arrested on January 15, 2025, and detained at the Seoul Detention Center. He was released on March 8, 2025, after a court ruled his detention invalid due to procedural errors by prosecutors, specifically the timing of his indictment and questions about the legality of the investigation process. However, he was rearrested on July 10, 2025, after a special prosecutor, appointed by the new president Lee Jae-myung, pursued additional charges. The Seoul Central District Court approved this second arrest warrant, citing concerns that Yoon could destroy evidence if not detained.
Yoon’s legal team has argued that his martial law declaration was a legitimate exercise of power to address a political deadlock caused by the opposition Democratic Party’s control of the National Assembly, which he claimed was paralyzing state affairs. They also contend that the investigations are politically motivated. Despite his release in March, Yoon’s ongoing criminal trials for insurrection and other charges continue, and he remains in detention as of the latest reports. His impeachment was upheld by the Constitutional Court in April 2025, formally removing him from office.
Additionally, Yoon faces a civil lawsuit ruling from July 2025, ordering him to pay damages to 104 citizens for psychological harm caused by his martial law declaration, which was found to have violated their constitutional rights.These charges and detentions reflect the significant political turmoil in South Korea following Yoon’s actions, with ongoing trials likely to shape his legal fate.
19 posts
Is Yoon Suk-yeol left or right of center politically
Yoon Suk Yeol, former president of South Korea, is associated with the right of center politically. He belongs to the People Power Party (PPP), a conservative political party in South Korea that advocates for free-market policies, strong national security, and a firm stance against North Korea. During his presidency (2022–2025), Yoon's policies emphasized economic deregulation, a pro-business agenda, and a hawkish foreign policy, particularly in strengthening ties with the United States and Japan to counter regional threats. These positions align with conservative ideologies, placing him firmly on the right side of the political spectrum in the South Korean context. The opposition, led by the Democratic Party, represents the left of center, focusing on progressive policies, social welfare, and a more conciliatory approach toward North Korea. Yoon’s conflicts with the Democratic Party, especially during his attempt to impose martial law in December 2024, underscored this ideological divide, as he accused the opposition of paralyzing governance, reflecting his conservative perspective on maintaining order and state authority.
On the other hand, Corruption is Everywhere!
Lithuanian PM Gintautas Paluckas resigns
in face of corruption probe
Lithuanian Prime Minister Gintautas Paluckas resigned Thursday amid a corruption probe. File Photo by Valda Kalnina/EPA
July 31 (UPI) -- Lithuanian Prime Minister Gintautas Paluckas resigned on Thursday following investigations of his unethical financial dealings that prompted protests.
"Just over an hour ago, I informed the president that I have made the decision to resign from the position of prime minister," Palcukas said in a statement. "I also announce that I have decided to step down from my position as leader of the LSDP."
His resignation is expected to trigger the fall of the Cabinet, as they are potentially leaving the country, leaving no government.
Paluckas was given a two-week ultimatum following his scandal involving EU loans and questionable business ties linked to his relatives, which led to an investigation.
"As prime minister, I do not feel that I have made any fundamental mistakes or violations. I have carried out my duties honestly, to the best of my understanding and ability," he said.
The media had revealed that he never paid a fine of $18,000 in connection with a 2021 criminal case, "rat poison scandal."
He was also sentenced to two years in prison, but never ended up spending any time behind bars.
President Gitanas Nauseda said the coalition-building process is underway.
"There is more than one candidate who could fully carry out the duties of prime minister," Nausėda said, adding that the next candidate will be fully investigated to avoid "another situation like this."
