Day: April 8, 2024

Ruben Vardanyan, former Minister of State of Artsakh, co-founder of the Aurora humanitarian initiative, has been nominated for the 2024 Nobel Peace Prize, Ruben Vardanyan’s office informed Public Radio of Armenia.

“Ruben Vardanyan was nominated for this high award for the creation and support for around five dozen new and unprecedented educational, charitable, scientific and humanitarian structures not only in Armenia, but also in a number of other countries,” his office said.

The nominators mentioned his activities in besieged Artsakh, where Ruben Vardanyan invested a lot of effort, trying not only to alleviate severe humanitarian needs, but also to create opportunities to improve the living conditions of people and children in difficult situations.

“The fact that Ruben Vardanyan’s charity covers not only national, but also international levels, and has global influence and significance, was considered valuable. The Aurora humanitarian initiative – one of the major projects he authored, aimed to help and reach out to all those who risk their lives to do good in all corners of the world, on all continents,” Vardanyan’s Office said.

It is noted that Ruben Vardanyan, together with his colleagues, implemented a total of 700 projects in Armenia, Artsakh and the Armenian world, investing in philanthropy, education, preservation of historical and cultural heritage, tourism and infrastructure development and a number of other fields.

Vardanyan was illegally detained by Azerbaijan at Hakkari bridge checkpoint on September 27, 2023, and is still held in prison in Baku. He faces up to 14 years in jail.

On April 8, Georgian independent media issued a statement “condemning and opposing” the ruling party’s decision to reintroduce the “Russian law” on foreign agents. The media pledges to increase resistance to the adoption of the law in order to make Georgia a true European democracy, together with international partners.

The media outlets note that the draft law is the Georgian Dream’s attempt to “deprive citizens of their voice, destroy independent media, civil society, silence and exclude the most active part of society from public processes”. The statement emphasizes that the return of the law to the political discussion shows the “violent nature” of the authorities, who are learning from the Russian government “how to rule the country through subjugation and control, repression and expulsion, lies and demagoguery.”

The media representatives stress that this law will quickly transform Georgia from a state with a hybrid system of governance into an authoritarian, Russian-style country where “people do not have the opportunity to develop and the most valued quality is obedience.” They emphasize that they do not want to live in such a country and will not give the authorities a chance to make Georgia lose its place in the European family.

“For years “Georgian Dream” has not stopped fighting against different and critical opinions, which are often heard from our web pages and broadcasts. For this reason, independent media, along with civil society organizations, became the main target of the government,” – notes the statement, adding that journalists have been targeted with hatred from the highest officials: “The Georgian authorities systematically harass and persecute journalists, do not allow them to work, and verbally and physically abuse them”.

The media say that although they feel under attack, they never stop doing their work on behalf of Georgia and its international partners. “Georgian independent media have always felt the support of international partners, whose contribution to all the important reforms implemented in Georgia is invaluable. Since Georgia’s declaration of independence, our international partners have been the only guarantors of our security and independence,” – reads the statement.

The statement emphasizes that Georgia’s international partners have once again expressed their negative assessment of the draft law and called on the government to drop it. The media notes that they won’t allow GD to build a “impenetrable wall” between Georgia and its partners. “We will strengthen the resistance, defend our rights, the rights of our citizens and the right of our country to act according to its civilizational choice. Together with international partners we will make Georgia a true European democracy”.

On April 3, the parliamentary majority leader of the ruling Georgian Dream party, Mamuka Mdinaradze, announced the reintroduction of the draft law on foreign agents, which was dropped last year after the massive rallies on March 7-9. According to Mdinaradze, the content of the bill remains the same, the only change is in the title: the word “agent” in it has been removed and the title has been replaced with “Organization Pursuing the Interests of a Foreign Power”. The decision has drawn sharp criticism from the civil society and opposition within the country and from Georgia’s international partners.

Also Read:

• 06/04/2024 – US Helsinki Commission: “Foreign Agent” Legislation – Self-Sabotage of Georgia’s EU Candidacy
• 05/04/2024 – Twelve European Foreign Affairs Committee Chairs: Foreign Agents Bill a “Hostile Step”
• 05/04/2024 – Germany Warns “Foreign Influence” Draft Puts EU Membership at Risk
• 05/04/2024 – MEPs Call on European Commission to Monitor GD Decisions’ Compatibility with EU Candidate Status
• 05/04/2024 – US State Department Spokesperson: Deeply Concerned that Bill will Derail Georgia from European Path
• 05/04/2024 – PACE Co-rapporteurs Express “Deep Concern” Over Re-tabled Foreign Agents Law
• 04/04/2024 – EU: “Seriously Concerned” over Reintroduction of Foreign Agents Law
• 04/04/2024 – Risch, Shaheen Statement on Reintroduction of Foreign Agents’ Law
• 03/04/2024 – Independent Media Outlets Condemn Reintroduced Foreign Agents Bill