De-facto Abkhaz leader Aslan Bzhania in his interview with the local TV station on September 19 spoke about the relations with Moscow in the light of the recent cuts in funding to the occupied region by Russia, slamming those who oppose the implementation of the 2014 “treaty on alliance and strategic partnership” with Russia and the “agreements” stemming from it.
Bzhania defended the controversial August 19 protocol of his meeting with Deputy Head of the Russian Presidential Administration Dmitry Kozak, which demanded Abkhazia to fulfill its obligations to Russia. He commented that subsequent to issuance of the protocol “A document was received from the Russian Federation, which states that [from September 1] co-financing of salaries of certain categories of state employees is suspended until the Abkhaz side fulfills the conditions laid down in agreements between Sokhumi and Moscow.”
Asked whether the cuts in Russian funding will affect Abkhazians, he stated that “Suspension of the funding process will certainly affect a large number of citizens of Abkhazia – teachers, health care workers, cultural workers and many others.” He added that the leadership of the region “is engaged in solving this issue.”
Asked why Russia cut the funding Bzhania said this happened because Abkhazia has been avoiding the implementation of the obligations taken vis-a-vis Moscow, which stem from the so-called treaty on alliance and strategic partnership signed by Presidents Vladimir Putin and Raul Khajimba on November 24, 2014. He explained that the “treaty” envisaged “qualitatively new level of interstate relations”, coordinated foreign policy and common defense area, as well as creation of common social- economic area. Noting that “this agreement is in the interest of Abkhazia” he said that Abkhazia “cannot avoid the implementation indefinitely.”
He stressed: “Russia is our only strategic partner, so I am asking since when do we not trust the leadership of Russia?” He added: “The time has come to implement the clauses of this treaty [of 2014], and I, as the highest official who represents our people, will certainly implement all the provisions of this treaty and the agreements stemming from it, among others because it corresponds to the interests of the Abkhaz people.”
He spoke in particular about the so-called agreement on mutual recognition of arbitration court rulings which he said that “opens up opportunities for economic development and investment attraction.” He said that Abkhazia has “an inefficient economy in general” and it has not been able to achieve the level of economic development “that we need in order to solve current issues” specifically noting the problems with attracting investment.
He dismissed any concerns about the risks for Abkhazia resulting from the conclusion of this agreement. “We can only have investments from the Russian Federation, and an investor will come to the country if there are security conditions and guarantees for doing business.” He also noted that currently 90% of construction in the occupied region is carried out at the expense of joint Russian-Abkhazian companies.
Speaking at length about the importance of relations with Russia, “which is our only strategic partner” Bzhania criticized those who maintain that “such agreements are allegedly not in the interests of the Abkhaz” and blamed such rhetoric on “dirty political fighting”.
However, Bzhania noted that he did not see any crisis in relations with Russia, only some minor obstacles.
The de-facto Abkhaz leader described at length the “very difficult circumstances” for Abkhazia, mentioning among others that “Ukraine authorities call on on opposition forces in Georgia to conduct a coup and open the second front”, that “Russian cities are under attack by Ukraine and its allies”, that Abkhazia is “at war with Georgia”, that “there is no non-use of force agreement with Georgia”, and that “Georgia was, is and will be attempting to get back “the Abkhaz territory.”
He concluded that “the only force we rely on is the volition of people of Abkhazia and support of Russia” and slammed those who against this background “create tensions between us and Russia.” He also said that those people who create tensions and don’t trust Russia should give up their Russian passports, and said Russia has the right to strip of its citizenship those who “harm our inter-state relations, who don’t respect the Russian state and attempt to discredit it.”
Transgender woman Kesaria Abramidze was murdered in Tbilisi
In the morning, the police released information about the arrest of a suspect, stating that a 26-year-old man, “following a conflict,” inflicted multiple stab wounds on the woman in her apartment before fleeing the scene.
A criminal case has been opened under the article for premeditated murder with aggravating circumstances based on gender hatred.
TV channels aired surveillance footage from the building, showing the suspect exiting the elevator about 14 minutes after entering.
Kesaria Abramidze was one of the first transgender women in Georgia to publicly speak about her gender identity. She was an actress, model, and TV host, frequently discussing her experiences on various shows.
Shortly after her murder, a social media post by Kesaria, made several months earlier, began circulating. In it, she revealed that she had been a victim of manipulation and violence for two years, which had prompted her to leave the country for a time.
She also mentioned suffering a concussion due to violence from her partner.
Neighbors and friends confirmed the abuse. Kesaria’s friend, Iakob Mamulia, told the “Mtavari Arkhi” TV channel that the accused “was one of the ‘thugs’ who used violence against peaceful protesters during the April 2024 demonstrations against the ‘foreign agents’ law.“
“When she saw that, she broke off the relationship with him and even left the country. She later returned, but he didn’t calm down.
I heard with my own ears how he told Kesaria that she was to blame for everything. He said, ‘I’m going crazy because of you, and others are telling me that I’m involved with a “fake” woman.’ When I saw that post [on Kesaria’s social media, where she appeared with the suspect—later, the post was deleted], I thought something had been resolved.
This guy told her that no one else mattered to him, that she ‘had to be his,’ and that he must marry her. But he kept repeating that it was all her fault,” Mamulia shared in an interview with Mtavari Arxi.
On June 10, Kesaria wrote on her Facebook page: ‘If you don’t have wings, at least let me fly.’”
The case of the murder of Kesaria Abramidze and political responsibility
Experts claim that over the years, there has been an increasing spread of hate propaganda by the Georgian government towards people who identify as LGBT.
“When the government and propaganda-driven media fuel the already high levels of transphobia in society, it directly affects how community members view themselves, as well as how their partners treat them. This amplifies internalized homophobia/transphobia,” human rights advocate Elene Kakhosroshvili told JAMnews.
“As a result, a conscious or subconscious belief is reinforced that queerness and queer relationships are unacceptable.
Kesaria was the most prominent transgender woman in Georgia, the first to openly speak about her identity, including her transition. It’s impossible not to connect her murder with the discussions surrounding the new law. After all, she was killed just 24 hours after it was passed,” says Elene.
She explains that from the moment the initiative was introduced, human rights advocates anticipated a rise in societal hatred.
“The main slogan, repeatedly echoed by government officials and the ruling party, was overtly transphobic: ‘A woman should be a woman, and a man should be a man.’
This law especially impacts trans people by restricting their access to healthcare and stripping them of rights, including the recognition of their true gender.“
She believes that now Georgian Dream is trying to avoid responsibility by framing the murder as femicide—committed by a partner—without acknowledging its connection to her being transgender.
“Femicide does not rule out transphobic motives. Kesaria was a transgender woman—everyone knew this, including her partner. She posted a photo with him, then it quickly disappeared, and she was killed almost immediately after. All of this heightens suspicions of transphobia.
The narrative from the authorities, claiming the murder was committed by her partner, suggests that the crime isn’t related to transphobia and therefore isn’t a result of the law and the heated debates surrounding it.
Firstly, this is a naive attempt to avoid responsibility.
Secondly, it’s a shallow argument to say that just because a trans woman was killed by her partner, transphobia isn’t involved.
It’s wrong to assume that such a large-scale homophobic and transphobic campaign by the authorities wouldn’t affect community members and their partners,” says Elene.
“Legalizing fascist hatred in Georgia”
Queer organizations operating in Georgia claim that this crime was committed out of gender-based intolerance, a result of recent policies aimed at devaluing the lives of LGBTQ+ people.
“The law, which institutionalizes censorship and hatred, has made the LGBTQ community, especially transgender people, a prime target. The business elite, often referred to as parliamentarians thanks to their ties with Russian oligarchs, have chosen a path of social isolation. Instead of focusing on public welfare, the past 12 years have been dedicated to sowing division, hatred, and policies that weaken and impoverish families,” stated the NGO Movement for Equality.
The Women’s Initiatives Support Group (WISG)stated that “the brutal murder of a transgender woman, immediately following the passage of a fascist anti-LGBT law, has become a tragic symbol of this malicious decision. It is a direct result and a clear example of what happens when fascist hatred is legalized.“
The murder of Kesaria is both transphobia and femicide
“Tbilisi Pride” also emphasizes that the shocking circumstances of Kesaria’s murder are linked to both transphobia and femicide. “It is horrific that systemic hatred, born from political games, leads to the destruction of a unique and invaluable life,” the organization stated.
“Our community’s life in Georgia is one of existing from tragedy to tragedy, living in fear of who will be next. Systemic hatred inevitably leads to violence, leaving marks on our bodies. The harmonious cooperation between the state and perpetrators results in such tragic outcomes. The regime that fosters and supports this must be removed from power,” said Tbilisi Pride.
The organization demands appropriate measures from the ombudsman, civil and political groups, as well as relevant state institutions.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs is obligated to involve independent experts and representatives from Georgia’s strategic partner countries to effectively investigate and prevent future hate crimes, the organization stated.
“We call on everyone with any influence to join the fight against hatred. Kesaria was destroyed by fascist policies. We must adhere to a policy of solidarity. We will fight and do everything possible to ensure that no government in Georgia dares to play with human lives again,” said Tbilisi Pride.
The queer association “Temida” stated that “the wave of hatred coming from politicians today incites violence in society, and the new law has legalized that violence.“
“It is hard to believe that the Georgian police, especially after the passage of the new law, will investigate this case quickly and impartially,” the organization noted, joining the call for the Ministry of Internal Affairs to involve independent experts, including representatives from Georgia’s partner countries, in the investigation.
The organization also urged the ombudsman to take full control of the investigation.
Civil organizations are also addressing political homophobia and gender inequality. According to PHR, these issues are the root cause of Kesaria’s murder.
“Hatred policy by authorities leads to the marginalization of LGBTQ+ people”
The Center for Social Justice has stated that there is a direct link between the use of hate language in political rhetoric and hate-motivated violence.
“For nearly a year, the ‘Georgian Dream’ government has aggressively employed homophobic, biphobic, and transphobic language, cultivating it through mass propaganda. This has become the official discourse and ideology of those in power, most clearly demonstrated in the adoption of anti-LGBTQI fascist legislation.
It is evident that the politics of hatred leads to severe consequences—oppression, marginalization of LGBTQ+ people, and violence against them. The case of the murder of Kesaria Abramidze cannot be understood without considering this troubling broader context,” the organization stated.
The President of Georgia responded to Kesaria Abramidze’s murder on Facebook.
“Hate gives the enemy the power to weaken and divide us. The death of this beautiful young woman should serve as a signal for us to humanize and Christianize. Let this tragedy not be in vain!” wrote Salome Zurabishvili.
What restrictions does the new law impose
On September 17, 2024, the ruling party “Georgian Dream” passed a law titled “On Family Values and the Protection of Minors,” which strips queer people of their rights and introduces censorship.
The law defines existence solely in terms of biological sex (at birth) as male and female. According to the text of the law:
● Information or actions will be considered prohibited propaganda “if, in the opinion of an objective observer, this information/action represents an identity that does not align with either biological sex and/or an identity that differs from one’s biological sex.”
● Prohibited propaganda will include “positive or imitative depictions of sexual relationships between individuals of the same biological sex or incest.”
● When assessing information or actions, their content, form and type, method, time and place, as well as the circumstances under which they were disseminated (provided to others), and the audience for whom this information/action was intended will be taken into account.
● The law prohibits same-sex marriages, which were already banned in Georgia.
● Adoption of children by same-sex couples is forbidden.
● Surgical procedures for transgender transition or any other type of medical interventions on individuals are prohibited.
● The law prohibits legal recognition of a changed gender.
● The right to assemble and demonstrate against “prohibited propaganda” is restricted. The dissemination of information that the authorities classify as “propaganda” is banned for broadcasters and educational institutions, including universities.
● The provision of such information to minors through direct communication, including the exchange of creative works or access to them, is prohibited. “Providing access means instances where ‘the subject allowed a minor into the territory where this information is disseminated orally, using sound devices and/or visually, if the subject had the ability to restrict the minor’s access to that territory.’”
● In case of violations of the homophobic law by Georgian authorities, both administrative and criminal liability are stipulated.
● The law establishes that May 17, known as the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, and Transphobia, will be observed in Georgia as the Day of Family Sanctity and Respect for Parents.
It is noteworthy that this day was instituted by Ilia II, the Patriarch of the Georgian Orthodox Church, in 2014—following the violence and attacks by clergy and parishioners against a peaceful LGBTQ+ pride march in 2013. At that time, “Georgian Dream” and the government failed to protect the freedom of expression of civilians.
In the past 10 years, at least six transgender women have died violent deaths
Homophobia, biphobia, and transphobia have been longstanding issues in Georgia, but they are now further exacerbated by the government’s political campaign.
Queer people in the country face persecution, oppression, psychological and physical violence, and murder.
Over the last decade, at least six transgender women have been killed or died under mysterious circumstances:
Sabi Beriani — 2014
Bianca Shigurova — 2016
Zizi Shekeladze — 2016
Lika Kontselidze — 2018
Liza Kistauri — 2023
Kesaria Abramidze — 2024
Additionally, crimes and murders based on gender remain a significant issue.
According to the report by the Public Defender, in 2023, 24 women were killed in Georgia, and there were 27 attempted murders of women.
In 2024, many cases of femicide have also come to light.
President Salome Zurabishvili pardoned Giorgi Shanidze, an activist against the Foreign Agents Law, days after the court sentenced him to four years in prison.
Shanidze was arrested in May during protests against the Foreign Agents Law and later convicted on charges of damaging surveillance cameras and growing cannabis. His supporters saw the sentence as an “exemplary, demonstrative punishment” designed to intimidate critics ahead of crucial elections.
The president’s administration announced the decision on September 20, without revealing the identity of the pardonee. The statement said the convict was “fully released from the subsequent serving of the prison sentence in a penitentiary institution.”
Shanidze left the prison on the same night, cheerfully telling the reporters that the decision was “unexpected.” He said he didn’t deny the offense but believed that the punishment was disproportionate.
This is the second time that President Zurabishvili has pardoned an activist sentenced over protesting against the Foreign Agents Law. In April, she pardoned Lazare Grigoriadis, a young man sentenced to 9 years in prison for throwing a Molotov cocktail at a police officer and setting fire to a police car during the March 2023 protests, charges Grigoriadis denies.
Uzbekistan is on track to gain access to the high-precision signal of the Russian Global Navigation Satellite System (GLONASS), following a decree from President Vladimir Putin, Azernews reports.
The Voice of America (VoA) Georgian service reported that the U.S. State Department and U.S. Treasury are preparing a package of sanctions against Bidzina Ivanishvili, founder and honorary chair of the ruling Georgian Dream party.
The report quotes a “high-level official” who spoke to VoA on condition of anonymity as saying the “novelty is that before [such sanctions] were simply considered, but now there is a package which is ready for implementation,” clarifying that it is not yet known when it will be enacted and whether this could happen before or after the October 26 elections.
Another official said, “We have information that he [Ivanishvili] took steps to develop relations with Russian oligarchs and to give Russia preferential access to the Georgian market. In fact, he took certain actions based on instructions from the Russian intelligence services” [the quote has been back-translated from Georgian]. According to the source, the sanctions will be based on Executive Order 14024, which provides for wide-ranging sanctions concerning “specified harmful foreign activities of the Government of the Russian Federation.”
An anonymous source familiar with official deliberations confirmed to VoA that it was “logical” to assume that readying of the sanctions constituted a signal: “[President] Biden’s close circle wants to show that it is serious and are hoping that someone in the Georgian government will listen to them seriously,” the source told VoA.
“It is not yet known if and when [the package] will be implemented.” But the necessary work has been done,” a source close to the administration told VOA, indicating that the administration still hopes the Georgian government will return to a democratic course.
Several days ago, the U.S. Treasury imposed sanctions on several Georgian police officials and right-wing extremists for “serious human rights abuses.”
The State Oil Company of Azerbaijan (SOCAR) and MOL Group, a Hungarian oil and gas company, today signed a Memorandum of Understanding on exploration, development, and production in the Shamakhi-Gobustan field, Report informs with reference to SOCAR.
A bike ride will be organized by Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources, Ministry of Youth and Sports, Seaside National Park, COP29 Operating Company and Azerbaijan Bicycle Federation in connection with World Car Free Day on September 22,
Inam Karimov, the Chairman of the Supreme Court of Azerbaijan, recently visited Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, to participate in the centennial celebrations of the Supreme Court of the Kyrgyz Republic, Report informs, citing Azerbaijan’s Supreme Cour
Die EU übt sich weiter in großer Naivität, die immer mehr zu einem Sicherheitsrisiko für uns wird. Von Gastautor Oliver Rolofs @ORolofshttps://t.co/62i32n931W via @focusonline 2/2
— Notes from Georgia/South Caucasus (Hälbig, Ralph) (@SouthCaucasus) September 20, 2024
