Armenian PM says peace with Azerbaijan ‘within reach’ Yahoo! Voices
Day: September 26, 2024
Zourabichvili on “Georgian Dream” banners
President of Georgia Salome Zourabichvili called the new campaign banners from the ruling party “Georgian Dream,” which depict war-torn cities in Ukraine, “shameful.”
“Georgian Dream” used images of bombed Ukrainian cities on their campaign banners to intimidate voters.
The banners feature pictures of a destroyed church, a theater in Mariupol, and more, accompanied by the phrase “No to war.” In contrast, various locations in Georgia are shown with the message “I chose peace.” The banners also cross out the electoral numbers of four major opposition parties, suggesting that “Georgian Dream” wants to convince voters that they would lead the country into war.
The banners have been placed in several locations around Tbilisi.
“I have never seen anything so disgraceful, so offensive to our culture, traditions, history, and faith… Where are you? What a pathetic act to present a poster created in the KGB’s forge to your people, showing such a lack of dignity and shame!” Salome Zourabichvili wrote on Facebook.
Georgian president to the diaspora
President of Georgia Salome Zourabichvili addressed Georgian citizens living abroad, urging them to participate in the parliamentary elections on October 26, which she believes will determine the country’s fate.
“I am speaking to you, members of the diaspora, my compatriots.
I want to say that the future of Georgia tomorrow is in your hands. It is in your hands, in my hands, in our hands. We must decide whether Georgia will truly be an independent, European, free, and democratic country or return to an uncertain past, under the influence of Russia—a place where you and your children probably won’t come, won’t return, and won’t want to return.
These elections are crucial, and you must take part. I know how difficult participation has become; unfortunately, polling stations have not been opened for us. However, despite this, I know you are ready to engage actively,” stated Salome Zourabichvili.
The president also reacted today to new campaign banners from the ruling party “Georgian Dream,” which depict war-torn cities in Ukraine, describing them as “shameful.”
“I have never seen anything so disgraceful and offensive to our culture, traditions, history, and faith… Where are you? What a pathetic act to present a poster created in the KGB’s forge to your own people, showing such a lack of dignity and shame!” Zourabichvili wrote on Facebook.
Georgian president to the diaspora
Bakhtiyar Hajiyev case – arrests in Azerbaijan
The trial of prominent human rights activist Bakhtiyar Hajiyev, arrested in December 2022, is ongoing in Baku, Azerbaijan. He has been in detention for nearly two years without a court verdict. Initially charged with hooliganism and contempt of court, he now faces five additional, more serious charges. At the latest hearing, Hajiyev announced that he no longer intends to participate in the process, calling the trial a “farce.”
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On September 25, at the latest hearing of Bakhtiyar Hajiyev’s case in the Baku Court on Grave Crimes, he submitted a written protest to prosecutor Eldar Hamza. According to Voice of America, the activist argued that the prosecutor had “violated the requirements of the Criminal Procedure Code by asking the witness questions about case materials that had not yet been reviewed in court.”
Hajiyev also claimed that the prosecutor’s name appears on a sanctions list submitted to the U.S. Congress, indicating his involvement in politically motivated cases.
Eldar Hamza responded by stating that no sanctions have been imposed on him. He added that his name was included in the U.S. Congress list because he served as the prosecutor in a trial involving Armenian separatists.
The court did not grant Bakhtiyar Hajiyev’s motion.
Bakhtiyar Hajiyev case – arrests in Azerbaijan
Later, he filed another motion stating that he no longer wishes to participate in the upcoming court sessions. The activist explained this decision by citing the “artificial delays in the process,” the rejection of all his motions, and his belief that the court itself is “political and orchestrated.”
“Therefore, there can be no talk of the court’s objectivity,” Hajiyev stated.
The prosecutor opposed this motion, and the court denied it as well. Despite this, Hajiyev declared that he would not participate in the proceedings going forward.
The process continued with the examination of the case documents.
The date for the next court session has not been announced and has been postponed indefinitely.
Bakhtiyar Hajiyev case – arrests in Azerbaijan
Bakhtiyar Hajiyev was arrested in December 2022. Initially, he faced charges under Articles 221.2.2 (hooliganism by resisting a person performing duties to maintain public order) and 289.1 (contempt of court) of the Azerbaijan Criminal Code.
Hajiyev was accused in connection with a complaint filed by journalist Ulviya Alovlu. A long-standing conflict exists between Hajiyev and Alovlu, with both accusing each other of defamation. During one of the court proceedings, a verbal altercation escalated into a physical confrontation. According to the charges, Hajiyev allegedly used violence against both Alovlu and court officer Orkhan Abdullayev during this incident.
Forty-two-year-old Bakhtiyar Hajiyev earned his master’s degree from Harvard University in the United States. He is known for his criticism of the Azerbaijani authorities’ policies.
Hajiyev has faced repeated arrests and repression. In 2011, he was detained on charges of evading military service and was recognized as a political prisoner.
In August 2022, Hajiyev submitted a statement to the presidential administration renouncing his Azerbaijani citizenship due to violations of his rights.
From September 23 to 24, a six-member delegation of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) made a pre-election visit to Georgia to assess the campaign and political climate ahead of the October 26 parliamentary elections. The delegation was led by Iulian Bulai, Romanian MEP and Chair of ALDE.
As part of the visit, the delegation met with the Georgian President, Parliament Speaker, Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs, members of the parliamentary majority and opposition, the Chair and members of the Central Election Commission (CEC), the heads of the National Communications Commission (ComCom) and the Anti-Corruption Bureau, as well as representatives of civil society and the media. At the end of the visit, the delegation issued a statement.
The statement
Iulian Bulai, the head of the delegation, emphasized that Georgia’s upcoming elections in October will take place at a “very crucial moment in Georgia’s European integration trajectory.” He emphasized that free and fair elections, accepted as legitimate by all stakeholders, are essential to secure the country’s place in European structures.
“Our delegation is concerned that polarization of the political landscape has reached unprecedented levels, turning the forthcoming elections into a de facto referendum on Georgia’s democratic trajectory and foreign alignment,” Bulai said. He expressed concerns about crackdowns on demonstrations and dissent, which he described as “fully legitimate in a democratic society.” He added: “The authorities are expected to act in line with human rights standards, refrain from a disproportionate use of violence, and demonstrate their ability to conduct due and diligent investigations in cases of violence.”
The delegation also raised concerns about harassment of political opponents, threats, intimidation, and hate speech against civil society and media representatives. “I urge the relevant authorities to fully and transparently investigate these allegations,” Bulai said. He also criticized the chilling effect of the Foreign Agents Law on domestic election observers, reiterating the Assembly’s call to withdraw the law. Additionally, he expressed concern about the Anti-Corruption Bureau’s decision to qualify two CSOs as “entities with declared electoral goals,” stressing that it “creates a chilling effect on domestic observers.”
Bulai emphasized that the elections will be the first-ever fully proportional ones but noted that the five percent threshold and the prohibition on political parties forming election blocs “could mitigate the effect of this crucial electoral reform.” He added: “This has been a long-standing recommendation of the Assembly and civil society to increase pluralism in parliament, strengthen the parliament, and avoid super-majorities, thus enhancing the democratic system of checks and balances.”
The head of the mission also condemned the abolition of gender quotas for MPs. He urged political parties “to ensure that a significant proportion of women are in eligible positions on party lists.”
Regarding the Central Election Commission, Bulai stressed that it must not only act impartially but “also be seen as impartial.” He acknowledged concerns over recent controversial changes to the election legislation and internal rules that could undermine public trust in the electoral process. He also noted that several interlocutors raised issues about access to polling stations for Georgian citizens abroad.
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“We would also like to express our concern about politicized state institutions and media,” Bulai said, noting that the delegation was informed about concerns regarding the misuse of administrative resources and pressure on civil servants. “I urge all stakeholders to refrain from rhetoric that would seek to undermine political pluralism, such as calling for the prohibition of the opposition, which would seriously derail Georgia from its Council of Europe membership obligations,” he concluded.
A fully-fledged PACE delegation comprising 32 members and legal experts from the Venice Commission will travel to Georgia to observe the vote on 26 October 2024 alongside other international organizations.
Also Read:
- 20/09/2024 – EU Ambassador Stresses Free and Fair Elections in Georgia, Warns of Possible Consequences
- 04/09/2024 – Watchdog Speaks of “Intense Polarization” ahead of Pre-election Campaign, Other Challenges
- 27/08/2024 – President Salome Zurabishvili Sets Parliamentary Election Day for October 26, Speaks About its “Existential” Importance