Day: September 26, 2024

The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) should establish clear criteria for Azerbaijan’s delegation to meet before being readmitted to the assembly, according to a joint statement issued by Human Rights Watch and ten other human rights organizations on September 25.

The statement calls on the Council of Europe to implement defined standards that Azerbaijan must adhere to. It follows PACE’s January 2024 decision not to ratify the credentials of Azerbaijan’s parliamentary delegation. Since then, the statement claims, the Azerbaijani government has intensified its crackdown on human rights defenders, lawyers, independent journalists, opposition politicians, and civil society activists. The statement also alleges that authorities have filed serious criminal charges against independent media and civil society groups, with widespread reports of torture and ill-treatment in custody.

The joint statement also highlights concerns about Azerbaijan’s early parliamentary elections, which, according to the signatories, were conducted in a restrictive, non-competitive environment that failed to meet international democratic standards.

Given these developments, the statement urges PACE to insist that Azerbaijan meet its human rights obligations as a condition for restoring the country’s parliamentary delegation in 2025. The document further calls for the immediate and unconditional release of individuals who have been unjustly imprisoned, the restoration of their civil and political rights, and an end to the repression of dissenting voices. It also emphasizes the need for Azerbaijan to fully cooperate with PACE rapporteurs and the Committee Against Torture, and to implement the Committee’s recommendations to prevent torture and ill-treatment.

Additionally, the signatories express concern about the involvement of European Union countries in COP29, held in Baku, amidst ongoing repression in the country.

The statement was signed by a coalition of organizations, including the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), the Norwegian Helsinki Committee, the World Organization Against Torture (OMCT), and others involved in the campaign to support Azerbaijani rights activist Anar Mammadli.

Azerbaijan’s delegation suspended cooperation with PACE on January 24, 2024, following the assembly’s decision to limit the country’s participation. Azerbaijan has been a member of the Council of Europe since 2001, and its relationship with the organization dates back to 1992 when it first applied for special guest status.

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The ruling Georgian Dream party unveiled its full list of 170 MP candidates for the upcoming October elections, although the Georgian parliament has 150 seats.

The leader of the parliamentary majority, Mamuka Mdinaradze, clarified to journalists that the ruling party has “objective expectations” of obtaining a constitutional majority, “exceeding 100 mandates by even a few dozen MPs.” they decided to expand the list because “some people leave” before assuming the mandates.

GD’s first 20 frontrunners were presented two weeks ago. Bidzina Ivanishvili, the party’s founder and honorary chairman, has been topping the ticket list for the first time since 2012.

The full list does not include several familiar GD faces, including Archil Talakvadze, the former Speaker of Parliament who was second on the 2020 list; Levan Kobiashvili, the head of the National Football Federation; Eliso Bolkvadze, a well-known pianist; and Beka Odisharia, who became notorious for his obscene remarks about female opposition MPs.

“There are consultations with Talakvadze on a very serious issue about which I have no right to speak until an agreement is reached,” Mdinaradze said. He said that some GD members are being considered for government, and Talakvadze could be one of them.

Several visible incumbent MPs for GD have dropped out of the top 50. Among them are Nino Tsilosani, Deputy Speaker of Parliament she is currently ranked 61; Irakli Zarkua, known for his vulgar anti-Western statements, is 72th; Mariam Lashkhi, who famously previously compared the “Global War Party” to Freemasons, is 59the; Aluda Ghudushauri at 70; Givi Mikanadze at 73, Viktor Japaridze at 55.

GD’s list also prominently features the members of its virulently anti-Western and conspirationist spin-off, People’s Power. Their top-rated MP, Sozar Subari, is 11th on the list, and the worst-rated, Victor Japaridze, is 55th.

Today, September 26, is the deadline for parties to submit their lists of parliamentary candidates. On October 26, Georgia will hold its first fully proportional parliamentary elections.

Also Read:

• 26/09/2024 – Strong Georgia Coalition Unveils Part of Electoral List
• 25/09/2024 – Gakharia’s For Georgia Unveils Top MP Candidates for October Vote
• 15/09/2024 – Talk On Air | September 9-15: Ruling Party Goes All In

Azerbaijan’s insurance sector earned a net profit of 98 million manats ($57.64 million) in the first half of 2024, according to the “Financial Stability Report for the first half of 2024” released by the Central Bank of Azerbaijan (CBA), Report informs.

A meeting of foreign ministers of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) is being held in New York within the framework of the UN General Assembly.harova said on Telegram.