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“Interview with the President of Georgia by Politico“
In an interview with Politico, the President of Georgia, Salome Zourabichvili, stated that if pro-European forces and parties supporting the Charter win the elections, she will likely be with them in any capacity to present the Charter to the European Council and ensure the start of negotiations.
In the interview, the president discussed the upcoming parliamentary elections, the policies of the “Georgian Dream,” and the “Georgian Charter” she initiated.
In response to a question regarding the “Georgian Charter” she initiated, Salome Zourabichvili expressed her “pride in the efforts to unite the opposition” and noted that if the parties that signed the Charter win, she will be alongside them to participate in the process of starting negotiations for Georgia’s accession to the European Union.
Zourabichvili also mentioned in the Politico interview that the risk of war will increase if Georgia remains isolated and without partners.
“History shows that the main risk for Georgia always comes from Russia. The risk of war will increase if Georgia remains isolated, without its partners, and when you are alone, you are weak.”
The President of Georgia also commented on the attacks from the leaders of “Georgian Dream” against Western partners.
“After such attacks, it will be very difficult for them [the ruling party ‘Georgian Dream’] to restore any relations with the European Union and American partners,” Zourabichvili said.
When asked by a journalist what she regrets the most, Salome Zourabichvili replied, “We missed the first chance to start negotiations [with the European Union].”
In the interview, Zourabichvili criticized the course of “Georgian Dream”; however, as the publication notes, the reason for the sharp turn of “Georgian Dream” away from the European path remains unclear even to the president.
According to the publication, the president’s main question to Bidzina Ivanishvili is: “Where are you leading Georgia?”
In the interview, Salome Zourabichvili noted that “it seems that Bidzina Ivanishvili’s ties with Moscow still exist and have even strengthened.”
former defense minister of South Ossetia
The South Ossetian Telegram channel Historypoliticus has disseminated information that a guilty verdict was handed down to former South Ossetian Minister Marat Pavlov in Vladikavkaz (North Ossetia, Russia). The authors of the channel did not specify under which article he was convicted or why this occurred in Russia. However, they claim that instead of going to prison, Pavlov will go to fight in Ukraine after signing a corresponding contract with the Russian Ministry of Defense. This marks the second such case in the past month.
JAMnews was unable to obtain official confirmation or denial of this information. However, rumors that Pavlov was allegedly convicted and requested to go to the front have heightened interest in the fate of this disgraced general, who has disappeared from the public eye since his unexpected resignation in April 2024.
Pavlov was dismissed by the President of South Ossetia, Alan Gagloev. According to the official version, this was a result of the detention of his deputy, Vepkhvia Tandelov, on suspicion of cigarette smuggling.
Tandelov was detained by Russian border guards on April 18, 2024. They claimed that several thousand packs of untaxed cigarettes were found in the trunk of a vehicle belonging to the Ministry of Defense of South Ossetia. Tandelov, who was driving, was placed under house arrest.
On the same day, President Gagloev signed a decree for the dismissal of Minister Marat Pavlov.
Opposition Telegram channels immediately claimed that the smuggling of untaxed cigarettes into Russia is “controlled by President Gagloev himself, his brother Alik, and officials close to them,” including the arrested Vepkhvia Tandelov. They alleged that Pavlov merely provided him with an official vehicle, which Gagloev specifically demanded:
“Insiders report that the authorities of South Ossetia persuaded Defense Minister Marat Pavlov to engage in cigarette smuggling using an official vehicle, as it would not be subject to inspection at the border. The minister’s car with diplomatic plates crossed the border so often that it raised suspicions, but despite this, it was not thoroughly inspected for a long time.”
And when the border guards finally did inspect the car and discovered the smuggling, Alan Gagloev attempted to make Pavlov the “scapegoat”—demanding that he take all the blame, but received a refusal and dismissed the disobedient minister. This, according to the channel, is how events unfolded.
Again, we cannot confirm or deny this version, but the fact is that scandals involving smuggling officials are nothing new for South Ossetia. For example, in August 2023, Russian border guards detained then-Speaker of Parliament Alan Alborov, a close ally of Alan Gagloev from the “Nykhas” party, who also used an official vehicle to smuggle cigarettes into Russia. He currently holds the position of head of the presidential administration of South Ossetia.
As for Marat Pavlov, it was Alan Gagloev himself who appointed him as minister shortly after coming to power in 2022. His appointment was not met with much enthusiasm in the Ministry of Defense of South Ossetia; the newly emerged “parquet” officer commanded no trust among the military. It was said that the new minister “couldn’t tell a 7.62 caliber assault rifle from a 5.45.” However, Pavlov later managed to earn respect among his subordinates and achieve the rank of general.
It’s worth noting that in early October, former Criminal Police officer Atsamaz Naniev, accused of murder, escaped from court and also signed a contract with the Russian Ministry of Defense to go fight in Ukraine.
Toponyms, terminology, views and opinions expressed by the author are theirs alone and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of JAMnews or any employees thereof. JAMnews reserves the right to delete comments it considers to be offensive, inflammatory, threatening or otherwise unacceptable.
Parliamentary Elections in Georgia
Only nine days remain until the pivotal parliamentary elections in Georgia. The elections, set for October 26, will reveal not only which forces will form the new government but also whether the country will continue its commitment to European integration, a path it has followed for twenty years, or shift its focus northward. The results of these elections will also affect the entire region, including Azerbaijan.
Analysts at the South Caucasus Research Center (CSSC) believe that regardless of the election outcomes and which forces come to power, Azerbaijan and Turkey must enhance their cooperation with Georgia in a trilateral format and assist it in preventing potential threats.
The Azerbaijani edition of JAMnews presents an analysis from the South Caucasus Research Center (CSSC) on the impact of the upcoming parliamentary elections in Georgia on the region:
“The upcoming parliamentary elections in Georgia are already characterized as ‘geopolitical elections,’ as the foreign policy vector has become the central theme of the electoral discourse and currently underpins the existing polarization within society.
Certainly, the responsibility for the current situation lies primarily with the country’s government, both past and present. In Georgia, there have traditionally been insufficient barriers against foreign interference in domestic affairs. As a result of the activities of these foreign forces, there are now significant divisions within Georgian society regarding the country’s future direction.
For nearly two decades, a geopolitical status quo has been established in the South Caucasus. Georgia has developed cooperation with the European Union and NATO, turning towards the West. In accordance with the terms of its strategic alliance with Russia, Armenia has oriented itself towards integration into institutions like the CSTO and EAEU. As a leading member of the Non-Aligned Movement, Azerbaijan has always preferred to conduct an independent policy.
However, in the past two years, the geopolitical status quo in the region has been disrupted by global processes. Armenia’s relations with Russia and Georgia’s relations with the West have deteriorated.
On the other hand, since the onset of the Ukrainian conflict, international attention to the South Caucasus has increased. Both regional neighbors and global power centers have clearly expressed their intention to engage in transformations within the South Caucasus.
Against this backdrop, trilateral cooperation between Azerbaijan, Turkey, and Georgia has already proven to be the most resilient format of cooperation in the region. The foundation of this cooperation is bolstered by large-scale economic projects. Current collaboration among the three countries is based on the principles of equal partnership, mutual benefit, and common interests. For these reasons, this format holds significant weight in understanding the geopolitical importance of the South Caucasus today.
In such circumstances, the current situation in Georgia is also very important for Azerbaijan. The main reasons for the effectiveness of the Azerbaijan-Turkey-Georgia trilateral cooperation format are that joint actions are based on the independent steps of all three states, grounded in national interests and stemming from natural needs. Therefore, it is crucial that the new government formed in Georgia after the parliamentary elections aligns with these criteria.
Among the most undesirable scenarios is the possibility of official Tbilisi falling under the influence of any foreign power and turning Georgian territory into a battlefield for geopolitical power centers. In such a case, regardless of the election results and which forces come to power, Azerbaijan and Turkey must strengthen their cooperation with Georgia in a trilateral format and assist it in preventing potential threats to the country.”
The human rights organization Freedom House has released its “Internet Freedom 2024” report, covering the period from June 2023 to May 2024. The findings show a continued decline in internet freedom globally, marking the 14th consecutive year of worsening conditions.
According to the report, online rights deteriorated in 27 of the 72 countries surveyed, while 18 saw some improvement. The evaluation was based on a 100-point scale, with countries scoring between 100-70 considered “Free,” 69-40 as “Partially Free,” and 39-0 as “Not Free.”
Azerbaijan Among “Non-Free” Countries
Azerbaijan is categorized as “Not Free” with a score of 34, down from 37 in the previous year. The country ranks alongside Belarus, Iraq, and Zimbabwe, all in the same category. The most significant decline was seen in Kyrgyzstan, which dropped by four points. Other countries classified as “Not Free” include Russia, Turkey, and Iran.
In contrast, Georgia and Armenia were listed as “Free” countries, each with a score of 74.
Political Repercussions of Online Activity
The report also highlighted the detention of individuals in Azerbaijan during the military operation in Karabakh in September 2023. Former diplomat Emin Ibrahimov was among those held for a month due to social media posts that criticized the operation or advocated for a peaceful resolution. Baku officially declared the operation as a restoration of its territorial integrity, followed by a mass migration of Armenians from Karabakh. While Armenia labeled this as “ethnic cleansing,” Azerbaijani authorities denied the allegations, stating they had offered a reintegration plan to Armenians in the region.
Ibrahimov had previously been detained in July 2023 on separate charges of hooliganism, which he claims are politically motivated.
Elections and Alleged Manipulation
Freedom House’s report also points to manipulation in electoral processes in several authoritarian states. In Azerbaijan, it is noted that pro-government commentators worked to present the February 2023 extraordinary presidential election as legitimate, despite widespread allegations of rigging. The report states that content creators from various countries were invited to observe the election and were provided with expense-paid trips to Baku.
The organization further asserts that the election was manipulated to ensure President Ilham Aliyev’s victory and that fake election monitoring missions were financed to create a veneer of legitimacy. Azerbaijani officials have not yet responded to the report, though similar critiques from Freedom House and other organizations have previously been met with strong criticism from the government.
Earlier this year, Azerbaijan also held extraordinary parliamentary elections. Although the government described both elections as democratic, the OSCE/ODIHR reported that they took place in a restrictive, non-competitive environment, with independent observers documenting numerous violations.
Regional Trends in Internet Freedom
The report highlights a continued decline in internet freedom across Eurasia, with Russia receiving the lowest score in the region at 20 points. The Kremlin’s invasion of Ukraine has had a significant impact, with Russian forces destroying internet infrastructure and imposing a strict censorship regime in occupied territories.
Globally, Myanmar and China are identified as having the most repressive environments for internet freedom.
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