COP29 Climate Talks in Baku, Azerbaijan, Are Teetering The New York Times
Day: November 21, 2024
Another Georgian citizen, Levan Lokhishvili, was killed in fighting in Ukraine. The Georgian Foreign Ministry confirmed the information to Civil.ge on November 21.
He was reportedly killed during the Russian attack near Kherson, southern Ukraine.
No further details on the circumstances of the Georgian fighter’s death are known at this time and will be added as they become available.
The latest casualty brings to 60 the unofficial number of Georgian citizens who have died fighting in Ukraine since the Russian invasion on February 24, 2022.
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EU investigates Georgia election violations
European Commission spokesperson Peter Stano has announced that a European technical mission will visit Georgia in the coming weeks to investigate alleged violations during the parliamentary elections held on October 26.
“Preparations for the visit are in full swing. More details about the mission will be shared in due course,” Stano stated in response to an inquiry from Radio Liberty’s Georgian service.
Following a discussion on the situation in Georgia during the meeting of EU foreign ministers on November 13, Josep Borrell, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, emphasized the need for a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the recent elections in Georgia.
“We cannot simply keep stating that the elections were unfair without conducting a proper investigation,” Borrell remarked, announcing that the European Union will send a dedicated mission to Georgia.
Ahead of the EU foreign ministers’ meeting, four pro-Western opposition parties that surpassed the 5% threshold and gained seats in the new parliament sent a joint letter to Josep Borrell and the foreign ministers of EU member states.
The letter accused the ruling Georgian Dream party of falsifying the October 26 election results, in which it claimed nearly 54% of the vote. “Based on preliminary results and independent analysis, these four parties collectively received 52% of the popular vote, if the elections had been free and fair,” the letter asserted.
The authors cited evidence including exit polls conducted by independent research organizations such as Edison Research and HarrisX, as well as reports from NGOs documenting electoral violations.
EU investigates Georgia election violations
At the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) in Azerbaijan, discussions focused on the impact of climate change on vulnerable groups, particularly women and youth, and the role of green skills in combating these challenges, Azernews reports.
According to the decision of the Tbilisi City Court on November 20, Isako Devidze and Davit Tsotsoria, two Georgian citizens who were arrested during the violent dispersal of the rally on Chavchavadze and Melikishvili Avenues, were sentenced to 8 days imprisonment.
Irakli Andghuladze, another activist detained during the crackdown, was fined 2700 GEL by the Tbilisi City Court on November 19.
A total of 16 people were arrested by police during the dispersal of the rally, three of whom were released on parole. The Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) stated that the arrests were made for violating Articles 166 and 173 of the Administrative Code.
The rally, which had been ongoing for 48 hours near Tbilisi State University was forcibly dispersed by the police on November 19. Reports indicate that the police also interfered in journalistic activities and prevented some journalists from carrying out their professional activities, beating and detaining Mtavari TV cameraman Sergi Baramidze.
On November 20, 2024, the Special Investigation Service said it launched an investigation into the illegal obstruction of journalistic activities.
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