Month: November 2024

This week saw journalists from “AbzasMedia” exposing poor conditions and violations at Baku Detention Facility, while Alasgar Mammadli requested house arrest due to health issues, and the date for Azerbaijan’s municipal elections was announced for January 29, 2025.

Conditions and Violations at the Baku Detention Facility Revealed in Open Letter by Journalists

Three journalists from “AbzasMedia” – Sevinc Vaqifqızı, Nargiz Absalamova, and Elnara Qasımova – currently detained in Baku Detention Facility No. 1, have written an open letter exposing the poor conditions there. They describe overcrowding, with women forced to sleep on the floor or share beds, leading to injuries. They also highlight the lack of basic necessities, including proper bedding, clothing, and hygiene products, which are supposed to be provided by the state but are either missing or substandard.

The journalists also point out that the second floor of the facility, which holds 170 women, has several cells being used for non-prison purposes, such as punishment cells or kitchens for guards. Despite regulations requiring detainees to receive appropriate bedding and personal items, the women are only given poor-quality goods. The food provided is also criticized for being insufficient and of low quality.

Finally, the journalists report that detainees are not receiving the clothing and hygiene items mandated by government regulations. Although a contract was signed with a supplier for these products, they are either never delivered or go missing in the facility, raising questions about resource mismanagement and the handling of funds allocated for detainee care.

Alasgar Mammadli Unsuccesfully Requests House Arrest

Alasgar Mammadli, a media expert from “Toplum TV,” has been in detention for nine months and has appealed for house arrest due to serious health issues, including a thyroid tumor requiring urgent surgery. In his court statement, he emphasized the negative impact his detention has on his family, particularly his two children’s education and well-being.

Mammadli argued that house arrest would not interfere with the investigation and that he had legal grounds for the request. He noted his public service record and denied any intention to obstruct the legal process. However, the Baku City Police Department opposed the request, citing the risk of Mammadli fleeing or hindering the investigation. Judge Akhundov rejected the appeal.

Mammadli believes his detention is politically motivated, part of an effort to silence independent media. The case involves accusations of smuggling, with the  detainees claiming the evidence against them was fabricated. His lawyers plan to appeal the court’s decision.

Azerbaijan goes to the polls again

Municipal elections in Azerbaijan have been scheduled for January 29, 2025, as announced by the Central Election Commission on November 27.

On October 18, 2024, the Milli Majlis (National Assembly) discussed a draft law to amend the “Law on Municipalities’ Territories and Lands,” reducing the number of municipalities from 1,400 to 685. This change was approved by the Milli Majlis and signed into law by President Ilham Aliyev on November 25.

Azerbaijan has held five municipal elections so far, in 1999, 2004, 2009, 2014, and 2019, with the most recent one on December 23, 2019. According to the Election Code, municipal elections are held every five years, typically in December. Some experts view the postponement of the 2025 elections as contrary to the law.

The post Azerbaijan’s Friday Wrap-Up: Parliamentary Election Date Set appeared first on MEYDAN.TV.

Natural gas prices in Europe have increased significanly over the past month.

The rebels have pressed a lightning offensive against forces of the Iranian- and Russian-backed Syrian government since Wednesday, the same day a fragile ceasefire took effect in neighbouring Lebanon between Israel and Hezbollah group, a Damascus ally, after two months of all-out war, Azernews reports.

This week saw journalists from “AbzasMedia” exposing poor conditions and violations at Baku Detention Facility, while Alasgar Mammadli requested house arrest due to health issues, and the date for Azerbaijan’s municipal elections was announced for January 29, 2025.

Conditions and Violations at the Baku Detention Facility Revealed in Open Letter by Journalists

Three journalists from “AbzasMedia” – Sevinc Vaqifqızı, Nargiz Absalamova, and Elnara Qasımova – currently detained in Baku Detention Facility No. 1, have written an open letter exposing the poor conditions there. They describe overcrowding, with women forced to sleep on the floor or share beds, leading to injuries. They also highlight the lack of basic necessities, including proper bedding, clothing, and hygiene products, which are supposed to be provided by the state but are either missing or substandard.

The journalists also point out that the second floor of the facility, which holds 170 women, has several cells being used for non-prison purposes, such as punishment cells or kitchens for guards. Despite regulations requiring detainees to receive appropriate bedding and personal items, the women are only given poor-quality goods. The food provided is also criticized for being insufficient and of low quality.

Finally, the journalists report that detainees are not receiving the clothing and hygiene items mandated by government regulations. Although a contract was signed with a supplier for these products, they are either never delivered or go missing in the facility, raising questions about resource mismanagement and the handling of funds allocated for detainee care.

Alasgar Mammadli Unsuccesfully Requests House Arrest

Alasgar Mammadli, a media expert from “Toplum TV,” has been in detention for nine months and has appealed for house arrest due to serious health issues, including a thyroid tumor requiring urgent surgery. In his court statement, he emphasized the negative impact his detention has on his family, particularly his two children’s education and well-being.

Mammadli argued that house arrest would not interfere with the investigation and that he had legal grounds for the request. He noted his public service record and denied any intention to obstruct the legal process. However, the Baku City Police Department opposed the request, citing the risk of Mammadli fleeing or hindering the investigation. Judge Akhundov rejected the appeal.

Mammadli believes his detention is politically motivated, part of an effort to silence independent media. The case involves accusations of smuggling, with the  detainees claiming the evidence against them was fabricated. His lawyers plan to appeal the court’s decision.

Azerbaijan goes to the polls again

Municipal elections in Azerbaijan have been scheduled for January 29, 2025, as announced by the Central Election Commission on November 27.

On October 18, 2024, the Milli Majlis (National Assembly) discussed a draft law to amend the “Law on Municipalities’ Territories and Lands,” reducing the number of municipalities from 1,400 to 685. This change was approved by the Milli Majlis and signed into law by President Ilham Aliyev on November 25.

Azerbaijan has held five municipal elections so far, in 1999, 2004, 2009, 2014, and 2019, with the most recent one on December 23, 2019. According to the Election Code, municipal elections are held every five years, typically in December. Some experts view the postponement of the 2025 elections as contrary to the law.

The post Azerbaijan’s Friday Wrap-Up: Parliamentary Election Date Set appeared first on MEYDAN.TV.

OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights issued statement on November 30 expressing its “deep concern” over the “the action of law enforcement officials while policing peaceful protests in Georgia” and over the “serious breach of the right to freedom of peaceful assembly” after police used water cannons, pepper spray, and batons to disperse protests in Tbilisi.

The statement notes that “The disproportionate and indiscriminate use of force impacted a large number of protestors and journalists during protests in which the overwhelming majority of demonstrators were peaceful.”

OSCE/ODIHR stresses that the right to peaceful assembly is a freedom that lies at the heart of all democratic societies, and underlines that all OSCE states have committed to ensuring that “everyone will have the right of peaceful assembly and demonstration”. ODIHR notes that OSCE members “have also recognized that any limitation on this right must be stipulated by law and fully in line with international standards.”

The Office underlines that “the use of force by the state must always be in accordance with the law, necessary, and proportionate to the needs of the situation.” It adds that “law enforcement officers must address the behaviour of protestors acting violently without resorting to disproportionate and indiscriminate force.”

Also Read:

• 30/11/2024 – MIA: 107 Protesters Detained, 10 Officers Injured Overnight on November 30
• 29/11/2024 Photo Story | Protest Against GD’s Decision to Abort EU Accession
• 29/11/2024 – Watchdog: Police Target Journalists, Many Injured
• 29/11/2024 – GYLA: Dispersal Unlawful, Inhumane and Involves Disproportionate Force
  

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) “irreplaceable” for delivering crucial aid to Palestinians, Azernews reports.

On November 29 and throughout the night of November 30, protests were held across Georgia against the GD’s U-turn in foreign policy. The epicenter of the protests was traditionally Rustaveli Avenue in Tbilisi, where around 100,000 people gathered in the evening by the Georgian parliament building. The demonstrators stayed through the night, despite several waves of especially brutal dispersals by riot police, special forces and so-called “men in black”, unidentified men dressed in black with rucksacks, masks and weapons (rubber bullet guns) who accompanied the dispersals and attacked individual demonstrators. These masked dark-clad figures have been particularly violent during dispersals, often preceding or following the riot police.

Violence by these unidentifiable actors has been a disturbing and prominent feature of the excessive police violence of the past two days. The other feature of the recent protests is that the mentioned units of MIAs have their faces covered, either with black balaklavas or medical masks. This, together with the absence of insignia, allows them to attack without having to take responsibility for their actions.

One more distinctive feature of the recent protests in Georgia has been the targeting of journalists. In addition to the multiple cases of attacks on journalists on previous night, on November 29-30 more journalists have been subjected to violence by the MIA, including TV Pirveli journalist Mariam Gaprindashvili who was seriously injured during the rally and had to be hospitalized.

The protesters, after each wave of dispersal, would regroup and return, erecting barricades and setting fires to get warm, as the nights in Tbilisi are chilly with temperature close to zero degrees Celsius.

The MIA used water cannons, where water is mixed with chemical agents to make it impossible to breathe and causing burning, tear spray, gas canisters and batons to disperse the crowd. The majority of the demonstrators were young people, similar to the protests against the Foreign Agents Law in the spring of 2024 and 2023.

There have been multiple reports and footages showing the police violence towards the protesters. One such footage shows the unidentifiable “black men” violently gang-beating an apparently helpless man. Another footage that went viral on the social networks and media and sparked outrage was shot at dawn, showing these “men in black” kick a helpless young man in the head, who is apparently already in distress and lying on the ground. First one and then another kick him, leaving him unconscious on the ground.

We prepared the photo story depicting the mood and moments of November 29-30 protest.

176 employees of the National Bank of Georgia have distanced themselves from the decision of Georgian Dream to suspend the process of joining the European Union. In a public statement issued on 30 November, they say that Georgia’s unilateral decision to suspend negotiations with the European Union until 2028 is not in line with the country’s historical aspirations to become a full member of the European family.

“The staff of the National Bank of Georgia, within the framework of the Association Agreement with the European Union and in accordance with the commitments undertaken by Georgia, have been working for years to bring the Georgian financial sector closer to European standards, which has significantly contributed to a sustainable and steadily growing financial system.”

The NBG employees further add that PM Kobakhidze’s statement to withdraw rom accession negotiations contradicts Article 78 of the Constitution of Georgia and is not in line with the country’s historic aspiration to become a full member of the European family.

“We, the staff of the National Bank of Georgia, support the continuous and irreversible implementation of the country’s European integration,” the statement reads.

The statement is one of a series of statements by civil servants representing various state agencies denouncing the U-turn on EU accession announced by PM Kobakhidze on November 28.

Also Read:

• 29/11/2024 – Defense Ministry Staff Distance Themselves from GD EU-Turn
• 29/11/2024 – Education Ministry Staff Distance Themselves from GD EU-Turn
• 29/11/2024 – Diplomats’ Joint Statement: Stopping EU Accession Negotiations Contradicts Country’s Strategic Interests

https://t.co/FqZwdWX5dHhttps://t.co/IAopsKga4V
Syria | #Syria#NewsAndTimes #NT #TNT #News #Times #World #USA #POTUS #DOJ #FBI #CIA #DIA #ODNI #Trump #TrumpNews #TRUMPISTAN #Israel #Mossad #Netanyahu #Ukraine #NewAbwehr #OSINT #Putin #Russia #GRU #Путин #Россия #SouthCaucasus… https://t.co/q9BVLpp0P1 pic.twitter.com/dXOhgaMqxP

— Michael Novakhov (@mikenov) November 30, 2024

Georgian PM accuses Europe of orchestrating protests

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze described the protests in Tbilisi as “violence against police,” accusing European politicians and the opposition, which he called “foreign agents,” of orchestrating the unrest.

Kobakhidze, re-elected earlier this month by a parliament composed solely of ruling Georgian Dream party lawmakers, made the remarks as thousands continued to rally on Rustaveli Avenue since Oct. 28. The protests erupted after the government announced it would suspend negotiations to join the European Union until 2028.

The opposition, which won about 46% of the vote in the Oct. 26 parliamentary election, has boycotted the parliament.

Georgia’s president urged the people, opposition, and diplomats to “resist and fight to the end”

Salome Zourabichvili: “The illegitimate government of Georgia has declared war on its own people”

However, at a briefing on 30 November, Irakli Kobakhidze accused protesters of engaging in violence against police. “Aggressive groups gathered and immediately resorted to violence. Protesters used Molotov cocktails, fireworks, and heavy objects against the police, injuring about 50 officers, 20 of whom required surgery,” he said.

Kobakhidze acknowledged “extremely concerning incidents” involving law enforcement but described them as isolated cases, adding, “It is important to investigate the facts on both sides.”

---

• Georgian diplomats, universities, and schools launch mass strikes amid ongoing protests
• “We stand with you!” International response to Georgia’s protests against halting EU integration

---

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze thanked Interior Minister Vakhtang Gomelauri and the police for “defending the constitutional order of Georgia.”

“I don’t even want to imagine what the outcome of this rally would have been, given the scale of violence by aggressive groups, if the interior minister had been Vano Merabishvili (who served under former President Mikheil Saakashvili) or Giorgi Gakharia (a former prime minister who joined the opposition),” Kobakhidze said.

“For them, killing several people or blinding others would have been a minimal result to end such a protest,” he added.

Georgian diplomats, universities, and schools launch mass strikes amid ongoing protests

“Georgia is Europe and will not become Russia!” – Universities and schools halt classes in protest, diplomats resign from their positions.

Georgian PM Kobakhidze: “European politicians are fueling polarization in Georgia”

Irakli Kobakhidze accused European politicians of “orchestrating provocations in Georgia” and labeled four opposition parties that entered parliament after the Oct. 26 elections as “foreign agents” and a “fifth column.”

“For three years, certain European politicians and bureaucrats, who failed to achieve the ‘Ukrainization’ of Georgia, have been using the country’s EU candidate status and the prospect of opening membership talks as tools to damage Georgia’s image and divide its society. They aim to weaken the country and fuel polarization,” Kobakhidze said.

He also accused EU Ambassador to Georgia Pawel Herczynski of dishonesty.

“The EU ambassador recently stated that the European Union had paused Georgia’s integration process. Now he claims it was Georgia that halted its own integration into Europe,” Kobakhidze said.

He concluded by asserting that “Georgia has not stopped its EU integration process. The country continues to fulfill all obligations related to this process.”