Day: December 4, 2024

On December 4, police investigators entered the homes and offices of the opposition parties and activists. In several cases, reports say the entry was made with deceit; in most cases, police said they had court warrants for search but did not present them to the owners or party leaders. Searches are reported to be conducted without witness presence. Some police investigators justified that by saying the searches are conducted under the “urgent investigative requirement” exception procedure. Trucks were loaded by the police with office equipment and other items at the searched party offices.

PM Irakli Kobakhidze told the journalists the measures were “prevention, not repression” and spoke about fireworks allegedly purchased by those parties and activists in anticipation of unrest. He also referred to a security service investigation of an alleged coup.

The police arrested the leader of the opposition Coalition for Change, Nika Gvaramia, and member, Gela Khasaia, as well as the founder of the activist group “Dafioni”, Zviad Tsetskhladze.

---

Police also initiated a search of the home of Ilia Ghlonti, a leader of the online activist group “Daitove.” The group has been prominent on social networks to mobilize support for the protest movement. Police have charged him with “organization or management of a group activity accompanied by violence, raids, damage, or destruction” and participation in disorders. Notably, the search began before Ghlonti’s lawyer arrived at the scene. The police took Ghlonti’s phone, laptops, and any other electronic device he had. Another Daitove member’s Sopo Botkoveli’s home was reportedly searched as well.

Police also searched the offices of Unity-UNM’s youth organization, blocked access to both journalists and Tinatin Bokuchava, Sopo Japaridze, and Levan Khabeishvili Unity-UNM leaders. They failed to present search warrants or reasons for the search. After the search, the police arrested the members of the youth organization: Davit Gedenidze, Vakhtang Gagnidze, Irakli Ardia, Saba Birkaia, and Mishiko Janikashvili.

The police entered the offices of the member parties of the Coalition for Change (Girchi – more Freedom, Ahali and Droa). While the buildings were being searched, the leader of the Coalition, Nika Gvaramia, demanded to enter the premises and was denied entry. After an altercation with the police, broadcast live, Gvaramia was tackled to the ground and arrested. Officers dragged him to the police car, apparently unconscious. The media later saw and recorded him being conscious, entering the detention facility under convoy. Party member Gela Khasaia, who was recording Gvaramia’s arrest, was also arrested and also dragged to their car even though he did not resist arrest.

The founder of Dafioni, the youth organization that has been active in mobilizing support for the protest, including against the Foreign Agents’ law, Zviad Tsetskhladze, was also detained. The information on this was shared by the organization itself on social media.

Saba Buadze, a member of the opposition coalition Strong Georgia, reported on Facebook that two members of that coalition, Vepkho Kasradze and Vaso Kadzelashvili, were detained by police over unverified incriminating footage aired by the GD-propaganda outlet, Imedi TV. The recordings were not checked for authenticity. There is currently no further information about their arrest.

The police also searched the houses of two activists – one of the founders of Daitove group Kristine Botkoveli and of the activist Saba Jajanidze. Searches started in the office of the Nabiji activist organization.

More to follow…

Banning opposition has been Georgian Dream’s campaign promise for October 29 elections. Read more about this here:

• 22/10/2024: Bidzina Ivanishvili TV Interview Ahead of Elections
• 21/08/2024 – Ivanishvili Hammers Home the Message of Political Revenge, Dangles Hope of Salvation
• 20/08/2024 – Ruling Party Seeks Constitutional Majority to Ban Opposition, “Gay Propaganda,” Two Other Cryptic Reasons

During the trial of Ali Karimli, the chairman of the Azerbaijan Popular Front Party (AXCP), 12 party members were detained. Four of them – Elchin Hacivelli, Rovshan Asparov, Bakhtiyar Huseynov, and Mikayil Ismailov – were brought before the Nasimi District Court.

According to a statement from the party, these individuals were subjected to physical abuse while in police custody, with one reporting injuries such as a torn nail. Ali Karimli’s bodyguard, Ruslan Amirov, was also reportedly beaten, though his current whereabouts are unknown. The Ministry of Internal Affairs has not yet commented on the situation.

In a separate case, Ali Karimli was found guilty of defamation under Article 147.1 of the Criminal Code by the Nasimi District Court, which imposed a fine of 1,500 AZN. This decision stemmed from a lawsuit filed by former AXCP member Aydin Aliyev, who had demanded a six-month prison sentence for Karimli.

Karimli has called the verdict politically motivated and has vowed to appeal. During the court proceedings, among those detained included prominent figures such as Vidadi Mirkamal and Ruslan Amirov. Some were released later, but details about the others remain unclear.

The conflict between Karimli and Aliyev dates back to 2019 when Aliyev was expelled from the party for his alleged opposition to its political course. Aliyev accused Karimli of defamation in media statements, which Karimli denied, asserting that his comments were truthful and consistent with his party’s stance.

The AXCP has described the entire legal process as a politically driven attempt to weaken the party and remove its leadership from political activity. The party’s statement claims that the government is using Aliyev, a former active member who later aligned himself with pro-government activities, as a tool to undermine Karimli and the AXCP.

The post AXCP Leader Ali Karimli Found Guilty of Defamation as Party Members Are Detained in Ongoing Political Struggle appeared first on MEYDAN.TV.

In preparation for the second international conference of the Western Azerbaijan Community on the theme “Right of Return; Ensuring Justice for Azerbaijanis Forced to Deport from Armenia”, a bilateral meeting took place in Baku between Aziz Alakbarli, Chairman of the Board of the Western Azerbaijan Community and Member of the Milli Majlis, and Riffat Inam Butt, Secretary of the Law and Justice Commission of Pakistan, Azernews reports.

OSCE urges trust amid Georgian protests

The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly’s Special Representative for the South Caucasus, Luis Grach, issued a statement expressing concern over recent developments in Georgia.

In the statement, Grach calls on all parties to engage in dialogue and emphasizes the inadmissibility of violence. He believes protesters should exercise their right to peaceful demonstration while respecting the law, and the police must show restraint. He also urges authorities to listen to the protesters and uphold fundamental freedoms.

“At this critical juncture, I call upon all sides to engage in a constructive and open dialogue to rebuild trust and strengthen democratic institutions. The people of Georgia deserve a peaceful and democratic future, and our Assembly remains dedicated to supporting efforts to achieve this goal,” Grach states.

He also highlights that the parliamentary elections on October 26 in Georgia were held in a deeply polarized environment, which persists to this day:

“As highlighted in the preliminary findings of the international election observation mission, the elections took place in a deeply polarized environment, which we still see today. While I encourage everybody to take into consideration the upcoming final report of the OSCE/ODIHR on the elections, I call upon all sides to engage in a constructive and open dialogue to rebuild trust and strengthen democratic institutions.”

Ivanishvili and associates: Baltic states sanction Georgian officials

These individuals are banned from entering Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia.

On November 29, the ruling Georgian Dream party announced a suspension of the country’s EU accession process until 2028. In response, protests erupted in Tbilisi and other cities across Georgia.

For the past four days, special forces have violently dispersed protesters, using water cannons and other crowd control measures, beating and detaining demonstrators.

On December 1, the three Baltic states—Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia—imposed joint sanctions on “those suppressing legitimate protests” in Georgia, banning them from entering their countries. The sanctions targeted high-ranking officials from the Interior Ministry as well as Bidzina Ivanishvili, founder and honorary chairman of Georgian Dream.

US senators condemn Georgian Dream

US senators and co-chairs of the US Helsinki Commission, Ben Cardin, Roger Wicker, and John Cornyn, stated that the ruling Georgian Dream party’s refusal to negotiate Georgia‘s accession to the European Union is a betrayal of its people.

The senators reaffirmed their support for the Georgian people and their Euro-Atlantic aspirations, condemning the authorities’ attempts to violently suppress peaceful protests in Tbilisi and other cities.

“We stand with you!” International response to Georgia’s protests against halting EU integration

“Georgia’s government’s decision shows that their goal is to gain control over the country through lies and intimidation, steering it towards Russia instead of the EU”

A few days earlier, Joe Wilson, a Republican congressman and vice chair of the US Helsinki Commission, responded to events in Georgia, declaring the current Georgian government illegitimate and condemning the crackdown on protests.

The Helsinki Commission called on the US State Department to hold accountable those who restrict the right to peaceful protest and freedom of choice in Georgia. It also urged the current and future US administrations to support the Georgian people in restoring democracy and freedom.

International press freedom organizations, including the International Press Institute (IPI), have issued a joint statement, strongly condemning the targeted violence against journalists during pro-EU protests in Georgia. 

Citing the Mapping Media Freedom platform, the statement notes that “at least 50 media workers experienced physical attacks, verbal abuse or obstruction as police violently dispersed the pro-EU demonstrations”.  The statement notes that many of the victims were affiliated with independent or government-critical outlets and outlines the cases of Aleksandre Keshelashvili (Publika.ge) and Ana Mskhaladze (Publika.ge), Beka Beradze (Radio Tavisufleba).

“Guram Rogava of Formula TV was brutally assaulted by riot police, as shown in footage from Radio Tavisupleba [Radio Free Europe/RL Tbilisi office] and Formula TV, which documented the riot police officer striking him. He sustained serious injuries and was hospitalized”. – We read in the statement.

The press organizations also address the case of Mariam Gaprindashvili (TV Pirveli). “Investigative reporter Mariam Gaprindashvili of TV Pirveli suffered a head injury and breathing difficulties after being assaulted, temporarily losing consciousness and requiring 24-hour hospitalization”.

“Other journalists and camera operators from media outlets including Netgazeti.ge, OC Media, Mtavari Arkhi, JAMNews, and others were also targeted. The list of journalists targeted also includes camera operator Davit Bejanishvili from the Georgian Public Broadcaster, who was injured by special forces”. – says the statement.

The media organizations highlight a disturbing pattern of hostility toward journalists, noting similar incidents during protests against the “Transparency of Foreign Influence” law earlier this year. They reiterate their support for Georgian journalists and call on the international community to demand action to protect media freedom in the country.

The statement was signed by the following organizations:

• International Press Institute (IPI)
• Reporters Without Borders (RSF)
• European Federation of Journalists (EFJ)
• PEN International
• Free Press Unlimited (FPU)
• European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF)
• Justice for Journalists Foundation
• Association of European Journalists
• Index on Censorship
• OBC Transeuropa (OBCT)
• European Broadcasting Union (EBU)

Also Read:

04/12/2024 – Live Blog: Aborted EU Accession | Nika Gvaramia and Gela Khasaia Arrested

Poor Lisa, a symbol of the FBIhttps://t.co/DXhIqPe6jf#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 #Bloggers… https://t.co/t29vts9dD5 pic.twitter.com/1VZKhnFDPr

— Michael Novakhov (@mikenov) December 4, 2024

The Observatory of Inequality has highlighted a troubling trend in France: the number of people living below the poverty line has grown significantly over the past 20 years, Azernews reports.

The Observatory of Inequality has highlighted a troubling trend in France: the number of people living below the poverty line has grown significantly over the past 20 years, Azernews reports.

US diplomats call for anti-Georgian Dream sanctions

Seventeen former U.S. diplomats and security experts issued a joint statement condemning the anti-Western policies of the Georgian Dream party and the violence against peaceful protesters in Georgia.

The authors of the statement urge the United States to declare the “one-party Georgian parliament and its appointed government” illegitimate and impose sanctions on those responsible for authoritarian practices in the country.

“We, Friends of Georgia to include former U.S. diplomats who have served in and/or worked on Georgian-U.S. relations, condemn in the strongest terms the violence unleashed on peaceful protesters in Tbilisi by the Georgian government.

We also have trouble understanding the decision by Georgian authorities, led by Georgian Dream de facto leader Bidzina Ivanishvili and Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, to abort negotiations with the European Union regarding the country’s accession aspirations. It was that decision, praised by Russian leader Vladimir Putin within minutes of the announcement, that triggered the latest demonstrations by tens of thousands of Georgians.

This is clearly a critical moment in Georgia’s history with implications for the South Caucasus and beyond. Georgia as a beacon of freedom, and reform is at stake. Given the long U.S. support for the people of Georgia as they moved toward democracy, it is long past time to act,” the statement reads.

Ivanishvili and associates: Baltic states sanction Georgian officials

These individuals are banned from entering Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia.

The diplomats suggest that the U.S. should call on Georgia’s armed forces and security services to uphold the country’s Constitution, the foundation of Georgian democracy, and refuse orders incompatible with it, such as suppressing peaceful demonstrations.

They also recommend imposing direct sanctions on Bidzina Ivanishvili, honorary chairman and founder of the Georgian Dream party, Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, and “other government and parliamentary members involved in similar authoritarian actions,” as well as on police and military personnel who participate in the dispersal of peaceful protests or were involved in the falsification of parliamentary elections.