Day: December 4, 2024

On December 4, the Head of the Central Criminal Police Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Teimuraz Kupatadze, reported that after police searches of the homes and offices of activists and opposition members, seven were arrested and charged with crimes that foresee sentences of up to nine years in prison. Kupatadze said the arrests were made in the frame of an ongoing investigation into the act of “leading or participating in the organization of group violence and publicly calling for violent action.” He did not name the detained.

• 04/12/2024 – Police Raids, Arrests Opposition, Activists

Kupatadze claimed that since November 28, 2024, protests on Rustaveli Avenue near the Georgian Parliament have escalated into “violent and organized actions” violating the Law on Assembly and Expression. He noted that over 150 police officers have been injured, along with several citizens and media representatives, and property damage has been caused to the infrastructure of Tbilisi City Hall. The investigation of these facts is underway under Articles 225 (organizing, leadership, or participation in group violence) and Article 239′ (Public calls to violent acts) of the Georgian Criminal Code.

Kupatadze reported that on the morning of December 4, in accordance with a court order, the police began investigative actions, including searches of the homes of six people and the offices of the opposition parties Droa and Girchi – More Freedom, as well as the youth organization of Unity-UNM and the civil movement Jiutebi.

As a result of personal searches of the detained persons and offices, the police seized as evidence helmets, gas masks, a large amount of pyrotechnics, electronic equipment, computer equipment, so-called Molotov cocktails, paints, and various types of solutions, for which “appropriate examinations” have been ordered.

As a result of the investigation, the police detained seven people for organizing, leading, or participating in group violence, which is punishable by a maximum of nine years of imprisonment.

Kupatadze also emphasized that an investigation into the criminal acts committed by violent groups under Articles 187 (damage or destruction of an item) and Article 353′ (assaulting police officer) of the Criminal Code is also underway, within the framework of which six people have been detained earlier. They face a maximum of seven years of imprisonment.

“The investigation is continuing to identify and apprehend all those responsible for the crimes. Appropriate legal action will be taken by the police for any unlawful acts,” stressed Kupatadze.

ყვრლა კანონის დამრღვევი ციხეში.

— shosho bero🇬🇪 (@shokuna16) December 4, 2024

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.

The central parity rate of the Chinese currency renminbi, or the yuan, strengthened 62 pips to 7.1934 against the U.S. dollar Wednesday, according to the China Foreign Exchange Trade System, Azernews reports, citing Xinhua.

Hmm… Nah. pic.twitter.com/IJ18j4Jy99

— Norman (@cadish3n1) December 4, 2024

Protests in Georgia against the government for EU integration

Hundreds of thousands across Georgia entered their seventh day of protests, opposing the government’s announcement to halt the country’s European Union integration process.

The demonstrations mark a new escalation in tensions between large segments of the public and the ruling party. This follows a wave of protests in October and November 2024, sparked by allegations from opposition leaders, Georgia’s president, international observers, and media outlets that the October 26 parliamentary elections were rigged, rendering the newly elected parliament and government illegitimate.

• What triggered the protest
  

  

  On the evening of November 28, 2024, Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze held a briefing following a meeting with the parliamentary majority and government team, announcing the decision to suspend EU accession talks until 2028. He justified the move by accusing the European Union of using the issue to blackmail Georgia.

  Kobakhidze’s statement came in response to a European Parliament resolution that declared the October 26 parliamentary elections fraudulent, refused to recognise their results, and called for sanctions against leaders of the ruling Georgian Dream party.

  Immediately after Kobakhidze’s briefing, spontaneous protests erupted in Tbilisi and other cities. Since then, thousands of people have taken to the streets daily, opposing Georgian Dream’s anti-European policies. Their primary demand is the scheduling of new parliamentary elections to bring about a change in power.

  Law enforcement has been using crowd control measures daily, including water cannons, tear gas, and pepper spray. Hundreds of protesters have been brutally beaten, many suffering facial injuries and varying degrees of concussion. Hundreds more, including journalists, have been detained.

  The resistance extends beyond street demonstrations. A growing movement of dissent is sweeping the country, with hundreds of employees from ministries, state institutions, judicial and medical sectors, universities, schools, theatres, and museums joining in. Several Georgian diplomats have resigned in protest against the government’s policies. Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili supports the resistance alongside opposition leaders.

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In November 2024, the official foreign exchange reserves of the Central Bank of Azerbaijan decreased by $403.9 million, falling to $10.967 billion. In October, the Central Bank’s official foreign exchange reserves had already decreased by $424.1 million, dropping to $11.371 billion.

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