President Aliyev reveals four reasons hindering Azerbaijan-Armenia peace deal Caliber.Az – Новости Азербайджана и мира
Day: December 5, 2024
President Aliyev reveals four reasons hindering Azerbaijan-Armenia peace deal Caliber.Az – Новости Азербайджана и мира
President Aliyev reveals four reasons hindering Azerbaijan-Armenia peace deal Caliber.Az – Новости Азербайджана и мира
In a joint statement issued on December 4 by Transparency International-Georgia and more than twenty local CSOs, the Georgian civil sector has strongly condemned the recent illegal arrests of activists and politicians, carried out with excessive force. The statement calls for the immediate release of all those detained since November 28, the organization of new elections, reforms to the Central Election Commission (CEC), and a full investigation into those responsible for the disproportionate use of force against peaceful demonstrators.
“Ivanishvili’s Prime Minister announced repressions a few days ago, and today the law enforcement agencies have been involved in carrying out this task” the statement reads, referring to the detentions and searches of opposition and activists by police on December 4. It warns that the regime’s actions are a new way of intimidating Georgian citizens who oppose the violent regime.
The joint statement also calls on international partners to take action, urging them to use the mechanisms at their disposal, including the imposition of sanctions on individuals responsible for the violence, including perpetrators, commanders and those in positions of authority.
The crackdown in Georgia began on 28 November, when Prime Minister Kobakhidze‘s announcement triggered mass protests. Riot police responded peaceful demonstrations with excessive force, including physical assaults, verbal abuse and mass arrests. In a further escalation on 4 December, police raided the offices and homes of several activists and politicians, many of whom were either arrested or physically assaulted.
The Georgian Association of Young Lawyers (GYLA), a local watchdog, said on 4 December that state institutions were involved in crimes against humanity and that the actions of state institutions constituted crimes against humanity. They also stressed that the protests exposed widespread political discrimination, torture and suffering, and warned that continued violent repression could lead to the situation being referred to the International Criminal Court.
Meanwhile, international scrutiny of Georgia’s political crisis is intensifying. The Baltic states have already imposed sanctions on individuals involved in the violence, and on December 5 Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that Ukraine imposed sanctions on GD honorary chair Bidzina Ivanishvili and his associates – “19 individuals who are selling out the interests of Georgia and its people.” The situation in Georgia remains volatile as the international community closely monitors developments and urges a return to democratic norms and respect for human rights.
List of Signatory Organizations is as follows:
- International Transparency – Georgia
- International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy Civil Society Foundation
- European orbit of Georgia
- Sapari
- Democracy Defenders
- Civic idea
- Civil Solidarity Fund
- Kvareli Euroclub
- Proactive Group Georgia
- Democratic Development Union of Georgia
- Georgia Reforms Association
- Georgian Future Academy
- Center for Economic Policy Research
- Prevention for progress
- Human Rights Defenders Association
- Human Rights Center
- Georgian Strategy and International Relations Research Center Civil Movement for Freedom
- Partnership for Human Rights
- Tolerance and Diversity Institute
- Open Space Caucasus
- Democracy Search Institute
- Scientific-intellectual club “Dialogue of Generations” – RICDOG
- Rule of Law Center
Also Read:
- 05/12/2024 – Testimonies of Police Brutality During Ongoing Rallies.
- 04/12/2024 – U.S. Rep. Joe Wilson Calls for Sanctions on Georgian Authorities Responsible for Crackdown on Activists, Opposition.
- 04/12/2024 – International Press Groups Demand Immediate Action Amid Journalist Assaults in Tbilisi.
- 04/12/2024 – CoE Human Rights Chief Condemns Police Violence, Urges Investigations.
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.
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