Ghana’s Vice-President Mahamudu Bawumia has accepted defeat in Saturday’s election and congratulated the opposition candidate, former President John Mahama, on his victory, Azernews reports via BBC.
Day: December 8, 2024
Violence erupts at Georgia protests
Thousands of pro-European demonstrators gathered on Rustaveli Avenue in Tbilisi from December 7 to 8 in a continued pro-European protest, but, unlike previous nights, they were not dispersed by police.
Instead, groups of masked individuals dressed in black attacked protesters and journalists without the use of water cannons or tear gas.
These attackers, dubbed “titushki” — a term used in Russia for similar groups — launched multiple assaults, targeting protesters and journalists. They looted the office of an opposition party and brutally assaulted individuals inside.
Despite the presence of police nearby during several incidents, witnesses report that law enforcement did not intervene.
The new wave of mass protests began in Tbilisi and other Georgian cities on November 28, after Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze announced that the government would suspend EU accession talks until 2028.
This statement came just days after the Central Election Commission officially declared the ruling party victorious in the parliamentary elections held on October 26. Protests erupted across the country immediately, as a large segment of society supports the opposition and the president’s claims that the elections were rigged and that the new parliament and government are illegitimate.
Thus, the ongoing protests are focused on two key demands: returning Georgia to the path of European integration and holding new parliamentary elections.
A cameraman and journalist from the TV channel Pirveli were violently attacked
Masked attackers, known as ‘titushki’, assaulted a Pirveli TV crew live on air while they were reporting on the presence of these aggressive groups on Besiki Street near Rustaveli Avenue.
The cameraman, Giorgi Shetsiruli, was brutally beaten and sustained a head injury. Journalist Maka Chiladze was knocked to the ground and also injured. Both had their equipment stolen.
The crew members were taken to the hospital. Doctors confirmed that both suffered concussions but their condition is stable.
Instead of water cannons and tear gas, violent provocateurs, known as “titushki”, were deployed today against peaceful demonstrators on Tbilisi’s central Rustaveli Avenue.
A group of unknown assailants attacked the crew of the opposition TV channel Pirveli during a live… pic.twitter.com/FxALTFXlgt
— JAMnews (@JAMnewsCaucasus) December 7, 2024
An operator and a journalist from the Pirveli TV channel were knocked down and beaten by a group in black balaclavas on a side street leading to Rustaveli Avenue, where a massive pro-European protest is taking place. Earlier, a similar group suddenly attacked and beat activists… pic.twitter.com/mobtntoFlZ
— JAMnews (@JAMnewsCaucasus) December 7, 2024
The Georgian Interior Ministry has launched an investigation under Article 154, Part 2 of the Criminal Code, which criminalizes interference with a journalist’s professional duties, punishable by a fine or up to two years in prison.
During the attack on Pirveli TV’s crew, journalist Maka Janashia was injured after she accidentally found herself at the scene while recording video on her phone.
“We were walking down Besiki Street toward Rustaveli Avenue when we heard shouting and ran in that direction. I saw a masked man in black spray pepper spray into Maka Chikhladze’s face. There were many of them. I immediately started recording on my phone,” Janashia told Pirveli.
“As Maka chased them, I followed and continued recording, and behind us was the Pirveli cameraman, who was also filming. One of these masked individuals, wearing a skeleton mask, attacked Maka. He grabbed my phone and hit me in the face. Another person kicked me in the knee, and I fell. I told him I was a journalist, and he hit me again.
“I then saw them beating the cameraman. He was in terrible condition,” Janashia told Pirveli TV.
Two injured in attack on ‘Coalition for Change’ office
The same night, the so-called titushki stormed the office of the opposition group Coalition for Change, located on Besiki Street. They ransacked the office and assaulted two individuals present at the time. Graphic video footage shows numerous people violently kicking others while they lie on the ground, a harrowing scene for viewers.
#terrorinGeorgia : The Russian regime is back at work tonight in Tbilisi – chasing civilians through the streets as they flee terror, targeting politicians, media, artists …Breaking down the doors of opposition offices to raid and brutalize politicians inside pic.twitter.com/Mt71Bq7cbl
— Salome Zourabichvili (@Zourabichvili_S) December 7, 2024
One of the injured is Koba Khabazi, a member of the coalition. He said he was attacked as he was exiting the office elevator.
“About 50 people were standing near the stairs, all dressed in black with their faces covered. As soon as they saw me, they attacked me. First, they hit me in the head, then knocked me to the ground. They were there with the intention of physically attacking someone. After everything, I discovered that my mobile phone was missing,” Khabazi said.
The party said it was impossible to identify any of the attackers, as all were wearing masks.
Attack on actor Giorgi Mahradze
The so-called titushki also brutally attacked well-known actor Giorgi Mahradze. He said he saw police standing by and failing to intervene during the beating.
In a video, Mahradze can be heard shouting at a police officer: “How could you see nothing? You were standing right here, watching as they beat me!”
President Salome Zourabishvili: “Pro-Russian regime in Georgia is repressing peaceful citizens”
Currently on an official visit to Paris, Georgian President Salome Zourabishvili has condemned recent violence in Tbilisi.
“They are targeting peaceful citizens fleeing terror on the streets, attacking politicians, journalists, and actors. They are breaking into opposition offices to destroy them and harm politicians,” Zourabishvili wrote on X, using the hashtag #terrorinGeorgia.
Zourabishvili writes: “The fight for the future continues, and no regime can stand against the will of the people, no matter what means are used against them.”
#terrorinGeorgia : The Russian regime is back at work tonight in Tbilisi – chasing civilians through the streets as they flee terror, targeting politicians, media, artists …Breaking down the doors of opposition offices to raid and brutalize politicians inside pic.twitter.com/Mt71Bq7cbl
— Salome Zourabichvili (@Zourabichvili_S) December 7, 2024
Ombudsman urges police to respond to violence
Georgian Public Defender Levan Ioseliani has issued a strong statement in response to violence carried out by unidentified aggressive groups. He described the situation as “repression against participants in peaceful protests” and urged police to act immediately to ensure citizens’ safety.
Useful meeting w/my 🇧🇭counterpart Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani. Agreed to foster bilateral coop through round of political consultations btw @MFAofArmenia & @bahdiplomatic, business ties & tourism.
Regional stability key for 🇦🇲 & economic development in #SouthCaucasus.… pic.twitter.com/T1qsucs7XF
— Ararat Mirzoyan (@AraratMirzoyan) December 8, 2024
The journalists were remanded in custody for 4 months while the investigation continues.
On 8 December, a trial was held in the Khatai District Court of Baku on a criminal case filed against Meydan TV employees.
As a result, the court remanded the journalists in custody for 4 months while the investigation continues.
On 6 December, Meydan TV employees Ramin Deko (Jabrailzade), Aynur Elgunesh (Ganbarova), Aysel Umudova, Aytaj Tapdig (Ahmadova), Khayala Agayeva, and Natig Javadli were detained on suspicion of “smuggling.”
A crime was filed against the journalists under Article 206.3.2 of the Criminal Code (smuggling committed by a group of persons in prior collusion).
The homes of most of the detained journalists were searched, and their equipment and personal belongings were seized.
The court also sentenced another detainee, civil society member and media worker Ulvi Tahirov, who was not a Meydan TV employee but was detained on the same day as them, to 4 months in pretrial detention.
Meydan TV management issued a statement, noting that the charges made by the police are unfounded and that the detention of the journalists is illegal and is also a repression against independent media.
Since November 2023, dozens of journalists have been arrested in Azerbaijan on charges of “smuggling.”
Local and international human rights organizations consider the charges trumped up and call for the journalists’ immediate release.
The post Meydan TV employees remanded for 4 months appeared first on MEYDAN.TV.
Propaganda, Druck und Einschüchterung: Russland lässt die postsowjetischen Staaten nicht aus den Augen. Die Voraussetzungen dafür sind aber sehr unterschiedlich. Der Ukraine-Krieg half sogar, den Einfluss zu verstärken. Von Markus Ackeret @nzzmac https://t.co/QnR60dvcUq
— Notes from Georgia/South Caucasus (Hälbig, Ralph) (@SouthCaucasus) December 8, 2024
The journalists were remanded in custody for 4 months while the investigation continues.
On 8 December, a trial was held in the Khatai District Court of Baku on a criminal case filed against Meydan TV employees.
As a result, the court remanded the journalists in custody for 4 months while the investigation continues.
On 6 December, Meydan TV employees Ramin Deko (Jabrailzade), Aynur Elgunesh (Ganbarova), Aysel Umudova, Aytaj Tapdig (Ahmadova), Khayala Agayeva, and Natig Javadli were detained on suspicion of “smuggling.”
A crime was filed against the journalists under Article 206.3.2 of the Criminal Code (smuggling committed by a group of persons in prior collusion).
The homes of most of the detained journalists were searched, and their equipment and personal belongings were seized.
The court also sentenced another detainee, civil society member and media worker Ulvi Tahirov, who was not a Meydan TV employee but was detained on the same day as them, to 4 months in pretrial detention.
Meydan TV management issued a statement, noting that the charges made by the police are unfounded and that the detention of the journalists is illegal and is also a repression against independent media.
Since November 2023, dozens of journalists have been arrested in Azerbaijan on charges of “smuggling.”
Local and international human rights organizations consider the charges trumped up and call for the journalists’ immediate release.
The post Meydan TV employees remanded for 4 months appeared first on MEYDAN.TV.