Day: December 13, 2024

On December 12, the U.S. Department of State announced additional measures under the Visa Restriction Policy prohibiting the issuance of visas to those responsible for or complicit in undermining democracy in Georgia. The action affects approximately twenty individuals, including those serving as government ministers and parliamentarians, law enforcement and security officials, and private citizens. The individuals subject to visa restrictions, have not been not named by the State Department.

The press statement by the State Department Press Spokesperson Mathew Miller said: “The United States strongly condemns the Georgian Dream party’s ongoing, brutal, and unjustified violence against Georgian citizens, including protesters, members of the media, human rights activists, and opposition figures.”

Noting that the Georgian Dream has turned away from Georgia’s Euro-Atlantic future, “which the Georgian people overwhelmingly desire and the Georgian constitution envisions” the statement says the U.S. is committed to seeing that senior officials responsible for or complicit in undermining democracy will be subject to visa restrictions.

Stressing that the action demonstrates U.S. resolve and adds to previously announced actions implicating more than 100 Georgian Dream-affiliated individuals and their family members, the statement notes that additional sanctions are underway, to hold to account those who undermine democracy in Georgia. 

The Department of State’s steps to impose visa restrictions were taken pursuant to Section 212(a)(3)(C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, under the policy Secretary Blinken announced in May 2024.

Also Read:

• 09/12/2024 – U.S. Embassy: All Responsible for Violence Must be Held Accountable
• 05/12/2024 – U.S. Secretary of State Condemns Georgian Dream’s Violence, Promises Additional Sanctions
• 04/12/2024 – U.S. Rep. Joe Wilson Calls for Sanctions on Georgian Authorities Responsible for Crackdown on Activists, Opposition
• 16/09/2024 – BREAKING: U.S. Imposes New Sanctions for Undermining Democracy
• 06/06/2024 – BREAKING: US State Department Implements First Tranche of Sanctions against Georgian Individuals
• 14/09/2023- US Sanctions Ivanishvili Crony for Channeling Russia’s Influence

Anthony Blinken: “She returned knowing that she might be arrested on arrival.”

The U.S. Department of State awarded Sevinj Vagifgizi, the editor-in-chief of AbzasMedia, with the “Champions of Combating Corruption” award.

Sevinj is known for her work on corruption investigations, and she is currently imprisoned.

In his speech, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken highlighted Sevinj’s devotion over the past decade in exposing government abuses.

“She is also the one awardee who is not with us this afternoon. In November 2023, Sevinj flew home from an overseas country amid a crackdown on Azerbaijani independent media. She returned knowing that she might be arrested on arrival. She was. Now, more than a year later, she remains in detention. Prior to her arrest Sevinj wrote and I quote, ‘I don’t feel fear anymore. I know what they can do. It does not stop me. It is more important to be useful to the people. People need us’”

-Antony Blinken

Blinken also expressed gratitude to the ten anti-corruption champions for their courage. He said it was an honor to partner with them in this fight. The Department of State created the “Champions of Combating Corruption” award in 2021 to recognize individuals who have made significant progress in fighting corruption and to show the U.S. government’s solidarity with them.

This year’s award recipients include journalists, human rights defenders, judges, and even government officials who have facilitated major institutional changes. Other awardees include Jorge Mora Cortes from Colombia, Matrika Daxal from Nepal, Altin Dumani from Albania, Srbukhy Galyan from Armenia, Carl Irani from Lebanon, Marr Nyang from Gambia, Javier Enrique Caraballo Salazar from Panama, Didar Smagulov from Kazakhstan, and Jimmy Spyre Ssentongo from Uganda. Blinken emphasized that each recipient made a difficult decision to help their own citizens and all the people around the world, and their dedication, along with those of others, we are in a better place now.

AbzasMedia, the organization behind Sevinj’s work, has also faced significant challenges. Six of its employees, including the general manager Ulvi Hasanlı, assistant Muhammad Kekalov, editor Sevinj Vagifgiz, reporters Nargiz Absalamova and Elnara Gasimova, and investigative journalist Hafız Babali, have been arrested. These individuals are facing charges of smuggling, with some detained since November 2023.

On May 31, 2024, journalist and economist Farid Mehralizade from the “Azadlig” radio station was arrested, and a search was conducted at his home. He was accused under Article 206.3.2 of the Penal Code, which concerns smuggling by a group of individuals who had previously made secret agreements. The Khatai District Court decided to detain him for security reasons. On the same day, AbzasMedia issued a statement declaring that Mehralizade had no connection to the media organization.

Following this, each of the detainees in the AbzasMedia case was faced with additional serious charges related to financial matters. Since November 2023, nearly 20 journalists and social activists have been arrested in Azerbaijan on smuggling charges. None of these individuals have been charged based on their professional activities or political affiliations.

According to local human rights organizations, there are currently around 300 political prisoners in Azerbaijani prisons. Authorities typically assert that no one has been detained solely for political reasons related to their professional activities. However, both local and international human rights organizations believe these arrests are politically motivated, and they are calling for the release of the detainees and the withdrawal of the charges against them.

The post Sevinj Vagifgizi honored as anti-corruption champion appeared first on MEYDAN.TV.

1. Georgian protests enter third week as new far-right president set to be appointed  FRANCE 24 English
2. Georgia’s Pro-Europe Protesters Are Facing Down Police Violence  Foreign Policy
3. Violent protests in Georgia highlight battle over the country’s future. Here’s why it matters.  CBS News
4. Opinion | The Streets of My Country Are Full of Fury  The New York Times
5. Georgia crisis deepens as government set to name far-right president  VOA Asia
6. The Bitter Standoff Over Georgia’s Next President  Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty
7. Georgia: Violence escalates ahead of presidential election  DW (English)
8. Hundreds of arrests and mysterious beatings as Georgia cracks down on pro-EU protests  Reuters
9. Georgia has set a precedent that could undermine EU enlargement  Al Jazeera English