The moment a child points his finger and reveals the naked ruler, all the facades of power collapse and the naked king remains with his own dignity, comical and grotesque. 10/
— Notes from Georgia/South Caucasus (Hälbig, Ralph) (@SouthCaucasus) December 14, 2024
Day: December 13, 2024
It makes you vulnerable in an instant, deprives you of all the advantages that you so desire…
He sees your scoliosis, or smells your sweat, or hears the sound of your empty stomach… 9/
— Notes from Georgia/South Caucasus (Hälbig, Ralph) (@SouthCaucasus) December 14, 2024
But how can you subjugate someone who sees you naked behind your black uniform? Your nudity takes away in an instant the power that you acquired for I don’t know how much silver when they handed you the baton! 8/
— Notes from Georgia/South Caucasus (Hälbig, Ralph) (@SouthCaucasus) December 14, 2024
Who is protesting in Tbilisi?
“Take to the streets!” was the call as thousands joined marches across Tbilisi on December 13, marking the 16th day of pro-European protests. The main demands are the resignation of the government and the scheduling of new parliamentary elections.
Protesters declared that they had spent years building Georgia’s European future and would not allow it to be taken away.
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On this day, protesters took to the streets who had not yet participated in such demonstrations before. In different locations, groups gathered based on their professions.
Psychologists, musicians, IT specialists, PR professionals, marketers, lawyers, and many others joined the protests in separate marches. By evening, tens of thousands of demonstrators once again gathered outside parliament, as they have every previous evening.
Traffic in Tbilisi was paralyzed around midday due to the marches, with roads blocked across the city’s central districts.
The schedule for the 16th day of protests was as follows:
- 11:00: IT specialists’ march started from Republic Square.
- 12:00: Entrepreneurs’ march departed from the Technopark.
- 13:00: Students’ procession began at the National Center for Education Quality.
- 13:00: Managers started their march from Republic Square.
- 14:00: Musicians marched from the Conservatory to the Ministry of Culture.
- 14:30: Marketers, PR specialists, and representatives of the creative industries began their march from Vake Park toward parliament.
- 17:00: Lawyers and legal firm employees gathered outside the Supreme Court.
- 17:00: Winemakers gathered near the Ministry of Economy.
- 19:00: Electronic music and club industry workers began their march from Marjanishvili Metro toward parliament.
- 20:00: Psychologists started their march from Republic Square.
By 9-10 PM, all professional groups had assembled on Rustaveli Avenue near the parliament.
Many city residents emotionally welcomed the marches, waving flags from their balconies and the windows of apartments and offices.
A video has gone viral on social media showing two people standing on the arm of a construction crane on Vazha-Pshavela Avenue, waving a flag and a lit mobile phone flashlight in greeting to the protesters.
#TbilisiProtests: A crane operator couldn’t finish work earlier and greeted protesters from his high perch. The crowd below cheered and waved back in response. pic.twitter.com/NM9GdqWo10
— JAMnews (@JAMnewsCaucasus) December 13, 2024
For the third week, tens of thousands have taken to the streets in Tbilisi and other Georgian cities demanding new parliamentary elections and a return to the path of European integration. This new phase of protests began after Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze announced on November 28 that negotiations on Georgia’s accession to the European Union would be halted until 2028.
During the first six nights, thousands of protesters were violently dispersed by special forces using water cannons, tear gas, and pepper spray. More than 500 people were detained, with over half suffering brutal beatings and requiring hospitalization.
Georgia’s Public Defender has stated that the violence used against detained protesters was so severe it could be equated with torture. Levan Ioseliani released an official statement saying that nearly half of the detainees showed evidence of injuries such as broken facial bones, fractured noses, and broken arms.
Protesters arrested during the demonstrations are being brought to court, with most receiving fines of 2,000-3,000 Georgian lari (around $1,000) for resisting police. Many are also sentenced to up to 14 days of imprisonment.
More than 30 individuals have been charged with criminal offenses.
Though updated figures on the number of detainees have not been provided by the Ministry of Internal Affairs in recent days. However, new arrests continue to be reported daily.
Crowds fill the streets of central #TbilisiProtests, marching toward parliament in one of dozens of processions from across the city. The protests, now in their third week, demand a return to the path of European integration and fresh parliamentary elections. pic.twitter.com/4kJDNmZe9R
— JAMnews (@JAMnewsCaucasus) December 13, 2024
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.
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.
Moscow and Baku Have ‘Common Understanding’ about Railway to Nakhichevan Via Armenia Asbarez Armenian News
Moscow and Baku Have ‘Common Understanding’ about Railway to Nakhichevan Via Armenia Asbarez Armenian News
Moscow and Baku Have ‘Common Understanding’ about Railway to Nakhichevan Via Armenia Asbarez Armenian News