Azerbaijani Dance Cup 2024 has been held at Sattar Bahlulzade Culture House, Azernews reports. The event was jointly organized by the Azerbaijan Youth Union (AYU) and the Azerbaijan Dance Association (ADA).
Day: 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.
On December 13, Patriarch of All Georgia Ilia II issued a statement calling on Georgians to unite in prayer, protect peace in the country, as well as the sovereignty and statehood of Georgia. The statement makes no direct reference to the police brutality and violence or the repression by the authorities that continues in the country and seems to make an attempt to distribute the blame evenly.
The letter stresses that mutual hatred won’t help the country achieve its national goals. When it speaks of Georgia’s European path, it qualifies it as based on Christian and traditional values – echoing the official rhetoric of the GD. “Georgia is an integral part of European civilization and it is our duty to contribute to the strengthening and development of a European-type nation-state based on our centuries-old Christian spiritual and cultural heritage and traditional values,” the Patriarch says.
The Patriarch notes that the developments of the past few days “clearly show” that it is necessary “for every Georgian” – old and young – to take responsibility for protecting peace in the country, to distance themselves from violence and to understand that “in our difficult times, the sharp escalation of the situation poses a real threat to the country’s main achievement – statehood and sovereignty.”
Patriarch Ilia II states that in order to avoid “uncontrollable processes” it is crucial to achieve a constructive dialogue between the parties. He noted that the main problem in Georgia today is that people have become distant from God and have developed the habit of “deadly sins”, “as evidenced by the hate speech and physical assaults of recent weeks.”
The Patriarch stresses that mutual hatred and malice won’t help the country achieve its national goals, and emphasizes that today, as all his life, he prays that God will give Georgians a “wise and humane” heart. He calls on the people to pray together for the prosperity of the country, and blesses the clergy to ring the church bells every day at 1:00 p.m. and hold a prayer service for the Blessed Virgin Mary.
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