Azerbaijan’s State Agency for Compulsory Medical Insurance has announced the number of payers of insurance premiums for medical services in the first 10 months of this year.
Day: December 17, 2024
Azerbaijan lowers maximum conscription age
The Milli Majlis has passed amendments in the first reading to the Criminal Code, Migration Code, and Code of Administrative Offenses, as well as the laws “On the Protection of Public Health,” “On the Approval of Regulations on Military Service,” “On Psychiatric Care,” “On Mobilization Preparation and Mobilization in the Republic of Azerbaijan,” and “On Military Duty and Military Service.”
According to the Report outlet, the decision was made during today’s parliamentary plenary session.
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According to the proposed amendments, conscripts will be defined as Azerbaijani male citizens aged 18 to 30 who are registered or subject to initial military registration and have not completed mandatory active military service. Under current legislation, this age limit is set at 18 to 35.
As a result, the maximum age for serving in Azerbaijan’s Armed Forces under active military service will be lowered from 36.5 years to 31.5 years, since the duration of active military service is one and a half years.
The proposed amendments also tighten penalties for failing to provide information within the time limits established by the “Law on Military Duty and Military Service.” This includes details regarding the registration or deregistration of conscripts and reservists at their place of residence, recognition of their disability, changes in surname, name, patronymic, date and place of birth in civil status records, death registration, as well as the initiation of criminal proceedings or a court sentence that has come into legal force.
Officials will face fines ranging from 300 to 500 manats [approximately $170-290], up from the current 150 to 250 manats [about $90-150]. Legal entities will face fines of 900 to 1,100 manats [about $530-650], up from the current 300 to 500 manats [approximately $170-290].
Avoiding military service without legal grounds or evading a mobilization call will result in imprisonment for up to two years. The same offenses committed during wartime will be punishable by imprisonment for three to six years.
Kobakhidze says EU pursues anti-Georgia policy
The Georgian Dream-appointed Prime Minister, Irakli Kobakhidze, criticized the European Union during a briefing on 17 December for its “steps against Georgia” and dismissed the mass pro-European protests that have continued for nearly three weeks outside parliament as “a gathering of 800 people brought there by four opposition parties and wealthy NGOs.”
On EU’s ‘anti-Georgian steps’
Kobakhidze described as “anti-Georgian” the EU Foreign Affairs Council’s decision on 16 December to endorse the suspension of the visa-free regime for Georgian citizens holding diplomatic passports.
“This is merely a recommendation with essentially symbolic significance, but it undermines the authority of European institutions in the eyes of Georgian society,” Kobakhidze stated.
Presenting the decision, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security, Kaja Kallas, said:
“The situation is not moving in a positive direction for the Georgian people. In response, the EU has already reduced political contacts and the European Commission will propose suspending the visa-free regime for diplomatic passport holders in Georgia later this year.”
Kobakhidze expressed gratitude to five countries that he claimed “stood by the Georgian people in the EU Council”:
“Hungary, Slovakia, Italy, Spain, and Romania defended the interests of the Georgian people in the EU Council,” Kobakhidze said.
On president Salome Zourabichvili’s invitation to European Parliament
Kobakhidze also responded to the 16 December decision by European Parliament President Roberta Metsola to invite Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili to a European Parliament session.
“They plan to stage a little performance at the European Parliament session with Salome Zourabichvili. She will stand there like Zelensky and finish her speech to applause. Such appearances can have no impact on the current events in Georgia,” Kobakhidze said.
‘Radical opposition run out of resources’
Kobakhidze stated that “the opposition has failed in its fourth attempt at a revolution and can no longer bring more than 800 people to Rustaveli Avenue outside parliament.”
“It’s over! We have thwarted their fourth attempt at a revolution. Four political parties and over ten wealthy non-governmental organizations couldn’t gather more than 800 people… Even if they just brought their staff and assets, they would have managed a bigger crowd. Finita la commedia, as the Italians would say,” Kobakhidze remarked.
For more than three weeks, mass protests have taken place daily in central Tbilisi and other Georgian cities. The demonstrations began after Irakli Kobakhidze announced on 28 November that Georgia would suspend negotiations on joining the European Union for four years.
The main demand of the tens of thousands of people taking to the streets daily is the holding of new parliamentary elections to enable the legal change of power in the country. Protesters are also calling for the release of all those detained during the demonstrations.
In the early days of the protests, authorities used water cannons, tear gas, and pepper spray to disperse crowds. Special forces and unidentified violent groups brutally beat protesters, journalists, and politicians.
More than 400 people were detained. Half of them showed signs of physical violence, and many were hospitalized with fractures to facial bones, arms, and legs.
Kobakhidze says EU pursues anti-Georgia policy
Sevinj Vagifgizi dedicated her award to all journalists fighting against corruption.
On December 10, Sevinj Vagifgizi, the editor-in-chief of “Abzas Media,” who is currently in prison, was declared the “Global Anti-Corruption Champion.” In light of this achievement, she addressed the public in a heartfelt appeal.
The journalist expressed her gratitude to those who deemed her deserving of the award, as well as to everyone who remains loyal to democratic principles:
“I would like to thank everyone who remains loyal to democratic principles for deeming me worthy of this prestigious award.”
As part of “Abzas Media,” Sevinj Vagifgizi and her team have uncovered a wide range of corruption. They exposed the criminal activities of the family members of the country’s leader, Ilham Aliyev, and how the officials appointed by him misused state funds. Reflecting on the situation, she said, “Unfortunately, instead of opening criminal cases against these officials based on these facts, state agencies accused the journalists who uncovered these crimes of ‘dirty money’ and imprisoned them.”
According to Vagifgizi, after Ilham Aliyev took control of the judiciary and the legislative bodies, he has now shifted his focus to eliminating independent media. “However, I believe that everyone who remains loyal to democratic principles will not allow the destruction of the country’s only breathing entity, the free media. This award is an achievement of all journalists who have uncovered corruption crimes.”
The Global Anti-Corruption Champions Award, established in the U.S. in 2021, is designed to recognize individuals who have taken extraordinary steps in the fight against corruption. It also aims to demonstrate solidarity with these heroic partners.
Along with Sevinj Vagifgizi, nine other individuals were honored with this prestigious award.
Sevinj Vagifgizi was arrested on November 21, 2023, as part of the “Abzas Media Case.” She, along with five other imprisoned staff members of the media organization, has been accused of smuggling.
The journalists have denied the charges, asserting that their arrests are directly linked to their investigations into corruption.
The post A Journalist’s Public Appeal: Aliyev Wants to Destroy the Media That Investigates Him appeared first on MEYDAN.TV.