Day: December 20, 2024
Georgia to amend foreign agents law
According to Alain Berset, Secretary General of the Council of Europe, who is currently visiting Georgia, he demanded the release of all participants in recent protests who were administratively detained over the past few weeks during his meeting with Georgian officials.
He emphasized that Georgia’s Committee Against Torture has been examining the conditions of detained protesters and will present a preliminary assessment next week.
At a press conference on December 20, the Secretary General also announced that the Georgian government has pledged to amend the controversial “Law on Transparency of Foreign Influence” (commonly known as the “foreign agents law”). To this end, an international working group will be established.
Additionally, Alain Berset expressed concern about the homophobic “anti-LGBT propaganda” law, stating that it is incompatible with European standards.
“This is a critical time for Georgia, and I am here, first and foremost, to express my support for the Georgian people, who deserve to live in a stable and democratic country.
The current political crisis can be resolved if we uphold the fundamental rights of democracy, human rights, and the rule of law.
During my meeting with the authorities, I made it absolutely clear that fundamental rights—freedom of expression, the media, and assembly—must be fully protected, and any violations, particularly against journalists and protesters, are unacceptable.
I urged the authorities to refrain from using disproportionate force, conduct an independent, effective, and transparent investigation swiftly, and release all those detained administratively. I have received certain assurances in this regard,” said Alain Berset.
The Council of Europe emphasizes that the purpose of Alain Berset’s visit to Georgia is to de-escalate political tensions.
The Council urges all parties to avoid any escalation and calls on the authorities to refrain from disproportionate use of force and to respect freedom of expression and assembly.
As part of his visit, Alain Berset met not only with members of the Georgian government but also with representatives of civil society.
One meeting that drew particular public interest was between Berset and Bidzina Ivanishvili, the honorary chairman of the ruling Georgian Dream party. While the details of the meeting remain unknown, many believe that the very fact that the Secretary General of the Council of Europe met with someone who holds no official government position further underscores the West’s clear understanding that Ivanishvili is the one truly governing the country while staying behind the scenes.
The visit of the Secretary General of the Council of Europe to Georgia has sparked various political interpretations.
Georgian Dream claims that the visit and the official meetings held during it have put an end to speculations about the government’s legitimacy.
“There are certain conditions that Georgia will not compromise on, as they are based on the interests of its people. Of course, the arrival of a guest of such stature is extremely important to discuss issues that concern not only Georgia but also the region and the world,” said Giorgi Volski, First Deputy Speaker of Parliament.
Berset met with only three of the four opposition parties that surpassed the 5% threshold in the October 26 parliamentary elections, as the leaders of the Coalition for Change, Nika Gvaramia and Nika Melia, declined the meeting.
According to the coalition, the Secretary General’s visit to Georgia is being used by the illegitimate Georgian Dream government for “propaganda and disinformation purposes.”
The coalition also expressed dissatisfaction over Berset’s lack of interest in visiting political prisoners.
Georgia to amend foreign agents law
Members of the Independent Industrialists and Businessmen’s Association (MÜSİAD) in Azerbaijan have invested ₼61.3mln ($36.1mln) in the country’s economy over the past three years, Azernews reports, citing Rashad Cabirli, Chairman of the Board of MÜSİAD Azerbaijan, as he said at a meeting with journalists.
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“AbzasMedia” Trial Has Begun
The trial of seven journalists arrested in connection with the criminal case related to the publication “AbzasMedia” has commenced. The case is being heard at the Baku Serious Crimes Court, chaired by Rasim Sadikhov, with Novruz Karimov and Leyla Asgerova-Mammadova serving as members of the judges’ panel.
The accused journalists are Ulvi Hasanli, the director of “AbzasMedia”; Sevinj Vagifgizi (Abbasova), the editor-in-chief; Mahammad Kekalov, the deputy director; Hafiz Babali, an editor at Turan News Agency; journalists Nargiz Absalamova and Elnara Gasimova; and economist and Radio Azadliq employee Farid Mehralizade. The trial is part of a broader investigation that includes charges related to alleged corruption and illegal activities exposed by the journalists.
The trial’s preparatory hearing took place on December 17, 2024, and it was revealed that a significant portion of the seats designated for attendees had been occupied by outsiders. It was claimed that about 20 of these individuals were those who had taken exams for judicial positions or were present for internships.
The accused journalists objected to this, stating that the hall was deliberately filled with unnecessary people while their family members and supporters were left outside. They demanded the removal of these individuals. Additionally, media representatives who had come to observe the proceedings were not allowed entry, with an order issued specifically barring journalists from attending the session.
As the trial began, Sevinj Vagifgizi objected to two of the three judges on the panel, Rasim Sadikhov and Novruz Karimov, citing their history of issuing politically-motivated rulings. Vagifgizi argued that Sadikhov had been involved in sentencing human rights defender Intigam Aliyev to seven and a half years in prison in 2014-2015, a decision later found to violate the European Convention on Human Rights.
She stated that this demonstrated Sadikhov’s lack of independence and his role in political repression. Vagifgizi also accused Novruz Karimov of being involved in illegal activities during his tenure at the National Security Ministry (NSM) and later as a judge, where he allegedly issued unlawful verdicts in politically-charged cases, including the prosecution of journalist Parviz Hashimli. Vagifgizi emphasized that these judges had been involved in corruption and that they should not be presiding over her case.
The third judge, Leyla Asgerova-Mammadova, was mentioned by Vagifgizi as someone whose background was unknown to the defense team, with the hope that she would not become complicit in what they perceived as an unjust process.
The objections raised by the accused journalists were supported by other defendants, including Farid Mehralizade, who declared that judges like Sadikhov and Karimov were not needed in the country. Despite these objections, the court did not uphold them, and the trial proceeded with the judges in place.
During the hearing, the personal details of the accused journalists were clarified, and their rights and responsibilities were outlined. The judge informed the court that Ramil Abbasov, an official from the State Tax Service, was acting as the civil claimant, as the agency had filed a civil lawsuit against the journalists.
This civil case was in addition to the criminal charges against them. The court’s physical layout featured a glass booth divided into two sections. Three female journalists—Sevinj Vagifgizi, Nargiz Absalamova, and Elnara Gasimova—were placed in the smaller section, while the other four accused individuals were seated in the remaining portion.
Defense lawyers condemned this arrangement, describing it as inhumane, and requested that the journalists be allowed to sit next to their attorneys for proper consultation. The court granted this request, allowing the journalists to sit beside their legal representatives for the duration of the proceedings.
The defense lawyers then raised several motions, including a request to terminate the criminal case, or if that was not possible, to release the accused on house arrest or with bail. Lawyer Javad Javadov, representing Farid Mehralizade, argued that his client had no connection to the “AbzasMedia” case and believed his arrest was related to his work with Radio Free Liberty’s Azerbaijani service.
He further requested that Mehralizade be placed under house arrest, as he was not a flight risk and had family ties, including a newborn child. Hafiz Babali’s lawyer, Rasul Jafarov, also argued that his client had not committed any criminal acts and highlighted Babali’s health problems, including a Group III disability due to eye and foot issues. Jafarov pointed out that medical records from the Ombudsman’s Office confirmed these health issues. Other lawyers, such as Fakhraddin Mehdiyev, referred to the accused journalists as “knights who expose corruption,” emphasizing their role in uncovering state corruption.
In response, journalist Hafiz Babali told the court that all seven defendants had been punished for their investigative work exposing corruption. He stated that the public had been shaken by their arrests and that their investigations into corruption had been misinterpreted as criminal activities. Babali also explained that their bank accounts were thoroughly checked and no illegal activities were found.
He asserted that they were victims of political and legal repression. Babali criticized the judicial system, stating that the law prohibited judges from knowingly issuing unlawful decisions, but that these judges had done so intentionally. Farid Mehralizade echoed this sentiment, adding that “AbzasMedia” had been at the forefront of exposing corruption and that Azerbaijan’s law enforcement agencies were punishing those who exposed wrongdoing, not those who committed it.
Despite the defense’s motions and arguments, the judges, led by Rasim Sadikhov, did not grant any of the requests. The next hearing in the trial has been scheduled for December 28, 2024.
The arrests of the “AbzasMedia” journalists began on November 20, 2023, with Ulvi Hasanli and Mahammad Kekalov being detained first, followed by Sevinj Vagifgizi. Investigative journalist Hafiz Babali, along with Nargiz Absalamova, Elnara Gasimova, and Farid Mehralizade, were arrested shortly after. They face charges under Article 206.3.2 of the Criminal Code for smuggling by a group of persons, but the charges were later escalated to include illegal entrepreneurship, money laundering, tax evasion, and more, carrying penalties of up to 12 years in prison.
Following Ulvi Hasanli’s arrest on November 20, 2023, a search was conducted at the “AbzasMedia” office, where it was claimed that 40,000 euros were found. However, Hasanli denied the allegations, insisting that the money was planted by those who claimed to have found it. The accused journalists maintain their innocence, arguing that they are being punished for exposing corruption, including the business dealings of several high-ranking officials, including members of the President’s family. Government representatives, however, insist that the arrests were based on concrete evidence of criminal activity.
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