Russian authorities detain Armenia’s former defense minister: Report Anadolu Agency | English
Day: December 30, 2024
Israel’s leading airline suspends its Tel Aviv-Moscow flights until March after Azerbaijan leader’s statements https://t.co/TJivyVoqVH
— Michael Novakhov (@mikenov) December 30, 2024
On December 30, Transparency International-Georgia has released an yearly report on the cases of violence against the media and the response of the state institutions. The report assessed 2024 year as alarming and highlighted a disturbing rise in violence against journalists and media representatives in Georgia. According to the report, nearly 200 cases of physical and verbal attacks, along with attempts to intimidate and silence the media, have been recorded this year alone. This marks a nearly fivefold increase compared to 2023.
TI-Georgia has documented the violence against the media representatives according in five categories, including: Open attacks on media representatives; Illegal detention and fines of journalists; Attempts of threats, pressure, and intimidation against media representatives; The use of accreditation rules by Parliament against the media; The use of judicial measures against the media.
Special attention is paid to the violence against journalists covering the pro-European protests. TI -Georgia reported over 90 cases of media violations during these protests, including “targeted attacks, severe physical injuries, unlawful detentions, fines, deliberate damage to equipment, illegal interference with journalistic activities, injuries caused by tear gas, sprays, and water cannons, threats, and insults.” Journalists were subject to violence not only by law enforcement but also by so-called “titushky” (hired thugs). The most critical cases of attack on Maka Chikhladze, Giorgi Shetsiruli, and Guram Rogava were highlighted in the report.
According to the organization, the day of the parliamentary elections on October 26 “was also difficult for journalists,” as Media Checker reported that 70 media representatives faced interference in their work.
Additionally, the watchdog noted that since November, the Communications Commission has maintained a negative stance against critical media broadcasters of Georgia, especially during the pre-election period, when “numerous contested violation protocols against television stations critical of the government.” The report also stated that even though the commission did issue several violation protocols against government-leaning broadcasters, it still “could not balance the irreparable damage caused to critical television stations.”
TI-Georgia also requested information on statistics regarding crimes committed against journalists. “According to the Special Investigative Service, from January 1 to November 30, 2024, investigations were launched into 16 criminal cases related to illegal interference with journalists’ professional activities, of which 9 investigations are still ongoing.” The report also noted that the Prosecutor General’s Office initiated “criminal proceedings against 7 individuals, and 1 criminal case was closed. The response from the Special Investigative Service does not indicate whether any of the investigations have been concluded or if the perpetrators have been held accountable.”
“The inability and ineffective functioning of state institutions to combat crimes against the media provide a clear example of state capture, where various branches of government, concentrated around a single party, are used solely to consolidate the power of that party. This is in stark contrast to their primary purpose, which is to serve the interests of society impartially,” TI-Georgia concluded.
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To enhance the professionalism of psychologists serving in the Azerbaijan Army, a training session on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) has been conducted in the lecture hall of the Baku Military College operating under the National Defense University, Azernews reports citing Azerbaijan Defense Ministry.
GD-elect President Mikheil Kavelashvili participated in the closing ceremony of the Georgian Ambassadors’ Conference 2024, right after his inauguration ceremony, accompanied by the Chair of the ramp GD Parliament Shalva Papuashvili and Georgian Dream’s Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze. All three maintained that Georgia continues successfully on the road to EU membership. The Ambassadorial took place amid Georgia’s growing international isolation, the rupture in its relations with traditional Western partners, the halting of its EU accession process, and a growing domestic crisis. This did not prevent the GD officials to promise the achievement of the EU membership goal and the restoration of the relations with the main strategic partner – the U.S.
GD’s newly elected President Kavelashvili said in his address to the ambassadors that “despite the artificial frenzy and speculation”, Georgia’s integration with the EU is continuing and repeated the GD narrative that by 2028 more than 90% of the EU-Georgia Association Agreement will have been implemented and “by 2030 Georgia will be best prepared for EU membership”. He also noted that Georgia is ready to start negotiations with the EU “at any time”.
Kavelashvili also expressed optimism that under the new US administration, “all misunderstandings” between the two countries will be resolved and that the Strategic Charter between Georgia and the US will be fully implemented.
Georgia was strengthening relations with its neighbors, he said, noting that long-term stability in the region is a priority. He also spoke of the occupied regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia and emphasized that only peaceful means would lead to de-occupation. He never mentioned Russia in the context of the occupation.
GD PM Kobakhidze also has not mentioned Russia when speaking about the occupation and restoration of Georgia’s territorial integrity. He said: “In accordance with the top priority of the Government of Georgia, we continue the policy of peaceful restoration and de-occupation of the country’s territorial integrity, reconciliation, and engagement of the population divided by the occupation line,” promised Kobakhidze. “Our country strives to establish a worthy place in the modern developed world. Obviously, in this process, Georgia needs to strengthen its international positions, and international support, and the role of each diplomat on this path is special.”
In his address, Kobakhidze also spoke of EU integration, claiming it is “the most important priority”, and stressed that Georgia will remain committed to its European aspirations. He claimed Georgia is progressing towards EU integration, which he said was evidenced by Georgia being granted EU candidate status last year. Like Kavelashvili, he pledged to implement over 90% of the Association Agreement and the DCFTA by 2028. He also described Georgia as a leader in “democratic and economic reforms in the region”. The GD Prime Minister also highlighted Georgia’s “rapid economic growth”, claiming that the country is “number one in the region and in Europe in terms of economic growth indicators”. Kobakhidze assured that the government would continue to focus on further accelerating economic growth. This, he said, was one of the most important factors in the context of EU accession.
Kobakhidze also said: “We aim to reset the relations with the U.S. the blank page”. noting in this context the need of the reset of the strategic partnership. The rest he said should include the roadmap, which will reflect concrete tangible results and expressed hope for reciprocity from the new U.S. administration.
GD Parliament Chair Shalva Papuashvili also spare no words speaking about the EU integration goal and the role of the parliament in this context: “Looking ahead, I would like to emphasize that the Georgian Parliament will make great efforts to achieve the goals of EU membership, including the fulfillment of the obligations stipulated in the Association Agreement, thereby confirming repeatedly and continuing to confirm that Georgia is successfully implementing European standards and fulfilling the “homework” that is the basis for true European integration.”
Georgia has been plunged into a political crisis following the 26 October parliamentary elections and the 28 November announcement by PM Kobakhidze about suspension of EU accession negotiations. The election results have been rejected by the Georgian opposition, President Salome Zurabishvili and much of society. Western partners have called on the Georgian authorities to investigate the irregularities, and the calls have intensified since the publication of the OSCE/ODIHR final report. For over a month, Georgians all over the country have been taking to the streets to protest against the GD’s decision to halt EU accession negotiations, demanding new elections and the release of unlawfully detained protesters. The US, UK, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia and Ukraine have imposed sanctions on more than a hundred GD officials and individuals undermining democracy and human rights in Georgia. Three ambassadors and one charge d’affaires have resigned over Georgia’s foreign policy U-turn.
Also Read:
- 28/12/2024 – 2024 Ambassadorial Papers Over Crisis
- 27/12/2024 – BREAKING: U.S. Sanctions Bidzina Ivanishvili
- 06/12/2024 – FM Botchorishvili Attends OSCE Ministerial in Malta
- 30/11/2024 – Georgian Ambassador to Lithuania Resigns
- 30/11/2024 – Georgian Ambassador to the Netherlands Resigns
- 30/11/2024 – BREAKING: U.S. Suspends Strategic Partnership with Georgia
Explainer | Facing Resistance, Georgian Dream Rushes in Repressive Laws. via @CivilGe https://t.co/wlS1MACdLY
— Notes from Georgia/South Caucasus (Hälbig, Ralph) (@SouthCaucasus) December 30, 2024
Israel’s leading airline suspends its Tel Aviv-Moscow flights until March after Azerbaijan leader’s statements Information-Analytic Agency NEWS.am
Scharfe Kritik an Alt-Bundesrat nach Georgien-Reise. Alain Berset, Generalsekretär des Europarats, reiste nach Tiflis. Mit seinem Auftritt unterstütze er die von Moskau gesteuerte Regierung, finden georgische Oppositionelle. via @tagesanzeiger https://t.co/jpymk1a5U3
— Notes from Georgia/South Caucasus (Hälbig, Ralph) (@SouthCaucasus) December 30, 2024