Day: June 25, 2025

https://t.co/EOfrOuVPEN
Search: Pashinyan and Erdogan https://t.co/KYGCUA0Nwy
https://t.co/68VWXDt66g
#SouthCaucasus #SouthCaucasusNews
#Armenia #Azerbaijan #Georgia Armenia Azerbaijan Georgia
https://t.co/dsqdwDp9id
Comprehensive, Balanced, Timely
Starred posts – https://t.co/sSmJtWlaxy

On July 1–2, 2025, the historic city of Khiva in Uzbekistan will host the First Uzbekistan-Azerbaijan Inter-Parliamentary Forum under the theme “In Search of New Horizons: From Dialogue to Joint Action,” according to Uzbekistan’s Senate of the Oliy Majlis, Azernews reports.

The jailing of opposition leaders for boycotting the Georgian Dream parliamentary commission, with more prison sentences expected, has raised concerns at home and abroad that the ruling government has moved into a new phase of authoritarianism, imprisoning opponents while planning to ban opposition parties later.

On June 23, Zurab Japaridze, Mamuka Khazaradze, and Badri Japaridze were sentenced to months in prison. A day later, on June 24, Giorgi Vashadze received the same sentence. Two other politicians – Nika Melia and Nika Gvaramia – remain in pretrial detention, anticipating similar verdicts. In addition, former Defense Minister Irakli Okruashvili, currently behind bars, and UNM’s Givi Targamadze, now free on bail, will likely share a similar fate.

All eight face charges for refusing to appear before the Georgian Dream parliament’s temporary investigative commission tasked with probing alleged crimes by the former United National Movement government and other officials. Opposition politicians have defied the commission’s summonses in their continued rejection of the one-party parliament formed after Georgia’s disputed October 26 elections.

We have compiled international reactions to the jailing of the opposition figures in Georgia:

U.S. State Department (in a comment to Formula TV): We are deeply concerned by the continuation and increase in anti-democratic actions in Georgia, including the detention of political opposition figures and targeted harassment of civil society, including those critical of the government’s actions. We have serious concerns that Georgia is using its recently passed legislation, including amendments to the grants law, selectively against actual or perceived critics of the Georgian government – thus restricting freedom of expression and unduly limiting the work of civil society. As Vice President Vance said in Munich, “You cannot win a democratic mandate by censoring your opponents or putting them in jail, nor can you win one by disregarding your basic electorate on questions like who gets to be a part of our shared society.

Joe Wilson, U.S. Representative: The illegitimate Georgian Dream regime has wrongfully arrested opposition leaders Zurab Japaridze, Mamuka Khazaradze, and Badri Japaridze, escalating their crackdown. Ivanishvili seeks to create a one-party state in service to Communist China. The Senate must pass MEGOBARI!

Jeanne Shaheen, U.S. Senator: Sentencing and detaining democratic opposition leaders in Georgia is not justice, it’s a pattern of repression. Badri Japaridze, Mamuka Khazaradze, Zurab Japaridze, Nika Melia, Nika Gvaramia, Irakli Okruashvil, and many others detained deserve their freedom, now.

Stephen Doughty, UK’s Minister of State for Europe, North America and the UK Overseas: “The sentencing of prominent opposition figures in Georgia for boycotting a parliamentary session is a blatant move to block election rivals. Georgian Dream must end its silencing of dissent and free all political prisoners.

Marta Kos, EU Commissioner for Enlargement: The arrest of opposition voices is an attack at Georgia’s democratic foundations, which are being eroded by the day. I stand with those fighting for a free and pluralistic Georgian society and call on the Georgian authorities to release all journalists, activists, and those detained unjustly.

Anitta Hipper, EU Spokesperson for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy: The politically motivated persecution and arrests of opposition leaders go against basic democratic values. These are authoritarian tactics, opposite of what is expected from an EU candidate country. Georgian Dream must stop weaponising the justice system.

Knut Abraham, PACE Vice-President: Imprisoning opposition politicians, intimidating civil society and putting them behind bars, beating and arresting people who demonstrate – it sounds all too familiar. It is a reality in Russia and Belarus today. For too long, we watched as one repressive law after another was passed until it was too late. But we can learn from our mistakes. We must do so today with regard to Georgia if we do not want a second Belarus in the Caucasus! New opposition politicians are arrested in Georgia every day. As a member of the Council of Europe, Georgia has committed itself to respecting human rights and protecting democracy. I call on the Committee of Ministers to defend the Council of Europe’s red lines and to act immediately before it is too late!

Margus Tsahkna, Estonian Foreign Minister: Georgian authorities have once again turned to repression, arresting multiple opposition leaders in recent days. Jailing pro-European politicians only pushes Georgia further from its EU path. The political persecution must end. Georgian Dream must release all political prisoners now.

Marko Mihkelson, Chair of Estonian Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee: Is the free world really so weak that it is unable to do anything to support the Georgian people in their efforts to resist the establishment of a dictatorship in this small South Caucasian country? Authoritarian regimes and the ‘useful idiots’ who serve them will only gain more confidence to continue their offensive.

James MacCleary, British MP: I condemn the jailing of my friend Giorgi Vashadze. I was due to meet him next week. I’ll be writing to the Foreign Secretary demanding immediate action. All political prisoners in Georgia must be released – the UK must sanction Ivanishvili and his corrupt government now.

Rasa Juknevičienė, Lithuanian MEP: Three opposition leaders – Zurab Japaridze, Mamuka Khazaradze, and Badri Japaridze – were arrested today. Does anyone in the EU still doubt that Georgian Dream has chosen the path of dictatorship? I urge the EUCouncil to unanimously adopt sanctions against the regime.

Nacho Sánchez Amor, Spanish MEP: It’s appalling to see Georgia at full speed towards a one-party system. One by one, opposition figures are being jailed. The country has passed from being a frontrunner in EU integration to a frontrunner in authoritarianism at light speed, betraying the aspirations of its society.

ALDE Party: OUTRAGEOUS: FOUR liberal opposition leaders have been thrown in jail by the Georgian Dream regime. This is pure political repression. The people of Georgia are demanding democracy, and they are being silenced. Liberals will not stay quiet. We demand their immediate release.

More to follow…

Azerbaijan–UK trade turnover surges over threefold this year  AzerNews

This growth reflects the expanding economic partnership between the two countries, particularly in the sectors of energy, technology, and industrial equipment. Thus, the trade turnover with Great Britain experienced a sharp rise in the first five months of 2025, increasing…

West on opposition arrests in Georgia

Representatives of the European Union and the United Kingdom have expressed deep concern over the arrests of opposition politicians in Georgia and the persecution of critics of the ruling Georgian Dream party.

Knut Abraham, Vice-President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), said the arrests, public intimidation, beatings and detentions of protesters “sound very familiar” and that “we must learn from past mistakes.”

European Commission spokesperson Anita Hipper stated that politically motivated prosecutions and imprisonment of opposition leaders run counter to fundamental democratic values.

U.S. State Department voices concern over arrests of opposition figures in Georgia

“Ivanishvili’s government is using legal amendments to target its critics”

Knut Abraham, Vice-President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), said:

“The arrests and imprisonment of opposition politicians, intimidation of civil society, beatings and detention of protesters — it all sounds very familiar. This is the reality today in Russia and Belarus. For too long we watched as one repressive law after another was adopted in these countries — until it was too late. But we can learn from our mistakes.

We must act if we don’t want to see another Belarus emerge in the Caucasus. Every day, a new opposition politician is arrested in Georgia. As a member of the Council of Europe, Georgia has committed to upholding human rights and protecting democracy. I call on the Committee of Ministers to respect the Council of Europe’s red lines and act now — before it’s too late!”

---

European Commission spokesperson Anita Hipper said:

“Politically motivated persecution and the imprisonment of opposition leaders in Georgia go against fundamental democratic values.

This is authoritarian behaviour — the opposite of what is expected from an EU candidate country. Georgian Dream must stop using the judiciary as a political weapon.”.

---

Marta Kos, European Commissioner for Enlargement, stated:

“The detention of opposition figures is an attack on the democratic foundations of Georgia, which are being shaken more and more each day.

I stand with the Georgian people in their fight for a free and pluralistic society and call on the Georgian authorities to release all journalists, activists, and unjustly detained individuals.”

---

James McCleary, Member of the UK Parliament, stated:

“As a Member of the British Parliament, I condemn the arrest of my friend Giorgi Vashadze. I was due to meet him next week.

I will write to the Foreign Secretary and demand an immediate response.

All political prisoners in Georgia must be released — the UK must impose sanctions on Ivanishvili and his corrupt government without delay.”

---

Svenja Hahn, President of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE), stated:

“I am outraged!

The regime has arrested three more leaders of Georgia’s liberal opposition. This is political persecution. We are witnessing the dismantling of democratic values and freedoms in Georgia in real time. The ‘Georgian Dream’ regime is frightened by ongoing protests, mounting public pressure, and active resistance.

Liberals and Democrats for Europe continue to stand with our friends and the people of Georgia in their fight for democracy. The ‘Georgian Dream’ must uphold its international obligations, immediately release the imprisoned opposition leaders, drop the charges against them, and return Georgia to the European path chosen by its people and required by its Constitution.”

Georgian NGOs: Ruling party has firmly embraced authoritarianism

Non-governmental organisations have issued a statement in response to the arrest of opposition leaders in Georgia

On 24 June, a Georgian court found Giorgi Vashadze, leader of the Strategy Aghmashenebeli party, guilty of failing to appear before a parliamentary commission investigating the actions of Mikheil Saakashvili’s government between 2003 and 2012. He was sentenced to seven months in prison and banned from holding public office for two years.

A day earlier, on 23 June 2025, a court aligned with the ruling Georgian Dream party sentenced three opposition leaders—Mamuka Khazaradze (Lelo), Badri Japaridze (Strong Georgia), and Zurab Japaridze (Coalition for Change)—to prison.

Other opposition figures, including Nika Melia, Zurab Japaridze, and Nika Gvaramia (Coalition for Change), as well as former defence minister Irakli Okruashvili, are already behind bars for refusing to appear before the same commission.

The ruling Georgian Dream party has introduced legislative amendments to the country’s Law on Freedom of Speech and Expression that would significantly tighten defamation standards, curb legal protections for reporters, and expand restrictions on social media. The disputed Parliament is set to fast-track the changes this week.

Redefining Defamation

Under the amendments, the current law’s definition of defamation would be changed from a statement containing a substantially false fact that causes harm to a person and damages their reputation, to “a statement containing a substantially false fact and damages a person’s reputation.”

Additionally, the timeframe for reconciliation in defamation disputes would be reduced. Courts currently provide a one-month period for parties to settle; this would be shortened to 10 days.

Burden of Proof Shifts to Defendant

In another change, the amendments would shift the burden of proof in defamation cases. In particular, the responsibility to prove the statement is not defamatory would now fall to the defendant. Plaintiffs would no longer have to prove they were defamed. Instead, they would need to present before the Court the contested statement, identify the alleged falsehood, and explain how it damages their reputation.

The draft law also abolishes an existing safeguard that protects professional secrecy. Currently, courts cannot rule against a defendant solely based on their refusal to disclose confidential sources or professional secrets. That provision would be removed, raising concerns about potential pressure on journalists and whistleblowers to reveal sources.

The Georgian Media watchdog, Media Advocacy Coalition, has lashed out at the amendments, stating that “The abolition of the right to protect sources through these changes effectively means the end of investigative journalism.” “It will become impossible to report on issues of significant public interest.”

“Insult” Regulation Extended to Public Space

The proposed amendments also seek to regulate “insult in a public space,” a provision not included in the existing law, which only covers face-to-face insults. The bill does not specify what constitutes a “public space,” though the recent interpretations by the Georgian Courts include social media posts as well.

In recent weeks, Tbilisi City Court has fined politicians, activists, media personalities, and journalists for “insulting” Georgian Dream MPs online in Facebook posts, some of which include swear words. The verdicts came as a result of the ruling party’s lawsuit that fueled fears of “mass censorship.”

Expanded Compensation, Abolishment of “Qualified Privilege”

The proposed amendments would also allow courts to mandate financial compensation, both material and moral, if a correction or public denial from the slanderer is deemed insufficient to remedy reputational harm.

In addition, under the existing law, a person is granted “qualified privilege” in defamation cases – a legal safeguard that currently protects journalistic work and public-interest reporting. Among others, people are not held liable for making a false statement if they took reasonable steps to verify the information and later tried to repair any reputational harm, or their statement aimed to serve the public interests and did more good than harm. 

The amendments aim to fully eliminate that article from the law, raising concerns that the changes could have a chilling effect on investigative journalism.

“The proposed amendments to the Law ‘On Freedom of Speech and Expression’ represent a continued, deliberate attack on freedom of expression, establish a legal framework that effectively dismantles the media, forces journalists into self-censorship, and ultimately buries critical public discourse,” the Media Advocacy Coalition argued.

Also Read:

• 06/02/2025 – GD Parliament Adopts Repressive Amendments in Third Reading
• 06/02/2025 – Watchdogs: Repressive Legislative Changes Announced by GD Threaten Fundamental Rights
• 23/01/2025 – CSOs Condemn Repressive Use of Fines Against Protesters in Georgia
  

Find company research, competitor information, contact details & financial data for Papa de América S.A. of Lima, Lima. Get the latest business insights from Dun & Bradstreet.