Vodka exports from Russia to Azerbaijan have increased sharply, according to data released by the Agroexport Federal Center, AzerNEWS reports. The report shows that during the first four months of 2026, Russia exported more than 900 tons of vodka to Azerbaijan, valued at over…
Month: June 2026
Georgia’s Ministry of Internal Affairs said on June 1 that a newly established Division for Combating Hate Speech tasked with monitoring and detecting alleged hate-speech offenses has begun operating with an initial staff of ten people within the ministry’s Human Rights Protection Department.
According to the ministry, “the main function and duties of the division will be to monitor and proactively detect publicly disseminated statements that violate/insult human dignity and contain hate speech, which contain signs of violations under the Administrative Offenses Code of Georgia.”
The division will also be responsible for identifying alleged offenders, establishing their identities, preparing administrative case materials, drafting offense reports, and forwarding cases to courts in accordance with jurisdictional rules, the ministry said in a statement.
The division will operate “within the legislative framework already in force in the country,” the press release read.
The establishment of the division follows a May 18 announcement by Mamuka Mdinaradze, Georgian Dream State Minister for Coordination of Law Enforcement Bodies, who said the initiative was aimed at combating hate speech while safeguarding freedom of expression.
The move comes as critics of the ruling Georgian Dream government have been repeatedly fined and detained over statements authorities deemed insulting toward police or public officials, including comments made on social media. Human rights observers and government critics have voiced concerns about the initiative, describing it as a censorship mechanism that could further restrict freedom of expression.
Also Read:
- 20/05/2026 – ECtHR Finds No Violation of Freedom of Expression in Georgian Activist’s Viral TikTok Case
- 18/04/2026 – Ivanishvili’s Son Laments ‘Violence’, ‘Polarization’, Calls for ‘Discussion, Debate’
- 09/07/2025 – Activist Jailed for Five Days Over “Insult” in Facebook Comment
- 12/06/2025 – Politicians, Journalists, Activists Summoned to Court Over Social Media “Insults” to GD MPs
- 06/06/2025 – Georgian Dream to Sue Critics Over “Insults” on Social Media
“We also can be proud of our achievements in connecting the continents. By investing in railroad and highway infrastructure, we are opening new corridors for transportation,” President Ilham Aliyev said during his speech at the official opening ceremony of the 31st Baku Energy Forum, AzerNEWS reports.