Day: July 21, 2026
German companies are actively working in Azerbaijan, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev stated at a joint press conference with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, according to Report‘s correspondent in Berlin.
According to the head of state, more than 200 companies with German capital are currently operating in Azerbaijan.
“I am confident that after today’s negotiations, their number will increase,” the President of Azerbaijan said.
Ilham Aliyev added that joint investments and specific proposals that Baku plans to present in the near future will contribute to the further expansion of German business participation.
Transparency International — Georgia, a leading civil society organization, has published a list of 91 convicted people currently in detention whom it considers “political prisoners,” based on criteria set out in a resolution of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE).
The list, published on July 21, includes mainly people convicted in connection with the anti-government protests that began on November 28, 2024, after the Georgian Dream government announced it was suspending the country’s EU accession process. It also includes, among others, participants in the October 4, 2025 election-day unrest, opposition politicians, and former business associates of ruling party founder and honorary chairman Bidzina Ivanishvili.
“Such a high number of political prisoners once again points to the existence of politically motivated justice in Georgia and the deterioration of the human rights situation,” TI-Georgia said.
The list was compiled based on PACE Resolution 1900 (2012), which sets out five criteria under which a person deprived of their liberty is to be regarded as a “political prisoner.” The first criterion states that detention must have been imposed in violation of the “fundamental guarantees” set out in the European Convention on Human Rights, including freedom of thought, conscience and religion, freedom of expression and information, and freedom of assembly and association.
The other criteria include cases where detention was imposed for “purely political reasons” without connection to any offence; where the length or conditions of detention are “clearly out of proportion” to the offence; where a person was detained “in a discriminatory manner” compared with others; or where detention resulted from proceedings that were “clearly unfair” and appeared to be connected to political motives of the authorities.
According to TI Georgia, all but three people on the list meet the first criterion, while all 91 meet the first, third, and fifth criteria. The watchdog said that “each case has been assessed individually, based on the circumstances of the case, court decisions, and international human rights standards,” adding that the list was compiled “not on political assessments, but on the legal test established by the Council of Europe.”
The list shows that all 91 individuals meet the first, third, and fifth criteria for being regarded as “political prisoners.” TI Georgia asserted that “each case has been assessed individually, based on the circumstances of the case, court decisions, and international human rights standards,” adding that the list was compiled “not on political assessments, but on the legal test established by the Council of Europe.”
Thirteen people on the list meet all five criteria, including journalist Mzia Amaghlobeli, who is serving a two-year prison sentence, and opposition politician Elene Khoshtaria, who is serving a one-and-a-half-year sentence. Their cases have been widely condemned by local and international political and rights groups.
Other prominent figures on the list include opposition leaders Nika Melia and Levan Khabeishvili, former United National Movement government ministers Bacho Akhalaia and Irakli Okruashvili, opera singer Paata Burchuladze, doctor Gogi Chakhunashvili, theatre actor Andro Chichinadze, and poet Zviad Ratiani. The list also includes dozens of young people detained in connection with the first months of anti-government protests in November and December 2024.
The list does not include opposition politician Aleko Elisashvili, who was recently sentenced to 13 years in prison on an attempted terrorism charge, but identifies him as a “potential candidate” for inclusion. TI-Georgia said it would decide on his inclusion after the court publishes the reasoned judgment explaining its finding that Elisashvili acted with a “terrorist purpose,” a claim his lawyers have categorically denied.
The most frequent charges against people on the list include “violence against a police officer” (13 cases), “attempted seizure of a strategic facility” (19 cases), “group violence” (35 cases), and “group action” that “disrupted public order” (19 cases). The list also includes three Russian citizens convicted of “drug possession.” Other offences cited include property damage, violence against police officers, blocking roads, and inflicting bodily harm.
Recent court proceedings have shown a shift in the handling of some protest-related cases. While prison sentences have remained common in major prosecutions, several defendants have recently entered plea agreements resulting in suspended sentences or reduced prison terms.
Georgian Dream has long rejected accusations that the country has “political prisoners” and calls for their release, insisting that every individual is serving a sentence for a specific offence.
Also Read:
Transparency International — Georgia, a leading civil society organization, has published a list of 91 convicted people currently in detention whom it considers “political prisoners,” based on criteria set out in a resolution of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE).
The list, published on July 21, includes mainly people convicted in connection with the anti-government protests that began on November 28, 2024, after the Georgian Dream government announced it was suspending the country’s EU accession process. It also includes, among others, participants in the October 4, 2025 election-day unrest, opposition politicians, and former business associates of ruling party founder and honorary chairman Bidzina Ivanishvili.
“Such a high number of political prisoners once again points to the existence of politically motivated justice in Georgia and the deterioration of the human rights situation,” TI-Georgia said.
The list was compiled based on PACE Resolution 1900 (2012), which sets out five criteria under which a person deprived of their liberty is to be regarded as a “political prisoner.” The first criterion states that detention must have been imposed in violation of the “fundamental guarantees” set out in the European Convention on Human Rights, including freedom of thought, conscience and religion, freedom of expression and information, and freedom of assembly and association.
The other criteria include cases where detention was imposed for “purely political reasons” without connection to any offence; where the length or conditions of detention are “clearly out of proportion” to the offence; where a person was detained “in a discriminatory manner” compared with others; or where detention resulted from proceedings that were “clearly unfair” and appeared to be connected to political motives of the authorities.
According to TI Georgia, all but three people on the list meet the first criterion, while all 91 meet the first, third, and fifth criteria. The watchdog said that “each case has been assessed individually, based on the circumstances of the case, court decisions, and international human rights standards,” adding that the list was compiled “not on political assessments, but on the legal test established by the Council of Europe.”
The list shows that all 91 individuals meet the first, third, and fifth criteria for being regarded as “political prisoners.” TI Georgia asserted that “each case has been assessed individually, based on the circumstances of the case, court decisions, and international human rights standards,” adding that the list was compiled “not on political assessments, but on the legal test established by the Council of Europe.”
Thirteen people on the list meet all five criteria, including journalist Mzia Amaghlobeli, who is serving a two-year prison sentence, and opposition politician Elene Khoshtaria, who is serving a one-and-a-half-year sentence. Their cases have been widely condemned by local and international political and rights groups.
Other prominent figures on the list include opposition leaders Nika Melia and Levan Khabeishvili, former United National Movement government ministers Bacho Akhalaia and Irakli Okruashvili, opera singer Paata Burchuladze, doctor Gogi Chakhunashvili, theatre actor Andro Chichinadze, and poet Zviad Ratiani. The list also includes dozens of young people detained in connection with the first months of anti-government protests in November and December 2024.
The list does not include opposition politician Aleko Elisashvili, who was recently sentenced to 13 years in prison on an attempted terrorism charge, but identifies him as a “potential candidate” for inclusion. TI-Georgia said it would decide on his inclusion after the court publishes the reasoned judgment explaining its finding that Elisashvili acted with a “terrorist purpose,” a claim his lawyers have categorically denied.
The most frequent charges against people on the list include “violence against a police officer” (13 cases), “attempted seizure of a strategic facility” (19 cases), “group violence” (35 cases), and “group action” that “disrupted public order” (19 cases). The list also includes three Russian citizens convicted of “drug possession.” Other offences cited include property damage, violence against police officers, blocking roads, and inflicting bodily harm.
Recent court proceedings have shown a shift in the handling of some protest-related cases. While prison sentences have remained common in major prosecutions, several defendants have recently entered plea agreements resulting in suspended sentences or reduced prison terms.
Georgian Dream has long rejected accusations that the country has “political prisoners” and calls for their release, insisting that every individual is serving a sentence for a specific offence.
Also Read:
#FBI #AndrewArrabaca #TellingNames
Arrabaca’s Performance Crime Analysis share.gemini.google/HkyxpF70…
Andrew Arrabaca sounds like a Telling Name, and his attack on the FBI at 26 Federal Plaza looks like a Performance Crime. Who could be behind this incident, and what could possibly be the message?
Also note that he was a repair man for “Patriot” missiles.
share.google/aimode/asEwCXqd…
AI Mode
Andrew Arrabaca, a 43-year-old U.S. Army veteran from Poughkeepsie, New York, acted alone when he attacked 26 Federal Plaza on July 20, 2026. Federal authorities have characterized him as an “anti-government, anti-American extremist” with a specific grievance against federal immigration enforcement.
The Intended Message and Motive
While your observation regarding a “performance crime” aligns with the highly public, dramatic nature of the incident, the specific message behind the attack was overtly political and focused on Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE):
Targeting ICE: While the building houses the FBI’s New York Field Office, it also contains a prominent federal immigration court and an ICE holding facility. Arrabaca explicitly targeted this facility.
The “ICE Off Our Streets” Banner: Arrabaca carted his weapons to the scene in a wagon sporting a large, explicit sign reading “ICE Off Our Streets”.
Anti-Government Rhetoric: Upon being tackled and arrested by Federal Protective Service officers, Arrabaca shouted derogatory, anti-ICE statements and later told investigators he “didn’t care if he killed people” entering the building.
Details of the Incident
The theatrical elements of the attack resemble the public staging of a performance-style grievance:
The Escalation: Arrabaca arrived at the employee entrance pushing a cart while wearing a military-style helmet. He dumped gasoline on the ground and ignited it using a large firework canister, sending a plume of smoke up the building’s facade.
The Weapons: He fired 5 to 7 rounds from an airsoft pellet rifle toward the building. Following his arrest, investigators discovered his bag and cart contained two axes, a machete, a hammer, three knives, and an alleged manifesto.
The Injuries: Two federal employees and one civilian—an immigrant arriving for a scheduled court hearing—suffered minor, non-life-threatening injuries.
The FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force and the NYPD are leading the ongoing investigation. Local officials, including New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, have condemned the attack as “deeply disturbing” while confirming there is no ongoing threat to the public.
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Gemini
Arrabaca’s Performance Crime Analysis share.gemini.google/HkyxpF70…
Based on the forensic details and the FBI’s initial findings, the incident at 26 Federal Plaza on July 20, 2026, strongly aligns with your assessment of a “performance crime.” The tactics used were designed to generate maximum visual and disruptive impact rather than mass casualties, serving as a highly visible broadcast of a political grievance.
Here is a breakdown of who is behind the attack, the structural criteria of the incident, and the intended message.
Who is Behind the Incident?
Currently, the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF) is investigating the incident as an act of anti-government extremism perpetrated by a single individual: Andrew Arrabaca.
Background: Arrabaca is a 43-year-old former U.S. Army soldier who served from 2001 to 2005 as a mechanic on Patriot missile systems. He had been living in Harlem, New York.
Alternative Actors: While investigations into broader networks are standard procedure for the JTTF, all current evidence points to Arrabaca acting as a lone actor. He does not currently appear to be part of a coordinated tactical cell, though he is ideologically aligned with broader anti-ICE sentiments.
The “Telling Name” Premise: While “Arrabaca” might sound like a literary charactonym (a “telling name” used in fiction to hint at a character’s nature), applying narrative tropes to real-world security incidents can distract from factual analysis. In reality, it is simply his legal surname. Grounding the analysis in his structural actions rather than coincidental naming provides a clearer picture of the event.
The “Performance Crime” Dynamics
Your framing of this as a performance crime is sharply supported by the tactical evidence. A performance crime is typically executed to draw an audience, create a media spectacle, and force public attention onto a specific narrative. Arrabaca’s methods point directly to this:
Theatrical Weaponry: Despite being a military veteran with mechanical expertise, Arrabaca did not use conventional firearms. Instead, he fired 5 to 7 rounds from an airsoft (pellet) rifle. He also carried a machete, axes, and a hammer.
Visual Disruption over Lethality: Arrabaca poured gasoline on the steps and ignited it using a large firework in a canister. This specific combination is highly effective at creating a massive, sudden plume of smoke and fire—perfect for capturing the attention of bystanders, news cameras, and social media feeds—but is less effective as a lethal weapon compared to traditional explosives.
Prop Utilization: He arrived pushing a cart prominently displaying a sign that read “ICE Off Our Streets,” ensuring that anyone photographing the chaotic scene would simultaneously capture his political demand.
What is the Message?
The target selection and the suspect’s actions leave little ambiguity about the intended message.
Target Selection: 26 Federal Plaza is a massive government hub in Lower Manhattan that houses the FBI’s New York field office, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) offices, and immigration courts. It is the symbolic and operational center of federal law enforcement and immigration processing in the city.
Anti-ICE Grievance: The FBI and DHS have described Arrabaca as an “anti-American, anti-government extremist” and an “anti-ICE rioter.” Beyond the physical sign on his cart, he reportedly yelled derogatory statements about Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) during his arrest.
The Manifesto: Homeland Security officials recovered a bag belonging to Arrabaca containing a manifesto. While the full text has not been publicly released, officials have confirmed it outlines his deep disdain for ICE and the government, explicitly stating his willingness to harm federal employees to disrupt their operations.
Ultimately, the message was a violent, theatrical protest against federal immigration policies, engineered to leverage the resulting media spectacle to amplify a radical anti-government stance.
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