⚡️ Azerbaijanis in civilian clothes have closed the Lachin Corridor near Shusha (Shushi), cutting Nagorno-Karabakh off from Armenia, according to the authorities in Stepanakert.
They said they were ‘taking measures’ to resolve the situation and that Russian peacekeepers had been informed.
They said they were ‘taking measures’ to resolve the situation and that Russian peacekeepers had been informed.
⚡️Chechen dissident blogger reportedly murdered in Sweden
Dissident Chechen blogger Tumso Abdurakhmanov has been killed, Chechen opposition figures report. The Swedish police told OC Media they were aware of the reports but declined to comment at this time.
Abdurakhmanov was a popular blogger and outspoken critic of the Russian authorities in Chechnya. He previously survived an assassination attempt in February 2020, a year after the speaker of the Chechen Parliament, Magomed Daudov declared a blood feud against him.
🗞 Read more about the story here.
Dissident Chechen blogger Tumso Abdurakhmanov has been killed, Chechen opposition figures report. The Swedish police told OC Media they were aware of the reports but declined to comment at this time.
Abdurakhmanov was a popular blogger and outspoken critic of the Russian authorities in Chechnya. He previously survived an assassination attempt in February 2020, a year after the speaker of the Chechen Parliament, Magomed Daudov declared a blood feud against him.
🗞 Read more about the story here.
⚡️New Saakashvili health report calls for swift intervention
On 6 December, a council of doctors set up by Public Defender Nino Lomjaria recommended taking ‘timely and fundamental measures’ to prevent an ‘irreversible deterioration’ of ex-President Mikheil Saakashvili’s health.
The report claims that he is in a ‘severe’ condition, experiencing fever, anaemia, declining muscle mass, and cognitive impairment, amongst other symptoms.
Lomjaria said she plans to petition the Georgian court for the postponement of Saakashvili’s prison sentence and his transfer to a clinic outside Georgia.
On 6 December, a council of doctors set up by Public Defender Nino Lomjaria recommended taking ‘timely and fundamental measures’ to prevent an ‘irreversible deterioration’ of ex-President Mikheil Saakashvili’s health.
The report claims that he is in a ‘severe’ condition, experiencing fever, anaemia, declining muscle mass, and cognitive impairment, amongst other symptoms.
Lomjaria said she plans to petition the Georgian court for the postponement of Saakashvili’s prison sentence and his transfer to a clinic outside Georgia.
⚡️EU will not accept Russian passports issued in 'occupied' regions
On Thursday, the European Council adopted a decision to refuse entry to the EU to those holding travel documents issued by Russian authorities in ‘Russian-occupied regions in Ukraine or breakaway territories in Georgia'.
The Council noted that the decision was a ‘response to Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified military aggression against Ukraine and Russia’s practice of issuing Russian international passports to residents of the occupied regions’.
On Thursday, the European Council adopted a decision to refuse entry to the EU to those holding travel documents issued by Russian authorities in ‘Russian-occupied regions in Ukraine or breakaway territories in Georgia'.
The Council noted that the decision was a ‘response to Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified military aggression against Ukraine and Russia’s practice of issuing Russian international passports to residents of the occupied regions’.
⚡️Saakashvili’s new court case begins in Tbilisi
Thousands of supporters of Georgian ex-President Mikheil Saakashvili gathered outside Tbilisi City Hall today as his lawyers appealed to have his prison sentence cancelled or postponed because of his ‘rapidly deteriorating health’. Saakashvili was not present in court due to ill health.
The next court hearing is due on Wednesday.
Some leading opposition figures, including Zurab Girchi Japaridze, Giorgi Vashadze, Gigi Ugulava, and Davit Bakradze, joined today’s rally.
The United National Movement (UNM), the former ruling party founded by Saakashvili, has recently been in talks with other opposition groups to coordinate their work campaigning for Saakashvili’s transfer outside Georgia for treatment.
📷 Publika
Thousands of supporters of Georgian ex-President Mikheil Saakashvili gathered outside Tbilisi City Hall today as his lawyers appealed to have his prison sentence cancelled or postponed because of his ‘rapidly deteriorating health’. Saakashvili was not present in court due to ill health.
The next court hearing is due on Wednesday.
Some leading opposition figures, including Zurab Girchi Japaridze, Giorgi Vashadze, Gigi Ugulava, and Davit Bakradze, joined today’s rally.
The United National Movement (UNM), the former ruling party founded by Saakashvili, has recently been in talks with other opposition groups to coordinate their work campaigning for Saakashvili’s transfer outside Georgia for treatment.
📷 Publika
⚡️Tumso Abdurakhmanov reportedly ‘alive in Swedish protective custody’
The Chechen Republic of Ichkheria in exile headed by Akhmed Zakayev told RFE/RL that reports of Abdurakhmanov’s death was false.
Swedish authorities have remained tight-lipped on the issue, refusing to confirm an attack on the Sweden-based blogger.
📰 Read here for the background.
The Chechen Republic of Ichkheria in exile headed by Akhmed Zakayev told RFE/RL that reports of Abdurakhmanov’s death was false.
Swedish authorities have remained tight-lipped on the issue, refusing to confirm an attack on the Sweden-based blogger.
📰 Read here for the background.
⚡️The imprisoned leader of the Muslim Unity Movement, Taleh Baghirzadeh, ended his 16-day hunger strike on Sunday citing health issues.
⚡️Georgian government to abolish Girchi-organised conscientious objection to military service
Announcing reforms to Georgia's compulsory military service today, Georgian PM Irakli Gharibashvili vowed to close the loophole allowing young Georgian men to avoid conscription by registering as priests of the Church of Biblical Freedom, a religious group set up by the libertarian opposition group Girchi.
Gharibashvili called Girchi’s church ‘an immense sacrilege and abomination’, adding that the government had reviewed the upcoming changes with the Georgian Orthodox Church.
📷 Mariam Nikuradze/OC Media
Announcing reforms to Georgia's compulsory military service today, Georgian PM Irakli Gharibashvili vowed to close the loophole allowing young Georgian men to avoid conscription by registering as priests of the Church of Biblical Freedom, a religious group set up by the libertarian opposition group Girchi.
Gharibashvili called Girchi’s church ‘an immense sacrilege and abomination’, adding that the government had reviewed the upcoming changes with the Georgian Orthodox Church.
📷 Mariam Nikuradze/OC Media
⚡️Saakashvili announces hunger strike
Georgian ex-President Mikheil Saakashvili has announced a hunger strike after the government today prevented his participation in a court hearing on the subject of his transfer abroad for treatment, by failing to provide him with teleconferencing arrangements from hospital.
'Today I was deprived of the basic right to attend [my] court process. This is a violation of Georgian and international norms [...] I will be on hunger strike until I receive strong guarantees of me attending my [court] hearing, at least through a video link', Saakashvili said in his letter read out to journalists by his lawyer.
The next hearing is scheduled for 22 December. Anti-torture watchdog Empathy earlier warned that Saakashvili could die if he does not receive treatment outside of Georgia.
Georgian ex-President Mikheil Saakashvili has announced a hunger strike after the government today prevented his participation in a court hearing on the subject of his transfer abroad for treatment, by failing to provide him with teleconferencing arrangements from hospital.
'Today I was deprived of the basic right to attend [my] court process. This is a violation of Georgian and international norms [...] I will be on hunger strike until I receive strong guarantees of me attending my [court] hearing, at least through a video link', Saakashvili said in his letter read out to journalists by his lawyer.
The next hearing is scheduled for 22 December. Anti-torture watchdog Empathy earlier warned that Saakashvili could die if he does not receive treatment outside of Georgia.
⚡️Two anti-government protesters reportedly detained in Tbilisi
The Georgian Anti-Corruption Movement has claimed that the police detained two protesters at the rally held outside the Georgian Parliament today as supporters of ex-President Mikheil Saakashvili demanded the resignation of Justice Minister Rati Bregadze.
Georgian Justice Minister faced backlash after the Penitentiary Service under his purview published footage of Saakashvili in an apparent attempt to dispute he was in bad health. The move was widely condemned by rights groups in Georgia.
Bregadze was met with protest inside the Parliament building, too: As he reported to the MPs today, the opposition United National Movement group interrupted his speech by calling him a ‘killer’, referencing to Saakashvili’s deteriorating health and the government’s refusal to transport him outside Georgia for the treatment.
The Georgian Anti-Corruption Movement has claimed that the police detained two protesters at the rally held outside the Georgian Parliament today as supporters of ex-President Mikheil Saakashvili demanded the resignation of Justice Minister Rati Bregadze.
Georgian Justice Minister faced backlash after the Penitentiary Service under his purview published footage of Saakashvili in an apparent attempt to dispute he was in bad health. The move was widely condemned by rights groups in Georgia.
Bregadze was met with protest inside the Parliament building, too: As he reported to the MPs today, the opposition United National Movement group interrupted his speech by calling him a ‘killer’, referencing to Saakashvili’s deteriorating health and the government’s refusal to transport him outside Georgia for the treatment.
⚡️Azerbaijan's Penitentiary Service has confirmed that jailed activist Bakhtiyar Hajiyev is on hunger strike. Hajiyev announced his hunger strike on 15 December, in protest against his arrest, which he maintains is politically motivated.
🗞 Read more about the story here.
📷 Facebook
🗞 Read more about the story here.
⚡️Ukraine authorities reject Georgian Dream’s allegations of 'special operation'
Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Oleg Nikolenko, has criticised allegations by Georgia's ruling party that Ukraine's government was involved in Georgian ex-President Mikheil Saakashvili’s return to Georgia.
On Tuesday night, Nikolenko described the accusation as an attempt to avoid ‘responsibility for gross violations of human rights in Georgia’, and expressed disappointment that Georgian authorities were using the war in Ukraine to achieve 'narrow domestic political goals’.
He also reiterated President Zelensky’s call earlier that day to transfer Mikheil Saakashvili to a hospital outside of Georgia for treatment.
Soon after Zelensky’s appeal, Georgian Dream chair Irakli Kobakhidze and the party’s parliamentary leader Mamuka Mdinaradze accused the Ukrainian government of 'sending Saakashvili to Georgia' and attempting to 'involve Georgia in war'.
The court hearings deliberating Saakashvili's appeal for treatment outside of Georgia is expected to resume tomorrow.
Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Oleg Nikolenko, has criticised allegations by Georgia's ruling party that Ukraine's government was involved in Georgian ex-President Mikheil Saakashvili’s return to Georgia.
On Tuesday night, Nikolenko described the accusation as an attempt to avoid ‘responsibility for gross violations of human rights in Georgia’, and expressed disappointment that Georgian authorities were using the war in Ukraine to achieve 'narrow domestic political goals’.
He also reiterated President Zelensky’s call earlier that day to transfer Mikheil Saakashvili to a hospital outside of Georgia for treatment.
Soon after Zelensky’s appeal, Georgian Dream chair Irakli Kobakhidze and the party’s parliamentary leader Mamuka Mdinaradze accused the Ukrainian government of 'sending Saakashvili to Georgia' and attempting to 'involve Georgia in war'.
The court hearings deliberating Saakashvili's appeal for treatment outside of Georgia is expected to resume tomorrow.
⚡️A court in Daghestan has dismissed a case against a local fashion designer who was charged under Russia’s queer propaganda law, after she organised a fashion show in which a man and a 17-year-old boy wore makeup.
Elnara Askerova, 23, organised the show on 18 October in the Daghestani capital, Makhachkala.
The show included two male models wearing shiny clothes and make-up, leading to outrage among some conservatives.
🗞 Read more about the story here.
Elnara Askerova, 23, organised the show on 18 October in the Daghestani capital, Makhachkala.
The show included two male models wearing shiny clothes and make-up, leading to outrage among some conservatives.
🗞 Read more about the story here.
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has dismissed Minister of Culture Anar Karimov from his post.
Karimov, who served as minister for almost two years, previously proposed the removal of Armenian inscriptions on religious monuments in territories that came under Azerbaijan's control in the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War.
📸 Azerbaijani Ministry of Culture
Karimov, who served as minister for almost two years, previously proposed the removal of Armenian inscriptions on religious monuments in territories that came under Azerbaijan's control in the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War.
📸 Azerbaijani Ministry of Culture
⚡️MP remains on hunger strike calling for Saakashvili to be freed
Despite warnings from doctors that her condition was 'extremely serious', United National Movement MP Ana Tsitlidze said today that she will continue her protest until Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili pardons ex-President Mikheil Saakashvili. Tsitlidze is on her 12th day of hunger strike.
Other UNM members led by Giorgi Mumladze held protests outside the office and home of Salome Zurabishvili with the same demand over the weekend and on Monday morning.
📷 Screengrab from Georgian Public Broadcaster report.
Despite warnings from doctors that her condition was 'extremely serious', United National Movement MP Ana Tsitlidze said today that she will continue her protest until Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili pardons ex-President Mikheil Saakashvili. Tsitlidze is on her 12th day of hunger strike.
Other UNM members led by Giorgi Mumladze held protests outside the office and home of Salome Zurabishvili with the same demand over the weekend and on Monday morning.
📷 Screengrab from Georgian Public Broadcaster report.
⚡️Tbilisi State University elects new rector uncontested
Tbilisi State University (TSU) Academic Council have elected Jaba Samushia as the university's rector. Samushia’s election was controversial as he ran unopposed. In October, Samushia similarly became acting rector with no rivals for the position.
On Monday night, the May Student Movement unsuccessfully tried to blockade the venue in which the council was meeting. Earlier this year, the student group launched a campaign to change the process of electing a rector, demanding that all academic staff take part in the vote rather than only the 38-member Academic Council.
Critics describe Samushia as loyal to the government. The elected rector represented the ruling Georgian Dream party on Tbilisi City Council from 2014 to 2017.
📷 TSU
Tbilisi State University (TSU) Academic Council have elected Jaba Samushia as the university's rector. Samushia’s election was controversial as he ran unopposed. In October, Samushia similarly became acting rector with no rivals for the position.
On Monday night, the May Student Movement unsuccessfully tried to blockade the venue in which the council was meeting. Earlier this year, the student group launched a campaign to change the process of electing a rector, demanding that all academic staff take part in the vote rather than only the 38-member Academic Council.
Critics describe Samushia as loyal to the government. The elected rector represented the ruling Georgian Dream party on Tbilisi City Council from 2014 to 2017.
📷 TSU
⚡️Daghestani police beat participants of a protest on 2 January, who were demanding the punishment of the alleged killers of a 19-year-old man. The following day, a video was published in which the victim’s father claimed his demands had been fulfilled, and called on people to refrain from further protests.
19-year-old Magomed-Ali Sultanov was killed on 10 November 2022 in the Kayakentsky district of east Daghestan. A friend of his was severely beaten in the same incident.
Two days later, Daghestan’s Ministry of Internal Affairs announced on their Telegram channel that the suspect in the death of the 19-year-old had been detained and that ‘all legally-required measures have been taken’. The statement added that suggestions that the guilty party had not been detained were ‘groundless’.
📰 Read the full story on oc-media.org
19-year-old Magomed-Ali Sultanov was killed on 10 November 2022 in the Kayakentsky district of east Daghestan. A friend of his was severely beaten in the same incident.
Two days later, Daghestan’s Ministry of Internal Affairs announced on their Telegram channel that the suspect in the death of the 19-year-old had been detained and that ‘all legally-required measures have been taken’. The statement added that suggestions that the guilty party had not been detained were ‘groundless’.
📰 Read the full story on oc-media.org
⚡️ Georgia’s Ministry of Internal Affairs has launched an investigation into an alleged attack on former Prime Minister and Interior Minister, Vano Merabishvili, by the son-in-law of conservative campaigner Gia ‘Utsnobi’ Gachechiladze.
Speaking to Rustavi 2 on Wednesday, Giorgi Sharashidze confirmed that he ‘physically contacted’ Vano Merabishvili on Monday.
‘There was a confrontation between me and Vano Merabishvili at a pharmacy in Vake. I can't even call it a confrontation, because Mr Merabishvili ran away in the very first seconds’, said Sharashidze.
📰 Read the full story on oc-media.org
Speaking to Rustavi 2 on Wednesday, Giorgi Sharashidze confirmed that he ‘physically contacted’ Vano Merabishvili on Monday.
‘There was a confrontation between me and Vano Merabishvili at a pharmacy in Vake. I can't even call it a confrontation, because Mr Merabishvili ran away in the very first seconds’, said Sharashidze.
📰 Read the full story on oc-media.org
⚡️Audio alleged to be a recording of Nika Melia, the chair of Georgia’s opposition United National Movement (UNM), criticising and using obscene language against former president Mikheil Saakashvili, has been circulating on Georgian social media since Monday. The UNM has dismissed the recording as ‘fabricated’.
The origin and authenticity of the 44-second recording, alleged to date to 2021, remains unconfirmed.
While Melia does not name the individual he describes as ‘such a dick’, Georgian media and political commentators have assumed that Melia is referring to the third president of Georgia and founder of the UNM, Mikheil Saakashvili.
📰 Read the full story on oc-media.org
The origin and authenticity of the 44-second recording, alleged to date to 2021, remains unconfirmed.
While Melia does not name the individual he describes as ‘such a dick’, Georgian media and political commentators have assumed that Melia is referring to the third president of Georgia and founder of the UNM, Mikheil Saakashvili.
📰 Read the full story on oc-media.org
⚡️Georgian Dream Chair Irakli Kobakhidze has welcomed the possibility of the resumption of flights between Georgia and Russia, citing its ‘importance’ to Georgians.
This came in response to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s praise of the Georgian government’s ‘courage’ for not joining sanctions against Russia.
‘When it comes to alleviating the situation of our citizens, any such decision is welcome for us,' Kobakhidze said, adding that Russia’s 2019 suspension of flights to Georgia had ‘damaged the citizens of Georgia’.
This came in response to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s praise of the Georgian government’s ‘courage’ for not joining sanctions against Russia.
‘When it comes to alleviating the situation of our citizens, any such decision is welcome for us,' Kobakhidze said, adding that Russia’s 2019 suspension of flights to Georgia had ‘damaged the citizens of Georgia’.