Latest news in Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, summary. Live

● An unprecedented mobilization of police and special forces, along with violent arrests of protesters, was implemented by the “Georgian Dream” government during the large-scale pro-European rally on February 2 near the Tbilisi Mall shopping center, on the outskirts of Tbilisi heading toward Western Georgia. Similar events later took place near the parliament, where thousands of protesters again gathered on Rustaveli Avenue. These events are part of the ongoing, third-month-long (67 days) large-scale pro-European protests across Georgia, demanding new parliamentary elections and the legal change of power in the country. Here is a photo and video report about the Sunday protest in Tbilisi.

● Public Defender Levan Ioseliani condemned the brutality of the police and excessive use of force during Sunday’s protests. The statement includes reports of the police inflicting bodily harm on a TV Pirveli operator, as well as footage showing officers insulting women, including female politicians. The Public Defender has called for the Special Investigation Service to immediately begin investigating these incidents and hold those responsible criminally accountable.

● The Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association (GYLA) has appealed to General Prosecutor Giorgi Gabitashvili, demanding the initiation of criminal prosecution against the head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs Special Forces Department, Zviad Kharazishvili (known by the nickname Khareba), and his suspension from office. The statement references footage aired by TV channel Pirveli, showing Khareba kicking a detained protester.

● The 5th President of Georgia, Salome Zourabichvili, stated: “This is terrorism in Georgia. A new wave of repression, new rules restricting the right to demonstrate, and ‘titushki’ mobs again using disproportionate force, hitting protesters in the head and face. However, protests continue.” Zourabichvili also shared a photo of TV Pirveli operator Niko Kokaya, who was beaten by the police during Sunday’s protest.

●  The Democracy Research Institute (DRI) stated that “Georgian Dream” once again unlawfully restricted the citizens’ right to assemble and express their opinion, completely disregarded the Constitution, and responded to a peaceful protest with repression. “The protest did not escalate into violence at any stage, yet several demonstrators were unlawfully arrested and subjected to physical violence and verbal abuse, including women and minors,” the statement reads. According to the organization, 23 protest participants were arrested on Sunday, February 2, including politicians, civil activists, and one minor.

● Lawyer Gvanca Gvedashvili reported that two of her clients were transferred to the hospital. According to her, they were beaten, suffered concussions, and sustained facial bone injuries.

● Michael Carpenter, former Director for Europe at the National Security Council in the administration of former U.S. President Joe Biden: “Disgusting what’s happening on the streets of Georgia, with regime thugs violently beating protestors. Georgia will never join NATO or the EU with this government.”

● EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas: “The brutal crackdown on peaceful protesters, journalists and politicians tonight in Tbilisi is unacceptable. Georgia falls short of any expectation from a candidate country. The EU stands with the people of Georgia in their fight for freedom and democracy.”

● One of the leaders of the opposition “Coalition for Change,” Nika Melia, stated that after he was detained during the protest on February 2, the deputy head of the police station in the Isani-Samgori district of Tbilisi, Giorgi Chokuri, kicked him. Melia mentioned that the beating could have continued, but other officers at the station restrained Chokuri.

● The Free University and the Agricultural University issued a joint statement, stating that Ministry of Internal Affairs officers unlawfully occupied their yards and invaded private property without the administration’s permission. “We believe that Georgia deserves a European future. We will win!” reads the universities’ statement.

Photo David Pipia/JAMnews

● The Zangezur Copper and Molybdenum Combine has revealed salary amounts after more than 200 employees refused to work, demanding a wage increase. For example, a locksmith earns $1,400, an electrical welder earns over $1,500, and a conveyor worker earns up to $1,200, which are considered well-paid jobs in Armenia.

● Armenian citizen Garib Babayan was detained for an aggressive social media post about citizens singing in Azerbaijani in the center of Yerevan. A criminal case was initiated against him under the article on calls for violence and hatred. However, the court later rejected the request for his arrest. A decision was made for administrative supervision of Babayan, and his right to make public statements/messages was restricted.

● The second Pan-Armenian Winter Games have opened in Jermuk. The ceremony symbolically took place at the cable car area, which was restored after massive shelling by Azerbaijani forces in September 2022. More than 1,300 participants from 19 countries will compete in sports such as hockey, skiing, snowboarding, chess, snow wrestling, and ballroom dancing.

● “There will be no threat from Azerbaijan to Iran.” This statement was made by Azerbaijan’s presidential assistant Hikmet Hajiyev in Tehran during a meeting with Iran’s presidential advisor Mehdi Sanaei.

● Hidayat Heydarov (pictured) has been recognized as the best judoka in the world for 2024 by the International Judo Federation (IJF). Over the course of a year, Heydarov won the Olympic Games, the World Championship, and the European Championship.

● 40 days have passed since the crash of the Azerbaijani airline AZAL’s plane. The president of the airline, Samir Rzaev, along with the families, loved ones, and colleagues of the deceased crew members, honored their memory at the second Alley of Honor in Baku. More details on this tragedy  here

● The General Prosecutor’s Office of Azerbaijan has granted the request of the General Prosecutor’s Office of Uzbekistan for the extradition of Turkish citizen Akdy Namik Kemal, born in 1995, to face criminal charges.

Top stories in Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Georgia from 27-31 January, 2025