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Georgia Protests: Renewed Violence
On 8 September, clashes erupted outside the campaign headquarters of Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze, leaving more than a dozen people injured, including protesters and journalists. Those hurt included reporters from Publika and Netgazeti medias, as well as Hungarian journalist László Mecze. Protesters alleged they were attacked by groups linked to the youth wing of the…
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Georgia Court Freezes NGO Accounts Under Foreign Agents Law
On August 27, the Tbilisi City Court approved a motion from the Georgian Prosecutor’s Office to freeze the bank accounts of several non-governmental organizations as part of an ongoing investigation, including the human rights advocacy Social Justice Center. The case concerns allegations of sabotage, attempted sabotage under aggravating circumstances, providing assistance to foreign-controlled entities engaged…
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Eastern DRC: Ceasefire Collapse, Renewed Fighting, and SADC Talks
Fighting has intensified in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) despite ongoing regional mediation efforts. Over the weekend of August 8, clashes broke out in North Kivu between the Forces Armées de la République Démocratique du Congo (FARDC, the country’s official national army) supported by Wazalendo militias (Local self-defense civilian groups), and the AFC/M23 group…
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Dodik’s Prison Sentence Commuted to Fine
Bosnia and Herzegovina’s national Court has approved a request from Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik to replace his one-year prison sentence with a financial penalty. Dodik is the President of Republika Srpska (RS), Bosnia’s Serb-majority entity, and was first convicted in relation with his implementation of laws by-passing Constitutional Court décisions in RS, despite orders…
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Switzerland Enforces EU-Aligned Sanctions Targeting Russia
Switzerland has adopted new restrictive measures against Russia, aligning with the European Union’s 18th package of sanctions. Effective August 12, the measures extend asset freezes, restrictions on providing economic resources, and travel bans to 14 individuals and 41 entities. Those targeted include oil trading companies, defense sector suppliers — some based in third countries —…
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Facial ID Flaw: Video Game Avatars Bypass UK Age Verification Systems
Under the UK’s recently enacted Online Safety Act, websites hosting adult content are required to implement robust age verification systems. However, some users have already identified ways to bypass these measures—most notably by leveraging realistic in-game assets from video games such the Death Stranding franchise to deceive facial recognition tools. The law, enforced from July…
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Bosnia Revokes Dodik’s Presidency
On August 6, the Central Election Commission of Bosnia and Herzegovina—the country’s top electoral authority, responsible for organizing elections and enforcing electoral and transparency laws—revoked the mandate of Milorad Dodik as President of Republika Srpska (RS), Bosnia’s Serb-majority entity. This action follows the confirmation in August of Dodik’s one-year prison sentence and subsequent six-year prohibition…
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Bosnia’s Court Upholds Dodik’s Prison Sentence; Dodik Defies Verdict
Bosnia and Herzegovina’s national Court has upheld the one-year prison sentence and six-year ban on holding office for Milorad Dodik, the President of Republika Srpska–Bosnia’s Serbia-majority entity–following the appeal court’s confirmation of the conviction The ruling stems from Dodik’s defiance of decisions made in July 2023 by Bosnia’s High Representative, Christian Schmidt, who had blocked…
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Georgian Dream: Turns from the West, Invests in the EU
A new report by Transparency International Georgia reveals that leading figures of the ruling Georgian Dream party, including senior officials and their families, are increasingly investing in European Union (EU) countries by acquiring real estate, registering businesses, and securing EU citizenship for family members. The report identifies 18 individuals linked to the ruling party with…
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EU’s Latest Energy Sanctions on Russia: Impact or Illusion?
In response to the ongoing War in Donbas, the European Union (EU) implemented its 18th sanctions package in July, introducing further restrictions on Russian oil exports. The new measures include a revised price cap—15% below market value—and the blacklisting of 100 additional tankers. These steps aim to reduce revenues from Russian oil and disrupt the…