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US Sanctions on ICC Spark Concern Over War Crimes Investigations in Ukraine
The Ukrainian government has expressed hope that US sanctions on the International Criminal Court (ICC) will not hinder investigations into alleged Russian war crimes. Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Heorhiy Tykhyi stated that Kyiv does not believe the US decision is related to Ukraine and expects the ICC to continue its work on Russian aggression. His…
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Slovakia Accuses Georgian Legion of Fomenting Protests
Slovak authorities have accused the Georgian Legion of involvement in recent protests against Prime Minister Robert Fico’s government, which have been driven by concerns over democratic backsliding, corruption, media restrictions, and its pro-Russian policies, including the reduction of military aid to Ukraine. The Georgian Legion is a paramilitary unit formed in 2014 to support Ukraine…
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Trump’s Donbas Peace Plan Uncertain Amid Threat to Key Ukrainian Hub
The conflict between Russia and Ukraine persists despite US President Donald Trump’s inaugural promise to swiftly end the war. Both nations launched airstrikes on Tuesday January 21, with Kyiv reporting strikes on Russian targets in Voronezh and Smolensk, while Russia claimed to have downed 55 Ukrainian drones and captured the village of Vovkove in Donetsk.…
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Georgian Dream Alleges Western Interference in Statement
On January 8, the ruling Georgian Dream party released a statement addressing Western sanctions and Georgia’s current political developments. The party accused Western nations of supporting a “party of global war” and a “deep state” allegedly working to destabilize Georgia and push it into war. It linked US and European leaders to this alleged network…
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Ex-French President Faces Trial Over Gaddafi’s Role in his Election
Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy stands trial in Paris from January 6 to April 10, accused of accepting funds from ex-Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi for his 2007 presidential campaign. The charges include corruption, criminal conspiracy, misappropriation of public funds, and illegal campaign financing. Sarkozy allegedly formed a “corruption pact” with Gaddafi in 2005, promising diplomatic…
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Montenegro Proposes Stricter Gun Laws After Mass Shooting
Montenegro’s government has proposed new gun control measures following a mass shooting on January 1st in Cetinje, a city located 10km west of the capital city of Podgorica. The shooting, which left 12 people dead, including two children, and injured four others, was reportedly triggered by a bar brawl. The suspected gunman, 45-year-old Aco Martinović,…
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Security Staff Blocks Arrest of South Korean President
Early on January 3, South Korean investigators attempted to arrest impeached President Yoon Suk-yeol. Yoon is under investigation by the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) for insurrection after declaring martial law on December 3, which triggered a political crisis. The Presidential Security Service (PSS) blocked investigators, citing the presence of military secrets, and…
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Georgia: Reports of Systematic Abuse and Torture Against Protesters
Ongoing protests in Georgia over EU membership have led NGOs to allege torture from authorities. CREDIT: Tbel Abuseridze.Multiple human rights organizations, including Human Rights Watch (HRW) and the Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association (GYLA, leading Georgian human rights advocacy), have reported allegations of excessive force and ill-treatment of protesters by Georgian police and security forces between November 28 and December 20, 2024. The incidents occurred during protests in Tbilisi, sparked by the ruling…
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Abkhazian MP Opens Fire in Parliament, One Dead, Another Injured
On December 19, an Abkhazian MP opened fire during a parliamentary session, injuring two colleagues, one of whom later died, according to the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA). The incident occurred during a heated debate on cryptocurrency mining regulation. The altercation involved MPs Adgur Kharaziya, Kan Kvarchia, and Vakhtang Golandzia. Kharaziya, a proponent of stricter…
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Georgia: a Year of Crisis
We turn our attention back to Georgia in 2024. CREDIT: Tbel Abuseridze.Throughout 2024, Georgia experienced mounting political turmoil, characterized by violent protests, international criticism, contentious elections, and escalating accusations of pro-Russian policies against the ruling Georgian Dream party. Today, we revisit the political crisis that unfolded in Georgia over the past year. The Foreign Agents Law In early 2023, the Georgian Parliament introduced a draft law…