In relation to the information disseminated via mass media, we would like to inform you, that the Counterterrorism Center of the State Security Service detained a citizen of the Russian Federation on charges of purchase and storage of forged documents envisaged by article 362, paragraph 1 of the Criminal Code of Georgia.
The accused individual – V.B. has been detained in the framework of an investigation of a criminal case launched into the fact of preparation of murder by contract, which has been carried out by the State Security Service on the basis of respective operational information.
Throughout the process of investigation of the mentioned criminal case, in order to obtain evidence and attach it to the case in line with criminal procedure, on the basis of judge’s orders, numerous overt and covert investigative activities have been carried out; furthermore, operational control over V.B and his contacts have been continuously underway, due to which, a crime committed by V.B., in particular, the fact of purchase and usage of the forged documents by V.B. has been outlined. On the basis of authentic and consolidated evidence obtained by the investigation, the investigative authority took a decision to detain V.B., as a result of which the exposed individual on the one hand has been brought to justice and at the same time a graver crime has been prevented.
It is worth mentioning that intensive investigative activities are ongoing into the case on the very stage, numerous forensic examinations are scheduled, additional information is requested within the framework of international cooperation, through Interpol channels, witnesses are being interviewed.
On the basis of the above-mentioned, State Security Service of Georgia calls on every person, including a party of the criminal case, refrain from disseminating of any clarified or unclarified information so that the investigation is not obstructed, dissemination of significant and/or fake information is prevented, that eventually will damage a major public interest – to establish an objective truth in relation to the case.
Press release of the State Security Service
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Statement on International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and Girls
This joint statement is issued by the United Nations system in Georgia, the Delegation of the European Union to Georgia, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, the NATO Liaison Office in Georgia, and the Embassies to Georgia of Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, France, Finland, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.
On this International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and Girls, we call for action to end violence against women and girls in all its forms – from sexual harassment and abuse to child marriage and femicide. Globally, nearly one in three women have experienced physical or sexual violence at least once, the majority of them assaulted by their husband or partner.[1] In Georgia, violence against women and girls remains a critical problem despite decisive steps taken by the government and civil society to combat these horrific human rights violations. Such violence is rooted in gender inequality and is in turn further perpetuating discrimination of women and girls. As a result, our societies are less peaceful and less just, and our economies are less prosperous.
Eliminating violence against women and girls will require strengthening and enforcing legislation and policies to protect their rights and to promote gender equality, to ensure full protection and support to survivors of violence, and to end impunity for all perpetrators. To make this happen, it is vital to raise awareness and promote women’s leadership at every stage of decision-making. We especially emphasize the urgent need to take concrete steps in order to eliminate violence against women in politics, which prevents women’s meaningful participation in Georgian democracy. According to the latest data, 54 per cent of female candidates have experienced physical, psychological, economic, or sexual violence and harassment during their election campaigns or political careers.[2] Sexist hate speech is often used against women politicians in social media, including attacks based on their gender identity, appearance, intellectual abilities, and moral criteria.[3]
Economic violence is one of the most hidden forms of violence in Georgia, forcing the victim to stay with the perpetrator. Challenges remain in reducing the gender pay gap[4], women’s equal access to financial resources, inheritance rights, employment opportunities, recognizing and redistributing unpaid and care work. Improving child protection systems, access to education and adolescent-friendly health services is of paramount importance to combat violence against girls.
We call on all stakeholders, including political parties, the government, civil society organizations and the media to work towards a future where women are empowered to participate fully and equally in economic, social and political life, without fear of violence or harassment.
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[1] Facts and figures: Ending violence against women, available at: https://www.unwomen.org/en/what-we-do/ending-violence-against-women/facts-and-figures
[2] Violence Against Women in Politics in Georgia, available at: https://georgia.unwomen.org/en/digital-library/publications/2023/08/violence-against-women-in-politics-in-georgia
[3] Election Monitoring Report: Sexism and Gender Stereotypes in Social Media, available at: https://www.undp.org/georgia/publications/gender-bias-social-media-2020
[4] In 2022 the adjusted hourly gender pay gap equaled 15.4%. The same indicator calculated at the monthly level equaled 23.0%, available at: https://www.geostat.ge/media/57459/Adjusted-gender-pay-gap---2022.pdf
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Statement of the United Nations in Georgia regarding the draft laws on amendments to the Tobacco Control Law
The UN in Georgia maintains that the draft laws initiated in the Georgian Parliament on October 16, 2023 is damaging to public health. The proposed changes seek to exclude heated tobacco products from standardized packaging regulations, extend the sale of tobacco products with old packaging for another eight months, and modify the requirement to display brand and variant information in the state language of Georgia, by allowing also display in English.
Protecting public health and effective tobacco control policy are paramount. Governments must act to protect public health policies from tobacco industry interference as per Art. 5.3 of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. Allowing these changes would prioritize the financial interests of tobacco companies over the interest of public health.
Almost one-third of adults and a substantial portion of adolescents and young people in Georgia are using tobacco. Tobacco-related direct healthcare costs and indirect costs due to premature mortality and disability and workplace costs exceed 800 million GEL annually, with the number of deaths surpassing 11,000[1]. Addressing this situation necessitates long-term and steadfast implementation of comprehensive and effective tobacco control policies. Georgia took a positive step with the adoption of strong tobacco control legislation in 2017, which yielded initial results through effective implementation. However, to achieve a sustained reduction in tobacco use rates and mitigate its catastrophic impact, full implementation and further strengthening of tobacco control legislation and state policies are required.
Standardized packaging regulations under the new tobacco control legislation were originally intended to take effect on January 1, 2018, then unfortunately postponed to December 31, 2022, and subsequently extended once more to July 1, 2024. This delay and other proposed changes are unjustifiable and further delays the demonstrable benefits that plain packaging provides.
As of today, many countries in Europe and globally have demonstrated that plain packaging is an effective tobacco control measure. It reduces the appeal of tobacco products, enhances the impact of health warnings, diminishes consumer deception, and ultimately reduces tobacco consumption rates.
We urge the Parliament of Georgia to reject the proposed changes and we hope that it will continue the policy announced at the highest level in the field of health protection and tobacco control, protect the legislation from the interests of the tobacco industry, including the implementation of standardized packaging of tobacco products.
[1] UNDP/WHO/NCDC Tobacco Control Investment Case study, 2017
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On October 18, 2023, the National Leader of the Turkmen people, Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, during a working visit to Beijing, held a meeting with the first vice premier of the State Council of the People's Republic of China, a member of the Politburo Standing Committee of the Chinese Communist Party Ding Xuexiang.
During the meeting, the sides expressed satisfaction with the opportunity to discuss the current state and prospects for the development of Turkmen-Chinese cooperation, which in recent years, thanks to the mutual efforts of the parties, has been given the status of a strategic partnership.
Speaking about the intention of the parties to continue to closely interact both in a bilateral and multilateral format - within the framework of the largest international and authoritative regional structures, the interlocutors noted with satisfaction the closeness or coincidence of views of the two states on current issues on the world agenda, which contributes to the establishment of a trusting dialogue that meets mutual interests.
Particular emphasis was placed on the relevance of the strategy initiated by our country to revive the Great Silk Road in the current conditions and the PRC concept of “One Belt, One Road”, based on a common historical basis and designed to serve the well-being and prosperity of the states and peoples of the world.
A separate topic of discussion was the issues of Turkmen-Chinese cooperation, which in recent years has received a qualitatively new content. Examples of this are important joint projects, including the grandiose project - the construction of the Turkmenistan-China transnational gas pipeline.
During the meeting, the main approaches of the parties to further building a constructive interstate dialogue were noted, the achieved level of which was highly appreciated by President Serdar Berdimuhamedov and Chinese President Xi Jinping during the visits of the head of Turkmenistan to China this year.
Among the priority areas of bilateral cooperation were the trade and economic sphere, fuel and energy and transport and communications sectors, industry, agriculture, etc. In this regard, noting the impressive potential of partnership in a variety of areas, the sides exchanged views on the possibilities of building up productive relations in areas where mutual efforts are seen to be most effective.
Much attention was paid to the issues of intensifying traditional cultural and humanitarian ties that contribute to strengthening friendship and mutual understanding between the Turkmen and Chinese peoples.
The established close ties between legislative bodies were noted, as evidenced by the creation of an inter-parliamentary friendly group of the Mejlis of Turkmenistan and the National People's Congress of the People's Republic of China.
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Azerbaijan launches localised anti-terrorist operation in Karabakh
Baku/19.09.23/Turan: The Azerbaijani armed forces launched an anti-terrorist operation in Karabakh on 19 September, the Defence Ministry said at noon.
Systematic shelling, mining of territories, strengthening of combat positions, growth in the number of trenches and dugouts by the Armenian armed forces in Karabakh has caused increased tensions, the Defence Ministry said in a statement.
There is observed strengthening of combat positions with personnel, armoured vehicles, artillery and other firepower, bringing units to a high level of combat readiness, creation of additional mobilisation units, expansion of reconnaissance activities, penetration deep into the positions of the Azerbaijani armed forces to repeatedly mine cleared territories and civilian roads for sabotage and terrorist purposes, the statement said.
On 19 September in Karabakh, 6 people, including four policemen, were killed as a result of mines planted by Armenian saboteurs.
Local anti-terrorist measures have been launched in the region "in order to ensure the provisions of the Trilateral Statement of November 2020, the suppression of large-scale provocations in the Karabakh Economic region, the disarmament and withdrawal of the armed forces of Armenia from our territories, the neutralization of their military infrastructure, ensuring the safety of civilians who have returned to the territories liberated from occupation and civil servants involved in the construction and restoration work and our military, as well as the restoration of the constitutional order of the Republic of Azerbaijan".
Within the framework of the measures mentioned above, positions of the Armenian armed forces formations, their long-term firing points, as well as military means and military facilities are put out of action using high-precision weapons in the front line and in depth.
We reiterate that the civilian population and civilian infrastructure are not targets, only legitimate military targets are taken out of action.
The command of the peacekeeping contingent of the Russian Federation and the leadership of the Turkish-Russian Monitoring Centre have been informed about the activities," the statement said.
Within the framework of the measures, positions of the Armenian armed forces formations, their long-term firing points, as well as military means and military facilities are put out of action using high-precision weapons in the front line and in depth.
We reiterate that the civilian population and civilian infrastructure are not targets, only legitimate military targets are taken out of action.
The command of the peacekeeping contingent of the Russian Federation and the leadership of the Turkish-Russian Monitoring Centre have been informed about the activities," the statement said.
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The Ministry of Internal Affairs, on the basis of Article 17418 under the Code of Administrative Offenses, launched administrative proceedings, which implies Desecration of official symbols of the European Union, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization or other international organizations or desecration of the flag or coat of arms of other states.
The law enforcement officers will identify and fine the violators.The Ministry of Internal Affairs calls on rally participants gathered near the Parliament, not to go beyond the limits defined by the law on freedom of assembly and expression, observe the norms of public order and follow the lawful requests of police.Each act of violation will be immediately foiled by police and strict legal response will be followed.
