Latest news with #Caucasus
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
EU condemns Georgia's foreign agents law as threat to democracy
The European Commission has severely criticised a draft law adopted in Georgia on the registration of "foreign agents" and stressed that this is incompatible with the European integration of the country, which has been de facto halted. Source: Kaja Kallas, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, and European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos in a joint statement, as reported by European Pravda Details: Kallas and Kos noted that Georgia's Foreign Agents Registration Act is another manifestation of democratic rollback in Georgia, in addition to the recent law on broadcasting and grant restrictions. "These repressive measures threaten the very survival of Georgia's democratic foundations and the future of its citizens in a free and open society", they said. "In its June and October 2024 conclusions, the European Council found that such course of action jeopardised Georgia's EU path. The accession process has been de facto halted." On behalf of the EU, Kallas and Kos urged the Georgian authorities to respect the aspirations of Georgian citizens for a democratic European future and also called for the release of unjustly detained journalists, activists and opposition leaders. "The EU is ready to consider the return of Georgia to the EU accession path if the authorities take credible steps to reverse democratic backsliding. The responsibility lies solely with the Georgian authorities," the officials concluded. Background: On 31 May, Georgia's "foreign agents" law went into effect, which the authorities describe as an analogue to the US Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA). In addition, this week, another opposition leader was detained in Georgia for refusing to testify before the parliamentary commission investigating crimes supposedly committed by Mikheil Saakashvili, former president of Georgia. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
Arab News
2 days ago
- Business
- Arab News
Georgia's foreign-agents act ‘a serious setback': EU officials
BRUSSELS: A new law in Georgia that from Saturday requires NGOs and media outlets to register as 'foreign agents' if they receive funding from abroad is a 'serious setback,' for the country, two top EU officials said. Alongside other laws on broadcasting and grants, 'these repressive measures threaten the very survival of Georgia's democratic foundations and the future of its citizens in a free and open society,' EU diplomatic chief Kaja Kallas and EU enlargement commissioner Marta Kos said in a joint statement. They stressed that the law, which they dubbed a tool 'by the Georgian authorities to suppress dissent (and) restrict freedoms,' jeopardized the country's ambitions of one day joining the European Union. 'Georgia's Foreign Agents Registration Act marks a serious setback for the country's democracy,' they said. Georgia's law is inspired by US legislation which makes it mandatory for any person or organization representing a foreign country, group or party to declare its activities to authorities. But NGOs believe it will be used by Georgia's illiberal and Euroskeptic government to further repression of civil society and the opposition. The Black Sea nation has been rocked by daily demonstrations since late last year, with protesters decrying what they see as an increasingly authoritarian and pro-Russia government. Tensions escalated in November when Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze announced that Georgia would postpone EU membership talks until 2028. 'The EU is ready to consider the return of Georgia to the EU accession path if the authorities take credible steps to reverse democratic backsliding,' Kallas and Kos said in their statement.
Reuters
3 days ago
- General
- Reuters
Second Georgian opposition leader placed in pre-trial detention as crackdown widens
TBILISI, May 30 (Reuters) - A Georgian court on Friday placed Nika Melia, a leader of the country's main opposition party, in pre-trial detention, amid a widening crackdown against a pro-Western opposition that has staged months of anti-government protests. Melia, a top leader of the Coalition for Change opposition bloc, was detained on Thursday for refusing to appear at a parliamentary inquiry into alleged crimes committed under jailed former President Mikheil Saakashvili between 2004 and 2012. The length of the detention was not immediately clear. Last week, a judge placed another leader of the Coalition for Change, Zurab Japaridze, in pre-trial detention for refusing to appear before the inquiry. Friday's hearing was disorderly, with Melia sentenced after being removed from the courtroom for throwing water at the judge from the dock. Previously one of the most pro-Western and democratic of the Soviet Union's successor states, Georgia under the leadership of the Georgian Dream party is accused by the ruling bloc's critics of moving in an authoritarian and pro-Russian direction. Georgian Dream says it still wants the country to eventually join the European Union but wants to preserve what it calls Georgia's traditional values and also to avoid conflict with Russia, its giant neighbour and former imperial ruler. Separately on Friday, another judge jailed a 19-year-old student activist for 12 days for insulting a Georgian Dream lawmaker she had called a "Russian slave" in a cafe this month. Georgian Dream, after winning an election last November that the opposition says was rigged, said it would halt talks on joining the EU till 2028. EU membership has wide support among Georgians and the goal has been enshrined in the constitution. The ruling party's decision to suspend the talks sparked mass street protests, prompting a violent crackdown and large-scale arrests by security forces. Georgian Dream is dominated by billionaire ex-prime minister Bidzina Ivanishvili, who is widely seen as Georgia's de facto leader. In December, the United States sanctioned Ivanishvili for what it said were actions aimed at dismantling Georgian democracy for the benefit of Russia.
Al Bawaba
3 days ago
- Business
- Al Bawaba
LG Enhances Home Entertainment Across the Region With 2025 Ai-powered Oled and Qned Tv Lineup
LG Electronics (LG) is revolutionizing the home entertainment landscape with the launch of its groundbreaking 2025 OLED and QNED TV lineup. Starting this May, consumers across the GCC and Caucasus regions can experience the future of television, powered by advanced AI technology and delivering unparalleled picture and sound year's flagship collection represents the evolution of LG's AI TV technology, integrating powerful AI processors to deliver truly immersive and personalized viewing experiences. The new OLED and QNED models captivate audiences with innovative features and seamless integration into the modern smart home latest TVs represent a significant technological leap forward, featuring AI Picture Pro technology that analyzes and optimizes content in real-time to enhance clarity, color, and contrast for truly lifelike pictures. LG's Dynamic Tone Mapping Pro further refines image quality by intelligently splitting scenes into blocks, delivering more vivid and realistic visuals than ever audio experience is equally impressive, with AI Sound Pro creating a virtual surround sound experience that delivers exceptional depth and spatial clarity through the TV's built-in speakers. By analyzing audio content and optimizing sound settings for different genres, the technology ensures an immersive audio experience, while AI Sound Tuning calibrates settings based on room acoustics and user preferences for perfectly tailored intuitive AI Concierge provides personalized content recommendations based on viewing habits, while AI Search, powered by large language models, helps users find content faster through natural language queries, delivering more relevant and personalized search results. The AI Picture Wizard analyzes user preferences and viewing environments to automatically optimize picture settings for the best possible convenience comes through multi-platform connectivity via ThinQ and Google Home integration, with the new webOS platform allowing users to effortlessly manage their smart home ecosystem. Built-in support for Apple AirPlay and Google Cast ensures easy content sharing from any device, making these TVs true entertainment and connectivity 2025 AI-powered television collection represents the perfect fusion of cutting-edge innovation and thoughtful design, crafted for discerning viewers who refuse to compromise on quality. Whether you're a technology enthusiast seeking the latest AI-driven features or someone who values how premium entertainment seamlessly integrates into your lifestyle, these TVs deliver exceptional performance at accessible price points. With LG's commitment to making advanced technology available to more consumers, the 2025 OLED and QNED lineup invites everyone to transform their home into a sophisticated entertainment sanctuary where intelligent features work intuitively, allowing you to focus on what matters most – enjoying extraordinary content with the people you love.
Reuters
3 days ago
- General
- Reuters
Second Georgian opposition politician detained, his party says
May 29 (Reuters) - Police in Georgia have detained an opposition politician, his party said on Thursday, the second such detention in a little more than a week of figures denouncing government policies bringing the country closer to Russia. The Coalition for Change, Georgia's largest opposition group, said one of its leaders, Nika Melia, had been detained. News reports said he was being held on charges of abusive behaviour towards a law enforcement officer and would be appearing in court. Previously one of the most pro-Western and democratic of the Soviet Union's successor states, Georgia under the leadership of the Georgian Dream party is accused by its opponents of moving in an authoritarian and pro-Russian direction. Last week, a Georgian court on Thursday placed Zurab Japaridze, another leader of the Coalition for Change, in pre-trial detention for an indeterminate period of time. Japaridze had refused to appear at a parliamentary inquiry into alleged crimes committed under jailed former President Mikheil Saakashvili, between 2004 and 2012. Georgian Dream, after winning an election last November denounced as rigged by the opposition, said it would halt talks on joining the European Union until 2028. Membership of the 27-nation bloc is a popular goal among Georgians and incorporated in the constitution. Georgian Dream dismisses allegations that the November poll was falsified. The outcome triggered large-scale protests, with protesters confronting police and water cannon in the capital. Georgian Dream says it still wants to eventually join the EU, but also wants balanced relations with Russia, which ruled Georgia for around 200 years until 1991.
