Georgia’s spring parliamentary session opened amid tight security as protests erupted outside. Demonstrators demanded the release of detained journalist Mzia Amaghlobeli, while opposition parties boycotted the session, rejecting the legitimacy of the October elections. Inside, President Kavelashvili
The first session of Georgia’s 11th parliament, formed after disputed elections on October 26, began on February 4 amid protests and heightened security. Civil society groups and journalists gathered outside to call for the release of Mzia Amaghlobeli, who has been on a hunger strike for 24 days since her arrest on January 12.
Authorities activated parliament’s yellow security level, citing security concerns. But critics see it as a sign of growing political instability rather than a protective measure.
Kavelashvili’s Speech: Defiance and Criticism
Addressing lawmakers, President Mikheil Kavelashvili defended the elections and said that “forces inside and outside the country” must accept the people’s choice. He accused Georgia’s Western allies of applying “double standards” and undermining European values, reinforcing the ruling party’s increasingly defiant stance against the EU.
Kavelashvili also warned of ongoing threats to Georgia’s stability, saying the country has been “walking on a knife edge” since the start of the Ukraine war in 2022. He claimed that “anti-Georgian forces” were working to destabilize the country, a narrative often used by the government to justify its cautious foreign policy.
Opposition Boycott and New Laws
The opposition is absent from parliament, continuing its boycott in protest against what they call fraudulent elections. Their refusal to participate leaves GD lawmakers largely unchallenged as they try to pass new legislation.
A day before the session, ruling party leader Mamuka Mdinaradze announced plans to extend administrative detention from 15 to 60 days and introduce criminal penalties of up to three years for "public calls to violence.
Saudi Arabia’s air defences have intercepted and destroyed a hostile drone over the Riyadh region, according to the Saudi-led coalition fight...
Police were deployed across Paris on Saturday, as a curfew was set to take effect in the Republique and Chât...
A drone strike hit a power station in northern Sudan early Sunday (1 November), sparking a fire and triggering loud explosions, witnesses said....
The U.S. has approved the sale of 500 Patriot PAC-3 missiles to Ukraine in a deal worth an estimated $2.1 billion, but Kyiv could face years of delays before receiving the weapons it urgently needs to defend against intensifying Russian attacks.
Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei has ordered Iran's armed forces to respond to any threat immediately and without geographical limits in statements posted to social media platforms on Saturday (31 October).
Demonstrators carrying Iranian flags and placards supporting the hijab gathered outside the Azerbaijani Embassy in London.
A Chinese-made AI chip has matched Nvidia’s H200 in tests conducted by its developer, marking a potential breakthrough in China’s efforts to reduce its dependence on foreign technology.
A hacking group linked to North Korea is widely believed to be behind the theft of $6.3 billion from cryptocurrency giant Binance, a cyberattack that experts describe as the largest cryptocurrency heist on record.
Saudi Arabia’s air defences have intercepted and destroyed a hostile drone over the Riyadh region, according to the Saudi-led coalition fighting in Yemen. No casualties were reported.
Since 2021, only 9 per cent of $8 billion in humanitarian aid for Afghanistan can be traced beyond initial recipients in public records, a Kabul Institute report released on 22 October said. The United Nations says its oversight systems ensure accountability.
Opium poppy cultivation in Afghanistan surged by 330 per cent in 2026 despite a four-year ban, the United Nations said on Thursday. Afghan authorities disputed the findings, while Japan urged continued support for farmers seeking alternative livelihoods.
Demonstrators carrying Iranian flags and placards supporting the hijab gathered outside the Azerbaijani Embassy in London.
Central Asia could gain up to $640 million a year from closer energy cooperation, but strained electricity grids threaten to limit those gains, with Kazakhstan particularly exposed to regional power shortages and growing pressure on its network.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment