Tag Archives: international relations

Abkhazian leader reigns after protests

JAN. 12 2020 (The Bulletin) — The leader of the Georgian breakaway region of Abkhazia, Raul Khajimba, resigned after protesters stormed the presidential administration building. They accused Mr Khajimba of fabricating victory in an election last year. Abkhazia is essentially a Russian vassal state, with Russian military bases. The Kremlin and a handful of allies have recognised its independence since a Russia-Georgia war in 2008.

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— This story was first published in issue 433 of the weekly Bulletin on Jan. 13 2020

— Copyright owned by the Central Asia & South Caucasus Bulletin

Armenia and Azerbaijan back Iran after US kills top general

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YEREVAN/Jan. 3 2020 (The Bulletin) — Armenia and Azerbaijan moved quickly to show support for Iran, which has become a key trading partner over the past few years, after the assassination of top Iranian general Qasem Soleimani by a US drone.

Both governments, though, need to tread a fine line as they can’t be seen to be backing Iran too strongly or they risk damaging relations with the US.

In a press release two days after the assassination, Armenia’s foreign minister, Zohrab Mnatsakanyan, said that he had spoken with his Iranian counterpart Javad Zarif to express his condolences about the assassination.

“The Foreign Minister of Armenia stressed the importance of preventing further tensions and de-escalating the situation through peaceful means,” the statement said.

And it was a similar message from the Azerbaijani foreign ministry.

Azerbaijani and Iranian relations were so strained only a few years ago that they almost came to war. It was disclosed that Israel had developed a secret deal with Baku to use an Azerbaijani airbase so that its warplanes could launch strikes against Iran.

Now, though, relations are much improved and the two countries have a handful of joint venture manufacturing units operating together, including a car production plant.

“The Azerbaijani side calls on all parties involved to refrain from violence and be committed to strengthen regional security,” the Azerbaijani foreign ministry said in a statement.

“Minister Mammadyarov expressed deepest condolences to the leadership and the people of the Islamic Republic of Iran on the death of general Qasem Soleimani.”

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— This story was first published in issue 433 of the weekly Bulletin on Jan. 13 2020

— Copyright owned by the Central Asia & South Caucasus Bulletin

Don’t send men back to China, HRW tells Kazakhstan

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JAN. 9 2020 (The Bulletin) — New York-based Human Rights Watch said that Kazakhstan should not extradite two ethnic Kazakhs accused of crossing the border illegally from China because they face the risk of torture or detention. HRW said that the two men, Kaster Musakhanuly and Murager Alimuly, had been escaping China’s crackdown on Muslims and that they should be given asylum.

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— This story was first published in issue 433 of the weekly Bulletin on Jan. 13 2020

— Copyright owned by the Central Asia & South Caucasus Bulletin

Armenia will become an important rail link, says Iran

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DEC. 31 2019 (The Bulletin) — Iranian officials said that the completion of a railway connecting Iran to Armenia will turn it into an important transit route along the new Silk Road stretching from China to Europe. Iranian media quoted the country’s deputy minister of road and urban development, Kheirollah Khademim, as saying that when the railway is being built from Tabriz and that “Armenia will also construct a highway that will turn it into an international corridor”. Armenia and Iran have been improving bilateral ties to offset both of their relative regional isolation.

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— This story was first published in issue 433 of the weekly Bulletin on Jan. 13 2020

— Copyright owned by the Central Asia & South Caucasus Bulletin

US warns Georgia that it must improve its commitment to democracy

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TBILISI/DEC. 24 2019 (The Bulletin) — The United States told Georgia’s government that it had to improve its commitment to democracy after weeks of anti-government protests and a counter-demonstration organised by the Georgian Dream coalition.

The intervention into the domestic politics of the US’ most loyal regional ally will be seen as a blow to Georgia leader Bidzina Ivanishvili, the country’s richest man and the architect of the Georgian Dream coalition.

In a statement, the US State Department said that it supported dialogue between opposition groups and the government.

“We urge the Georgian government to reinforce its commitment to the principles of democracy, individual liberty, and rule of law by ensuring that its judicial and prosecutorial system is free of political bias,” it said.

Rights groups have said that the Georgian Dream government has started to use the courts to pursue personal vendettas, allegations that the Georgian Dream government has denied. Opposition groups also accuse the Georgian Dream government of trying to interfere with the appointment of Supreme Court judges.

But a senior Georgian Dream official brushed off the implied criticism in the US statement.
“Anyone who can read this statement knows very well that it is actually supportive,” said Irakli Kobakhidze, the Georgian Dream executive secretary.

Protesters have demonstrated since MPs voted last month against backing plans to introduce proportional representation at next year’s parliamentary election. The government, though, in an attempted to compromise has said that the number of MPs elected by a first-past-the-post system will be reduced at the election.

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