Tag Archives: politics

Georgia aims to improve its prisons

MARCH 16 2013 (The Conway Bulletin) – Prisons in the former Soviet Union have a reputation for being notoriously tough places; human rights groups routinely criticise them for being over-crowded and Georgia had been no exception.

Statistics showed that Georgia had one of the highest prison populations in the world compared to the size of its population.

The Georgian authorities, though, had a solution and since January they have released nearly half the inmates in its prisons in a mass amnesty.

The amnesty reduced Georgia’s prison population to 11,107 from 19,349 in December, according to local media. These were mainly people convicted of robbery and crimes which didn’t involve violence.

But like many aspects of Georgian life, the amnesty was also politically highly charged.

Georgia’s politics is split between supporters of President Mikheil Saakashvili and supporters of PM Bidzina Ivanishvili. Mr Saakashvili declined to sign off on the amnesty bill, forcing it back through parliament where enough of his MPs sided with his opponents to pass it.

Even with the prison amnesty it’s still unclear what’s more important, the humanitarian gesture or the politics.

ENDS

(News report from Issue No. 128, published on March 22 2013)

Azerbaijan receives criticism over human rights

MARCH 10 2013 (The Conway Bulletin) – Human rights groups heavily criticised the Azerbaijani authorities for using rubber bullets and tear gas to break up an unsanctioned rally in central Baku. Hundreds of people had gathered to protest the death of three conscripts who allegedly committed suicide. Media reported no injuries at the rally.

ENDS

(News report from Issue No. 127, published on March 15 2013)

Armenian opposition leader begins hunger strike

MARCH 10 2013 (The Conway Bulletin) – Armenian opposition leader Raffi Hovannisian began a hunger strike to protest against what he claims was a rigged Feb. 18 presidential election. Mr Hovannisian, a former foreign minister, came second in the election with 37% of the vote. Incumbent president Serzh Sarksyan won the election with 59%.

ENDS

(News report from Issue No. 127, published on March 15 2013)

Post-vote protests rise in Armenia

MARCH 4 2013 (The Conway Bulletin) – Armenia’s main opposition leaders lodged a complaint that the Feb. 18 presidential election won by the incumbent Serzh Sarksyan was rigged. Since the result hundreds of people, lead by Raffi Hovannisian who came second in the election with 37% of the vote, have demonstrated in central Yerevan.

ENDS

(News report from Issue No. 126, published on March 8 2013)

British court denies Kazakh billionaire’s appeal

FEB. 26 2013 (The Conway Bulletin) – Britain’s Supreme Court threw out a final appeal by Kazakh fugitive billionaire Mukhtar Ablyazov against a 22-month prison sentence for lying in court about his assets. Ablyazov is facing charges that he embezzled $6b from Kazakhstan-based BTA Bank where he had once been chairman.

ENDS

(News report from Issue No. 126, published on March 8 2013)

Georgian President meets PM

MARCH 4 2013 (The Conway Bulletin) – Amid an increasingly acrimonious political divide in Georgia, President Mikheil Saakashvili and PM Bidzina Ivanishvili met for only the second time since an election on Oct. 1 to discuss their differences. Supporters of Georgia’s two political leaders have clashed recently in Tbilisi.

ENDS

(News report from Issue No. 126, published on March 8 2013)

Armenian police arrests assisination organiser

MARCH 6 2013 (The Conway Bulletin) – Police in Yerevan arrested Vardan Sedrakyan, a candidate in Armenia’s presidential election last month, for organising the attempted assassination of Paruyr Hayrikyan, who also stood in the vote, media reported. A gunman shot Mr Hayrikyan in the shoulder outside his home shortly before the election. Prosecutors did not suggest a motive for the apparent murder attempt.

ENDS

(News report from Issue No. 126, published on March 8 2013)

Turkmen President sacks head of national equine association

FEB. 18 2013 (The Conway Bulletin) – Turkmen President Kurbanguly Berdymukhamedov sacked the head of the national equine association live on television for not sufficiently promoting the horse industry, media reported. Mr Berdymukhamedov has set much weight in promoting various aspects of the Turkmenistan’s culture since becoming president in 2007.

ENDS

(News report from Issue No. 125, published on Feb. 22 2013)

Georgia delays sensitive trial

FEB. 23 2013 (The Conway Bulletin) – A judge in Georgia delayed the politically sensitive trial of former defence minister Bacho Akhalaia until Feb. 28. Mr Akhalaia is accused of abuse of power. Supporters of President Mikheil Saakashvili have accused his opponents of orchestrating a witch-hunt since they won a parliamentary election last year.

ENDS

(News report from Issue No. 125, published on Feb. 22 2013)

Armenians re-elect Sarksyan

FEB. 18 2013 (The Conway Bulletin) – As expected, Armenians re-elected Serzh Sarksyan for a second term as president. Mr Sarksyan won 58% of the vote. His nearest rival, Raffi Hovhannisyan, polled around 37% of the vote. Opponents of Mr Sarksyan accused his supporters of rigging the vote and organised a series of street demonstrations.

ENDS

(News report from Issue No. 125, published on Feb. 22 2013)