International

Georgia jails six political figures in one week

Published

9 months ago

June 27, 2025

Nika Melia, who was jailed on Friday, was also accused of splashing the judge with water

Georgia jails six political figures in one week

Georgian opposition leader Nika Melia has become the latest opposition figure to be sent to jail this week in a crackdown described by observers as an unprecedented attack on the country’s democracy.

The South Caucausus state has seen months of political turmoil since the government halted its path to join the EU in the wake of disputed elections.

Six prominent politicians have been given jail terms, and another two are in pre-trial detention, so that most of the leaders of the pro-Western opposition are now behind bars.

On Friday, Nika Melia, one of the leaders of Coalition for Change, was jailed for eight months by a court in Tbilisi and former opposition MP Givi Targamadze was given seven months.

The scale and speed of the crackdown has come as a shock, and Nika Melia accused the government of trying to break the courage of Georgians.

All of the jailed politicians have been convicted of refusing to testify before a parliamentary commission and barred from holding public office for two years.

In what it called “the most severe democratic collapse in Georgia’s post-Soviet history”, anti-corruption watchdog Transparency International said the governing Georgian Dream party, led by billionaire founder Bidzina Ivanishvili, had launched “a full-scale authoritarian offensive”.

In a matter of days, jail terms have also been handed down to four other opposition leaders: Giorgi Vashadze, Zurab Japaridze, Badri Japaridze and Mamuka Khazaradze. Another prominent opposition leader, Nika Gvaramia, is in pre-trial detention as well as a former defence minister.

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“The Soviet Union has returned to our present and wants our minds to cling to the past,” Nika Melia wrote on Facebook. Georgia regained its independence when the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991.

Norway said this week that the arrest of opposition leaders was an “unprecedented attack on Georgia’s democracy” and it called for an end to “repressive actions”.

After last October’s elections, the opposition accused Ivanishvili’s party of stealing the vote.

Opposition parties then boycotted parliament and, when the European Parliament denounced the election as neither free nor fair, the ruling party halted Georgia’s bid to join the European Union.

Georgians have since protested in central Tbilisi every night for more than 200 nights, demanding new elections and the release of all prisoners arrested during pro-EU rallies.

The government then set up an investigative parliamentary commission into the “alleged crimes” of the previous government before Georgian Dream came to power in 2012, specifically the period covering Georgia’s war with Russia in 2008.

Failing to comply with a “lawful request” by a parliamentary commission is a criminal offence under Georgia’s criminal code. Opposition politicians have refused to testify, partly because of their boycott of parliament, but also because they reject it as a politically motivated attack on government critics.

Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze told parliament on Friday that the commission was doing very important work exposing a previous government that was “entirely built on crime”.

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“Everyone must understand once and for all that there is no place for criminals in Georgian politics.”

Human rights groups say 500 people have been arrested during the recent street protests and that 300 of them were subjected to torture. As many as 60 people are being held as political prisoners, they say.

Respected journalist Mzia Amaglobeli remains imprisoned, and independent TV stations face censorship and financial ruin.

Earlier this week 40 civil society groups said that Bidzina Ivanishvili had “chosen to maintain power through dictatorship, and fundamental human rights are violated every day”.

Ivanishvili, who is under US sanctions, accumulated his wealth in Russia during the 1990s. He formally retired from politics but is widely believed to have control over all branches of government.

Last month, a former confidant of Ivanishvili who went on the run said he was “kidnapped from abroad” and flown back to Georgia by force as a political prisoner.

Giorgi Bachiashvili had been on trial in Georgia accused of misappropriating millions of dollars in a case he said was politically motivated.

Georgian authorities say Bachiashvili, 39, was convicted of a crime while in absentia and will serve his jail sentence.

His lawyer, Robert Amsterdam, told the BBC he was deeply concerned for his safety: “Too many people see him as a highly competent political figure.”

Earlier this week 40 civil society groups said that Bidzina Ivanishvili had “chosen to maintain power through dictatorship, and fundamental human rights are violated every day”.

Ivanishvili, who is under US sanctions, accumulated his wealth in Russia during the 1990s. He formally retired from politics but is widely believed to have control over all branches of government.

Last month, a former confidant of Ivanishvili who went on the run said he was “kidnapped from abroad” and flown back to Georgia by force as a political prisoner.

Giorgi Bachiashvili had been on trial in Georgia accused of misappropriating millions of dollars in a case he said was politically motivated.

Georgian authorities say Bachiashvili, 39, was convicted of a crime while in absentia and will serve his jail sentence.

His lawyer, Robert Amsterdam, told the BBC he was deeply concerned for his safety: “Too many people see him as a highly competent political figure.”

Georgia jails six political figures in one week

BBC

Related Topics:Georgia political figures

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Israeli Fire Kills Three UN Peacekeepers in Southern Lebanon

Published

18 hours ago

March 31, 2026

Trends Admin

Ghanaian UN Peacekeepers Hit by Missile Attack in Lebanon as Iran‑Linked War Escalates

Israeli Fire Kills Three UN Peacekeepers in Southern Lebanon

Three United Nations peacekeepers have been killed in southern Lebanon, with others seriously injured, as clashes between Israeli forces and Hezbollah militants intensify. The fatalities, all members of Indonesia’s UNIFIL contingent, mark one of the deadliest attacks on peacekeepers in recent years.

The first incident occurred on Sunday, March 29, when a projectile exploded near a UNIFIL position in Adchit al-Qusayr, killing one peacekeeper and seriously injuring another. Evidence suggests the projectile may have been fired from an Israeli tank, though investigations are ongoing. The following day, two more Indonesian peacekeepers were killed when a logistics convoy vehicle was destroyed by an explosion of unknown origin near Bani Hayyan, leaving additional personnel injured.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres condemned the killings, calling them “grave violations of international humanitarian law” and emphasizing that “no one should ever have to die while serving the cause of peace.” He extended condolences to the families of the deceased and wished a speedy recovery to the injured.

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The incidents have prompted the UN Security Council to convene an emergency session to address the attacks. Several European countries, including France, the United Kingdom, and Belgium, issued a joint statement urging all parties to ensure the safety of UNIFIL personnel in accordance with international law. South Korea and other nations also condemned the attacks, highlighting the critical need to protect peacekeepers in conflict zones.

The deaths come amid escalating hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah, which have involved airstrikes, rocket fire, and ground operations along the Israel-Lebanon border. Civilians in southern Lebanon have been severely affected, with thousands displaced and casualties mounting on both sides.

The Indonesian government has called for a transparent investigation into the deaths of its personnel and stressed the importance of accountability. Meanwhile, UNIFIL continues to operate along the Blue Line, though the recent attacks underscore the growing risks faced by peacekeepers in volatile regions.

Israeli Fire Kills Three UN Peacekeepers in Southern Lebanon

International

Nigerian Man Gets 15-Year US Prison Term for $1.5M Romance Scam

Published

18 hours ago

March 31, 2026

Trends Admin

Nigerian national Saheed Sunday Owolabi

Nigerian Man Gets 15-Year US Prison Term for $1.5M Romance Scam

A U.S. federal court has sentenced Nigerian national Saheed Sunday Owolabi to 15 years in prison for orchestrating an international wire fraud and money laundering scheme that defrauded victims of over $1.5 million. The sentence follows his conviction for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering, highlighting the U.S. government’s crackdown on cross-border cybercrime.

According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Owolabi was a key figure in a sophisticated online scam in which he posed as a woman to build fake romantic relationships with U.S. victims—a tactic commonly known as a romance scam. Once trust was gained, the victims were persuaded to wire money into accounts controlled by Owolabi, who then laundered the funds to Nigeria.

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Investigations by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) revealed that Owolabi and his co-conspirators also used victim-provided accounts to launder money from other fraudulent operations. In one case, a single victim in the Eastern District of North Carolina lost more than $120,000, with many other victims nationwide affected by the scheme.

U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle described Owolabi as a “cheat” and said the sentence underscores the FBI’s commitment to identifying, disrupting, and dismantling international fraud and money-laundering networks targeting American citizens.

The court proceedings, led by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brad DeVoe, highlighted Owolabi’s role as an organiser in the fraud, using complex money-laundering methods to conceal illicit proceeds. The case is part of broader U.S. enforcement efforts against online fraud, cybercrime, and cross-border financial crimes, particularly schemes leveraging digital platforms to exploit victims.

Authorities say the sentence serves as a strong deterrent to others involved in international scams and demonstrates that sophisticated internet fraud operations will be pursued rigorously, regardless of the perpetrators’ location.

Nigerian Man Gets 15-Year US Prison Term for $1.5M Romance Scam

International

US Warns Iran Against Closing Strait of Hormuz, Cites “Severe Consequences”

Published

23 hours ago

March 31, 2026

Trends Admin

Strait of Hormuz Crisis - Iran Threatens to Stop Gulf Oil Shipments

US Warns Iran Against Closing Strait of Hormuz, Cites “Severe Consequences”

Washington, D.C. — The United States has issued a strong warning to Iran over any potential move to shut down the strategic Strait of Hormuz following ongoing military operations in the region, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio cautioning that such an action would attract “severe consequences.”

Rubio, speaking amid heightened tensions in the Middle East, stressed that the vital waterway must remain open to global shipping, describing any attempt by Iran to block access as unacceptable and destabilising.

“The Strait of Hormuz is an international waterway that must remain open,” Rubio said. “If Iran chooses to close it after military operations conclude, it will face serious consequences. The United States will ensure that freedom of navigation is maintained.”

The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most critical oil transit routes, serving as a gateway for nearly a fifth of global petroleum supplies. Any disruption to its operations could send shockwaves through international energy markets and significantly impact global trade.

Tensions have escalated in recent days following military developments involving the United States and its regional allies, alongside growing concerns over Iran’s response. Analysts say Tehran has previously hinted at the possibility of leveraging the strait as a strategic pressure point during periods of conflict.

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Security experts warn that a closure of the narrow waterway could trigger a broader regional crisis, potentially drawing in global powers and leading to military confrontations at sea. The U.S. Navy, which maintains a strong presence in the region, has historically conducted operations to safeguard commercial shipping routes.

While Iranian officials have not formally announced any decision to block the strait, past rhetoric from Tehran has included threats to disrupt maritime traffic if its national interests are threatened.

In response, U.S. officials reiterated their commitment to maintaining stability and ensuring the uninterrupted flow of commerce. Rubio emphasised that any move to interfere with international shipping lanes would not only affect the United States but also have far-reaching consequences for the global economy.

Observers note that the warning underscores the strategic importance of the Strait of Hormuz and highlights the fragile security situation in the Gulf region. With tensions still simmering, diplomatic efforts are expected to continue alongside military preparedness.

As the situation unfolds, the international community remains watchful, with many nations urging restraint to avoid further escalation in an already volatile region.