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5 More Azerbaijani Journalists Detained Amid Crackdown On Media Freedom
Five Azerbaijani journalists who are reportedly affiliated with Meydan TV, a media outlet known for harshly criticizing government policy, have been detained in Baku, their relatives said on December 6.
The relatives said the journalists -- Aynur Elgunas, Aytac Tapdiq, Natiq Cavadli, Xayala Agayeva, and Ramin Cabrayilzada, known by his pen name Deko -- were taken to the Baku City Main Police Directorate.
Interior Ministry officials said Cabrayilzada was detained after police obtained information about the alleged smuggling of foreign currency into the country.
The Interior Ministry told the Turan news agency that further investigations are under way and that other people have been detained on suspicion of involvement in the case. "Additional information will be provided," they said.
The detainees have denied the charges, saying they are politically motivated and connected with their professional activity.
The development comes amid a broader crackdown on media freedom in Azerbaijan. More than 20 journalists and civil society activists, including members of AbzasMedia and Toplum TV, have been arrested within the past year on suspicion of foreign currency smuggling.
The timing of the detentions is symbolic ahead of International Human Rights Day on December 10. The embassies of the European Union, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Switzerland in Baku issued a joint call earlier this week to immediately release those imprisoned in connection with exercising their fundamental freedoms. They were most concerned about the continued persecution of those advocating for human rights and freedom of expression.
U.S. Ambassador Mark Libby called on Baku to release "people fighting for human rights in their beautiful homeland."
The detainees, according to Libby, include economist and journalist Farid Mehralizada, who was recently imprisoned in Azerbaijan. He emphasized that Azerbaijan must fulfill its international commitments to human rights by releasing those arbitrarily detained.
In response, Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry rejected the statements of the foreign diplomats and assertions that their arrests were related to their professional activities. The ministry went on to say that this was an attempt to devalue the independence of the Azerbaijani judiciary.
Many international observers are deeply concerned about freedom of speech and respect for human rights in the country with regard to the continued targeting of journalists and activists.
With reporting by Turan
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Noted Russian Missile Designer Reportedly Shot Dead Near Moscow
A senior official from a Russian company that develops cruise missiles used by Moscow in its war with Ukraine has reportedly been shot and killed just outside the capital.
Ukrainian media reported on December 12 that Mikhail Shatsky, a deputy chief designer at the Mars Design Bureau -- which develops and manufactures onboard guidance systems for the Russian military and aerospace industries -- was shot dead two days earlier near the town of Kotelniki in the Moscow region.
Police have not commented on the news, but reports on social media and local news outlets, which have not been independently verified, identified Shatsky as the victim.
News outlets in Ukraine reported Shatsky was involved in the modernization of the Kh-59 and Kh-69 missiles, as well as helping in the development of develop unmanned aerial vehicles. All of those weapons have been used by Russia to strike at targets in Ukraine.
The reports came three days after a car bomb killed Sergei Yevsyukov, who led a prison in Russian-occupied Olenivka in the Donetsk region during the time that more than 50 Ukrainian POWs were killed in a controversial explosion in July 2022.
While no one has taken credit for either incident, Russian military personnel and Russian-installed officials have been targeted several times in Ukraine's Russian-occupied territories. In many cases, the attacks have been deadly.
Ukrainian officials usually say "guerilla forces" are behind such attacks. Russia accuses Ukraine's secret services of masterminding and implementing the attacks.
Noted Russian journalist and staunch Kremlin critic Aleksandr Nevzorov first reported Shatsky's death on Telegram, publishing photos of what he said was Shatsky's body.
The independent investigative outlet IStories geolocated the images to a site near Shatsky's home, but the claims remain unverified.
- By RFE/RL
Trump Criticizes Decision To Allow Ukraine To Strike Inside Russia
WASHINGTON -- U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has criticized the Biden administration for giving Ukraine permission to strike inside Russia with powerful U.S. missiles, claiming it is intensifying the war.
"I disagree very vehemently with sending missiles hundreds of miles into Russia. Why are we doing that? We're just escalating this war and making it worse. That should not have been allowed to be done," Trump said in an interview with Time magazine published on December 12.
After more than a year of hesitation, the Biden administration last month finally gave Ukraine the green light to strike military assets inside Russia with U.S.-made Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS). The powerful, precision missiles can strike targets as far away as 300 kilometers.
The Biden administration justified the decision saying Russia had escalated the conflict by deploying about 11,000 North Korean troops to the front.
Just days after Ukraine fired its first ATACMS into Russia, the Kremlin responded by striking Ukraine with a new, intermediate ballistic missile capable of carrying a nuclear warhead. The use of the intermediate missile was meant to serve as a message to the West, the Kremlin said.
Trump did not say whether he would unilaterally withdraw Ukraine's permission to use ATACMS inside Russia upon entering the White House on January 20 or use it as a bargaining chip with the Kremlin.
Trump has said he could end the nearly three-year war between Russia and Ukraine in "24 hours," raising concern he could force Kyiv to cede land currently occupied by Moscow's forces. The United States is Ukraine's largest supplier of weapons, giving Washington significant influence over peace negotiations.
When asked if he would throw Ukraine under the bus to get a peace deal, Trump said, “The only way you're going to reach an agreement is not to abandon."
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has demanded Western security commitments to his country be part of any negotiated settlement. Zelenskiy -- and most Ukrainians -- want NATO membership, saying only that will prevent Russia from invading their country again.
Trump was not asked about NATO membership for Ukraine but has been critical of the U.S.-led military organization in the past, saying it is a drain on U.S. finances. The United States accounts for about 60 percent of NATO military spending.
In a speech on December 12, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte called on European members of NATO to step up spending, warning the threat emanating from Moscow will not dissipate anytime soon.
"Russia is preparing for long-term confrontation, with Ukraine and with us," Rutte said in a speech in Brussels. "We are not ready for what is coming our way in four to five years. It is time to shift to a wartime mindset, and turbocharge our defense production and defense spending."
Russia Closes In On Key Ukrainian City Amid Flurry Of Diplomatic Peace Efforts
Russian forces continue to take ground near the strategic eastern Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk amid a surge in diplomacy to end Europe's biggest war in decades.
Ukraine Invasion: News & Analysis
RFE/RL's Ukraine Live Briefing gives you the latest developments on Russia's invasion, Western military aid, the plight of civilians, and territorial control maps. For all of RFE/RL's coverage of the war, click here.
According to the Deep State online war-mapping platform, Russian troops on December 12 were as close as 3 kilometers from the southern part of Pokrovsk, a key logistical junction for Ukraine as well as home to the country's only domestic coking-coal supplier.
"Unconventional decisions must be made to enhance the resilience of our defense and ensure more effective destruction of the occupiers," General Oleksandr Syrskiy, Ukraine's top commander, wrote in a post on Facebook.
"The battles are exceptionally fierce. The Russians are throwing all available forces forward, attempting to break through our defenses."
For months the area has seen some of the fiercest battles in Russia's 33-month-old full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who visited the front lines in the Zaporizhzhya region on December 12, has called for reinforcements amid signs of Ukrainian positions being overwhelmed by Russia's advantage in manpower.
Speaking to RFE/RL, Serhiy Filimonov, the commander of the 108th battalion “Da Vinci Wolves,” warned that the "main reason" for losses as Russia heads in the direction of Pokrovsk were "unrealistic tasks" for troops in the region given the current numbers.
The intensification of fighting on the battlefield comes as both sides look to strengthen their positions amid signs of potential peace talks in the coming months.
Foreign ministers from France, Germany, and Poland are meeting on December 12 in Berlin to discuss the situation in Ukraine, while Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, whose country has been a staunch supporter of neighboring Ukraine, hosted French President Emmanuel Macron for talks in Warsaw.
Leaders from across Europe are looking to show U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, who will be inaugurated on January 20, that they are willing to assume their share of the burden to end the almost three-year war in Ukraine.
Trump has claimed he could end the war in 24-hours, raising concern he could force Ukraine to concede territory to Russia among other concessions, endangering EU security.
"Here in this circle, we all agree that Ukraine needs tough security guarantees," German Foreign Minister Anna Baerbock said before the Berlin meeting.
"This includes long-term military and financial support for Ukraine."
Tusk and Macron met before the EU ministers gathered, and after their meeting the French leader reiterated that any peace deal in Ukraine must include the Ukrainians.
Added Tusk: "We will work with France on a solution that will, above all, protect Europe and Ukraine."
The Polish prime minister said two days earlier that peace talks could start "in the winter," as Warsaw prepares to assume the European Union's rotating presidency on January 1.
Zelenskiy has demanded concrete Western security guarantees be part of any peace deal, arguing that Russia could invade again once it has rebuilt its forces.
'Historic Moment' -- EU Fully Accepts Romania, Bulgaria Into Schengen
EU justice and interior ministers have agreed on Romania and Bulgaria's fully joining Europe's Schengen visa-free travel area from January 1.
The decision, announced on December 12 by the European Council, comes nearly 18 years after the two southeast European countries became members of the bloc and 15 years since they fulfilled the technical criteria for entering the Schengen Area.
"It is a historic moment to finally welcome Bulgaria and Romania," said Hungarian Interior Minister Sandor Pinter, whose country holds the EU's rotating presidency.
EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen welcomed the move in a message on X.
"Fully in Schengen -- where you belong," von der Leyen wrote.
European Parliament President Roberta Metsola congratulated the two countries, saying they had "worked hard and long" to achieve membership.
"It’s done. It’s decided. It’s deserved. Romania & Bulgaria will fully join Schengen on 1 January 2025," Metsola wrote on X. "A stronger Schengen signifies a safer & more united Europe."
Romanian President Klaus Iohannis hailed the decision, which he said "had been expected for too long" by Romanians and Bulgarians.
"I have good news today," Iohannis said in a video message on December 12.
"We can finally enjoy a well-deserved right obtained in a legitimate way," Iohannis said.
He also took a swipe at Romania's Moscow-friendly far-right parties that had made substantial gains in the December 1 parliamentary polls, saying that "those who blame the European Union for their discontent do not want the best for Romania."
Romanian Justice Minister Catalin Predoiu told journalists that for the first six months, random checks would still be performed based on risk assessment.
The agreement also foresees the joint deployment of border guards to the Bulgarian-Turkish border.
The move comes after Austrian Interior Minister Gerhard Karner earlier this week announced that Vienna was finally dropping its opposition to the two countries' joining the 29-member zone, which encompasses more than 450 million people and covers 4,6 million square kilometers.
Romania and Bulgaria were partially admitted into Schengen on March 31, when air and sea border controls were dropped, but Vienna continued its veto on the two countries' being allowed to scrap land-border checks over fears that more illegal migrants could reach Austria.
Karner said on December 9 that Vienna's decision to lift its veto was based on a significant drop of migrant arrivals in Austria via Bulgaria and Romania.
Romania and Bulgaria's fully joining Schengen comes after Croatia became the most recent member in January 2023.
Despite Bucharest and Sofia's meeting the technical criteria for membership since 2010, their admission into Schengen was opposed constantly by Austria and the Netherlands, but the latter eventually dropped its veto, leaving only Vienna in opposition.
Both Romania and Bulgaria constantly argued that the decision to keep them on the outside was purely political.
Eliminating border controls is expected to further boost the two countries' economies as trucks won't have to wait for days in kilometers-long lines at the border, which substantially increased the cost of transported goods.
The measure has also long been anticipated by the diasporas of both countries, whose members have been spending long hours at the border during the summer and winter holiday seasons.
With Romania and Bulgaria's full accession, 25 of the 27 EU countries will be full Schengen members. Two EU countries -- Cyprus and Ireland are not members.
Non-EU members Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland have also joined the free-travel agreement, which was initially signed in June 1985 in the small Luxembourg village of Schengen by five countries -- Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg and the Netherlands.
In recent years, several countries, including Germany, reintroduced random border checks with neighboring EU countries intended to fight illegal migration and people smuggling.
Ukrainians Skeptical About War With Russia Ending Soon
Asked whether they believe the war will end in 2025, Ukrainians in Chernihiv and Zaporizhzhya expressed doubt -- although some believe it may happen if the United States withdraws support.
Macron, Tusk To Discuss EU Peace Force For Ukraine Amid Diplomatic Surge
French President Emmanuel Macron and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk will discuss the deployment of a postwar peacekeeping force in Ukraine when the two meet in Warsaw on December 12, according to two media outlets, the latest sign of a surge in diplomacy to end Europe's biggest war in decades.
Ukraine Invasion: News & Analysis
RFE/RL's Ukraine Live Briefing gives you the latest developments on Russia's invasion, Western military aid, the plight of civilians, and territorial control maps. For all of RFE/RL's coverage of the war, click here.
Polish outlet Rzeczpospolita, citing unidentified sources, reported that the two EU leaders are considering a 40,000-strong peacekeeping force that would be made up of troops from various countries.
Donald Trump's victory in the November 5 U.S. presidential election has set about a flurry of diplomacy in Europe to find an acceptable compromise on ending the war in Ukraine before he takes office on January 20.
Trump has claimed he could end the war in 24-hours, raising concern he could force Ukraine to concede territory to Russia among other concessions, endangering EU national security.
The United States plays a big role as it is Ukraine's largest supplier of military aid. Trump has threatened to curtail it if Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy refuses to negotiate in good faith.
Tusk, a vocal supporter of Kyiv, said on December 10 that peace talks could start "in the winter," as Warsaw prepares to assume the European Union's rotating presidency on January 1.
Zelenskiy has demanded concrete Western security guarantees be part of any peace deal, arguing that Russia could invade again once it has rebuilt its forces.
The United States and Britain gave Ukraine vague security assurances in 1994 to persuade it to give up its nuclear weapons. However, neither nation came to Ukraine's defense when Russia invaded for the first time in 2014.
A 40,000-strong Western peacekeeping force would serve as a meaningful security guarantee while Ukraine waits to join NATO.
Diplomacy Overdrive
Diplomacy to end the nearly three-year Russian invasion has been in overdrive this month with Trump, Macron and Zelenskiy meeting in Paris on December 7 to discuss peace options.
Trump then met with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who has been the loudest critic of Western support for Ukraine and the main spoiler of a united EU voice against the Kremlin.
Zelenskiy and Orban, took jabs at each other on social media on December 11 over negotiations and peace.
In a tweet, Orban said he had an hourlong phone call with Putin about the conditions for a cease-fire and peace talks with Ukraine. Zelenskiy shot back, accusing Orban of putting self-promotion over European unity.
"Unity in Europe has always been key to achieving [success]. There can be no discussions about the war that Russia wages against Ukraine without Ukraine," Zelenskiy said in a reply to Orban's tweet.
The Hungarian leader punched back, calling it "sad" that Zelenskiy allegedly rejected a Christmas cease-fire and large-scale prisoner exchange.
Orban appeared to be referring to Zelenskiy's recent decree officially prohibiting Ukraine from engaging in peace talks with Russia.
Significant differences remain among Western diplomats over what a deal would look like, including whether to allow Russia to temporarily occupy Ukrainian territory, end sanctions on Russia, and offer Ukraine security guarantees.
Fighting Rages
Both Ukraine and Russia have been seeking to strengthen their negotiating position ahead of Trump's return to the White House in January.
Russia has stepped up its drone and missile attacks on Ukrainian cities and energy infrastructure at the onset of winter to cause maximum discomfort, as outnumbered and outgunned Ukrainian forces struggle to halt a grinding but steady Russian offensive in the east.
Russian troops destroyed or captured several Ukrainian positions near the eastern city of Pokrovsk, the Ukrainian military said on December 11. The city is a key logistics hub and its fall would be a heavy blow to Ukraine.
Separately, at least eight Ukrainians were killed when a Russian missile struck a clinic in the southern city of Zaporizhzhya. At least 22 others, including a child, were injured. Rescue operations were still under way.
Zaporizhzhya has been regularly targeted by Russian missile and drone strikes. On December 6, 10 people were killed in a strike on the city.
Zelenskiy yesterday called on Kyiv's allies to provide 10-12 more Patriot air defense systems that he said are needed to fully protect Ukraine's skies.
With reporting by Ukrayinska pravda and TASS
'Escalating Crackdown' In Azerbaijan Draws U.S. Criticism
The United States has demanded that the government of Azerbaijan immediately release a group of detained human rights activists, journalists, and civil society figures being held in what is seen as an "escalating crackdown" on civil society and press freedom in Azerbaijan.
The U.S. State Department on December 11 said it was "deeply concerned" over the detentions of individuals, including Rufat Safarov, Sevinc Vaqifqizi, Azer Qasimli, Farid Mehralizada, Baxtiyar Haciyev, Qubad Ibadoglu, and several associates of the independent outlet Meydan TV.
"We urge the Government of Azerbaijan to release those unjustly detained for their advocacy on behalf of human rights, cease its crackdown on civil society, respect the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all, and fulfill the commitments it made when it joined the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe," Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in the statement.
The timing of the detentions has already drawn significant criticism from governments and rights groups abroad.
Two of the detainees -- Safarov and Vaqifqizi -- were to receive awards in Washington, D.C., this week for their work advancing human rights and fighting corruption.
Safarov, a co-founder of Defense Line, one of Azerbaijan's leading civil society organizations, has actively promoted documenting politically motivated arrests, corruption in government structures, and digging up evidence of torture.
He was arrested on December 3, just days before he was set to travel to the United States to receive the Secretary of State's Human Rights Defender Award.
His detention is widely seen as a deliberate move by the Azerbaijani authorities to silence one of the few remaining full-time human rights defenders in the country.
Vaqifqizi, editor in chief of Abzas Media, has played a critical role in uncovering corruption and government mismanagement in Azerbaijan.
Her team has reported on illegal tender awards to companies linked to government officials and exposed the large-scale embezzlement of public funds. Vaqifqizi was detained in November 2023.
On December 9, she was awarded the Secretary of State's 2024 Anti-Corruption Champions Award in absentia.
Detentions such as those of Safarov, Vaqifqizi, and many others are part of a broader trend of repression in Azerbaijan. The government has increased pressure on activists, journalists, and independent organizations alike, leading to a significant decline in civil liberties.
Human rights organizations estimate that at least 300 political prisoners are currently being held in Azerbaijani jails, underscoring ongoing criticism of President Ilham Aliyev's administration.
Since taking power following the death of his predecessor and father, Heydar Aliyev, in 2003, Ilham Aliyev has faced accusations of suppressing dissent by detaining journalists, opposition figures, and civil society activists.
Macron Urges Georgian Dream's Ivanishvili To Address Democratic Backsliding
French President Emmanuel Macron spoke with Bidzina Ivanishvili, the powerful billionaire behind the ruling Georgian Dream party, to express his urgent concerns over the deteriorating state of democracy in the country.
The December 11 call was initiated by Macron and comes amid a violent crackdown on protesters following disputed elections in October that Georgian Dream won.
In a statement published by his office, Macron condemned law enforcement for the use of excessive force against nonviolent protesters and journalists in general.
He called for the immediate release of those arrested without grounds, respect for freedom of expression and demonstration, and inclusive dialogue.
Macron has repeatedly expressed concerns about Georgian Dream's drift away from European values and toward authoritarianism.
The most recent wave of protests was sparked by allegations of electoral fraud during the October 2024 parliamentary elections. The opposition has refused to recognize the result, claiming Georgian Dream rigged the vote to cling to power.
The protests escalated after law enforcement resorted to excessive force in dispersing peaceful rallies, sparking outrage both domestically and internationally.
Georgian Dream confirmed the conversation with the French leader, saying that Ivanishvili told Macron that Georgia was a "legal state" and that most detainees were held on administrative charges and would be released soon.
Ivanishvili claimed that any arrests on criminal charges were "based on a high standard of evidence" and that "police actions were in line with European standards."
Georgian Dream also added that investigations into alleged police misconduct were under way.
Paris Meeting
A day earlier, Macron hosted Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili in Paris during celebrations for the reopening of Notre Dame Cathedral.
Zurabishvili, who has been estranged from the Georgian Dream and Ivanishvili, joined the opposition in rejecting the election results.
During her trip to France, she also met with other western leaders, including U.S. President-elect Donald Trump.
Macron appears to be spearheading a Western attempt to find a resolution that aligns with EU values, experts said.
Bidzina Ivanishvili, who holds dual citizenship in Georgia and France, is a significant figure in Georgian politics despite his official retirement from active political leadership.
His vast wealth and political connections have allowed him to maintain influence, and his role in the ruling Georgian Dream party is crucial.
Romania's Western-Leaning Parties Join Forces To Keep Far-Right Out
Romania's four pro-Western parties have agreed on forming a parliamentary majority to prevent far-right groups from joining the government amid political turmoil prompted by revelations about Russia's malign influence that led to the annulment of the first round of presidential elections won by a Moscow-friendly outsider.
The four parties that together won the most votes in parliamentary elections on December 1 -- leftist Social Democratic Party (PSD), center-right National Liberal Party (PNL), reformist Save Romania Union (USR), and the ethnic Hungarian UDMR -- reached an agreement late on December 10 in Bucharest.
"Today, the pro-European parties PSD, PNL, USR, and UDMR plus the Parliamentary Group of National Minorities express their firm commitment to form a pro-European majority in the Romanian Parliament, a pro-European government, and possibly backing a joint pro-European candidate in the presidential elections," the four parties said in a joint statement published late December 10.
The agreement comes after last week the four parties threw their support behind USR presidential candidate Elena Lasconi ahead of a December 8 scheduled runoff against the pro-Russian independent candidate Calin Georgescu, who had won a shock victory in the first round on November 24.
However, Romania's Constitutional Court on December 6 canceled the results of the first round and ordered a rerun of the presidential polls after the EU and NATO member's Supreme Defense Council declassified documents allegedly proving Georgescu's presidential bid had been aided by a campaign led by an unnamed "state actor" with the help of China-owned TikTok social media platform.
Lasconi on December 11 said the agreement was reached because "Romania is going through a very difficult" period.
The PSD and the PNL, Romania's two main parties that have dominated Romania's politics after the fall of communism formed an unlikely left-right alliance in 2021.
The alliance became increasingly unpopular while also eroding both parties' support among voters, and allowed the shock rise of pro-Russia far-right Alliance for the Unity of Romanians, which came a close second in parliamentary elections with more than 18 percent to PSD's 23 percent.
Adding to the current instability, no presidential polls are likely until sometime early next year while it remains unclear if parties would have to propose new candidates or if Georgescu will be allowed to run again.
Afghan Taliban Minister Killed In Kabul Blast
Khalil Haqqani, the refugee minister in Afghanistan's Taliban-led administration, has been killed in an explosion in the capital, Kabul, two sources from inside the government told RFE/RL's Radio Azadi on December 11.
The sources said the blast, which occurred inside the ministry's compound, killed others as well, though no details were given.
Haqqani, the uncle of the Taliban's acting interior minister, Sirajuddin Haqqani, is the first senior cabinet member to be killed in an explosion since the Taliban seized power in Afghanistan in August 2021 as international forces withdrew from the war-torn country.
The United States designated Khalil Haqqani as a global terrorist on February 9, 2011 and had offered a $5 million reward for information leading to his capture.
Iranian Leader Blames Assad's Downfall On U.S., Israel, And Turkey
Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, in his first public comments since Syrian President Bashar al-Assad was ousted, accused the United States and Israel of orchestrating the rebel uprising that toppled the regime over the weekend.
Khamenei on December 11 also implicitly blamed Turkey for the lightning push of Syrian rebels who reached Damascus from their strongholds in the northwest with little resistance.
"It should not be doubted that what happened in Syria was the product of a joint American and Zionist plot," he said.
"Yes, a neighboring government of Syria plays, played, and is playing a clear role…but the main conspirator, mastermind, and command center are in America and the Zionist regime," Khamenei added.
The U.S.-designated terrorist organization Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and its allies -- some of whom are linked with Turkey -- ousted Assad on December 8, less than two weeks after launching their offensive.
Syria under Assad served as a crucial part of a land corridor connecting Iran to the Levant, which was considered the logistical backbone of the so-called axis of resistance -- Iran's loose network of regional proxies and allies.
Iran spent billions of dollars and sent military advisers to Syria to ensure Assad remained in power when civil war broke out in 2011.
Russia -- where the ousted Syrian leader has been granted political asylum -- also backed Assad, while Turkey has supported rebel groups who aimed to topple the regime.
A Khamenei adviser once described Syria as the "golden ring" in the chain connecting Iran to its Lebanese partner, Hezbollah. With the ring broken and Hezbollah's capabilities degraded after a devastating war with Israel, experts say the axis has become severely weak.
Khamenei said only "ignorant and uninformed analysts" would assess that the axis has become weak and vowed that its reach "will expand across the region more than before."
Reza Alijani, an Iranian political analyst based in France, told RFE/RL's Radio Farda that Khamenei's comments were more "trash talk" than anything else.
"The axis may not have been defeated, but it has suffered a serious blow and the Islamic republics arms in the region have been deal major hits," he said.
Alijani argued that factions within the Islamic republic's core support base may be starting to question Khamenei's policies and vision after the recent setbacks, which he said is a cause for concern among the clerical establishment's top brass.
With reporting by Hooman Askary of RFE/RL’s Radio Farda
EU Blasts Georgian Leaders' 'Repressive' Methods As Protesters Return To Streets
TBILISI -- Pro-Europe protesters rallied on the streets of Tbilisi for the 13th consecutive night, while European Union foreign ministers warned the Georgian Dream-led government of consequences for its "democratic backslide" and "repressive" tactics against demonstrators.
Some 4,000 protesters, many waving EU and Georgian flags, gathered outside the parliament building on December 10, angered over the government’s recent decision to set aside EU accession talks until at least 2028 and following elections held amid accusations of Russian meddling.
"Every day after work, we are coming here," Sofia Japaridze, 40, told AFP. "All of Georgia, every city, every village, everybody wants [to join] the EU. We don't want to go back to the U.S.S.R."
EU foreign ministers, set for a summit on December 16, said they will discuss punishing Georgian leaders after what they described as "credible concerns" of torture the past two weeks against pro-EU protesters.
"The persistent democratic backslide and the recent repressive means used by Georgian authorities have consequences for our bilateral relations. The EU will consider additional measures," a statement said.
"Over 400 individuals have been detained and more than 300 have reportedly suffered violence and ill-treatment, many requiring urgent medical care."
It said there are "credible concerns of torture and inhuman treatment" and said reports of human rights violations must be investigated.
"The EU deplores these repressive actions against protesters, media representatives, and opposition leaders and calls for the immediate release of all detained individuals," it said.
In a draft document seen by RFE/RL ahead of a separate European Council meeting on December 19, the EU raised concerns about the government's violent crackdown on protesters and its decision to suspend the country's EU accession process until 2018.
"The European Council strongly condemns the violence against peaceful protesters,” the document reads.
“The Georgian authorities must respect the right to freedom of assembly and of expression, and refrain from using force. All acts of violence must be investigated and those responsible held accountable.”
Britain on December 9 said it was severely restricting its contacts with the Georgia government and blasted its "shocking" crackdown on journalists and pro-Western demonstrators, reflecting earlier moves by the United States and EU.
Georgia received EU candidate status in December 2023 but relations with Brussels have soured in recent months, beginning with the adoption of a controversial "foreign agent" law that critics say threatens to publicly discredit thousands of media outlets and civil society groups as "serving" outside powers.
Tensions rose after the ruling Georgian Dream party declared victory in an election on October 26 that the pro-Western opposition and Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili say was rigged with the help of Moscow.
Protests intensified after the Tbilisi government said it was suspending until 2028 talks with Brussels on Georgia's bid to join the EU.
In the Georgian capital, riot police have deployed tear gas and water cannons against mostly peaceful demonstrators over recent days, with many journalists reporting they have been targeted by security forces and men in civilian clothes.
Despite the strong words, the EU could have difficulties coming to a consensus during the summit.
Right-wing Hungarian leader Viktor Orban has expressed support for Georgia's government while condemning efforts to sanction Georgian Dream leaders over the brutal tactics.
With reporting by AFP
- By RFE/RL
U.S. Loans Ukraine $20 Billion Before Biden's Departure
WASHINGTON -- The United States on December 10 said it has loaned Ukraine $20 billion backed by the interest earned on frozen Russian assets, part of a $50 billion G7 support package agreed to this summer.
The Biden administration had promised to distribute the loan before the end of the year amid concern over whether President-elect Donald Trump would continue U.S. support for Ukraine.
Trump, who enters office on January 20, has repeatedly criticized the amount of U.S. aid to Ukraine but also said he would support a lend-lease program.
Ukraine is heavily dependent on U.S. and European military and financial aid as it seeks to stop Russia's invasion, now in its third year. The $61 billion U.S. aid package for Ukraine passed in April -- the fifth since the war started in February 2022 -- but will likely run out by early next year.
That means the $50 billion G7 loan is crucial to ensuring Ukraine has enough funds and weapons to defend itself through the first part of 2025 should Trump halt further support.
"These funds -- paid for by the windfall proceeds earned from Russia's own immobilized assets -- will provide Ukraine a critical infusion of support as it defends its country against an unprovoked war of aggression," U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said in a December 10 statement.
The G7's loans "will help ensure Ukraine has the resources it needs to sustain emergency services, hospitals, and other foundations of its brave resistance," Yellen said, adding that Washington's support would help Kyiv "defend its sovereignty and achieve a just peace."
The loan announcement follows many months of talks between the United States and its allies -- including the European Union -- about the best way to use frozen Russian assets, worth hundreds of billions of dollars, to help Ukraine without breaking international law.
The treasury said Washington had transferred $20 billion to a World Bank fund, which will make the money available to Ukraine.
Ex-Mercenary Bodyguard Of Moscow-Friendly Romanian Candidate Freed
A Romanian former mercenary and bodyguard of far-right pro-Russian presidential candidate Calin Georgescu has been released by a Romanian court after he and a group of armed associates were detained by police while heading toward Bucharest on December 8.
Horatiu Potra had been detained for 24 hours late on December 8 for violating Romania's laws on weapons and ammunition and for public incitement, but a court in the southern Romanian city of Ploiesti ordered him released and placed under judiciary control for 60 days for the duration of an investigation into the prosecutors' claims.
One of his associates, Andrei Florin Filip, 22, was also placed under judiciary control.
Prosecutor Maria Florentina Ilioiu told Romanian media she will appeal the court's decision to release Potra instead of ordering him in preventive custody.
Unnamed sources told Romanian media that investigators who searched Potra's residence found approximately 2 million euros ($2.1 million) in safes as well as weapons. Media reports said Potra owns 75 plots of land in Romania as well as 30 pieces of real estate and 15 kilograms of solid gold worth 6 million Romanian lei ($1.27 million).
Potra and a group of 20 people were stopped and searched in Ilfov county north of Bucharest by police on December 8. During the search guns, machetes, axes, and knives were found, which, authorities said, could have been used to "disrupt public order and peace."
At least 13 people were being questioned by law enforcement agencies.
The arrest came as Georgescu and dozens of his supporters staged a protest early on December 8 in Bucharest after a runoff presidential vote scheduled for that day was scrapped by the country's Constitutional Court.
Georgescu won a shock victory in the first round on November 24 amid accusations that he had been backed by a huge Russian-orchestrated online campaign using primarily the Chinese-owned TikTok social media platform.
Romania's Supreme Defense Council later declassified documents allegedly proving Georgescu's presidential bid had been aided by a campaign led by a "state actor" which was not named.
Following the council's move, the court canceled the December 8 runoff between Georgescu and pro-European center-right candidate Elena Lasconi.
Romanian authorities staged raids and traffic checkpoints after Georgescu urged his supporters to show up at polling stations on December 8 in defiance of the court's ruling and demand to vote.
Media reports said Potra and his companions had booked hotels in downtown Bucharest close to University Square, where anti-Georgescu protesters had gathered in previous days.
A former fighter in France's Foreign Legion, Potra is reported to have led a 900-strong contingent of Romanian military contractors who fought in the African country of Congo.
He is said to have had ties to Russian mercenary group Wagner, which fought in Ukraine and was established by the late Yevgeny Prigozhin, a close associate of Russian President Vladimir Putin, who died in a plane crash last year after staging a short-lived revolt against Russian military leaders.
Potra, who has denied having any links to Wagner, appears in a photo last year in the company of Russian Ambassador to Romania Valery Kuzmin at a ceremony at the embassy marking Russia's national day.
According to Romanian media, Potra was sentenced to two years in prison with a suspended sentence in 2011 after being found guilty of founding a paramilitary group. He has also entered Romanian politics and is currently a local councilor in the central Romanian city of Medias.
Lukashenka Reveals Plans For Russian Oreshnik Missile Deployment In Belarus
Belarus's authoritarian ruler Alyaksandr Lukashenka said "several dozen" Russian nuclear warheads are now deployed in his country and that about 30 sites are being considered as potential locations for Oreshnik missile systems, which were recently combat-tested in a massive strike on Ukraine.
Lukashenka made the comments on December 10 when visiting the Belarusian city of Barysau. They come four days after Russian President Vladimir Putin said Oreshnik missile systems would be deployed in Belarus in parallel with their introduction into Russia's Strategic Missile Forces.
Putin said the deployment of Oreshniks in Belarus could happen as soon as the second half of 2025.
"Many have said, 'It's a joke, no one has deployed anything.' Yet we did. Saying it's a joke means they have missed it. They didn't even notice how we brought
them here," the state-run news agency BelTA quoted Lukashenka as saying about Russian tactical nuclear warheads inside Belarus.
The developments open a new phase in the military strategy and development of relations between Russia and Belarus. They also underscore a further deepening of military integration between the two countries and Russia's increasing military footprint in Eastern Europe.
The Oreshnik missile was launched for the first time by Russia last month during an attack against Ukraine's city of Dnipro.
Putin has said it is part of Moscow's response to Ukrainian attacks on Russian soil with U.S.-supplied Army Tactical Missile Systems, known as ATACMS, and British-supplied Storm Shadow missiles.
The specific technical details of the Oreshnik remain classified, but it is reportedly designed to increase the survivability and effectiveness of Russia's nuclear arsenal, particularly in the context of evolving global security challenges.
Lukashenka, Putin's closest ally since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, has allowed his neighbor to use Belarusian territory as a staging area for the aggression.
Belarus's growing military integration with Russia started to gain momentum in the early 2010s.
That alliance was institutionalized between the two countries in the 1990s through the Union State agreement and one that has only grown deeper since Russia annexed Crimea in 2014 and the outbreak of Moscow's invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
With Belarusian soil a base for Russian missiles, the strategic value of Belarus has become even more pronounced.
The country borders NATO member states, including Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland, making it a crucial spot for Russian military deployments, especially given the heightened tensions with the West over Russia's full-scale aggression against Ukraine.
Lukashenka also suggested, without providing evidence, that Belarus would retain control over the selection of targets the Oreshniks would hit.
"The targets will be determined by us in Belarus, not by the Russians," he said but underlined that the two sides would collaborate in the event of military need.
With reporting by BelTA
Ukraine Denies Reports Of Russian Breakthrough In Sumy Region
Ukraine has rejected reports of a Russian breakthrough into the northeastern region of Sumy, characterizing them as part of Moscow's disinformation campaign while Russia again struck civilian areas in the northeast and south.
Social media reports with a link to the DeepState open-source intelligence resource alleged on December 10 that Russian troops had entered Myropillya in the Sumy region from the Kursk region through the border village of Oleksandria.
"Currently, there is no information from the military about a change in the situation on the border. The situation is under control," regional Governor Volodymyr Artyukh said on Telegram.
The reports come as Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, a vocal supporter of Kyiv in its battle against Russia's full-scale invasion, said peace talks could start "in the winter," as Warsaw prepares to assume the European Union's rotating presidency on January 1.
"Our presidency will have, among others, joint responsibility for the shape of the political landscape, for what the situation will look like probably during the negotiations that, perhaps -- there are still question marks here -- will begin in the winter of this year," Tusk said.
Meanwhile, Ukraine's border service spokesman Andriy Demchenko told KYIV24 television that the information about the alleged breach of the border in Sumy region by Russian forces was false.
"Ukrainian border units did not record any attempts to enter or any attempts at opening hostilities," Demchenko said, adding it would be difficult for Russian forces to cross through the swampy area in the border region.
In the Kherson region, a 74-year-old woman was killed and several other people were wounded in a Russian drone strike in the village of Odradokamyanka.
Separately, Russian troops launched two missile strikes at the city of Zlatopil in the Kharkiv region, wounding 10 people, eight of whom were women, regional Governor Oleh Synyehubov said on Telegram.
Russia's Defense Ministry claimed on December 10 that it had captured the village of Zhovte near the Ukrainian-held supply hub of Pokrovsk in the eastern region of Donetsk. Ukraine has not commented on the Russian claim, which could not be independently confirmed.
Both Ukraine and Russia have been seeking to strengthen their negotiating position ahead of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump beginning his second term in January.
Trump's claim that he would stop the nearly three-year war in "24 hours" once in the White House has raised alarm in Kyiv that it will be pushed to cede large swaths of territory in exchange for peace.
Trump on December 9 hosted Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who has echoed many of his Russian-friendly comments. The Hungarian leader has called for peace talks and has opposed military aid to Kyiv and related sanctions against Moscow.
Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB), meanwhile, said on December 10 that it had detained a dual Russian-German citizen on suspicion of preparing an act of sabotage on a railroad in Nizhny Novgorod.
Ukrainian officials have not commented on the Russian claim.
Western officials have accused Russia of detaining foreign nationals and dual citizens for politically motivated reasons, saying such individuals are being arrested to be used as bargaining chips in future prisoner swaps.
In addition, human rights groups say nearly 900 Russians have been convicted of treason, espionage, or collaboration with foreign governments since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
- By RFE/RL
Outside Powers Move To Protect Interests In Syria As Rebel-Backed Interim PM Named
Syria's interim prime minister took power with the support of the rebels who ousted President Bashar al-Assad as outside powers -- including Russia, Turkey, the United States, and Israel -- maneuvered to protect their geopolitical interests in the war-torn Middle East nation.
In an address on recently captured state TV, Muhammad al-Bashir said he would lead Syria's interim authority through March 1 as the new rulers, led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) militants, looked to solidify control after deposing Assad over the weekend.
Little-known Bashir, born in Idlib Province in 1982 and an engineering graduate, had once worked for Syria's state gas entity and has served as head of the rebel's so-called Salvation Government for the past year.
HTS has been designated a terrorist group by the United States and the European Union. In recent years, the group severed ties with Al-Qaeda and sought to remake itself as a pragmatic alternative to the Syrian government, although Western powers and rights groups remain cautious.
Meanwhile, Sergei Ryabkov, Russia's deputy foreign minister, on December 10 told NBC News that Moscow is providing sanctuary to Assad after transporting him there "in the most secure way possible." He didn't provide further details.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters in Moscow on December 9 that President Vladimir Putin made the decision personally to grant asylum to Assad and his family.
Earlier on December 10, loud explosions were heard amid reports Israel has been systematically striking Syrian military installations following the ouster of Assad’s brutal regime.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz confirmed that the military had struck several Syrian sites and had hit its naval vessels in overnight strikes.
"The [military] has been operating in Syria in recent days to strike and destroy strategic capabilities that threaten the State of Israel. The navy operated last night to destroy the Syrian fleet with great success," Katz said.
Katz said Israel’s military has been ordered to create a weapons-free zone in southern Syria "to prevent the establishment and organization of terrorism] in the country.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based war monitor, said Israel had "destroyed the most important military sites in Syria," including “airports and their warehouses, aircraft squadrons, radars, military signal stations, and many weapons and ammunition depots in various locations in most Syrian governorates."
The reports came as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel is "transforming the face of the Middle East" and defeating its enemies "step by step" in what he called an "existential war that has been imposed upon us."
Netanyahu said Assad's regime had been a "central element of Iran's axis of evil," accusing it of facilitating a "weapons pipeline" between Iran and the Lebanon's Hezbollah militia, which has been declared a terrorist organization by the United States. Israel has launched a monthslong air campaign in Lebanon against Hezbollah.
Washington has also conducted some 75 air strikes on Islamic State (IS) militants, who still have a presence in Syria, in recent days to prevent the group from taking advantage of the turmoil that followed Assad's fall.
"You can expect that kind of activity will continue. We don't want to give [IS] an opportunity to exploit what is going on," White House national-security spokesman John Kirby said on December 10.
The United States has about 900 troops in Syria as part of its decade-long fight against IS.
"[IS] will try to use this period to reestablish its capabilities, to create safe havens," U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on December 9. "As our precision strikes over the weekend demonstrate, we are determined not to let that happen."
Washington said it is seeking ways to engage with Syrian rebel groups and is reaching out to partners in the region, including Turkey, to initiate informal contacts.
"We have the ability to communicate with the opposition groups, and we'll continue to do that," Kirby said in his briefing.
The Syrian Observatory also said IS militants killed at least 54 government soldiers who were fleeing advancing rebels "during the collapse of the regime" in the Sukhna area of Homs Province. The report could not immediately be verified.
Meanwhile, satellite imagery by Planet Labs showed Russian naval ships have left their Syrian base at Tartus, with some dropping anchor offshore.
Imagery showed at least three vessels -- including two guided missile frigates -- some 13 kilometers off the coast.
Russia has an estimated 7,500 troops and multiple military sites in Syria, including an air base at Hmeimim along with the strategic naval facilities at Tartus, which are also used to support the Kremlin's actions in North and sub-Saharan Africa.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, whose government has ties to many of the rebel groups involved in the takeover, said Ankara will act against anyone seeking to compromise its Syrian territory.
"From now on, we cannot allow Syria to be divided again.... Any attack on the freedom of the Syrian people, the stability of the new administration, and the integrity of its lands will find us standing against it," he said.
Turkey has claimed U.S.-backed Syrian-Kurdish fighters in northeast Syria to be "terrorists" linked to the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which has been designated as a terrorist group by Ankara, as well as by Washington.
Tehran, which was also a long-standing backer of Assad, on December 10 said some 4,000 Iranian citizens have left Syria over the past three days. Iranian proxies are thought to have multiple military sites inside Syria, some of which have been hit by Israeli air attacks, but the government has so far been relatively muted in its response to Assad's fall.
On December 9, the UN Security Council held a closed-door meeting on the situation in Syria called by Russia, which together with Iran, has been a main backer of Assad's regime.
"The Council, I think, was more or less united on the need to preserve the territorial integrity and unity of Syria, to ensure the protection of civilians, to ensure that humanitarian aid is coming to the population in need," said Russia's UN ambassador, Vasily Nebenzya, in a statement released after the meeting.
The HTS-led rebels announced on December 9 that they were granting amnesty to all military personnel conscripted during Assad's rule, which began in 2000 following the death of his father, Hafez al-Assad, who had seized power in 1970.
Ahmad al-Sharaa, 42, previously known by the nom de guerre Abu Muhammad al-Jolani, has become the public face of HTS, which itself was formerly known as the Al Nusra Front, among other names.
Several European states on December 9 announced they were suspending the granting of asylum requests from Syrians as they awaited developments.
The flood of Syrian refugees during the country's 14-year civil war has often been used by far-right politicians in Europe to inflame passions and bolster their support among voters.
The EU has urged a peaceful political transition in Syria, saying that "it is imperative that all stakeholders engage in an inclusive, Syrian-led and Syrian-owned dialogue on all key issues."
But EU spokesman Anouar El Anouni said the bloc was "not currently engaging with HTS or its leaders, full stop."
The Syrian civil war began after Assad's regime unleashed a brutal crackdown in March 2011 against peaceful demonstrators inspired by the wave of protests known as the Arab Spring that were sweeping the Middle East at the time.
Beginning in 2015, Russia intervened in the civil war on Assad's side, unleashing a massive bombing campaign against the rebel groups, including Islamist militants, causing numerous civilian casualties and prompting tens of thousands to flee.
The fall of the Assad regime marks a major geopolitical setback for the Kremlin, which, along with Iran, has propped up his government, experts say.
With reporting by AP, AFP, and dpa
Belarus Issues New Pardons, But Hundreds Of Political Prisoners Remain
Belarus's authoritarian ruler, Alyaksandr Lukashenka, announced the pardon of 29 political prisoners, even as crackdowns on dissent intensify ahead of the January presidential election and while many hundreds of similar detainees remain behind bars.
The Belarusian presidential administration did not disclose the names of those freed, but it said 11 women and 18 men were involved and that more than half of them had disabilities and chronic illnesses.
"All of those released repented for their actions and appealed to the head of state to be pardoned," the official statement claimed.
"Among them six are under 25 years old, three are pensioners, two are disabled, and 15 have chronic diseases," it said.
It added that the Interior Ministry "will keep tabs on the pardoned to make sure they do not break the law again.”
Some Belarusians released in previous pardons reported being harassed by government security personnel.
It was not immediately clear if the list of those pardoned contained any prominent activists, many of whom are being held in reportedly cruel conditions without access to legal representation.
The Crisis In Belarus
Read our coverage as Belarusian strongman Alyaksandr Lukashenka continues his brutal crackdown on NGOs, activists, and independent media following the August 2020 presidential election.
This marks the seventh instance of political prisoner pardons in Belarus this year, bringing the total number of individuals set free to 178.
Pavel Sapelka of the Vyasna human rights monitor was quoted by AP as saying, "Lukashenka is sending contradictory signals to the West, with twice as many people put in prison as have been pardoned."
"Repression in Belarus is still growing," Sapelka said.
The latest pardons come in the context of a harsh crackdown on dissent following the mass protests in Belarus in 2020, sparked by contested presidential election results. Lukashenka responded to the demonstrations with widespread repression, forcing at least 13,000 people into exile.
Lukashenka, a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, is widely expected to be declared the winner in next year’s presidential election.
According to human rights organizations, approximately 1,300 political prisoners remain in Belarusian jails, including politicians, journalists, human rights advocates, and civic activists.
With reporting by AP
- By RFE/RL
EU Leaders Set To Praise Moldova, Condemn Georgia
European Union leaders are set to praise accession candidate Moldova's "successful" presidential election and vow to continuing working with country, while they plan to express "serious concerns" about recent developments in Georgia amid a violent government crackdown on dissent.
The leaders also plan to reaffirm their support for Kyiv and underline the "principle that no initiative regarding Ukraine be taken without Ukraine," according to a draft document seen by RFE/RL ahead of a December 19 summit.
The document is an early draft and changes are still possible before the Brussels gathering occurs.
"The European Council commends the authorities of the Republic of Moldova for the successful conduct of the presidential elections and of the referendum on enshrining EU accession in the constitution," the document stated, while blasting the "hybrid attempts to undermine the country's democratic institutions."
Moldova's pro-Western president, Maia Sandu, on November 3 defeated Russian-friendly opponent Alexandr Stoianoglo in a runoff vote marred by accusations of Russian interference and voter fraud.
At the same time, voters also passed by a narrow margin a referendum reaffirming the country's goals of closer EU integration.
Conversely, the EU leaders raise concerns about the Georgian Dream-led government's violent crackdown on protesters and its decision to suspend the country's EU accession process until 2018.
"The European Council strongly condemns the violence against peaceful protesters. The Georgian authorities must respect the right to freedom of assembly and of expression, and refrain from using force. All acts of violence must be investigated and those responsible held accountable," the document reads.
"The European Council underlines the union's readiness to support the Georgian people's European aspirations," it added.
Georgia received EU candidate status in December 2023 but relations with Brussels have soured in recent months, beginning with the adoption of a controversial "foreign agent" law, which critics say threatens to publicly discredit thousands of media outlets and civil society groups as "serving" outside powers.
On Ukraine, the draft document stated that "the European Council reiterates its resolute condemnation of Russia's war of aggression" against the country.
It also reconfirmed the EU's "unwavering commitment to providing continued political, financial, economic, humanitarian, military, and diplomatic support to Ukraine and its people for as long as it takes and as intensely as needed. Russia must not prevail."
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has urged both the EU and NATO to speed up the process for Kyiv to join the organizations, saying it would help ensure the country's sovereignty in the face of Russia's full-scale invasion.
Britain Restricts Contact With Georgia, Slams Crackdown On Journalists, Protesters
Britain has said it is severely restricting its contacts with the Georgia government and blasted its "shocking" crackdown on journalists and pro-Western demonstrators, reflecting earlier moves by the United States and European Union.
Foreign Secretary David Lammy on December 9 said the "shocking scenes of violence toward protesters and journalists by the Georgian authorities are unacceptable and must stop."
"In light of ongoing events, the U.K. will immediately suspend all program support to the Georgian government, restrict defense cooperation, and limit engagement with representatives of Georgian Dream government until there is a halt to this move away from European democratic norms and freedoms."
Rustaveli: Georgia’s Road Of Protest
Tensions have been high in Georgia since the ruling Georgian Dream party won an election on October 26 that the pro-Western opposition and Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili say was rigged with the help of Moscow.
Protests intensified after the Tbilisi government said it was suspending until 2028 talks with Brussels on Georgia's bid to join the European Union.
Protesters gathered again late on December 9 for the 12th consecutive night of rallies in the capital, with many calling for a rerun of the October election, the release of those arrested during previous demonstrations, and the resumption of EU membership talks.
The U.S. Embassy in Tbilisi on December 9 urged that those "responsible for the brutal and unjustified violence -- including against protesters, members of the media, and opposition figures -- must be held to account."
"Those detained for exercising their human rights to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression must be released immediately."
The United States on December 4 urged the government to treat protesters with dignity after several days of a brutal crackdown in Tbilisi and accusation of excessive use of force and even torture by riot police.
"In addition to continuing our previously announced comprehensive review of bilateral cooperation, the United States is now preparing to use the tools at our disposal, including additional sanctions," the U.S. State Department said.
This summer, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Washington was pausing more than $95 million in assistance to the Georgian government, due to its "anti-democratic actions and false statements" that were "incompatible with membership norms in the EU and NATO."
In October, the EU reiterated "its serious concern regarding the course of action in Georgia which runs contrary to the values and principles upon which the European Union is founded."
Zurabishvili, a fervent critic of the ruling Georgian Dream party, condemned the "brutal and disproportionate attacks on the Georgian people and media," comparing the crackdown to "Russian-style repression."
Despite the growing protests, Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze has refused to back down and threatened to punish political opponents, whom he accuses of being behind violence that has occurred at the protests.
According to surveys, a majority of Georgians support EU membership, and efforts to join the bloc are mandated in the Georgian Constitution.
Georgia received EU candidate status in December 2023, but relations with Brussels have soured in recent months, beginning with the adoption of a Russian-style "foreign agent" law that critics say threatens media and civil society groups by accusing them of "serving" outside powers.
Zelenskiy Floats Option Of Foreign Troops In Ukraine Until NATO Membership
KYIV -- President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said he would consider the temporary deployment of foreign military forces on Ukrainian soil until full NATO membership as a way of securing his country as part of peace settlement with Russia.
Speaking on December 9 at a joint news conference in Kyiv with German opposition leader Friedrich Merz, Zelenskiy said Ukraine's security needed to not only include NATO membership, but ultimately European Union accession as well, to ward off future aggression by Moscow.
"A contingent of military forces from one country or another could stay in Ukraine until it becomes a NATO member," he said in a sign of Kyiv's growing openness to finding a diplomatic solution to Russia's nearly three-year-long assault.
The proposal echoes discussions earlier this year when French President Emmanuel Macron called for the deployment of European forces in Ukraine.
While Zelenskiy recognized that consultations on the issue are ongoing, he said giving Ukraine absolute security guarantees was important.
"Ukraine wants this war to end more than anyone else. No doubt, a diplomatic resolution would save more lives. We do seek it," he said.
"If there is a pause while Ukraine is not in NATO, and even if we had the invitation, and we would not be in NATO, and there will be a pause, then who guarantees us any kind of security?" Zelenskiy added.
Zelenskiy said in a post later on Telegram that he plans to call U.S. President Joe Biden and discuss the issue of NATO membership.
Since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Kyiv has been advocating for more substantial security commitments from its Western allies.
Russia has been making incremental gains on the battlefield in recent months and now controls nearly one-fifth of Ukrainian territory in Europe's biggest conflict since World War II.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has said several times that principles on which the two countries reached tentative agreement in Istanbul weeks into the full-scale war could serve as the basis for future peace talks.
Putin has also said Kyiv must cede large swaths of land that Russia baselessly claims as its own but that remain under Ukrainian control.
However, Moscow's resistance to NATO admitting Ukraine into the military alliance remains a significant barrier, with Russia viewing it as a direct threat to its security.
Zelenskiy's appeal for NATO membership comes at a time of increasing international debate about the alliance's "open-door" policy, which allows countries to join provided they meet certain criteria.
It also comes as former U.S. President Donald Trump prepares to take office next month.
While the Biden administration has Trump, who will take office on January 20, has criticized the tens of billions of dollars the United States has poured into Ukraine since Russia launched its invasion.
He has claimed he could end the war within 24 hours of retaking the White House, a statement that has been interpreted as meaning that Ukraine would have to surrender territory that Russia now occupies.
Experts say it will be difficult to hammer out a peace deal quickly because there are so many aspects, including security guarantees for Ukraine and sanctions relief for Russia.
In the meantime, the outgoing Biden administration has been accelerating weapons shipments to Ukraine ahead of the transfer of power.
Ukraine Invasion: News & Analysis
RFE/RL's Ukraine Live Briefing gives you the latest developments on Russia's invasion, Western military aid, the plight of civilians, and territorial control maps. For all of RFE/RL's coverage of the war, click here.
Trump held talks with Zelenskiy and Macron in Paris on December 7 to discuss the war. Zelenskiy called the trilateral talks "good and productive" and said the leaders discussed the potential for "a just peace."
In his first television interview since winning the election in November, Trump told the NBC News program Meet The Press that Ukraine should "probably" prepare to receive less aid from Washington once he takes power.
Meanwhile, Zelenskiy spokesman Serhiy Nykyforov said on December 9 that Kyiv was strategically preparing for a key diplomatic meeting with its European allies later this month.
According to the statement, the gathering's purpose is to coordinate a unified position among Kyiv's key partners and ensure Ukraine is in a strong negotiating position for any future peace talks and on the battlefield.
Nykyforov emphasized that the final list of participants was still being finalized. Still, the meeting is expected to include representatives from key European states that have supported Ukraine in its efforts to repel Russia's invasion.
While the exact details of the meeting's agenda are not yet clear, it is expected to focus on further strengthening military aid, ensuring financial support, and coordinating strategies for both current military operations and any future diplomatic efforts aimed at ending the conflict.
In a separate development, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal announced on December 9 that the EU Council had approved a new payment of $4.4 billion to Ukraine. This is part of a larger initiative set to bring the total financial support from the EU to Ukraine to 16 billion euros ($17 billion) for this year alone.
"This financial support reveals the real determination of the EU for strengthening our economy, supporting key reforms, and bolstering the European integration pretensions of Ukraine," he said.
"It is one of the important steps towards strengthening Ukraine on its way to victory."
The funds are earmarked for postwar reconstruction and modernization and to aid reforms in Ukraine as it follows a path to EU accession.
With reporting by Dilova Stolytsya and TrueUA
'We Have Been Poisoned': Kazakhstan's Oil Boom Led To The End Of A Local Community
The processing of rich oil fields in Kazakhstan has produced a windfall that was hoped to benefit millions of lives in the poverty-stricken country. Instead, a handful have become wildly rich and powerful while villagers near extraction plants are getting sick, blaming toxic pollution. RFE/RL has teamed with the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists and a host of other media to report on the human cost of Kazakhstan's booming oil industry.
Ex-Warden Of Donetsk Prison Reportedly Killed In Car Bombing
A car bomb in Ukraine's Russian-occupied eastern region of Donetsk has reportedly killed the head of a prison where dozens of Ukrainian soldiers captured by Russian forces were killed in 2022.
According to unconfirmed social media reports, Sergei Yevsyukov was killed and his wife seriously injured when their car exploded in the Russian-occupied town of Olenivka on December 9.
The reports said Yevsyukov died on the spot while his wife was severely injured and taken to hospital in serious condition.
No one has claimed responsibility for the car bombing.
Yevsyukov was the warden when the prison in Olenivka made headlines in July 2022 when more than 50 Ukrainian soldiers held there were killed in a missile strike. Another 150 people were injured in the explosion.
Russia accused Kyiv of killing its own soldiers in Russian captivity by striking the prison with U.S.-provided HIMARS missiles. Ukraine rejected Russia's claims, insisting Moscow was responsible for the deadly attack.
UN experts conducted an investigation and subsequently rejected the Russian version of the presence of HIMARS in the attack.
A July 2024 report by the UN also accused Russia of subjecting Ukrainian prisoners of war to "deplorable conditions of detention."
In 2023, Ukrainian authorities charged Yevsyukov in absentia with the "mass torture of Ukrainian soldiers" held in the penitentiary.
In July this year, Ukraine additionally charged Yevsyukov with failure to provide captured Ukrainian soldiers with timely medical assistance.
Yevsyukov, a former Ukrainian police officer, joined Russian-backed separatist forces fighting against Ukrainian soldiers in the Donetsk region in 2014.
Russian military personnel and Russian-installed officials have been targeted several times in Ukraine's Russia-occupied territories. In many cases, the attacks have been deadly.
Ukrainian officials usually say "guerilla forces" are behind such attacks. Russia accuses Ukraine's secret services of masterminding and implementing the attacks.
Bodyguard Of Moscow-Friendly Romanian Candidate Detained For 24 Hours
A Romanian former mercenary and bodyguard of far-right pro-Russian presidential candidate Calin Georgescu has been ordered to remain in custody for 24 hours after he and a group of armed associates were detained by police while heading toward Bucharest on December 8.
Authorities said Horatiu Potra was ordered to be held in custody late on December 8 for violating Romania's laws on weapons and ammunition and for public incitement. His lawyers said the order did not mention Potra's links with Georgescu.
"He is currently under arrest for 24 hours and the law says that before that term expires, authorities can decide to either continue to hold him in preventive custody, place him under judicial control, or simply release him," Potra's lawyer, Christiana Mondea, told the media.
Vehicles carrying Potra and a group of 20 people were stopped and searched in Ilfov county north of Bucharest by police. During the search guns, machetes, axes, and knives were found, which, authorities said, could have been used to "disrupt public order and peace."
At least 13 people were being questioned by law enforcement agencies.
The arrest came as Georgescu and dozens of his supporters staged a protest early on December 8 in Bucharest after a runoff presidential vote scheduled for that day was scrapped by the country's Constitutional Court.
Georgescu won a shock victory in the first round on November 24 amid accusations that he had been backed by a huge Russia-orchestrated online campaign using primarily the Chinese-owned TikTok social media platform.
Romania's Supreme Defense Council later declassified documents allegedly proving Georgescu's presidential bid had been aided by a campaign led by a "state actor" which was not named.
Following the council's move, the court canceled the December 8 runoff between Georgescu and pro-European center-right candidate Elena Lasconi.
Romanian authorities staged raids and traffic checkpoints after Georgescu urged his supporters to show up at polling stations on December 8 in defiance of the court's ruling and demand to vote.
Media reports said Potra and his companions had booked hotels in downtown Bucharest close to University Square, where anti-Georgescu protesters had gathered in previous days.
Georgescu early on December 8 told his supporters in Mogosoaia, just outside the capital, "I came only with flowers and prayer."
"I am not calling on anyone to do anything. It is a moment of silence," he added.
Potra, a former fighter in France's Foreign Legion, is reported to have led a 900-strong contingent of Romanian military contractors who fought in the African country of Congo.
He is said to have had ties to Russian mercenary group Wagner, which fought in Ukraine and was established by the late Yevgeny Prigozhin, a close associate of Russian President Vladimir Putin, who died in a plane crash last year after staging a short-lived revolt against Russian military leaders.
Potra, who has denied having any links to Wagner, appears in a photo last year in the company of Russian Ambassador to Romania Valery Kuzmin at a ceremony at the embassy marking Russia's national day.
According to Romanian media, Potra was sentenced to two years in prison with a suspended sentence in 2011 after being found guilty of founding a paramilitary group.
On December 9, new information surfaced about a coordinated malign cyber campaign to influence Romania's elections.
Leading Finnish software and methodologies company Check First on December 9 published a research note that says tech giant Meta allowed a network of 4,140 Facebook pages to post messages attacking Lasconi and promoting Georgescu reaching an audience of 160 million in violation of Meta's advertising policies.
These attacks, with a budget ranging from $176,000 to $ 280,000, repeatedly violated Meta's advertising policies and collectively reached some 160 million people.
Check First worked with Reset Tech -- an NGO engaged in programmatic work on technology and democracy -- and independent Romanian journalists Luiza Vasiliu and Victor Ilie during the research.
With Assad In Russia, Syria's Former Rebels Seek Stability Out Of Chaos
With ousted Syrian President Bashar al-Assad somewhere in Russia, the new de facto rulers in Damascus have begun efforts to stabilize the situation as a wary global community awaited developments with caution.
The rebels, led by the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) Islamist militant group, announced on December 9 that they were granting amnesty to all military personnel conscripted during Assad's rule, which began in 2000 following the death of his father, Hafez al-Assad, who had seized power in 1970.
Syrian Prime Minister Muhammad Ghazi al-Jalali -- who has remained at his post and vowed to cooperate with the new rulers -- said most cabinet ministers were still in their offices. Jalali met earlier with the new leaders, according to a rebel statement.
"We are working so that the transitional period is quick and smooth," he said in comments to Sky News Arabia TV.
Reports out of the rebel camp said veteran politician Muhammad al-Bashir has been chosen to lead the transitional government. He has been serving as head of HTS's so-called Syrian Salvation Government for the past year.
Meanwhile, the UN Security Council is set to convene for an emergency session on the situation in Syria on December 9 following the ouster of Assad, who fled to Russia with his family as rebel troops bore down on Damascus.
The emergency session -- called by long-standing Assad-backer Russia -- will be held behind closed doors as world and regional powers call for stability in the civil war-wracked Middle Eastern country.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters in Moscow on December 9 that while President Vladimir Putin made the decision personally to grant asylum to Assad and his family, there was no obligation to give any further details
"I have nothing to tell you about the whereabouts of Assad," Peskov added.
The TASS news agency quoted an official at the Syrian Embassy in Moscow as saying Assad was in the Russian capital. The report has not been confirmed.
Air strikes could be heard in Damascus early on December 9, according to media reports, although it was not immediately clear who conducted the strikes.
Earlier, Reuters reported that Israel had conducted three air strikes on the Syrian capital on December 8.
In Damascus and other Syrian cities, people took to the streets to celebrate Assad's ouster, pulling down statues, and ransacking government buildings and Assad's residence.
Social-media footage showed crowds of men entering the presidential place in Damascus, with reports of looting.
The HTS-led rebels said in a statement aired on state TV that Damascus was "now free of Assad," whose family had ruled the country with an iron fist since 1971.
HTS has been designated a terrorist group by the United States and European Union. In recent years, the group severed ties with Al-Qaeda and sought to remake itself as a pragmatic alternative to the Syrian government.
But some rights groups and Western governments say questions remain over its alleged rights abuses and ties to terrorist groups.
HTS leader Abu Muhammad al-Jolani has sought to reassure Shi'ite Alawites and other Syrian minorities, including Christians, that he will not discriminate against minorities.
Hagop Khatcharian, an Armenian living in Damascus, told RFE/RL that the "situation is calm now."
"I am always in touch with local Armenians; they are safe, and there is no issue. There hasn't been any significant trouble yet, but there is uncertainty about what the future holds," he said, adding that he remained wary of promises by the new leaders that no harm will come to minorities.
In Washington, President Joe Biden said the United States "will engage with all Syrian groups" as the country transitions to a post-Assad government.
"Assad should be held accountable," Biden said, but cautioned that some of the rebel groups that helped overthrow Assad "have their own grim record" of human rights abuses even though they have been "saying the right things" in recent days.
He said the United States will be closely watching the activities of the Islamic State (IS) extremist group, which could seek to use the power vacuum to again establish rule in Syria.
EU spokesman Anouar El Anouni said the bloc was "not currently engaging with HTS or its leaders, full stop."
He said that, despite some hopeful words from the rebel groups, the EU would reserve judgment for now. "As HTS takes on greater responsibilities, we will need to assess not just their words but also their actions," he said.
The EU earlier urged a peaceful political transition in Syria, saying that "it is imperative that all stakeholders engage in an inclusive, Syrian-led and Syrian-owned dialogue on all key issues."
In a joint statement, France and Germany said they were conditionally ready to work with the new leaders.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and French President Emmanuel Macron "agreed that they were ready to cooperate with the new leadership on the basis of fundamental human rights and the protection of ethnic and religious minorities," Berlin said in a statement.
NATO chief Mark Rutte was also cautious as he called for a peaceful transition and an inclusive political process in Syria.
"This is a moment of joy but also uncertainty for the people of Syria and the region. We hope for a peaceful transition of power and an inclusive Syrian-led political process," said Rutte, who blamed Assad's main backers -- Russia and Iran -- for the long crisis and civil war in the country.
Several European states on December 9 announced they were suspending the granting of asylum requests from Syrians as they awaited developments.
The flood of Syrian refugees during the country's 14-year civil war has been blasted by far-right politicians in Europe and used by many to bolster their support among voters.
Among the countries announcing suspensions were Germany, Britain, France, Austria, Sweden, Norway, and Denmark.
The German Interior Ministry said 974,136 people with Syrian nationality were living in the country, with 5,090 having been recognized as eligible for asylum, 321,444 granted refugee status, and 329,242 granted temporary protection.
The Syrian civil war began after Assad's regime unleashed a brutal crackdown in March 2011 against peaceful demonstrators inspired by the wave of protests known as the Arab Spring that were sweeping the Middle East at the time.
Beginning in 2015, Russia intervened in the civil war on Assad's side, unleashing a massive bombing campaign against the rebel groups, including Islamist militants, causing numerous civilian casualties and prompting tens of thousands to flee.
The fall of the Assad regime marks a major geopolitical setback for the Kremlin, which, along with Iran, has propped up his government, experts say.
Biden said Russia had been weakened by the nearly three-year war in Ukraine while Iran's proxies in the region have been crushed by Israel.
Besides Russia, Assad has relied on Iran and its Hezbollah proxies to remain in power since the conflict erupted in 2011. Iran's Foreign Ministry said it expects "friendly" relations with Syria to continue and it would take "appropriate approaches" toward Damascus.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called Assad's fall "a direct result of the blows we have inflicted on Iran and Hezbollah."
He hailed Assad's overthrow as the fall of a "central link in Iran's axis of evil."
Israel has launched a monthslong air campaign in Lebanon against Hezbollah, which has been designated a terrorist organization by the United States.
Russia has an estimated 7,500 troops and multiple military sites in Syria, including an air base at Hmeimim and strategic naval facilities at Tartus, which are also used to support the Kremlin's actions in North and sub-Saharan Africa.
Ruslan Suleymanov, a Russian expert on the Middle East, told RFE/RL that Moscow would "cooperate with the rebels" if they take power in Damascus and that HTS too had "claimed previously that it was ready to negotiate" with the Kremlin.
"Putin wants to save his military presence in the region. In any case, to do that, he has to make concessions -- both to jihadists and to [Turkish President Recep Tayyip] Erdogan, who supports [the rebels]," Suleymanov said.
The United States said it will maintain its presence in eastern Syria and will take measures necessary to prevent a resurgence of IS in the region. The United States has about 900 soldiers in Syria.
Tom Fletcher, head of the UN humanitarian aid agency, warned about the plight of the millions of Syrians displaced by nearly 14 years of civil war. Now many more are in danger, Fletcher said.
"We will respond wherever, whenever, however we can, to support people in need, including reception centers -- food, water, fuel, tents, blankets," he said.
Human Rights Watch (HRW), meanwhile, cautioned that the armed groups that ousted Assad should ensure humane treatment for all Syrians.
"The fall of Bashar al-Assad's government offers Syrians an unprecedented opportunity to chart a new future built on justice, accountability, and respect for human rights," HRW said in a statement.
Amnesty International also called the end of the Assad regime "a historic opportunity to end and redress decades of grave human rights violations" in Syria.
With reporting by AP, Reuters, AFP, and dpa
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