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The News in Brief

Wednesday, August 7, 2024
Prepared by Messenger Staff

Amnesty International Urges Georgia to Halt Extradition of Azerbaijani Journalist

Amnesty International has called on the Georgian government to immediately terminate the extradition proceedings of Afghan Sadygov, the Azerbaijani journalist and editor-in-chief of Azel.TV. The organization raised concerns over the serious human rights risks Sadygov may face if sent back to Azerbaijan.

Denis Krivosheev, Amnesty International's deputy director for Eastern Europe and Central Asia, emphasized,

"Few doubt that extraditing him to Azerbaijan would put him at significant risk of serious human rights abuses, including torture, arbitrary detention, and an unfair trial," Krivosheev underscored that Sadygov's case is part of a wider trend aimed at silencing independent media in Azerbaijan.

Amnesty International also called on Azerbaijani authorities to cease politically motivated persecution of journalists and critics, urging the immediate release of all individuals detained for exercising their right to freedom of expression.



CDC Suspends Research Projects and Trainings in Georgia

Paata Imnadze, Deputy Director of the National Center for Disease Control and Public Health, announced that research projects and training programs funded by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have been suspended. Imnadze confirmed this in a statement to Interpressnews, addressing concerns about the halt of several ongoing projects at the National Center for Disease Control.

Imnadze explained that the Lugar Center, a key facility for disease control in Georgia, is financed by the state budget and will continue its operations. "The research projects of the US CDC have been paused, and the participation of our young specialists in CDC-funded trainings has also been suspended," he said. He added that projects funded by other agencies and private foundations will proceed as planned.