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US votes with Russia in United Nations resolutions on Ukraine

US votes with Russia in United Nations resolutions on Ukraine

The US has twice sided with Russia in votes at the United Nations to mark the third anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, highlighting the Trump administration's change of stance on the war. First the US opposed a European-drafted resolution condemning Moscow's actions and supporting Ukraine's territorial integrity, voting the same way as Russia and countries including North Korea and Belarus at the UN General Assembly (UNGA) in New York. Then the US drafted and voted for a resolution at the UN Security Council which called for an end to the conflict but contained no criticism of Russia. The Security Council passed the resolution but two key US allies, the UK and France, abstained after their attempts to amend the wording were vetoed.
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Opinion
BBC and Turan the latest casualties in Azerbaijan's media crackdown.

BBC and Turan the latest casualties in Azerbaijan's media crackdown.

The Azerbaijani government has ordered the suspension of BBC News Azerbaijani operation in Baku whle the influential news agency Turan has been forced to drastically scale down its operations in the country. The BBC said in a statement that it had made the "reluctant decision" to close its office in the country after receiving a verbal instruction from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Mehman Aliyev, a prominent journalist and Director of Turan, announced they would be shutting down their offices due to financial problems. Turan was the last independent media outlet that still had offices inside Azerbaijan. Numerous independent journalists have been detained in Azerbaijan while Reporters Without Borders gave the country a highly negative classification on press freedom.  
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Italian Senate adopts resolution supporting Armenia-Azerbaijan peace process

Italian Senate adopts resolution supporting Armenia-Azerbaijan peace process

The Italian Senate has adopted a resolution supporting the Armenia-Azerbaijan peace process, calling on the government of Italy to strengthen its commitment for both countries to abandon the use of force in the future and maintain peaceful, constructive and open dialogue. The resolution titled ‘On Initiatives to Support the Peace Process Between Armenia and Azerbaijan’ was adopted unanimously on the 19th of February.
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News
Georgian journalist Mzia Amaglobeli ends hunger strike

Georgian journalist Mzia Amaglobeli ends hunger strike

Mzia Amoglobeli, founder of the independent Georgian outlets Netgazeti and Batumelebi, has resumed eating on the 38th day of her hunger strike. She informed her colleagues of her decision in a letter, which was read aloud by Batumelebi‘s editor-in-chief, Eteri Turadze, in the courtyard of the Vivamedi clinic. Mzia Amaglobeli is the first female journalist in Georgia to be recognized as a prisoner of conscience. She was jailed on charges of “assaulting a police officer” and faces a prison sentence of four to seven years. In letters sent from prison, she stressed that her hunger strike was a stand against injustice, not an attempt to secure better conditions for herself.
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Russia and US agree without Ukraine to press ahead on path to peace

Russia and US agree without Ukraine to press ahead on path to peace

The United States and Russia agreed in Riyadh on Tuesday to press ahead with efforts to end the war in Ukraine, a US official said, as Kyiv and its European allies watched anxiously from the sidelines and Moscow raised a major new demand. US State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said the two sides agreed to appoint "respective high-level teams to begin working on a path to ending the conflict in Ukraine as soon as possible in a way that is enduring, sustainable, and acceptable to all sides".
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Presidential election in Abkhazia goes to second round

Presidential election in Abkhazia goes to second round

A presidential election held this weekend in the breakaway Georgian region of Abkhazia produced no clear winner, setting up a second round between the top two candidates. According to Abkhazia's electoral commission acting President Badra Gunba took 46per cent of the vote, while opposition leader Adgur Ardzinba received almost 37 per cent. The Election Commission confirmed  that Gunba, Moscow’s favourite candidate, failed to cross the threshold of 50 percent. The decisive second round featuring Gunba and Ardzinba is expected to be held by March 1. The EU reiterated its support for Georgia's territorial integrity and sovereignty in a statement saying it does not recognise the constitutional and legal framework in which the "so-called presidential elections in Abkhazia" took place.
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky calls for European army

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky calls for European army

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky has called for the creation of an "army of Europe" to guard against Russia as he suggested the US may no longer come to the continent's aid. Speaking at the Munich Security Conference on Saturday, he also said that Ukraine would "never accept deals made behind our backs without our involvement" after US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed to start peace talks.
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Abkhazia holds early presidential elections that may prove decisive

Abkhazia holds early presidential elections that may prove decisive

Abkhazia, a territory that broke away from Georgia in 1993, is holding early presidential elections today following the ousting of the previous president, Aslan Bzhania, at the end of November 2024. The outcome of the elections could determine the future trajectory of the region’s foreign policy and its relationship to Moscow. Bzhamia was forced to resign after thousands of supporters of opposition leader Adgur Ardzinba forcibly occupied the presidential palace and parliament building. Ardzinba is contesting these elections with his main rival being former Vice President Badra Gunba who is supported by Moscow. According to pre-election polls, Gunba is projected to receive 42.3 percent of the vote, while Ardzinba is projected to receive just 27.3 percent of the vote. The other three candidates are Shamil Ardzinba, Oleg Bartsits, and Adgur Khurkhumal.
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European Parliament adopts resolution on Georgia, calls for sanctions and new elections

European Parliament adopts resolution on Georgia, calls for sanctions and new elections

The European Parliament adopted a resolution on Thursday regarding the political crisis in Georgia with 400 votes in favour, 63 against and 81 abstentions. The resolution called for sanctions against former Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili, his associates, government officials and media figures linked to the ruling Georgian Dream party, while urging the EU to withhold recognition of the current government and call for new elections.