As a 28-year-old Georgian citizen who has been politically active for over eight years, and as someone who has organized, participated in, or witnessed nearly every type of protest movement in the past decade, I can confidently say that I have never seen anything like this in Georgia before.
The streets of Tbilisi are flooded daily. People are self-organizing, with various professional and community groups marching day and night. Rivers of protesters pass each other on the avenues, workers are pausing their jobs to greet one another, and the energy is electric. This unprecedented level of rejection and defiance, despite widespread intimidation, is something we have never experienced before.
This is precisely why we need strong and decisive actions from our strategic partners. We need severe financial sanctions on every member of the Georgian Dream party and their cronies. Their children and family members should no longer be allowed to continue living or studying in Europe and the United States while our freedoms are being stripped away.
The time for action is now.
#GeorgianProtests
JULIAN ASSANGE IS FREE
Julian Assange is free. He left Belmarsh maximum security prison on the morning of 24 June, after having spent 1901 days there. He was granted bail by the High Court in London and was released at Stansted airport during the afternoon, where he boarded a plane and departed the UK.
This is the result of a global campaign that spanned grass-roots organisers, press freedom campaigners, legislators and leaders from across the political spectrum, all the way to the United Nations. This created the space for a long period of negotiations with the US Department of Justice, leading to a deal that has not yet been formally finalised. We will provide more information as soon as possible.
After more than five years in a 2x3 metre cell, isolated 23 hours a day, he will soon reunite with his wife Stella Assange, and their children, who have only known their father from behind bars.
WikiLeaks published groundbreaking stories of government corruption and human rights abuses, holding the powerful accountable for their actions. As editor-in-chief, Julian paid severely for these principles, and for the people's right to know.
As he returns to Australia, we thank all who stood by us, fought for us, and remained utterly committed in the fight for his freedom.
Julian's freedom is our freedom.
[More details to follow]
The U.S. condemns the Georgian ruling party passing an anti-democratic foreign influence bill into law and moving Georgia away from the aspirations of its people.
This image is very dear to me. My grandfather was killed by Russian forces in Sukhumi - his body was never recovered. The Heroes' Square, and the Memorial to the Fallen Heroes for me closest to his grave as it can be: and now young generation of Georgians keeps the fight on.
Georgia's democracy is under threat:
- The government proposed the "Law on Agents of Foreign Influence," copying the Russian law to suppress NGOs and independent media, threaten civil liberties, and jeopardize Georgia’s European Integration.
- Over 100,000 Georgians have been protesting non-stop for 3 weeks against the “Russian Law.” Protesters face brutal violence from riot police and special forces - many have been injured, tear-gassed, beaten, and unlawfully detained.
How Your Funding Can Help:
- Legal Aid: Funds will assist with detention fines and provide legal representation for arrested activists.
- Activist Kits: Equip protesters with helmets, goggles, medical supplies, and communication tools.
- Digital Campaigns: Launch digital campaigns to educate and mobilize supporters about the importance of Georgia’s democratic advancement and EU integration.
We Need Your Support Now More Than Ever!
Your donations will help protect and empower those fighting for freedom and democracy in Georgia. Every contribution makes a difference!
🔗 https://t.co/WrbkdWJkUQ
#NoToRussianLaw
Water cannons, rubber bullets (which Ministry of Internal Affairs denied was used), tear gas, pepper spray, protesters shook the side gate of the parliament building.
Russian law that ruling party pushes is unconstitutional and drifts Georgia to Russia; Georgians won’t allow.
Incredible footage!
Every single one of these police officers is a hero. Thank you for running into danger to keep us all safe 🙏
Sadly 22% of police officers plan to resign in the next two years because of poor pay, declining mental health and low morale
The Police Federation’s said 9,200 officers left last year, with one police figure warning: "They are feeling that it’s just not worth being a police officer any more. We have never known it so bad"
The Conservative party has underfunded every service, from health, to education, to the police. If we want doctors and nurses when we are sick, teachers to educate our children, and police to keep us safe on our streets, please stop voting Conservative
okay so the plan is to force everybody to plow their entire life's earnings into real estate but then nobody can afford to have kids so when the boomers disappear like the elves with no one to replace them everybody ends up both poor and alone do i have that right mr satan sir
Today I turn 55, outside there's hailstones, rain, wind, and sunshine here in The Hague.
Thinking of T.S Eliot -
'April is the cruelest month, breeding
Lilacs out of the dead land, mixing
Memory and desire, stirring
Dull roots with spring rain'.
Things are pretty terrible in the world right now, we must all do what we can to improve the situation, where there is fecundity, there is renewal, I'm optimistic.
Very exciting to see our Europe-wide PFAS investigation, with @stephanehorel@lemondefr leading the way, now a scientific paper. Kudos to Stephane and all the brilliant journalists we @WATERSHED_i worked with across the continent. And there's more to come
https://t.co/AjCqggC6zQ
Chef José Andrés said the 7 aid workers killed by an Israeli airstrike were "targeted deliberately," and he believes the conflict in Gaza is "not a war against terrorism anymore" and instead, it's a "war against humanity itself." Israel blamed the strike on "misidentification."
I don’t accept that the strikes were the result of a ‘lack of discipline’. They were the result of systemic flaws in IDF rules of engagement whereby everyone in Gaza is viewed as a legitimate target to be killed. It’s as plain and simple as that.
We are aware of reports that members of the World Central Kitchen team have been killed in an IDF attack while working to support our humanitarian food delivery efforts in Gaza. This is a tragedy. Humanitarian aid workers and civilians should NEVER be a target. EVER.