Georgia: President accuses Moscow and calls for protests against ‘sham vote’

Today's news: New protests in Bangladesh, demonstrators demand President Shahabuddin's resignation; Activists raise the alarm on environment and rights over hydroelectric dam projects on the Mekong between Thailand and Laos; Hundreds of thousands of South Korean Protestants promote prayer service against recognition of rights for same-sex couples.

GEORGIA

President Salome Zourabichvili does not recognise the outcome of the vote, in which the pro-Russian ruling Georgian Dream party is said to have won. Speaking of a ‘special Russian operation’ to distance the country from Europe, she calls on the population to take to the streets tonight in Tblisi to protest against the ‘falsification of votes’. The Central Electoral Commission awarded Georgian Dream 54.8% of the votes in the vote held on 26 October.

BANGLADESH

Protests escalated in Dhaka as demonstrators demanded the resignation of President Mohammed Shahabuddin and clashed with police, who intervened in riot gear to defend the official residence. At least 30 people were injured. The discontent was triggered by the president's statements - a largely ceremonial role - according to which the former premier Sheikh Hasina never signed the resignation letter, contradicting previous statements. Words that cast doubt on Hasina's exit and delegitimise the current interim government.

THAILAND - LAOS

For the National Human Rights Commission (Nhrc), cross-border hydroelectric dam projects along the Mekong River pose a risk to the ecosystem, economy and security of the Thai community. In a letter sent to Premier Paetongtarn Shinawatra, the experts expressed their concerns, following complaints from local residents about the environment and rights.

SOUTH KOREA

Hundreds of thousands of Protestant Christians held a service yesterday to protest the recent Supreme Court ruling recognising the rights of same-sex couples to receive state health insurance. In response LGBTQ activists, Catholic and Anglican organisations criticised the demonstration for denying inclusivity, diversity and respect for human rights.

IRAN

Narges Mohammadi, a pro-human rights activist, was transferred from prison to a hospital in Tehran after more than two months of serious health problems and deprived of the right to treatment. This was reported by the 2023 Nobel Peace Prize laureate's husband, who thanked ‘the support of activist groups’ and ‘pressure from the global community and media’. She has spent several stints in prison over the past 20 years; she is now serving a 12-year sentence for ‘propaganda’.

RUSSIA

In the Siberian region of Jacuzia, relatives are unable to bring home the bodies of their loved ones who died in the fighting in Ukraine, in areas where there is a lack of bridges across rivers and lakes. At the same time, ferries have become almost impossible to take due to spiralling prices, with huge queues and boat breakdowns.

TURKEY - ARMENIA

The transport ministers of Yerevan and Ankara will meet shortly to consider the start of work to restore the Gyumri-Kars railway line. This was stated by the Armenian special representative for the normalisation of relations with Turkey, Ruben Rubinyan, with whom other reopening and connection projects, such as the Margara bridge, will be discussed.RUSS

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