Georgian government prematurely recalls Ambassador from Azerbaijan
Georgian Ambassador to Azerbaijan to End Diplomatic Mission on January 1, 2025 (updated)
The Georgian Embassy in Azerbaijan commented on Friday on a recent decree by the Georgian government regarding the dismissal of Ambassador Zurab Pataradze from his post.
"According to the order of the Georgian government, the ambassador will end his diplomatic mission in Azerbaijan on January 1, 2025, due to the expiration of the rotation period of the diplomatic service," the embassy said in a statement.
Pataradze has held the position of Georgia’s Ambassador to Azerbaijan since August 2018.
* * *
Georgian government prematurely recalls Ambassador from Azerbaijan
Georgian Ambassador to Azerbaijan Zurab Pataradze is recalled from his post ahead of schedule. The order was signed by Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze and the document was sent to President Salome Zurabishvili for approval, Georgian media reported.
According to the same sources, Pataradze's powers were due to expire on 1 January 2025, and the government did not explain the reasons for his early release.
Pataradze was appointed Georgia's Ambassador to Azerbaijan in 2018.
It has not yet been possible to get comments from the Georgian Embassy in Azerbaijan.
Politics
-
On November 15, animal rights activist Kamran Mammadli was detained while staging a protest at the COP29 climate conference. Mammadli was protesting the shooting of street dogs in Azerbaijan. He raised a sign above his head that read: "Azerbaijani authorities are shooting dogs on the streets!" He also shouted: "Resign those who teach youth to be sycophants under the guise of volunteerism!"
-
The United States has been working with Azerbaijan for a long time on energy issues and fossil fuel emissions, particularly focusing on technologies that reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and help transition to clean energy, the U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm stated at a press conference on November 15 during COP29 in Baku, in response to a question from Turan about how the U.S. can assist Azerbaijan in its transition to renewable and green energy.
-
On November 15, the Baku Appeals Court heard the complaint filed by Ulvi Hasanli, the director of the Abzas Mediapublication, against Baku's pre-trial detention center -1 detention facility and the Penitentiary Service. The complaint concerns poor conditions of detention, inhumane treatment, and restrictions on Hasanli’s rights while in custody. Representatives from both institutions failed to appear in court.
-
On November 14, a debate took place in the German Bundestag discussing the "horrific" human rights situation in Azerbaijan and COP29. Following the discussions, members of the Bundestag called on the Azerbaijani authorities to release political prisoners, including Gubad Ibadoglu, Anar Mammadli, Samir Ashurov, and all others detained for political reasons. The debate was initiated by Member of Parliament Frank Schwabe. In his speech, Schwabe emphasized that the COP29 conference was being held in Baku against the backdrop of severe human rights violations.
Leave a review