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<\/a>Turkey<\/strong><\/p>\n\u25baTurkey falls behind in global corruption index
\nOn 3 December Transparency International released its annual Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI). It pointed to a rise in reports of corruption in Turkey, which suffered the year\u2019s biggest fall in rank. The group said that Turkey, rocked by graft allegations on top government officials last year, has since seen \u201ca crackdown on free speech\u201d with journalists persecuted and arrested. \u201cWith a series of investigations into bribery and corruption charges against people considered close to the government, the general perception of corruption has increased substantially,\u201d it said. Turkey ranked 64 out of 175 with a score of 45.<\/p>\n
\u25baCriticism on newly build Presidential palace
\nOn 3 December President Erdo\u011fan said he doesn\u2019t care about the criticism against the new palace. \u201cThey have said this and that. Let them say it. We don\u2019t care at all. We are in an effort to become a big state. We have Dolmabah\u00e7e Palace and Topkap\u0131 Palace, which we are still proud of. Do we have something that we can leave for the future generations? Look at this [palace]. When people ask where Turkey is governed, this palace will answer that question,\u201d Erdo\u011fan said. The palace has cost at least $615 million and was built illegally on protected land. Turkey\u2019s Housing Development Administration has refused to divulge the cost of President Erdo\u011fan\u2019s new palace on the grounds that the move \u201ccould hurt the economy.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u25baTurkey approves law restricting rights and freedoms
\nOn 3 December the Turkish Parliament approved a government-sponsored bill that will significantly restrict rights and freedoms as well as further strengthen the government\u2019s control over the judiciary. President Erdo\u011fan will presumably approve the bill. It will give the police and prosecutors sweeping powers regarding searches, seizures, detentions and arrests, while significantly restricting the right of defence for suspects. The new law also trims the powers of the higher court, the Supreme Court of Appeals, by removing the court\u2019s say in deciding on which judges will be hired by the court for investigations. This forces the court to accept whomever the Supreme Board of Judges and Prosecutors nominate, a key judicial body that was overtaken by a pro-government roster in October\u2019s elections.<\/p>\n
\u25baConstitutional Court will decide on election threshold soon
\nOn 1 December the head of the Constitutional Court (AYM) has said a verdict the top court is expected to deliver within a couple of weeks regarding a 10 percent election threshold needs to be applied in the upcoming elections. According to some the 10 percent threshold violates an individual\u2019s right because it is too high. But this would deal a heavy blow to the ruling party, which won dozens of \u201cextra seats\u201d in Parliament thanks to the extremely high threshold. As per Article 67 of the Constitution, no changes to the election law that are introduced less than a year before an election will be put into effect in that election. But AYM head Ha\u015fim K\u0131l\u0131\u00e7 has reportedly maintained that the top court\u2019s verdict will include an order that it take effect immediately, as the issue is about the violation of a right. Parliamentary elections are due to be held in June 2015. On 2 December President Erdo\u011fan said that it is not up to the court to shape politics. \u201cSovereignty does not rest on the Constitutional Court,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u25baTurkey and Russia seek new ways to deepen economic ties
\nOn 1 December the Turkish and Russian Presidents met to seek ways to further increase economic and energy cooperation, as well as to multiply trade volume despite disagreements in a number of international issues, including Syria, Ukraine and Cyprus. At the same time NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg has called on Turkey to join the economic sanctions campaign against Russia over the Ukrainian crisis. Sanctions are not decided by NATO, but by the European Union and the U.S., Stoltenberg stressed, \u201cbecause I believe there has to be consequences when a country is responsible for these kinds of aggressive actions that we have seen in Ukraine [committed] by Russia.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u25baFormer UN High Commissioner urges President Erdo\u011fan to respect democracy
\nOn 26 November former United Nations High Commissioner Navi Pillay has urged President Erdo\u011fan and the Turkish government not to follow in the ways of oppressive governments. \u201cIt\u2019s very important that President Erdo\u011fan respect dissent and allow the free flow of information and respect freedom of speech because that is what democracy means,\u201d she said. President Erdo\u011fan was elected into office in the 2014 elections after holding the office of prime minister since 2002. The international community as well as opposition parties criticized the elections for alleged bias and misuse of public resources.<\/p>\n
\u25baTurkish court issues media ban on inquiry into corruption
\nOn 25 November an Ankara court issued a ban for Turkey\u2019s media organizations from reporting about a parliamentary inquiry into corruption allegations concerning four former ministers of Cabinet. The court decision prompted fury on the part of several media organizations, which vowed not to abide by the gag order. Citing laws guaranteeing press freedom, daily Evrensel said in an open letter that it “we will not submit to this law but will continue to publish news about this issue.” The decision by the prosecutor\u2019s office is not the first time that Turkish media has been banned from reporting on a certain issue.<\/p>\n
\u25baTurkish President Erdo\u011fan says gender equality \u2018against nature\u2019
\nOn 24 November President Erdo\u011fan voiced his strong objection to the equality of women and men, instead recommending what he called \u201cequivalency.\u201d \u201cSometimes, here they say \u2018men and women equality.\u2019 But \u2018equality among women\u2019 and \u2018equality among men\u2019 is more correct. However, what is particularly essential is women\u2019s equality before justice,\u201d Erdo\u011fan said at the Women and Justice Summit hosted by the Women and Democracy Association (KADEM). \u201cYou cannot bring women and men into equal positions; that is against nature because their nature is different.\u201d His statements have precipitated a new debate in Parliament, as well as opprobrium on the part of women\u2019s rights activists. On 26 November Erdo\u011fan insisted he had advocated women’s rights throughout his political career, accusing the media of “distorting” his controversial comments on equality between men and women.<\/p>\n
\u25ba Erdo\u011fan likely to chair Cabinet meeting
\nOn 23 November President Erdo\u011fan announced his intention to chair a Cabinet meeting before the end of 2014, underlining once again that this is a constitutional right granted to the head of the Turkish state. In the run-up to the presidential election in August, which he won in the first round, Erdo\u011fan repeatedly stated that the current Constitution grants \u201cexecutive power\u201d to a president who comes to office via the popular vote. \u201cNot using that authority would not be appropriate. God willing, we will use that authority too,\u201d Erdo\u011fan said.<\/p>\n
\u25baTurkey\u2019s opposition insistent on transparency of Kurdish peace process
\nOn 21 November Turkey\u2019s opposition parties have increased the volume in their demand for more transparency in the Kurdish peace process amid growing dissatisfaction with the amount of information that has been shared by the government on the matter. Selahattin Demirta\u015f, co-leader of the Peoples\u2019 Democratic Party (HDP) has long maintained that a \u201cthird eye\u201d in talks would help share the process with the public. President Erdo\u011fan said that time has proven that the involvement of any third party would further complicate Turkey\u2019s Kurdish peace process instead of facilitating it, citing the failure of a series of meetings known as the \u201cOslo talks\u201d as one result of such involvement. The peace talks have stalled since street violence in early October that claimed dozens of lives in country-wide protests against the government\u2019s perceived inaction over the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant\u2019s (ISIL) assault on the Kurdish-populated town of Kobane in northern Syria, near the border with Turkey.<\/p>\n
\u25ba President Erdo\u011fan forms team to monitor Cabinet
\nOn 20 November Turkish President Erdo\u011fan announced that he is set to establish a team to monitor the work of the Cabinet, despite putatively being above the political realm as the head of state. The assignment diagram of the presidential team has already been prepared, but has yet to be publicized.
\nEASTERN EUROPE \/ SOUTH CAUCASUS<\/p>\n
\u25baTransparency International study shows corruption widespread in post-Soviet states
\nOn 3 December a new Transparency International (TI) study showed corruption remains rampant across much of former Soviet Union. In the 2014 Corruption Perceptions Index all former Soviet republics, excluding Georgia and the Baltic states, stood at 50 or below on a scale in which 0 means a country is perceived to be highly corrupt and 100 as perceived to be very clean. The study also ranked 175 countries in order, with higher rankings meaning more perceived corruption. Georgia ranked 50th with a score of 52, down from last year\u2019s 55 ranking with a score of 49. TI\u2019s former Soviet countries coordinator Svetlana Savitskaya said Georgia improved its \u2018transparency and efficiency\u2019 in government administration. She praised Tbilisi for prosecuting government and business officials for corruption-related crimes. Armenia and Azerbaijan rank 94th and 126th respectively. Savitskaya said Azerbaijan’s main problem is in its \u2018clampdown\u2019 on civil society and independent media, and that Baku has a lot of work to do regarding \u2018elite\u2019 and \u2018political\u2019 corruption. Russia is 136th, dropping 9 places since 2013. Ukraine ranks 142nd and Belarus 119th.<\/p>\n
Armenia<\/strong><\/p>\n \u25baParliament majority rejects voting reform \u25baOpposition movement decries assault on activists \u25baMajor opposition party to back Eurasian Union membership \u25baCracks continue to appear in opposition alliance Azerbaijan<\/strong><\/p>\n \u25baCritical young blogger detained \u25baArmenian activist appeals to jailed colleague in Azerbaijan \u25baHuman rights lawyer jailed \u25baAzerbaijan\u2019s military spending hits 4bln mark amid risk of renewed war with Armenia \u25baLeyla Yunus may not survive in prison until the end of the year \u25baEU human rights commissioner: \u2018all my partners in Azerbaijan are in jail\u2019 \u25baAzerbaijani delegation rips up posters of names of political prisoners on Civil Society Forum Georgia<\/strong><\/p>\n \u25baPresident vetoes controversial surveillance bill passed by parliament \u25baRussia, Abkhazia sign controversial treaty on \u2018alliance and strategic partnership\u2019 \u25baCivil society groups slam PM for \u2018aggressive tone\u2019
\nOn 2 December ruling Republican Party (HHK) blocked opposition\u2019s voting reform that would reduce its chances of retaining parliament control in next election. The draft bill of Armenian National Congress (HAK), Zharangutyun (Heritage) and Prosperous Armenia (BHK) was backed by 54 MPs (including 2 other opposition parties) vs. 59 mainly HHK MPs voting against. The proposed changes called for next parliamentary election to be under proportional representation system only; HAK, BHK and Zharangutyun say it would increase chances of their freedom and fairness. In the 2012 election 90 seats were contested on party-list basis and 41 distributed in single-mandate constituencies; HHK retained a majority after very strong showing in the latter; opposition attribute it to vote buying and other irregularities. The blocked bill also set electoral commissions to release lists of those who voted, long sought by opposition, who say it would prevent multiple voting. The reform was one of 12 opposition demands made in June; government\u2019s refusal to meet most led the trio to hold anti-government rallies this fall. President Sarkisian said last month he and his cabinet will \u2018once again address\u2019 them. Government then offered to negotiate, but the trio refused. It introduced the bill, saying it will test authorities\u2019 stated commitment to dialogue.<\/p>\n
\nOn 27 November an opposition activist was assaulted and injured in Yerevan shortly after arson attacks on cars of 6 members of vocal anti-government movement Pre-parliament. An unknown person knocked activist, Gevorg Safarian, unconscious. Pre-parliament called it a politically motivated assassination attempt ordered by authorities. On that day and the day before cars of 7 other anti-government activists (6 of them linked with Pre-parliament) were set on fire by petrol bombs. None exploded as they were noticed in time and the fire was put out, but the cars were seriously damaged. All had stickers with Pre-parliament\u2019s logo. Owner of one of the cars, Varuzhan Avetisian, said \u2018the organizer is the ruling regime which is intertwined with criminal elements.\u2019 Dozens Pre-parliament members had similar allegations – dismissed by police – as they rallied at police headquarters to protest the attacks. Police spokesman Ashot Aharonian said the national police chief is personally monitoring preliminary inquiry into the incidents. Pre-parliament, led by prominent public figures, has campaigned for regime change for the past few years. It has not attracted large crowds so far and is not represented in parliament.<\/p>\n
\nOn 26 November a senior MP of Gagik Tsarukian\u2019s Prosperous Armenia Party (BHK) said it will vote for the parliamentary ratification of Armenia\u2019s accession treaty with Russian-led Eurasian Economic Union (EEU). Mikael Melkumian made this clear as he chaired a meeting of a parliament committee on economic affairs that discussed the treaty signed by President Sarkisian last month. He and most other members of the committee decided to recommend its ratification by the full parliament. Melkumian confirmed that the BHK faction, second largest in parliament, will vote for the ratification next week. Until now, BHK avoided formulating a clear position on Armenia\u2019s accession to the bloc of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan, but few observers doubted its positive attitude to joining EEU. Tsarukian has always supported close Russian-Armenian ties. Also supporting EEU membership are 2 other opposition parties represented in the parliament: Armenian National Congress and Armenian Revolutionary Federation. Only one parliamentary force, opposition Zharangutyun (Heritage), is expected to vote against the treaty. At the same time Armenia\u2019s government reaffirmed its stated commitment to strengthening ties with EU even after its upcoming accession to EEU.<\/p>\n
\nOn 21 November opposition leader Raffi Hovannisian acknowledged differences among his Zharangutyun (Heritage) and 2 other major parties challenging President Sarkisian, and set conditions for continued joint activity. He said Zharangutyun, Prosperous Armenia (BHK) and Armenian National Congress (HAK) parties lack a common agenda despite joint anti-government rallies in past months. He said they should clarify objectives to make any progress in their \u2018regime change\u2019 campaign, and that the key point of that agreement should be that their aim is \u2018a free, independent and constitutional Armenia,\u2019 to be attained by \u2018immediate, complete and systemic regime change through pre-term parliamentary and presidential elections.\u2019 This seems mainly addressed to BHK, the largest and most influential of the 3. Unlike the others, BHK has not demanded Sarkisian\u2019s resignation; its leaders indicate they would settle for government concessions on conduct of the next parliamentary election. It emerged earlier that the trio will again rally supporters in Yerevan on December 10, but it is unlikely to be followed by sustained street protests. On 25 November BHK said it expects continued cooperation with Zharangutyun despite their apparent differences.<\/p>\n
\nOn 1 December blogger and author of Sancaq satirical page Mehman Huseynov was detained. Huysenov said that at the police he was informed all his documents (international passport and national ID card) were inactivated and \u2018they also told me my passport was forged and that I was using it illegally.\u2019 On November 10 Huseynov was prevented from leaving Azerbaijan: while traveling to an OSCE conference he was informed his passport was no longer valid. He sent an inquiry to the Ministry of Interior, and on November 29 received an official letter from the Ministry saying there is nothing wrong with his passport. Huysenov was heading to renew his ID when police apprehended him and accused him of forgery. On his Facebook page he wrote, \u2018I am now being taken to a police station. Will there ever be a time in this country when I spend at least one day without police?\u2019 Mehman Huseynov is considered the most influential blogger in Azerbaijan. He is also brother of Emin Huseynov, Institute for Reporters Freedom and Safety director, who is currently in hiding under threat of arrest. In 2012 a criminal case was opened against him on charges of hooliganism and resisting police.<\/p>\n
\nOn 27 November an Armenian activist voiced grave concern over arrest in Baku of prominent Azerbaijani human rights activist Leyla Yunus, 58. Head of a Yerevan NGO\u2019s research center Laura Baghdasarian wrote an open letter to her Azerbaijani colleague with whom she had joint projects for nearly a decade, condemning her prosecution. She didn\u2019t speak until now lest her support worsen Leyla\u2019s and her husband Arif\u2019s situation. The couple was arrested in summer, on charges of high treason and espionage for Armenia (which they strongly deny) stemming largely from Leyla\u2019s work with Armenian NGOs in peace initiatives. This week Leyla was diagnosed with advanced liver disease and high blood sugar and said she may not live to see the New Year. \u2018There is no point in checking my anger anymore,\u2019 Baghdasarian wrote, calling it Baku\u2019s \u2018demonstrative punishment\u2019 of highly critical human rights activist. International organizations decry the jailing of the Yunus\u2019 and dozens other critics, but Baghdasarian said international community is not doing enough to hold Baku accountable. She is particularly critical of European bodies, saying they turn a blind eye to human rights abuses in Azerbaijan. Yunus\u2019 arrest came amid a surge in deadly fighting along Armenian-Azerbaijan Contact Line around Nagorno-Karabakh. According to Baghdasarian, crackdown on Azerbaijani civil society members working with Armenian counterparts to promote peace could end long-standing efforts to facilitate people-to-people contacts in the conflict zone.<\/p>\n
\nOn 26 November human rights lawyer activist Elcin Namazov was sentenced to 15 days in jail. His brother Akram said the activist had been found guilty of disobeying police. He said he fears his brother, whose office was searched on November 25 by police who confiscated documents, could face further charges. Meanwhile, representatives of opposition Popular Front Party said a party activist, Asif Yusifli, went missing on 25 November. Colleagues fear the police might have detained him. The Interior Ministry declined to comment on Yusifli’s situation. Western states and rights groups have repeatedly accused President Ilham Aliyev’s government of stifling dissent and restricting basic freedoms in Azerbaijan.<\/p>\n
\nOn 26 November it emerged that despite the decline in projected oil prices, Azerbaijani government intends to increase its military budget to $4.bln in 2015. The 27% growth will exceed Armenia\u2019s total spending budget of $3.2bln, said Azerbaijan\u2019s Finance Minister Samir Sharifov. The spike is justified with the potential threat and the recent escalation of clashes on the front line with Armenia. Tensions escalated with Azerbaijan downing an Armenian military helicopter, killing 3 of its crewmembers earlier in November. In August, over 20 people were killed from both sides during shooting along the border. Both sides lay the blame of ceasefire violations on each other.<\/p>\n
\nOn 25 November in an emotional appeal to friends and supporters of her parents, Dinara Yunus, daughter of Leyla and Arif Yunus, spoke of quickly deteriorating health condition of her mother, saying Leyla Yunus, 58, fierce critic of Azerbaijani authorities might not survive the end of this year. High blood pressure, advanced liver disease, and high blood sugar levels are just some of the indicators of her medical state. \u2018It is absolutely clear to me that this is the manner in which Azerbaijan\u2019s authoritarian regime decided to physically destroy my mother,\u2019 Dinara Yunus wrote, \u2018most likely it is going to happen during Christmas and New Year Holidays, when everyone will be on vacation [\u2026] It would be very convenient for the authorities to bury my mum during this time.\u2019 Leyla Yunus is accused of high treason, spying for Armenia, illegal business activities, document forgery and fraud. International human rights organizations condemn the arrest and demand her immediate release.<\/p>\n
\nOn 24 November Council of Europe (CoE) Human Rights Commissioner Nils Mui\u017enieks gave his impression after visiting Azerbaijan in October, where he met with jailed activists, painting a bleak picture of the country that just finished its rotating chairmanship of CoE. He called the visit \u2018one of the most difficult missions of my two-and-a-half year tenure,\u2019 saying \u2018Azerbaijan will go down in history as the country that carried out unprecedented crackdown on human rights defenders during its [CoE] chairmanship.\u2019 He added that all his partners there are in jail, and it was \u2018heart-wrenching to visit Leyla Yunus in pre-trial detention.\u2019 He called Yunus \u2018Azerbaijan\u2019s most prominent human rights activist and one of three finalists for this year\u2019s prestigious Sakharov award,\u2019 adding that she \u2018cried throughout\u2019 their meeting. Also speaking of other jailed activists, Mui\u017enieks noted \u2018Council of Europe\u2019s primary friends and partners [\u2026] have almost all been targeted,\u2019 saying it also makes practical cooperation with Azerbaijan \u2018extremely difficult\u2019 and that \u2018the reprisals must stop. Now.\u2019<\/p>\n
\nOn 20 November, at this year\u2019s General Assembly of the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum held in Batumi, Azerbaijani delegation reportedly ripped up several posters with the names of political prisoners in Azerbaijan. Sponsored by EU, the event is described as \u2018the highest decision-making body of the Forum.\u2019 The posters were prepared by Czech NGO Nesenhuti and brought to Batumi by another Czech non-for-profit People in Need. With operational offices in several countries People in Need focuses on issues like human rights, education and humanitarian aid and development. The Azerbaijani delegation described the posters as unfair, saying many other countries that are members of the Forum face similar issues and pointing a finger at just one is discriminatory. The delegation tore down some of the posters and accused the Czech organization of being part of an Armenian lobby. The Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum\u2019s Steering Committee issued a statement shortly after the incident condemning the behavior of some of the Azerbaijan delegation members.<\/p>\n
\nOn 29 November President Margvelashvili vetoed controversial government bill that allows Interior Ministry to retain direct access to telecom networks. The bill had been opposed by Republican Party (in Georgian Dream (GD) ruling coalition), opposition United National Movement (UNM), Free Democrats party (which quit the coalition recently) and some MPs of main ruling Georgian Dream-Democratic Georgia party. President said he vetoed the bill because it fails to provide the \u2018right balance\u2019 between security and human rights. Instead, he offered a scheme-echoing proposal of a group of civil society organizations who have campaigned for over a year to rein in security agencies\u2019 access to telecom networks. This proposal would deprive Interior Ministry of capability to have this direct access, informally dubbed the \u2018key\u2019. President said the \u2018key\u2019 should be at the court, which also issues a warrant for law enforcement for lawful monitoring of communications. But on 30 November parliament overrode the presidential veto with 82 votes (76 were needed). On 1 December Parliament chair and Republican Party leader David Usupashvili said it \u2018does not mean the issue is resolved,\u2019 and called to reform Interior Ministry.<\/p>\n
\nOn 24 November Russian President Putin and Abkhaz leader Raul Khajimba signed \u2018alliance and strategic partnership\u2019 treaty. Putin pledged to double assistance to Abkhazia, which already relies heavily on Moscow politically, economically and militarily. On 13 October the Russia-proposed draft \u2018alliance and integration\u2019 treaty was first published, and criticized in Sokhumi; 2 weeks later Abkhaz side put forth its revised version. While the final text reflects most of Abkhaz proposals, concerns about possible absorption by Russia remain in part of Abkhaz society. Abkhaz Public Chamber Council said it still contains provisions that \u2018may have undesirable consequences for [Abkhaz] sovereignty.\u2019 EU foreign affairs chief, Federica Mogherini, said Russia signing the treaty with Georgia’s breakaway region undermines ongoing efforts to stabilise the region\u2019s security situation. Georgian authorities also slammed it; President Margvelashvili called it \u2018a step towards annexation\u2019 of Abkhazia, which \u2018further aggravates situation in South Caucasus,\u2019 leads the \u2018process of normalization\u2019 of ties between Georgia and Russia to a \u2018deadlock\u2019 and poses threat to the Abkhaz people as well.<\/p>\n
\nOn 21 November a civil society organizations\u2019 group criticized PM Irakli Garibashvili for \u2018aggressive tone\u2019 and \u2018slanderous\u2019 and \u2018inappropriate\u2019 remarks on NGOs that campaign to rein in security agencies\u2019 direct access to telecom operators\u2019 networks. Commenting on proposals on surveillance regulation, PM Garibashvili on November 20 slammed those pushing to deprive Interior Ministry of its direct access to those networks, saying \u2018their main goal is to paralyze the Interior Ministry; they are fighting against state institutions.\u2019 Addressing him, the campaign This Affects You\u2013We Are Still Eavesdropped said: \u2018by aggressive tone and unjustified allegations you demonstrate intolerance towards dissent, which is in conflict with the idea of building a country with high democratic standards.\u2019 PM also said opposition United National Movement (UNM) is behind the model pushed by civil society organizations and that UNM members \u2018are using their NGOs\u2019 for lobbying the proposal. The campaign group called it \u2018slanderous.\u2019 UNM MPs offered the group to initiate its proposal as a bill in parliament, but the group declined an attempt to avoid any speculation of political affiliations.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"