The Orenburg Regional Court has begun hearing the state prosecution's appeal in the 6-million-ruble bribe case involving former senator Rauf Arashukov. The prosecution is seeking to increase the fine for the former official, who was sentenced to life imprisonment, from 120 million to 420 million rubles.
The International Press Institute (IPI) has expressed concern over new legislative initiatives by the Georgian government and ruling party that restrict independent media funding.
The proposed amendments criminalize receiving foreign funding without government permission, punishable by up to six years in prison. Furthermore, a new article on "money laundering for political purposes" is being introduced, punishing journalists with prison terms of nine to 12 years.
Human rights activists emphasize that these measures threaten the survival of Georgian media outlets and call for international sanctions against Georgian government officials. International organizations also supported the launch of the OSCE's "Moscow Mechanism" and called on the Georgian parliament to abandon these amendments.