At a ceremony in Abu Dhabi, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev received the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity from the President of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The leaders of the two countries were awarded for their consistent advancement of the peace agenda and their commitment to ensuring cooperation and stability in the region.
In its report, Human Rights Watch (HRW) noted a "sharp deterioration" in the human rights situation in Georgia through 2025. The document highlights a number of problems.
The first is the adoption of repressive laws. HRW notes the adoption of the "Foreign Influence Transparency" and "Grants" laws, characterizing them as targeting civil society, independent media, and peaceful protests.
The second problem is police brutality and impunity. The report mentions cases of excessive force used by security forces against demonstrators, as well as reports of threats, torture, and sexual violence. HRW emphasizes that many police officers escaped punishment, while protesters faced superficial or fabricated charges in court.
The third issue is the stalled progress of European integration. HRW notes the de facto halt in Georgia's European integration process, citing the European Union's demand to repeal "repressive laws."
Furthermore, politically motivated persecution has been reported. Opposition leaders and journalists have been arrested and sentenced to prison terms on politically motivated charges.
HRW emphasizes that these measures are aimed at suppressing dissent and are contrary to Georgia's international human rights obligations.