За последние пять лет число политзаключенных в Азербайджане выросло втрое, а средние сроки по политическим делам увеличились примерно вдвое. К такому выводу пришла Би-би-си, проанализировав списки правозащитников. Если в феврале 2023 года в них числились 93 человека, то к декабрю того же года — уже 254. С июня 2024 года показатель не опускался ниже 300, а в мае 2026 года Институт мира и демократии относил к политзаключенным 328 человек. При этом средний срок по политическим делам, составлявший в 2022–2025 годах от четырех до шести лет, в этом году приблизился к 12 годам.
The investigation into the death of Abkhaz blogger Daur Buava in Tbilisi continues. Three people have been detained in connection with the case: a Ukrainian citizen charged with abandoning a person in danger, and two suspects in the illegal acquisition and possession of drugs.
Buava's body was found on August 28 in his rented apartment in Tbilisi's Didi Dighomi district. According to preliminary reports, he may have been dead for several days by that time. The Georgian Ministry of Internal Affairs initially stated that there were no visible signs of violence on the body and launched an investigation into incitement to suicide.
On August 29, police detained a foreign citizen who, according to investigators, was acquainted with Buava. The Georgian Prosecutor's Office later announced that the suspect was a Ukrainian citizen, V.K., who has been charged with abandoning a person in danger.
According to investigators, the woman came to Buav's home on the night of August 23rd, carrying methadone, which they used together. The prosecutor's office reports that around 3:00 a.m., the woman became ill and then lost consciousness. The defendant claims she regained consciousness only on the morning of August 25th and saw Buav unconscious and breathing heavily. She then left the apartment without informing anyone of his condition. A chemical analysis, according to the prosecutor's office, confirmed Buav's use of methadone and alcohol, and methadone was also found in the apartment.
CCTV footage confirms the woman's arrival at Buav's home on August 23rd and her exit on the morning of August 25th.
On August 30th, the Georgian Ministry of Internal Affairs reported two more arrests. As part of the investigation, police searched two apartments in Tbilisi and arrested two people on charges of illegally purchasing and possessing drugs. According to the department, ten packages of various narcotics, including marijuana and methadone, were seized during the searches.
Investigators claim that both detainees were acquainted with Buava and his girlfriend. According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, one of them gave the narcotic to the woman for free, who subsequently used it with Buava.
Buava's family lawyer, Natia Mezvrishvili, stated that it is premature to discuss the exact cause of death until the forensic examination is completed. She added that the defense also intends to conduct an independent examination and is working with the investigators to consider all possible theories about the incident.
Mezvrishvili emphasized that the information regarding drug use and the circumstances described by the Ministry of Internal Affairs was, at the time, the investigators' theory and requires further investigation.
The lawyer also commented on the threats against Buava. Tamta Mikeladze, head of the Center for Social Justice, previously stated that the blogger had faced threats due to his activities and public views. Mezvrishvili, responding to journalists' questions, stated that the defense was also aware of threats against Buav—both verbal and physical. She believes that at this stage, a possible connection between the blogger's death and his activities cannot be ruled out, but final conclusions should be made after the investigation and expert examinations are completed.