Headlines

Two Arrested as Georgian Authorities open 47 Election Fraud Cases

RFE/RL Interview:             
Pres. Zurabishvili Calls For Western Pressure
To Keep Georgia On European Path

Tblisi, Oct. 31.– Georgian authorities say they have opened 47 cases of alleged election fraud and arrested two people accused of stuffing ballot boxes during the October 26 election as part of an investigation into accusations of widespread irregularities during the vote that prompted criticism from Georgia's Western partners that the Caucasus country was backsliding on democracy.

The Prosecutor's Office said the cases were opened in connection with "falsifying the election, influencing voters' will, violating ballot secrecy, obstructing of journalistic activities, violence and threats, damage and destruction of property."

Washington DC, Oct. 28 (DPnet).–  The Washington Post withdraws endorsement from Kamala Harris. It will not endorse a candidate in the presidential race this cycle, breaking with a longtime tradition. 

Publisher Will Lewis, in a memo to staffers, wrote that they “are returning to our roots of not endorsing presidential candidates.” The Washington Post follows the previous decision from the Los Angeles Times reversing their previous preferences.

Strasbourg, Oct.15-17.– The agenda of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities includes the protection of Ukraine’s cultural heritage, ageing communities, fostering circular economy at the grassroots level, common challenges to local democracy in Europe, the situation of regions with special status, the role of regions in Ukraine’s reconstruction, as well as efforts to expand the outreach of the Local Self-Government Charter to cities in non-member states (Kazakhstan, Mauritania, and Morocco) and 10 years of direct youth engagement in the work of the Congress are on the agenda of the session.

The Congress will also debate monitoring reports on the application of the European Charter of Local Self-Government in Finland, Iceland, Latvia, and Malta, as well as on the observation of local elections in Türkiye on 31 March 2024.

This Is What Zelensky Requested the Pontiff: The Ukrainian leader stressed the national anguish over the people seized and deported.

Vatican, Oct. 11 (Zenit).– In a meeting charged with symbolism and hope, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky had a private audience with Pope Francis in the Vatican. 

The central issue resounded profoundly: the return of Ukrainians detained in Russia. “The return of our people from prison was the focus of my conversation with the Holy Father. We rely on the assistance of the Holy See to bring back Ukrainians who have been captured by Russia,” said Zelensky on his social networks, highlighting the importance of his conversation with the Pontiff