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national interest of the US.
2.4​ ​Co-founder of Georgian opposition-oriented TV station sentenced to prison
Co-founder of Georgia’s opposition-oriented television station Mtavari Arkhi TV, Giorgi Rurua, who claims the status of “political prisoner”, was sentenced to four years in prison for the illegal possession and carrying of firearms. The ruling is not final. His lawyer has told media that an appeal will be lodged.
The opposition in Georgia, which has been demanding Rurua’s release since his detention, also describes him as imprisoned for political reasons.
Opposition parties refused to vote on constitutional amendments legislation after claiming that the release of Rurua should be part of the broader “March 8 Agreement” with ruling party Georgian Dream. Another two opposition politicians, Gigi Ugulava, leader of the European Georgia-Movement for Freedom and a former mayor of Tbilisi, and former defence minister Irakli Okruashvili, were pardoned by President Salome Zurabishvili following the agreement that stipulated that Georgian Dream would take necessary steps to avoid any suspicions of political influence in the judiciary.
Rurua was arrested on November 18 and charged with illegally purchasing, possessing, and carrying a firearm.
2.5​ ​MEPs vote for creating “common economic space” between EU and six Eastern Partnership nations
A "common economic space" between the EU and the six former Soviet republics of its Eastern Partnership programme—Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine—should be created as part of a "gradual integration" of the countries into the bloc,​according to European lawmakers who voted the proposal through by 507 to 119 at the European Parliament. There were 37 abstentions.
The Eastern Partnership was launched in 2009. The initiative is meant to bring the six nations closer to the EU, but eventually making clear offers of future membership is not one of its objectives.
“While accession is not foreseen under the framework of the Eastern Partnership, the Eastern Partnership policy can facilitate a process of gradual integration into the EU,” a report tied to the vote read.
In creating the common economic space, Brussels should “focus on telecommunications and prioritise the creation of a roaming-fees-free regime between the EU and Eastern Partnership countries and an intra-Eastern Partnership one as soon as possible”, it added
Other proposals put forward by the MEPs included the establishment of an Eastern Partnership University in Kyiv and the appointment of an EU special envoy for Crimea and eastern Ukraine.
8​ GEORGIA Country Report ​August 2020 ​ ​www.intellinews.com