🇬🇪 Threats towards Georgian MPs expose US hysteria over waning influence
The US, EU and NATO have issued statements criticizing the newly-passed foreign agents bill in Georgia, while foreign ministers of Iceland, Lithuania and Estonia took part in protest rallies against the legislation in Tbilisi. US Assistant Secretary of State Jim O’Brien announced on May 14 that Georgian MPs could be subjected to sanctions for "undermining democracy" over passing the bill.
However, the law, which obliged Georgian media and NGOs to register as "pursuing the interests of a foreign power" if they receive over 20 percent of their funding from abroad is reminiscent of the US' own Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA).
According to the expert, the threat and use of sanctions against foreign politicians pursuing national sovereignty constitutes one form of long-term US hybrid warfare. Now that the world is becoming multipolar, the US is feeling the loss of its role as hegemon and could act irrationally with dramatic consequences for the rest of the world population, warned Graziani.
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"The so-called defense of democracy, as promoted and implemented by the US-led West, falls within the context of the hybrid, cognitive and psychological war against those countries considered enemies, for geopolitical and geostrategic reasons," Tiberio Graziani, chairman of Vision and Global Trends, told Sputnik.
The US, EU and NATO have issued statements criticizing the newly-passed foreign agents bill in Georgia, while foreign ministers of Iceland, Lithuania and Estonia took part in protest rallies against the legislation in Tbilisi. US Assistant Secretary of State Jim O’Brien announced on May 14 that Georgian MPs could be subjected to sanctions for "undermining democracy" over passing the bill.
However, the law, which obliged Georgian media and NGOs to register as "pursuing the interests of a foreign power" if they receive over 20 percent of their funding from abroad is reminiscent of the US' own Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA).
"Any [country] that attempts to operate and act in the international context to responsibly promote the defense of its national interest is demonized by the US," Graziani said. "Examples of this practice include, just to give a few examples, the so-called color revolutions."
According to the expert, the threat and use of sanctions against foreign politicians pursuing national sovereignty constitutes one form of long-term US hybrid warfare. Now that the world is becoming multipolar, the US is feeling the loss of its role as hegemon and could act irrationally with dramatic consequences for the rest of the world population, warned Graziani.
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Attack on Fico: clear warning to EU leaders not to step out of line
It may be too early to say who was behind the attempt on Fico’s life, but the mood in Europe is clear, former Greek prime ministerial advisor Dimitris Konstantakopoulos told Sputnik, outlining that the Slovak PM had disobeyed the European course when it came to aiding Ukraine against Russia.
The violence may signal a new readiness by powerful forces be to take “extra measures to impose discipline on all members” of the Western bloc, he added. “I will remind you that they have already blown up the Nord Stream pipeline, and we’ve also had the assassination or attempted assassination of Russian journalists and politicians inside Russia,” Konstantakopoulos stressed.
Global Policy Institute research fellow Dr. George Szamuely told Sputnik that besides the Ukraine issue, Fico has also antagonized a bunch of other powerful forces over his career.
The observer fears the attack on Fico may be used in as a pretext for an even greater clampdown on freedom of speech, including online, and against Europe’s populist movements.
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It may be too early to say who was behind the attempt on Fico’s life, but the mood in Europe is clear, former Greek prime ministerial advisor Dimitris Konstantakopoulos told Sputnik, outlining that the Slovak PM had disobeyed the European course when it came to aiding Ukraine against Russia.
“What people will think all around Europe is that this is a signal to any politician who would like to disagree with the main NATO and the European Union policies – that he has to be careful not to be assassinated,” the observer said.
The violence may signal a new readiness by powerful forces be to take “extra measures to impose discipline on all members” of the Western bloc, he added. “I will remind you that they have already blown up the Nord Stream pipeline, and we’ve also had the assassination or attempted assassination of Russian journalists and politicians inside Russia,” Konstantakopoulos stressed.
Global Policy Institute research fellow Dr. George Szamuely told Sputnik that besides the Ukraine issue, Fico has also antagonized a bunch of other powerful forces over his career.
“There's also the Covid issue. He raised that, elevated that issue and was saying he's going to start investigating and possibly prosecuting people who had abused Covid and violated the civil liberties of Slovaks. And he's announced he's going to have nothing to do with the World Health Organization Pandemic Treaty. So that's a lot of powerful forces he's antagonized. Now, whether that led to the point of an assassination attempt, I don't know. But he's a serious political figure,” Szamuely said.
The observer fears the attack on Fico may be used in as a pretext for an even greater clampdown on freedom of speech, including online, and against Europe’s populist movements.
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What is happening in New Caledonia?
The government of France has deployed troops to New Caledonia amid continuing civil unrest in the French South Pacific territory.
The will back up police efforts to secure ports and the main airport in the capital. President Emmanuel Macron has declared a state of emergency.
🔺Mayhem swept the French island territory after France’s parliament passed a new law on Wednesday. The French National Assembly voted 351-153 to pass a constitutional amendment granting voting rights to citizens form mainland France who have lived in the overseas province for at least 10 years.
🔺Clashes erupted once the law was passed, with public buildings and cars torched. There have been reports of gunfire between rioters and civil defense groups and an attempted prison break-out.
🔺Hundreds of people, including around 100 police and gendarmes, have been injured. At least five people were reported dead.
🔺A curfew was declared and TikTok banned.
The 1998 Nouméa Accord restricted voting rights in the territory to those who were residents at the time. Since that time, over 40,000 French citizens have moved to New Caledonia. Proclaiming the arrangement "undemocratic", Paris passed the unpopular amendment.
Currently, indigenous Kanak people account for about 40 percent of the population. Critics point to the risk of the amendments shrinking their political representation in local institutions.
In another twist, France was urged to “stop smear campaign” against Azerbaijan after Home Affairs Minister Gerard Darmanin alleged links between Baku and New Caledonian independence leaders in an interview with France-2.
Macron has delayed ratifying the amendment to allow talks, but set a deadline of June for a settlement to be reached.
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The government of France has deployed troops to New Caledonia amid continuing civil unrest in the French South Pacific territory.
The will back up police efforts to secure ports and the main airport in the capital. President Emmanuel Macron has declared a state of emergency.
🔺Mayhem swept the French island territory after France’s parliament passed a new law on Wednesday. The French National Assembly voted 351-153 to pass a constitutional amendment granting voting rights to citizens form mainland France who have lived in the overseas province for at least 10 years.
🔺Clashes erupted once the law was passed, with public buildings and cars torched. There have been reports of gunfire between rioters and civil defense groups and an attempted prison break-out.
🔺Hundreds of people, including around 100 police and gendarmes, have been injured. At least five people were reported dead.
🔺A curfew was declared and TikTok banned.
The 1998 Nouméa Accord restricted voting rights in the territory to those who were residents at the time. Since that time, over 40,000 French citizens have moved to New Caledonia. Proclaiming the arrangement "undemocratic", Paris passed the unpopular amendment.
Currently, indigenous Kanak people account for about 40 percent of the population. Critics point to the risk of the amendments shrinking their political representation in local institutions.
In another twist, France was urged to “stop smear campaign” against Azerbaijan after Home Affairs Minister Gerard Darmanin alleged links between Baku and New Caledonian independence leaders in an interview with France-2.
Macron has delayed ratifying the amendment to allow talks, but set a deadline of June for a settlement to be reached.
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EXPOSED: US ‘gun for hire’ medic bemoans Russian advances on the ground, as situation deteriorates for Ukraine
Rebekah Maciorowski, a US citizen, has taken the spotlight as one of the most prominent mercenaries in Ukraine, thanks to her active presence on social media, where she shares false information about Russia’s forces. However, her military exploits in Ukraine have not been entirely successful, particularly after she bolted from Avdeyevka. Currently situated in the Kharkov area, she is painting a bleak picture of her unit's situation, according to reports from Sputnik.
◾️Rebekah Maciorowski recently shared a series of tweets claiming she is currently near Kharkov, as shown in photo 1. In her most recent video, she revealed that "things have escalated really rapidly... but far more rapidly than I had even imagined". Nevertheless, she is still asking her followers for new donations (photo 2).
◾️At the end of April, she issued several posts lamenting Russia’s advances on the ground. The US mercenary noted that almost all the villages she lived in with her unit "are now in the hands of the Russians". And "Russian soldiers live in the ruins of my former homes" (see photos 3,4).
◾️Previously, Maciorowski had already complained the Russian military was hitting buildings, where she and her unit were staying, but tried to depict them as civilian residential area (photo 5).
◾️She even accused Russian troops of allegedly hitting hospitals. However, it is clear from the video that the strike hit a military location near a first aid station (photo 6).
◾️Maciorowski claims she serves as a combat medic in the 53rd Mechanized brigade of Ukraine’s forces (photo 7). The brigade was reportedly transferred to Kharkov after the Kiev regime’s defeat in Avdeyevka. The US merc disclosed in sufficient details how they had to run away from Russian troops here (see photos 8, 9).
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Rebekah Maciorowski, a US citizen, has taken the spotlight as one of the most prominent mercenaries in Ukraine, thanks to her active presence on social media, where she shares false information about Russia’s forces. However, her military exploits in Ukraine have not been entirely successful, particularly after she bolted from Avdeyevka. Currently situated in the Kharkov area, she is painting a bleak picture of her unit's situation, according to reports from Sputnik.
◾️Rebekah Maciorowski recently shared a series of tweets claiming she is currently near Kharkov, as shown in photo 1. In her most recent video, she revealed that "things have escalated really rapidly... but far more rapidly than I had even imagined". Nevertheless, she is still asking her followers for new donations (photo 2).
◾️At the end of April, she issued several posts lamenting Russia’s advances on the ground. The US mercenary noted that almost all the villages she lived in with her unit "are now in the hands of the Russians". And "Russian soldiers live in the ruins of my former homes" (see photos 3,4).
◾️Previously, Maciorowski had already complained the Russian military was hitting buildings, where she and her unit were staying, but tried to depict them as civilian residential area (photo 5).
◾️She even accused Russian troops of allegedly hitting hospitals. However, it is clear from the video that the strike hit a military location near a first aid station (photo 6).
◾️Maciorowski claims she serves as a combat medic in the 53rd Mechanized brigade of Ukraine’s forces (photo 7). The brigade was reportedly transferred to Kharkov after the Kiev regime’s defeat in Avdeyevka. The US merc disclosed in sufficient details how they had to run away from Russian troops here (see photos 8, 9).
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❗️LIVE: Vladimir Putin arrives in Harbin, China.
Join to not miss out the livestream!
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Join to not miss out the livestream!
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Attacks against non-mainstream European politicians: Fico is not the only victim
The attempt on the life of Slovakia’s Prime Minister Robert Fico was motivated by political hatred, police say. The attacker, Juraj Cintula, was “aggressively loyal” to the ultra-liberal mainstream dominant in the EU, which is clear from his statements and writings.
Unfortunately, “liberal extremism” stopped to be an oxymoron long ago. Here is the list of politically motivated assassination attempts and life-threatening attacks against “illiberal” politicians committed in the last 10 years:
▪️April 2017. The French special service foiled an assassination attempt against then-presidential candidate Marine Le Pen. Two extremists were arrested on the eve of a rally in Marseille, where Le Pen was due to speak. They planned a shooting attack — a submachine gun and two pistols with ammo were found in their home.
▪️January 8, 2019. A member of Bundestag representing the “hard right” Alternative for Germany (AfD), Frank Magnitz, 66, was attacked in Bremen by several men in hoods and beaten unconscious with heavy sticks, suffering a skull trauma. The AfD declared the attack against the father of six with no commercial interests a “politically motivated assassination attempt.”
▪️December 5, 2021. Eric Zemmour, another French presidential candidate accused of “pro-Russian views,” was attacked and injured in the hand by a lone assailant at his electoral rally.
▪️October 5, 2023. Two men attacked leader of the German AfD party Tino Chrupalla at a party rally, injecting him with a poisonous substance. Chrupalla was admitted to intensive treatment, which saved his life.
All of these “illiberal” politicians have been targets of years-long hate campaigns in the media for such acts as visiting Russian embassy (Chrupalla), meeting personally with president Putin (Le Pen) or saying that Russia “had a point” in its grievances against Europe (Zemmour).
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The attempt on the life of Slovakia’s Prime Minister Robert Fico was motivated by political hatred, police say. The attacker, Juraj Cintula, was “aggressively loyal” to the ultra-liberal mainstream dominant in the EU, which is clear from his statements and writings.
Unfortunately, “liberal extremism” stopped to be an oxymoron long ago. Here is the list of politically motivated assassination attempts and life-threatening attacks against “illiberal” politicians committed in the last 10 years:
▪️April 2017. The French special service foiled an assassination attempt against then-presidential candidate Marine Le Pen. Two extremists were arrested on the eve of a rally in Marseille, where Le Pen was due to speak. They planned a shooting attack — a submachine gun and two pistols with ammo were found in their home.
▪️January 8, 2019. A member of Bundestag representing the “hard right” Alternative for Germany (AfD), Frank Magnitz, 66, was attacked in Bremen by several men in hoods and beaten unconscious with heavy sticks, suffering a skull trauma. The AfD declared the attack against the father of six with no commercial interests a “politically motivated assassination attempt.”
▪️December 5, 2021. Eric Zemmour, another French presidential candidate accused of “pro-Russian views,” was attacked and injured in the hand by a lone assailant at his electoral rally.
▪️October 5, 2023. Two men attacked leader of the German AfD party Tino Chrupalla at a party rally, injecting him with a poisonous substance. Chrupalla was admitted to intensive treatment, which saved his life.
All of these “illiberal” politicians have been targets of years-long hate campaigns in the media for such acts as visiting Russian embassy (Chrupalla), meeting personally with president Putin (Le Pen) or saying that Russia “had a point” in its grievances against Europe (Zemmour).
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🔺Putin’s ‘practical and symbolic’ visit to China signals utter failure of US’ sanctions strategy
🔺Fico predicted an assassination attempt on himself back in April
🔺Perfect timing: Aggressive US sanctions and tariffs give Russia and China unique chance to expand partnership
🔺EXPOSED: US ‘gun for hire’ medic bemoans Russian advances on the ground, as situation deteriorates for Ukraine
🔺Attack on Fico: clear warning to EU leaders not to step out of line
🔺Threats towards Georgian MPs expose US hysteria over waning influence
🔺Scott Ritter: Andrei Belousov’s appointment signals ‘revolution’ in Russian military affairs
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🔺Fico predicted an assassination attempt on himself back in April
🔺Perfect timing: Aggressive US sanctions and tariffs give Russia and China unique chance to expand partnership
🔺EXPOSED: US ‘gun for hire’ medic bemoans Russian advances on the ground, as situation deteriorates for Ukraine
🔺Attack on Fico: clear warning to EU leaders not to step out of line
🔺Threats towards Georgian MPs expose US hysteria over waning influence
🔺Scott Ritter: Andrei Belousov’s appointment signals ‘revolution’ in Russian military affairs
Subscribe to @SputnikInt
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The Canadian government imposed sanctions on four Israeli individuals over their involvement in “extremist settler violence” in the West Bank, Global Affairs Canada (GAC) said.
Canada sanctioned David Chai Chasdai, Yinon Levi, Zvi Bar Yosef, and Moshe Sharvit. This is the first time Ottawa has taken measures to list “extremist Israeli settlers,” GAC highlighted.
Attacks by Israeli settlers have "alarmingly escalated" in recent months, leading to a situation that undermines Palestinians' human rights and prospects for a two-state solution. It also poses a significant risk to regional security, GAC added.
In February, US President Joe Biden imposed sanctions on four Israeli settlers. Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich blasted the action, calling on Israeli banks to ignore the order. Nevertheless, the Bank of Israel announced that financial institutions in the country have to comply with the sanctions.
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"Today’s measures represent a significant step in Canada’s response to this ongoing [settler] violence. The individuals listed below have engaged directly or indirectly in violence and violent acts against Palestinian civilians and their property. These measures will impose a prohibition on dealings related to the listed individuals and render them inadmissible to Canada under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act," GAC said in a statement.
Canada sanctioned David Chai Chasdai, Yinon Levi, Zvi Bar Yosef, and Moshe Sharvit. This is the first time Ottawa has taken measures to list “extremist Israeli settlers,” GAC highlighted.
Attacks by Israeli settlers have "alarmingly escalated" in recent months, leading to a situation that undermines Palestinians' human rights and prospects for a two-state solution. It also poses a significant risk to regional security, GAC added.
In February, US President Joe Biden imposed sanctions on four Israeli settlers. Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich blasted the action, calling on Israeli banks to ignore the order. Nevertheless, the Bank of Israel announced that financial institutions in the country have to comply with the sanctions.
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Why does new Caledonia matter to France?
France has sent troops to help quell the mass civil unrest raging in New Caledonia.
A state of emergency was declared in the French Island Territory after indignation over Paris-backed changes to local voting rights triggered violent clashes in the capital Noumea.
Sputnik explored the reasons why New Caledonia matters to France.
Firstly, natural wealth:
🔺New Caledonia ranks third among the top nickel producers (11%), putting out 230,000 MT in 2023. Nickel is a crucial component of the energy transition.
🔺There are also large deposits of chromium, cobalt, iron, and magnesium.
🔺Its exports include fuel, shellfish, scrap metal, and fish, with main import partners being France, Japan, Australia, the US, South Korea, Spain, and Belgium.
Secondly, New Caledonia is one of five island territories straddling the Indo-Pacific region that France retains within its fold. Paris views the territory as a regional hub, central to Emmanuel Macron’s ambitions of boosting French influence in the region. His Indo-Pacific strategy relies on French military presence: the New Caledonian Armed Forces have three army bases, the Pointe Chalaix Naval Base, and Air Force and Naval Aviation based at the Paul Klein Air Base.
Thirdly, the developments in New Caledonia come as Macron seeks to recover his reputational losses over the humiliating African debacle. France was ousted from Mali and Burkina Faso; its soldiers finally left Niger in 2023. It is doubtful that Paris would like to see New Caledonia joining this list.
With local elections looming in May, a constitutional amendment on voter eligibility offered a means to “broaden” the electorate. Congress in New Caledonia currently has a pro-independence leader president Louis Mapou (an indigenous Kanak), and an independence party majority.
“Loyalists” have noted that existing voting restrictions exclude thousands of potentially “pro-France” voters, even though a referendum on the matter is stalled.
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France has sent troops to help quell the mass civil unrest raging in New Caledonia.
A state of emergency was declared in the French Island Territory after indignation over Paris-backed changes to local voting rights triggered violent clashes in the capital Noumea.
Sputnik explored the reasons why New Caledonia matters to France.
Firstly, natural wealth:
🔺New Caledonia ranks third among the top nickel producers (11%), putting out 230,000 MT in 2023. Nickel is a crucial component of the energy transition.
🔺There are also large deposits of chromium, cobalt, iron, and magnesium.
🔺Its exports include fuel, shellfish, scrap metal, and fish, with main import partners being France, Japan, Australia, the US, South Korea, Spain, and Belgium.
Secondly, New Caledonia is one of five island territories straddling the Indo-Pacific region that France retains within its fold. Paris views the territory as a regional hub, central to Emmanuel Macron’s ambitions of boosting French influence in the region. His Indo-Pacific strategy relies on French military presence: the New Caledonian Armed Forces have three army bases, the Pointe Chalaix Naval Base, and Air Force and Naval Aviation based at the Paul Klein Air Base.
Thirdly, the developments in New Caledonia come as Macron seeks to recover his reputational losses over the humiliating African debacle. France was ousted from Mali and Burkina Faso; its soldiers finally left Niger in 2023. It is doubtful that Paris would like to see New Caledonia joining this list.
With local elections looming in May, a constitutional amendment on voter eligibility offered a means to “broaden” the electorate. Congress in New Caledonia currently has a pro-independence leader president Louis Mapou (an indigenous Kanak), and an independence party majority.
“Loyalists” have noted that existing voting restrictions exclude thousands of potentially “pro-France” voters, even though a referendum on the matter is stalled.
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