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Russia Deploys More North Korean Troops In Kursk Region, Zelenskiy Says
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on December 14 that Moscow has started involving more North Korean troops in its efforts to drive Ukrainian forces out of Russia's Kursk region.
"Today there are already preliminary data that the Russians have begun using soldiers from North Korea in the assaults -- a noticeable number," Zelenskiy said.
"The Russians include them in consolidated units and use them in operations in the Kursk region. For now, it is only there."
Zelenskiy’s comments came after the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ukrainian military (HUR) issued a statement saying that North Korean troops probably will begin assaulting Ukrainian military positions in the Kursk region in the near future.
The HUR said it was "likely" that Russia will soon involve North Korean soldiers in direct assault operations, noting that in recent days the troops "received additional food supplies."
The North Korean units on December 13 were put on alert and ordered to wait for further instructions, the HUR said.
Some of the troops have been covertly transferred to the front line by civilian trucks that outwardly resemble water-delivery vehicles, the statement said.
It was not possible to verify the information, and the Russian Defense Ministry has not commented on it.
Ukrainian troops began their incursion into the Kursk region in August and still control some areas. Russia began deploying thousands of North Korean troops in the region in October.
The General Staff of the Ukrainian military said on December 14 that 45 clashes had taken place since the beginning of the day in the Kursk region, and 26 of them were still ongoing.
"In addition, the enemy carried out seven air strikes, dropping 10 guided bombs and carrying out 212 artillery attacks on Russian settlements and the positions of our defenders," the General Staff said in its daily summary.
The summary added that the most tense situations on the battlefield were taking place in areas near Pokrovsk, Kurakhivsk, and Vremivsk.
The Russian military "improved the tactical position" in the Pokrovsk direction, the press service of the Khortytsia Military District reported.
Russian forces also tried to improve their tactical position in the Blahodatne area, but were not successful, suffered losses, and withdrew.
Ukrainian forces mounted their own attacks on facilities that supply petroleum products to the Russian Army, the General Staff said.
An attack on a Russian oil depot in Orel overnight on December 13 started a "powerful fire," according to a statement from the General Staff, which described the depot as one of the largest oil terminals in the suburbs of Orel.
Reports of explosions in Orel appeared earlier on Russian Telegram channels. The city was reportedly hit by drone strikes, and some of the channels reported an attack on a local oil depot.
Photos published by the General Staff and on Russian Telegram news channels showed plumes of smoke engulfing the oil terminal.
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Local authorities and Russian state media did not comment on the reports.
Russia's Orel region borders the Kursk and Bryansk regions.
In the border region of Belgorod, Ukrainian drone strikes killed a 9-year-old boy and set fire to a major oil terminal there, Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said on Telegram.
The boy died when a drone struck his family's home outside Belgorod, Gladkov said, adding that his mother and 7-month-old sister were hospitalized.
He posted photos of what he said was the aftermath of the attack, showing a house with gaping holes in its roof and front wall flanked by mounds of rubble.
Orel Governor Andrei Klychkov confirmed on Telegram that a Ukrainian drone strike set fire to a fuel depot. He said later that the blaze had been contained and that there were no casualties.
With reporting by Reuters
Russia Withdraws More Military Equipment From Syria
A Russian cargo plane took off early on December 14 from the Hmeimim air base in western Syria and was reportedly destined for Libya as Moscow continued its departure from its key regional ally.
Citing a Syrian official who monitors the base, Reuters reported that several more Russian transport planes were expected to depart from the base in the coming days as part of an evacuation following the fall of Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad.
Satellite images taken on December 13 by the space technology company Maxar appeared to show Russia preparing for the withdrawal of military equipment from the Hmeimim air base.
The images showed what appear to be at least two Antonov An-124 cargo planes on the tarmac with their nose cones open.
The source cited by Reuters did not specify the make or model of the aircraft that departed on December 14.
Reuters further reported that on the morning of December 14 an Il-76 cargo plane was seen at the base, while helicopters were flying within the perimeter of facility that was essential to Russia’s strategy of providing air support for Assad’s forces and allies in the Syrian civil war.
Russia's intervention in the war in 2015 had helped keep Assad in power, but the strongman leader fled Syria last week as the U.S.-designated terrorist organization Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and its allies -- some of whom are linked with Turkey -- overran government forces in a blitz offensive.
Russia helped Assad leave the country as the rebel forces approached Damascus and granted him asylum.
RFE/RL determined earlier this week based on satellite images that a Russian Il-76 had landed in Libya at the Al-Jufra air base on December 10. There is no information regarding where the plane came from or where it subsequently went. It is unknown if the Il-76 was the same plane reported by Reuters as being at the Hmeimim air base.
Previous analysis of satellite imagery by RFE/RL revealed that Russia's largest cargo aircraft, the An-124, had been spotted at the base, along with Il-76s, an An-32, and an An-72.
Russian military personnel are stationed at the Al-Jufra air base in Libya.
A number of Western media outlets have reported that Russia has been withdrawing military forces and assets from Syria in the face of Assad's fall, which experts say was a "slap in the face" to Russia.
Moscow leveraged its image as a key supporter of Assad capable of keeping him in power to expand its influence throughout the Middle East and beyond as a counterweight to the West.
Now, Assad's fall and the Russian departure threatens Moscow's influence not only in Syria but across the region.
Earlier reports suggested that Russia was negotiating with the new authorities in charge in Damascus to maintain its bases in Syria.
Aside from Hmeimim, Russia operates a naval base in Tartus, its only warm-water naval base outside the former Soviet Union.
The foreign ministers of the Arab League and Turkey met in Jordan on December 14 to discuss how to assist Syria's transition after the fall of Assad's government.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken told a news conference after the meeting that the United States had made "direct contact" with the HTS and other parties.
He declined to discuss details of the contacts but said it was important for the United States to convey messages to the group about its conduct and how it intends to govern in a transition period.
Blinken said a joint communique had been agreed at the meeting that sets out the principles that other countries want to see in Syria's political transition, including inclusivity and respect for minorities.
With reporting by AFP, Reuters, and AP
Iranian-American Journalist Reza Valizadeh Sentenced To 10 Years In Prison In Iran
An Iranian court has sentenced Reza Valizadeh, a dual U.S.-Iranian citizen and former journalist for RFE/RL's Radio Farda, to 10 years in prison on charges of "collaborating with a hostile government."
According to court documents sent to the journalist’s lawyer on December 10 and subsequently reviewed by RFE/RL, Valizadeh was sentenced by Judge Iman Afshari of Tehran’s Revolutionary Court, Branch 26.
In addition to the prison term, Valizadeh was banned for two years following the completion of his sentence from living in Tehran and adjacent provinces, from leaving the country, and from joining political or social organizations.
Valizadeh resigned from Radio Farda in November 2022 after a decade of work. He returned to Iran in early 2024 to visit his family but was arrested on September 22.
His two court sessions, held on November 20 and December 7, reportedly lacked a prosecution representative, with the judge assuming that role.
Sources close to the journalist claim he fell into a "security trap" despite receiving unofficial assurances from Iranian security officials that he would not face legal troubles upon returning to Iran.
The U.S. State Department earlier condemned Valizadeh’s detention, calling it "unjust" and inconsistent with international legal standards. Press freedom organizations, including Reporters Without Borders and the Committee to Protect Journalists, urged Iranian authorities to release Valizadeh immediately.
Valizadeh remains in Tehran’s Evin prison under severe restrictions, with limited access to legal representation and family.
Iran is routinely accused of arresting dual nationals and Western citizens on false charges to use them to pressure Western countries. In September 2023, Iran released five Americans jailed in Iran in a prisoner swap.
Valizadeh is the first U.S. citizen known to have been arrested since that deal.
Iran is also among the most repressive countries in terms of freedom of the press. Reporters Without Borders ranked Iran 176th out of 180 countries in its 2024 World Press Freedom Index. The Paris-based media watchdog says Iran is now also one of the world’s biggest jailers of journalists.
Tbilisi Braces For More Protests As Far-Right President Appointed
TBILISI -- The Georgian capital is bracing for another large opposition protest, and possible police violence, after an electoral college dominated by the ruling Georgian Dream party appointed far-right politician and former soccer star Mikheil Kavelashvili as president.
Kavelashvili was declared by Georgia's Central Election Commission as the winner of a contentious indirect election on December 14 after receiving 224 votes out of 225 delegates in attendance.
There are a total of 300 delegates in Georgia's electoral college, but opposition members did not attend the vote.
The vote came as demonstrators gathered in central Tbilisi outside the parliament building to continue protests over parliamentary elections held on October 26 that the country's current president and opposition have refused to accept and say was rigged.
Areas near Georgia's parliament building were cordoned off and traffic halted ahead of the electoral-college vote as opposition protesters gathered for another round of demonstrations amid a heavy police presence.
The 53-year-old Kavelashvili, the only candidate for the largely ceremonial post, is known for his vehement anti-Western diatribes and opposition to LGBT rights.
Kavelashvili is now set to replace President Salome Zurabishvili, who has sided with pro-EU protesters who have taken to the streets across the country in large demonstrations every day for more than two weeks.
Zurabishvili, who has been a thorn in the ruling party's side and has criticized Georgian Dream for its increasingly authoritarian stance, has said she will refuse to leave office after her successor is inaugurated on December 29.
"What will happen in parliament tomorrow is a parody -- it will be an event entirely devoid of legitimacy, unconstitutional, and illegitimate," Zurabishvili told a press conference on December 13.
She has previously said the elections were manipulated with the help of Russia.
"We are witnesses and victims of a Russian special operation, a modern form of hybrid war against the Georgian people," the 72-year-old declared after parliamentary elections in October.
Meanwhile, opposition lawmakers in the Caucasus country have refused to recognize the result of the parliamentary elections, claiming Georgian Dream rigged the vote to cling to power, and are boycotting parliament.
The political crisis erupted after Georgian Dream claimed victory in the elections and intensified after its decision last month to delay negotiations on Georgia joining the European Union.
The authorities have responded violently to the large demonstrations, arresting hundreds of people over the past two weeks and closely watching participants with Chinese-made surveillance cameras with facial-recognition capabilities. Another rally took place in Tbilisi on December 13 and more unrest is expected on December 14.
Protesters gathered early on December 14 near the Philharmonic Hall and began marching toward the parliament building less than 2 kilometers away.
Traffic on central Rustaveli Avenue, which links the two sites, was halted and police were mobilized near the parliament building and the nearby Freedom Square.
As the electoral college commenced its indirect vote in the parliament building, Zurabishvili made a brief appearance on Rustaveli Avenue but told gathered journalists only that "I've said everything, I am going to work now."
Gathered protesters chanted "Salome! Salome!" and displayed their diplomas in keeping with calls for them to "show your diploma to Kavelashvili," who reportedly does not have higher education.
Protesters also mockingly held up "red cards" against the former soccer star in a nod to penalties handed out for infractions in the sport.
RFE/RL journalists at the scene reported that new crowd-control barriers were set up in front of the parliament building and extended in into Rustaveli Avenue. The government plans to light a Christmas tree in the area later in the evening, when protests usually hit their peak.
The recent violence against the opposition and journalists has drawn condemnation from the United States and the European Union.
The U.S. State Department on December 12 imposed more visa restrictions on Georgian officials for "undermining democracy" in the country. The move will affect about 20 individuals serving in government positions, the department said in a statement without naming them.
"We are committed to seeing that senior officials responsible for or complicit in undermining democracy will be subject to visa restrictions," the statement said.
The U.S. statement reiterated that Washington "strongly condemns the Georgian Dream party’s ongoing, brutal, and unjustified violence against Georgian citizens, including protesters, members of the media, human rights activists, and opposition figures."
President Emmanuel Macron on December 12 reiterated France's backing for Georgia's EU aspirations and voiced solidarity with protesters.
"I would like to reiterate our full support for Georgia's European path and for the defenders of democracy," Macron said at a press briefing with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk in Warsaw.
He also expressed concern over "the repression of young people, the disturbing statements of the head of government and, in essence, the betrayal of the European path so quickly after the elections."
In power since 2012, Georgian Dream was founded by Russian-friendly billionaire and ex-Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili.
Earlier this year, Georgian Dream pushed through a so-called "foreign agent" law modeled on a similar Russian piece of legislation used by the Kremlin to stifle political opposition and repress critics.
Russia Appears To Prepare Some Military Equipment For Withdrawal From Syria
Russia appears to be continuing to withdraw military equipment from its Hmeimim air base in Syria, according to satellite images taken on December 13 by the space technology company Maxar.
The images show what appear to be at least two Antonov AN-124s cargo planes on the tarmac with their nose cones open.
Maxar said the two heavy transport aircraft were prepared to load equipment, while a nearby Ka-52 attack helicopter was being dismantled and likely prepared for transport. It added that parts of an S-400 air defense unit were similarly being prepared to depart from the air base.
Russia has an estimated 7,500 troops and multiple military sites in Syria, including at Hmeimim along with the strategic naval facilities at Tartus, which have been used to support the Kremlin's actions in North and sub-Saharan Africa.
Satellite imagery published earlier this week showed that Russian naval ships left the base at Tartus following the overthrow of President Bashar al-Assad last weekend by rebels led by the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) Islamist militant group.
Imagery showed at least three vessels -- including two guided missile frigates – located about 13 kilometers off the coast.
The Tartus naval base, Russia's only Mediterranean repair and replenishment hub, "remains largely unchanged since our December 10 imagery coverage with two frigates continuing to be observed offshore of Tartus," Maxar said on December 13.
The Kremlin has said its focus since Assad's fall was to ensure the security of its military bases in Syria and of its diplomatic missions.
According to open-source intelligence (OSINT), there are more and more signs that Moscow is removing at least some of its equipment.
A drone video of the Hmeimim air base published on December 12 showed people with suitcases preparing to board a plane. A 91N6E radar system was also visible in the video and appeared ready to be transported by military aircraft. The system is used in the operation of S-300 and S-400 missile systems.
The missile systems themselves appeared to be still in their usual place at the air base, but their launchers appeared not to be in combat-readiness mode. In all satellite images taken before the fall of Assad's regime, the S-300 and S-400 were in a state of full combat readiness.
Also on December 13, a correspondent for The Times published a video on X purporting to show Russian equipment arriving at the Hmeimim air base and an analyst with the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace said with Russian ships on the way and increased air traffic at the Hmeimim, the Russian troop withdrawal is gaining momentum.
"Whether it will be partial or complete remains to be seen," Dara Massicot, a senior fellow in the Russia and Eurasia Program at the U.S. think tank, said on X.
With reporting by Reuters and AFP
Husband Of Iranian Rights Lawyer Arrested In Tehran
The husband of prominent Iranian human rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh has been detained by security forces, according to their daughter.
Mehraveh Khandan said on Instagram that her father, Reza Khandan, was arrested on December 13 at her home in Tehran. The circumstances of Khandan's arrest and the charges against him were not known.
Mohammad Moghimi, a lawyer, said on X that the reason for the arrest was likely related to a six-year prison sentence in a case in which he represented Reza Khandan and activist Farhad Meysami.
The sentence against Reza Khandan was handed down in February 2019 by Tehran's Revolutionary Court. Meysami also faced a similar sentence in the case.
Reza Khandan had been charged with "assembly and collusion against national security," "propaganda against the state," and "spreading and promoting unveiling in society."
The sentence against Reza Khandan also banned him from membership in political parties and groups, leaving the country, and using the Internet and other media and press activities.
Sotoudeh, a vocal advocate for numerous activists, has been arrested several times since 2010. Her detention has included periods of solitary confinement, highlighting the challenges faced by human rights defenders in Iran.
Sotoudeh was arrested last year during the funeral of 17-year-old Armita Garavand, who died of injuries suffered in an alleged confrontation with Iran's morality police in the Tehran subway over a violation of Iran’s compulsory head scarf law.
Reza Khandan said at the time of his wife's arrest in October 2023 that she started a hunger and medication strike after she was severely beaten when she was taken into custody. Sotoudeh was released about two weeks later.
- By RFE/RL
Romanian Court Clears Ex-Mercenary Bodyguard Of Far-Right Candidate
A Romanian appeals court has ruled to fully release a former mercenary and chief bodyguard of far-right pro-Russian presidential candidate Calin Georgescu.
Horatiu Potra was detained on December 8 for violating the law on weapons and ammunition and for public incitement after he and a group of armed associates were detained by police while heading toward Bucharest, where Georgescu and dozens of his supporters were gathering.
Georgescu was protesting a decision by the Constitutional Court to cancel a runoff presidential vote scheduled for December 8 following claims that his shock first-round victory had been aided by a Moscow-orchestrated influence campaign using Chinese-owned social media platform TikTok.
Police officers who stopped Potra and about 20 of his associates found guns, machetes, axes, and knives in their cars that, officials said, could have been used to "disrupt public order and peace."
Media reports said Potra and his companions had booked hotels in downtown Bucharest close to University Square, where anti-Georgescu protesters had gathered in previous days.
Prosecutors had asked judges to hold Potra in preventive custody but a court in the southern city of Ploiesti on December 8 only ordered him placed under judiciary control for 60 days -- a measure that provided for him to show up at a police station on a regular basis for the duration of the investigation into the accusations.
One of his associates, Andrei Florin Filip, 22, was also placed under judiciary control.
On December 13, an appeals court in Ploiești canceled the judiciary control for both men following appeals filed by their lawyers. The ruling is definitive and cannot be appealed.
Romania's Supreme Defense Council declassified documents allegedly proving Georgescu's presidential bid had been aided by a campaign led by a "state actor" which was not named, prompting the Constitutional Court to cancel the runoff between Georgescu and pro-European center-right candidate Elena Lasconi.
A former fighter in France's Foreign Legion, Potra is reported to have led a 900-strong contingent of Romanian military contractors who fought in the African country of Congo.
He is said to have had ties to the Russian mercenary group Wagner, which fought in Ukraine and was established by Yevgeny Prigozhin, a close associate of Russian President Vladimir Putin who died in a plane crash last year after staging a short-lived revolt against Russia's military leadership.
Potra, who has denied having any links to Wagner, appears in a photo last year in the company of Russian Ambassador to Romania Valery Kuzmin at a ceremony at the embassy marking Russia's national day.
Searches of Potra's residence turned up some 2 million euros ($2.1 million) inside safes as well as weapons and about 15 kilograms of gold bars worth an estimated $1.27 million.
Belarus Adds 8 Months To Former RFE/RL Journalist's 3-Year Sentence
Former RFE/RL correspondent Ihar Karney, currently serving a three-year prison sentence for "cooperating" with the Belarusian Association of Journalists (BAJ), has been handed an additional eight-month term for "disobedience" inside the prison where he is incarcerated.
Karney, who has written extensively on the history and local history of Belarus and is also known as a travel blogger, was sentenced on December 13, two days after his trial began. It was not clear how he disobeyed authorities, a charge that the United Nations in October said is often laid for "the pettiest misbehavior."
In March, Karney, 56, was sentenced to three years on a charge of taking part in an "extremist" group because of his association with the BAJ, an advocacy and press trade group.
The BAJ was forced to begin operating from exile after it was deemed an "extremist" group by the government in February 2023 as part of a brutal crackdown on dissent and civil society following mass unrest over a 2020 presidential election that the opposition and Western governments say was rigged to keep Alyaksandr Lukashenka in power.
A new wave of journalist detentions has been seen in the country in recent weeks as Lukashenka seeks a seventh term in office in a January election.
Karney's sentencing comes a day after Belarusian authorities arrested seven journalists from the independent regional news outlet Intex-Press, located in the western city of Baranavichy.
Among the seven was Uladzimir Yanukevich, the media outlet's founder.
Meanwhile, another independent journalist, Volha Radzivonava, was sentenced to four years in prison for authoring critical reports about Lukashenka.
“This marks the arrest of the largest group of journalists from one media outlet in a year, signaling an escalation of repression,” BAJ leader Andrey Bastunets said.
“It looks like the authorities have decided to arrest all journalists they suspect of being disloyal ahead of January's presidential vote.”
In its latest report on journalists killed, detained, held hostage, and missing, the watchdog Reporters Without Borders said Belarus ranked fourth in the world in terms of the number of journalists it currently holds, 40, including RFE/RL journalists Andrey Kuznechyk and Ihar Losik.
In an October 31 report, UN experts said that, despite some recent amnesties and presidential pardons, many individuals convicted "without fair trial for the legitimate exercise of their civil and political rights remain in detention."
“The situation of some inmates belonging to the political opposition, of human rights defenders and political activists, many of whom have been convicted on extremism and terrorism-related charges, is extremely alarming,” the experts said.
“According to allegations received, such inmates are subjected to various forms of ill-treatment, including denial of medical care and the prolonged incommunicado detentions, which in some cases could amount to enforced disappearances.”
The Belarusian human rights community has recognized Karney as a political prisoner. Since July, Karney is reported to have been living in an isolation cell, where he is banned from almost all contact with the outside world.
- By RFE/RL,
- Kian Sharifi,
- Kaisa Alliksaar and
- Will Tizard
Is IS Coming Back After Assad's Fall?
Syria's most notorious extremist group has lost power over the last decade but has still managed to hit international targets. Some worry IS could make a comeback in the power vacuum following the fall of Bashar al-Assad.
Russia Launches 'Massive' Attack On Ukraine's Energy Facilities
Russia has launched massive air strikes on Ukraine's energy facilities using dozens of cruise missiles and drones in a move that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy called an "act of terror."
Western and southwestern Ukraine appeared to have borne the brunt of the attack.
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Critical infrastructure facilities were hit in the Transcarpathian region of Ivano-Frankivsk, regional Governor Svitlana Onyshchuk reported.
Onyshchuk said the attack on the region was the largest since the start of the war.
The western region of Ternopil reported "negative consequences" of the Russian strikes, without giving details. In the Lviv region, also in the west of the country, Russia attacked energy facilities, regional Governor Maksym Kozytskiy said on Telegram.
Multiple explosions were reported in the southern city of Odesa, while regional authorities in Kyiv said air defense systems were operating on December 13.
Explosions were also reported in the Cherkasy, Khmelnytskiy, and Kharkiv regions.
Zelenskiy said the attack showed his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, "won't be stopped by empty talk."
Zelenskiy said that, according to preliminary reports, 93 missiles were launched, including at least one North Korean missile, 81 of which were shot down. In addition some 200 drones were also launched in the attack, he said.
Ukraine's national power-grid operator, Ukrenerho, reported earlier that the strikes forced restrictions on electricity consumption throughout the country.
Zelenskiy said late on December 13 that Russia attempted to overload Ukraine's air defenses during the massive attack.
"This time, they deliberately waited for freezing weather to strike, aiming to make life even harder for people," he said, adding that every missile was directed at energy infrastructure.
Zelenskiy in an earlier post on X accused Putin of terrorizing millions of people.
"He is neither limited in long-range capabilities nor in acquiring the necessary components to produce missiles. Oil gives Putin enough money to believe in his impunity. A strong reaction is needed from the world: a massive attack must be met with a massive reaction. This is the only way terror can be stopped."
Zelenskiy made the comments amid reports that he will attend a meeting with the leaders of Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, as well as NATO and the European Union in Brussels on December 18 to discuss support for his country.
The meeting will be hosted by NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte and will take place the same the day that leaders were due to meet for an EU-Western Balkans summit.
Russia has been ratcheting up its attacks across Ukraine, while making slow but steady gains in the east in recent weeks.
The intensification of fighting comes as both sides look to strengthen their positions amid signs of a potential cease-fire and peace talks in the coming months.
"Putin won’t be stopped by empty talk -- strength is what is needed to bring peace. Strength that is not afraid of its ability to confront and stop evil," Zelenskiy said.
Russia's Defense Ministry said in a message on Telegram that the attacks were in retaliation for a Ukrainian strike on an airfield in southwestern Russia that used long-range, U.S.-supplied missiles.
"On December 11, 2024, a missile attack was launched from the territory of Ukraine by six American-made ATACMS operational-tactical missiles at a military airfield near the city of Taganrog," the ministry said.
"In response to the use of American long-range weapons," Russia launched "a massive strike with high-precision long-range air- and sea-based weapons and drones on critical facilities of the fuel and energy infrastructure of Ukraine," the statement said, adding that "all objectives had been fulfilled."
Rutte said on December 12 that the Russian leader wants to "wipe Ukraine off the map" and could come after other parts of Europe next.
Putin "is trying to crush our freedom and way of life," Rutte said, adding it is "time to shift to a wartime mindset."
"How many more wake-up calls do we need? We should be profoundly concerned. I know I am," he said. "Russia is preparing for long-term confrontation. With Ukraine, and with us."
The scale of the damage of the December 13 attacks was not immediately known.
"Once again, the energy sector throughout Ukraine has come under massive attack. Energy professionals are taking all necessary measures to minimize the negative consequences for the country's energy system," Ukrainian Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko wrote on Facebook.
Echoing Zelenskiy's words, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha called on Kyiv's allies to rapidly provide more air defense systems to counter the Russian attacks.
"Russia aims to deprive us of energy. Instead, we must deprive it of the means of terror. I reiterate my call for the urgent delivery of 20 NASAMS, HAWK, or IRIS-T air defense systems," Sybiha wrote.
A similar large-scale Russian attack on Ukraine's energy infrastructure took place on November 28, causing serious damage and energy shortages.
Russia has systematically targeted Ukraine's civilian and energy infrastructure since the start of the war, stepping up attacks especially at the onset of the cold season, causing maximum difficulties and lengthy power cuts for Ukrainians for the third winter in a row.
According to Ukraine's Energy Ministry, Russia has launched more than 1,000 strikes on energy infrastructure facilities since October 2022.
Ukraine's energy grid has already been subjected to 11 Russian attacks this year.
In 2024 alone, 9 gigawatts (GW) of generating capacity has been lost due to strikes, the ministry said. It is estimated that 1 GW is enough to power a medium-sized city.
With reporting by Reuters and dpa
U.S. Slaps More Visa Restrictions On Georgian Officials
The United States has imposed more visa restrictions on Georgian officials for "undermining democracy" amid ongoing popular protests against a move by the ruling Georgian Dream party to delay the Caucasus country's negotiations to join the European Union.
Protesters have also called for fresh elections following allegations of electoral fraud during the October parliamentary poll whose results the opposition has refused to recognize, claiming Georgian Dream rigged the vote to cling to power.
Pro-European President Salome Zurabishvili, who has sided with the protesters, has said the elections were manipulated with the help of Russia.
Authorities have responded violently to the latest wave of protests, arresting hundreds of people over the past two weeks.
In response, the U.S. State Department said on December 12 that it will "prohibit visa issuance to those who are responsible for, or complicit in, undermining democracy in Georgia."
The move will affect some 20 individuals, "including individuals serving as government ministers and in Parliament, law enforcement and security officials, and private citizens," it said in a statement, without naming the individuals.
"We are committed to seeing that senior officials responsible for or complicit in undermining democracy will be subject to visa restrictions," the statement said.
Since the start of the protests at the end of November, violence against the opposition and journalists has escalated, drawing condemnation from the United States and the European Union.
On December 4, Georgian security forces conducted raids on the offices of several opposition parties, protest leaders, and rights activists.
The U.S. statement reiterated that Washington "strongly condemns the Georgian Dream party’s ongoing, brutal, and unjustified violence against Georgian citizens, including protesters, members of the media, human rights activists, and opposition figures."
In power since 2012, Georgian Dream, the power founded by Russia-friendly billionaire and ex-prime minister Bidzina Ivanishvili, has been accused by critics of becoming increasingly more authoritarian.
Earlier this year, Georgian Dream pushed through parliament, which it controlled, a so-called foreign-agent law modeled on a similar Russian piece of legislation used by the Kremlin to stifle political opposition and repress critics.
"Georgian Dream has turned away from Georgia’s Euro-Atlantic future, which the Georgian people overwhelmingly desire and the Georgian constitution envisions," the U.S. statement said.
Separately, President Emmanuel Macron on December 12 reiterated France's backing for Georgia's EU aspirations and voiced solidarity with protesters.
"I would like to reiterate our full support for Georgia's European path and for the defenders of democracy," Macron said at a press briefing with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk in Warsaw.
"I would also like to express my deep concern about the repression of young people, the disturbing statements of the head of government and, in essence, the betrayal of the European path so quickly after the elections," Macron said.
On December 11, Macron held an hourlong phone call with Ivanishvili.
The Elysee Palace later said that Macron “demanded the release of all illegally detained people and respect for freedom of expression and assembly."
Noted Russian Missile Designer Reportedly Shot Dead Near Moscow
A senior official from a Russian company that develops cruise missiles used by Moscow in its war with Ukraine has reportedly been shot and killed just outside the capital.
Ukrainian media reported on December 12 that Mikhail Shatsky, a deputy chief designer at the Mars Design Bureau -- which develops and manufactures onboard guidance systems for the Russian military and aerospace industries -- was shot dead two days earlier near the town of Kotelniki in the Moscow region.
Police have not commented on the news, but reports on social media and local news outlets, which have not been independently verified, identified Shatsky as the victim.
News outlets in Ukraine reported Shatsky was involved in the modernization of the Kh-59 and Kh-69 missiles, as well as helping in the development of develop unmanned aerial vehicles. All of those weapons have been used by Russia to strike at targets in Ukraine.
The reports came three days after a car bomb killed Sergei Yevsyukov, who led a prison in Russian-occupied Olenivka in the Donetsk region during the time that more than 50 Ukrainian POWs were killed in a controversial explosion in July 2022.
While no one has taken credit for either incident, Russian military personnel and Russian-installed officials have been targeted several times in Ukraine's Russian-occupied territories. In many cases, the attacks have been deadly.
Ukrainian officials usually say "guerilla forces" are behind such attacks. Russia accuses Ukraine's secret services of masterminding and implementing the attacks.
Noted Russian journalist and staunch Kremlin critic Aleksandr Nevzorov first reported Shatsky's death on Telegram, publishing photos of what he said was Shatsky's body.
The independent investigative outlet IStories geolocated the images to a site near Shatsky's home, but the claims remain unverified.
- By RFE/RL
Trump Criticizes Decision To Allow Ukraine To Strike Inside Russia
WASHINGTON -- U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has criticized the Biden administration for giving Ukraine permission to strike inside Russia with powerful U.S. missiles, claiming it is intensifying the war.
"I disagree very vehemently with sending missiles hundreds of miles into Russia. Why are we doing that? We're just escalating this war and making it worse. That should not have been allowed to be done," Trump said in an interview with Time magazine published on December 12.
After more than a year of hesitation, the Biden administration last month finally gave Ukraine the green light to strike military assets inside Russia with U.S.-made Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS). The powerful, precision missiles can strike targets as far away as 300 kilometers.
The Biden administration justified the decision saying Russia had escalated the conflict by deploying about 11,000 North Korean troops to the front.
John Kirby, U.S. national-security spokesman, declined to respond to Trump's comments regarding ATACMS, saying only that President Joe Biden will continue to support Ukraine until his term ends next month. Kirby announced a new military package for Ukraine without stating its size.
Just days after Ukraine fired its first ATACMS into Russia, the Kremlin responded by striking Ukraine with a new, intermediate ballistic missile capable of carrying a nuclear warhead. The use of the intermediate missile was meant to serve as a message to the West, the Kremlin said.
Trump did not say whether he would unilaterally withdraw Ukraine's permission to use ATACMS inside Russia upon entering the White House on January 20 or use it as a bargaining chip with the Kremlin.
Trump has said he could end the nearly three-year war between Russia and Ukraine in "24 hours," raising concern he could force Kyiv to cede land currently occupied by Moscow's forces. The United States is Ukraine's largest supplier of weapons, giving Washington significant influence over peace negotiations.
When asked if he would throw Ukraine under the bus to get a peace deal, Trump said, “The only way you're going to reach an agreement is not to abandon."
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has demanded Western security commitments to his country be part of any negotiated settlement. Zelenskiy -- and most Ukrainians -- want NATO membership, saying only that will prevent Russia from invading their country again.
Trump was not asked about NATO membership for Ukraine but has been critical of the U.S.-led military organization in the past, saying it is a drain on U.S. finances. The United States accounts for about 60 percent of NATO military spending.
During a meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on December 7 in Paris, Trump said he did not back NATO membership for Ukraine, the Wall Street Journal reported.
However, Trump did say he wanted European peacekeeping forces to monitor the cease-fire, the paper reported. The United States would support the effort but not with U.S. troops, he told the two leaders, the Wall Street Journal reported.
Separately, in a speech on December 12, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte called on European members of NATO to step up spending, warning the threat emanating from Moscow will not dissipate anytime soon.
"Russia is preparing for long-term confrontation, with Ukraine and with us," Rutte said in a speech in Brussels. "We are not ready for what is coming our way in four to five years. It is time to shift to a wartime mindset, and turbocharge our defense production and defense spending."
Russia Closes In On Key Ukrainian City As Zelenskiy Visits Front Line
Russian forces continue to creep closer to the strategic eastern Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk amid a surge in diplomacy to end Europe's biggest war in decades.
According to the Deep State online war-mapping platform, Russian troops on December 12 were as close as 3 kilometers from the southern part of Pokrovsk, a key logistical junction for Ukraine as well as home to the country's only domestic coking-coal supplier.
"Unconventional decisions must be made to enhance the resilience of our defense and ensure more effective destruction of the occupiers," General Oleksandr Syrskiy, Ukraine's top commander, wrote in a post on Facebook.
"The battles are exceptionally fierce. The Russians are throwing all available forces forward, attempting to break through our defenses."
For months the area has seen some of the fiercest battles in Russia's 33-month-old full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who visited the front lines in the Zaporizhzhya region on December 12, has called for reinforcements amid signs of Ukrainian positions being overwhelmed by Russia's advantage in manpower.
Speaking to RFE/RL, Serhiy Filimonov, the commander of the 108th battalion Da Vinci Wolves, warned the main reason for losses as Russia heads in the direction of Pokrovsk was "unrealistic tasks" for troops in the region given the current numbers.
The intensification of fighting on the battlefield comes as both sides look to strengthen their positions amid signs of a potential ceasefire and peace talks in the coming months.
Flurry Of Diplomacy
Foreign ministers from France, Germany, and Poland met in Berlin on December 12 to discusses aid to Ukraine while Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, whose country has been a staunch supporter of neighboring Ukraine, hosted French President Emmanuel Macron for talks in Warsaw about postwar steps.
Leaders from across Europe are looking to show U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, who will be inaugurated on January 20, that they are willing to assume their share of the burden to end the almost three-year war in Ukraine.
Trump has claimed he could end the war in 24 hours, raising concern he could force Ukraine to concede territory to Russia among other concessions, endangering EU security.
In a so-called Berlin Declaration, the foreign ministers of Germany, France, Poland, Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom, as well as the EU's foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas, outlined their continued support for Kyiv.
"We are committed to providing Ukraine with ironclad security guarantees, including reliable long-term provision of military and financial support," the declaration said.
The meeting in Berlin was organized by German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock.
"Convinced that peace in Ukraine and security in Europe are inseparable, we are determined to stand united with our European and transatlantic partners to think and act big on European security," the declaration added.
Baerbock and Kallas did not answer questions about the participation of German or European soldiers in a possible peacekeeping mission in Ukraine.
Following his meeting with Macron, Tusk said Poland has no plans to send troops to Ukraine.
A Polish media outlet reported on the eve of the meeting that Tusk and Macron would discuss the possibility of sending a 40,000-strong peacekeeping force to Ukraine.
The Wall Street Journal reported on December 12 that Trump told Macron and Zelenskiy during a meeting in Paris last weekend that he wants Europe to shoulder the burden of peace in Ukraine, including supplying the peacekeepers.
Trump told the leaders he would offer support for the Europe-led cease-fire effort but would not put U.S. troops in Ukraine. Nor does he support Ukraine in NATO, he told them, the paper reported.
Zelenskiy has repeatedly called for strong security guarantees, including NATO membership, saying Russia would otherwise not be deterred from invading again.
Tusk and Macron, who met before the EU ministers gathered, reiterated that any peace deal in Ukraine must include the Ukrainians.
"We will work with France on a solution that will, above all, protect Europe and Ukraine," Tusk said.
The Polish prime minister said two days earlier that peace talks could start "in the winter," as Warsaw prepares to assume the European Union's rotating presidency on January 1.
'Historic Moment' -- EU Fully Accepts Romania, Bulgaria Into Schengen
EU justice and interior ministers have agreed on Romania and Bulgaria's fully joining Europe's Schengen visa-free travel area from January 1.
The decision, announced on December 12 by the European Council, comes nearly 18 years after the two southeast European countries became members of the bloc and 15 years since they fulfilled the technical criteria for entering the Schengen Area.
"It is a historic moment to finally welcome Bulgaria and Romania," said Hungarian Interior Minister Sandor Pinter, whose country holds the EU's rotating presidency.
EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen welcomed the move in a message on X.
"Fully in Schengen -- where you belong," von der Leyen wrote.
European Parliament President Roberta Metsola congratulated the two countries, saying they had "worked hard and long" to achieve membership.
"It’s done. It’s decided. It’s deserved. Romania & Bulgaria will fully join Schengen on 1 January 2025," Metsola wrote on X. "A stronger Schengen signifies a safer & more united Europe."
Romanian President Klaus Iohannis hailed the decision, which he said "had been expected for too long" by Romanians and Bulgarians.
"I have good news today," Iohannis said in a video message on December 12.
"We can finally enjoy a well-deserved right obtained in a legitimate way," Iohannis said.
He also took a swipe at Romania's Moscow-friendly far-right parties that had made substantial gains in the December 1 parliamentary polls, saying that "those who blame the European Union for their discontent do not want the best for Romania."
Romanian Justice Minister Catalin Predoiu told journalists that for the first six months, random checks would still be performed based on risk assessment.
The agreement also foresees the joint deployment of border guards to the Bulgarian-Turkish border.
The move comes after Austrian Interior Minister Gerhard Karner earlier this week announced that Vienna was finally dropping its opposition to the two countries' joining the 29-member zone, which encompasses more than 450 million people and covers 4,6 million square kilometers.
Romania and Bulgaria were partially admitted into Schengen on March 31, when air and sea border controls were dropped, but Vienna continued its veto on the two countries' being allowed to scrap land-border checks over fears that more illegal migrants could reach Austria.
Karner said on December 9 that Vienna's decision to lift its veto was based on a significant drop of migrant arrivals in Austria via Bulgaria and Romania.
Romania and Bulgaria's fully joining Schengen comes after Croatia became the most recent member in January 2023.
Despite Bucharest and Sofia's meeting the technical criteria for membership since 2010, their admission into Schengen was opposed constantly by Austria and the Netherlands, but the latter eventually dropped its veto, leaving only Vienna in opposition.
Both Romania and Bulgaria constantly argued that the decision to keep them on the outside was purely political.
Eliminating border controls is expected to further boost the two countries' economies as trucks won't have to wait for days in kilometers-long lines at the border, which substantially increased the cost of transported goods.
The measure has also long been anticipated by the diasporas of both countries, whose members have been spending long hours at the border during the summer and winter holiday seasons.
With Romania and Bulgaria's full accession, 25 of the 27 EU countries will be full Schengen members. Two EU countries -- Cyprus and Ireland are not members.
Non-EU members Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland have also joined the free-travel agreement, which was initially signed in June 1985 in the small Luxembourg village of Schengen by five countries -- Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg and the Netherlands.
In recent years, several countries, including Germany, reintroduced random border checks with neighboring EU countries intended to fight illegal migration and people smuggling.
Ukrainians Skeptical About War With Russia Ending Soon
Asked whether they believe the war will end in 2025, Ukrainians in Chernihiv and Zaporizhzhya expressed doubt -- although some believe it may happen if the United States withdraws support.
Macron, Tusk To Discuss EU Peace Force For Ukraine Amid Diplomatic Surge
French President Emmanuel Macron and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk will discuss the deployment of a postwar peacekeeping force in Ukraine when the two meet in Warsaw on December 12, according to two media outlets, the latest sign of a surge in diplomacy to end Europe's biggest war in decades.
Ukraine Invasion: News & Analysis
RFE/RL's Ukraine Live Briefing gives you the latest developments on Russia's invasion, Western military aid, the plight of civilians, and territorial control maps. For all of RFE/RL's coverage of the war, click here.
Polish outlet Rzeczpospolita, citing unidentified sources, reported that the two EU leaders are considering a 40,000-strong peacekeeping force that would be made up of troops from various countries.
Donald Trump's victory in the November 5 U.S. presidential election has set about a flurry of diplomacy in Europe to find an acceptable compromise on ending the war in Ukraine before he takes office on January 20.
Trump has claimed he could end the war in 24-hours, raising concern he could force Ukraine to concede territory to Russia among other concessions, endangering EU national security.
The United States plays a big role as it is Ukraine's largest supplier of military aid. Trump has threatened to curtail it if Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy refuses to negotiate in good faith.
Tusk, a vocal supporter of Kyiv, said on December 10 that peace talks could start "in the winter," as Warsaw prepares to assume the European Union's rotating presidency on January 1.
Zelenskiy has demanded concrete Western security guarantees be part of any peace deal, arguing that Russia could invade again once it has rebuilt its forces.
The United States and Britain gave Ukraine vague security assurances in 1994 to persuade it to give up its nuclear weapons. However, neither nation came to Ukraine's defense when Russia invaded for the first time in 2014.
A 40,000-strong Western peacekeeping force would serve as a meaningful security guarantee while Ukraine waits to join NATO.
Diplomacy Overdrive
Diplomacy to end the nearly three-year Russian invasion has been in overdrive this month with Trump, Macron and Zelenskiy meeting in Paris on December 7 to discuss peace options.
Trump then met with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who has been the loudest critic of Western support for Ukraine and the main spoiler of a united EU voice against the Kremlin.
Zelenskiy and Orban, took jabs at each other on social media on December 11 over negotiations and peace.
In a tweet, Orban said he had an hourlong phone call with Putin about the conditions for a cease-fire and peace talks with Ukraine. Zelenskiy shot back, accusing Orban of putting self-promotion over European unity.
"Unity in Europe has always been key to achieving [success]. There can be no discussions about the war that Russia wages against Ukraine without Ukraine," Zelenskiy said in a reply to Orban's tweet.
The Hungarian leader punched back, calling it "sad" that Zelenskiy allegedly rejected a Christmas cease-fire and large-scale prisoner exchange.
Orban appeared to be referring to Zelenskiy's recent decree officially prohibiting Ukraine from engaging in peace talks with Russia.
Significant differences remain among Western diplomats over what a deal would look like, including whether to allow Russia to temporarily occupy Ukrainian territory, end sanctions on Russia, and offer Ukraine security guarantees.
Fighting Rages
Both Ukraine and Russia have been seeking to strengthen their negotiating position ahead of Trump's return to the White House in January.
Russia has stepped up its drone and missile attacks on Ukrainian cities and energy infrastructure at the onset of winter to cause maximum discomfort, as outnumbered and outgunned Ukrainian forces struggle to halt a grinding but steady Russian offensive in the east.
Russian troops destroyed or captured several Ukrainian positions near the eastern city of Pokrovsk, the Ukrainian military said on December 11. The city is a key logistics hub and its fall would be a heavy blow to Ukraine.
Separately, at least eight Ukrainians were killed when a Russian missile struck a clinic in the southern city of Zaporizhzhya. At least 22 others, including a child, were injured. Rescue operations were still under way.
Zaporizhzhya has been regularly targeted by Russian missile and drone strikes. On December 6, 10 people were killed in a strike on the city.
Zelenskiy yesterday called on Kyiv's allies to provide 10-12 more Patriot air defense systems that he said are needed to fully protect Ukraine's skies.
With reporting by Ukrayinska pravda and TASS
'Escalating Crackdown' In Azerbaijan Draws U.S. Criticism
The United States has demanded that the government of Azerbaijan immediately release a group of detained human rights activists, journalists, and civil society figures being held in what is seen as an "escalating crackdown" on civil society and press freedom in Azerbaijan.
The U.S. State Department on December 11 said it was "deeply concerned" over the detentions of individuals, including Rufat Safarov, Sevinc Vaqifqizi, Azer Qasimli, Farid Mehralizada, Baxtiyar Haciyev, Qubad Ibadoglu, and several associates of the independent outlet Meydan TV.
"We urge the Government of Azerbaijan to release those unjustly detained for their advocacy on behalf of human rights, cease its crackdown on civil society, respect the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all, and fulfill the commitments it made when it joined the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe," Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in the statement.
The timing of the detentions has already drawn significant criticism from governments and rights groups abroad.
Two of the detainees -- Safarov and Vaqifqizi -- were to receive awards in Washington, D.C., this week for their work advancing human rights and fighting corruption.
Safarov, a co-founder of Defense Line, one of Azerbaijan's leading civil society organizations, has actively promoted documenting politically motivated arrests, corruption in government structures, and digging up evidence of torture.
He was arrested on December 3, just days before he was set to travel to the United States to receive the Secretary of State's Human Rights Defender Award.
His detention is widely seen as a deliberate move by the Azerbaijani authorities to silence one of the few remaining full-time human rights defenders in the country.
Vaqifqizi, editor in chief of Abzas Media, has played a critical role in uncovering corruption and government mismanagement in Azerbaijan.
Her team has reported on illegal tender awards to companies linked to government officials and exposed the large-scale embezzlement of public funds. Vaqifqizi was detained in November 2023.
On December 9, she was awarded the Secretary of State's 2024 Anti-Corruption Champions Award in absentia.
Detentions such as those of Safarov, Vaqifqizi, and many others are part of a broader trend of repression in Azerbaijan. The government has increased pressure on activists, journalists, and independent organizations alike, leading to a significant decline in civil liberties.
Human rights organizations estimate that at least 300 political prisoners are currently being held in Azerbaijani jails, underscoring ongoing criticism of President Ilham Aliyev's administration.
Since taking power following the death of his predecessor and father, Heydar Aliyev, in 2003, Ilham Aliyev has faced accusations of suppressing dissent by detaining journalists, opposition figures, and civil society activists.
Macron Urges Georgian Dream's Ivanishvili To Address Democratic Backsliding
French President Emmanuel Macron spoke with Bidzina Ivanishvili, the powerful billionaire behind the ruling Georgian Dream party, to express his urgent concerns over the deteriorating state of democracy in the country.
The December 11 call was initiated by Macron and comes amid a violent crackdown on protesters following disputed elections in October that Georgian Dream won.
In a statement published by his office, Macron condemned law enforcement for the use of excessive force against nonviolent protesters and journalists in general.
He called for the immediate release of those arrested without grounds, respect for freedom of expression and demonstration, and inclusive dialogue.
Macron has repeatedly expressed concerns about Georgian Dream's drift away from European values and toward authoritarianism.
The most recent wave of protests was sparked by allegations of electoral fraud during the October 2024 parliamentary elections. The opposition has refused to recognize the result, claiming Georgian Dream rigged the vote to cling to power.
The protests escalated after law enforcement resorted to excessive force in dispersing peaceful rallies, sparking outrage both domestically and internationally.
Georgian Dream confirmed the conversation with the French leader, saying that Ivanishvili told Macron that Georgia was a "legal state" and that most detainees were held on administrative charges and would be released soon.
Ivanishvili claimed that any arrests on criminal charges were "based on a high standard of evidence" and that "police actions were in line with European standards."
Georgian Dream also added that investigations into alleged police misconduct were under way.
Paris Meeting
A day earlier, Macron hosted Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili in Paris during celebrations for the reopening of Notre Dame Cathedral.
Zurabishvili, who has been estranged from the Georgian Dream and Ivanishvili, joined the opposition in rejecting the election results.
During her trip to France, she also met with other western leaders, including U.S. President-elect Donald Trump.
Macron appears to be spearheading a Western attempt to find a resolution that aligns with EU values, experts said.
Bidzina Ivanishvili, who holds dual citizenship in Georgia and France, is a significant figure in Georgian politics despite his official retirement from active political leadership.
His vast wealth and political connections have allowed him to maintain influence, and his role in the ruling Georgian Dream party is crucial.
Romania's Western-Leaning Parties Join Forces To Keep Far Right Out
Romania's four pro-Western parties have agreed on forming a parliamentary majority to prevent far-right groups from joining the government amid political turmoil prompted by revelations about Russia's malign influence that led to the annulment of the first round of presidential elections won by a Moscow-friendly outsider.
The four parties that together won the most votes in parliamentary elections on December 1 -- the leftist Social Democratic Party (PSD), center-right National Liberal Party (PNL), reformist Save Romania Union (USR), and the ethnic Hungarian UDMR -- reached an agreement late on December 10 in Bucharest.
"Today, the pro-European parties PSD, PNL, USR, and UDMR plus the Parliamentary Group of National Minorities express their firm commitment to form a pro-European majority in the Romanian parliament, a pro-European government, and possibly backing a joint pro-European candidate in the presidential elections," the four parties said in a joint statement published late on December 10.
The agreement comes after the four parties last week threw their support behind USR presidential candidate Elena Lasconi ahead of a December 8 scheduled runoff against the pro-Russian independent candidate Calin Georgescu, who had won a shock victory in the first round on November 24.
However, Romania's Constitutional Court on December 6 canceled the results of the first round and ordered a rerun of the presidential polls after the EU and NATO member's Supreme Defense Council declassified documents allegedly proving Georgescu's presidential bid had been aided by a campaign led by an unnamed "state actor" with the help of China-owned TikTok social media platform.
Lasconi on December 11 said the agreement was reached because "Romania is going through a very difficult" period.
The PSD and the PNL, the two parties that have dominated Romania's politics since the fall of communism, formed an unlikely left-right alliance in 2021.
The alliance became increasingly unpopular while also eroding both parties' support among voters, and allowed the shock rise of pro-Russian, far-right Alliance for the Unity of Romanians, which finished a close second in parliamentary elections with more than 18 percent to PSD's 23 percent.
Adding to the current instability, no presidential polls are likely until sometime early next year while it remains unclear if parties would have to propose new candidates or if Georgescu will be allowed to run again.
Afghan Taliban Minister Killed In Kabul Blast
Khalil Haqqani, the refugee minister in Afghanistan's Taliban-led administration, has been killed in an explosion in the capital, Kabul, two sources from inside the government told RFE/RL's Radio Azadi on December 11.
The sources said the blast, which occurred inside the ministry's compound, killed others as well, though no details were given.
Haqqani, the uncle of the Taliban's acting interior minister, Sirajuddin Haqqani, is the first senior cabinet member to be killed in an explosion since the Taliban seized power in Afghanistan in August 2021 as international forces withdrew from the war-torn country.
The United States designated Khalil Haqqani as a global terrorist on February 9, 2011 and had offered a $5 million reward for information leading to his capture.
Iranian Leader Blames Assad's Downfall On U.S., Israel, And Turkey
Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, in his first public comments since Syrian President Bashar al-Assad was ousted, accused the United States and Israel of orchestrating the rebel uprising that toppled the regime over the weekend.
Khamenei on December 11 also implicitly blamed Turkey for the lightning push of Syrian rebels who reached Damascus from their strongholds in the northwest with little resistance.
"It should not be doubted that what happened in Syria was the product of a joint American and Zionist plot," he said.
"Yes, a neighboring government of Syria plays, played, and is playing a clear role…but the main conspirator, mastermind, and command center are in America and the Zionist regime," Khamenei added.
The U.S.-designated terrorist organization Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and its allies -- some of whom are linked with Turkey -- ousted Assad on December 8, less than two weeks after launching their offensive.
Syria under Assad served as a crucial part of a land corridor connecting Iran to the Levant, which was considered the logistical backbone of the so-called axis of resistance -- Iran's loose network of regional proxies and allies.
Iran spent billions of dollars and sent military advisers to Syria to ensure Assad remained in power when civil war broke out in 2011.
Russia -- where the ousted Syrian leader has been granted political asylum -- also backed Assad, while Turkey has supported rebel groups who aimed to topple the regime.
A Khamenei adviser once described Syria as the "golden ring" in the chain connecting Iran to its Lebanese partner, Hezbollah. With the ring broken and Hezbollah's capabilities degraded after a devastating war with Israel, experts say the axis has become severely weak.
Khamenei said only "ignorant and uninformed analysts" would assess that the axis has become weak and vowed that its reach "will expand across the region more than before."
Reza Alijani, an Iranian political analyst based in France, told RFE/RL's Radio Farda that Khamenei's comments were more "trash talk" than anything else.
"The axis may not have been defeated, but it has suffered a serious blow and the Islamic republics arms in the region have been deal major hits," he said.
Alijani argued that factions within the Islamic republic's core support base may be starting to question Khamenei's policies and vision after the recent setbacks, which he said is a cause for concern among the clerical establishment's top brass.
With reporting by Hooman Askary of RFE/RL’s Radio Farda
EU Blasts Georgian Leaders' 'Repressive' Methods As Protesters Return To Streets
TBILISI -- Pro-Europe protesters rallied on the streets of Tbilisi for the 13th consecutive night, while European Union foreign ministers warned the Georgian Dream-led government of consequences for its "democratic backslide" and "repressive" tactics against demonstrators.
Some 4,000 protesters, many waving EU and Georgian flags, gathered outside the parliament building on December 10, angered over the government’s recent decision to set aside EU accession talks until at least 2028 and following elections held amid accusations of Russian meddling.
"Every day after work, we are coming here," Sofia Japaridze, 40, told AFP. "All of Georgia, every city, every village, everybody wants [to join] the EU. We don't want to go back to the U.S.S.R."
EU foreign ministers, set for a summit on December 16, said they will discuss punishing Georgian leaders after what they described as "credible concerns" of torture the past two weeks against pro-EU protesters.
"The persistent democratic backslide and the recent repressive means used by Georgian authorities have consequences for our bilateral relations. The EU will consider additional measures," a statement said.
"Over 400 individuals have been detained and more than 300 have reportedly suffered violence and ill-treatment, many requiring urgent medical care."
It said there are "credible concerns of torture and inhuman treatment" and said reports of human rights violations must be investigated.
"The EU deplores these repressive actions against protesters, media representatives, and opposition leaders and calls for the immediate release of all detained individuals," it said.
In a draft document seen by RFE/RL ahead of a separate European Council meeting on December 19, the EU raised concerns about the government's violent crackdown on protesters and its decision to suspend the country's EU accession process until 2018.
"The European Council strongly condemns the violence against peaceful protesters,” the document reads.
“The Georgian authorities must respect the right to freedom of assembly and of expression, and refrain from using force. All acts of violence must be investigated and those responsible held accountable.”
Britain on December 9 said it was severely restricting its contacts with the Georgia government and blasted its "shocking" crackdown on journalists and pro-Western demonstrators, reflecting earlier moves by the United States and EU.
Georgia received EU candidate status in December 2023 but relations with Brussels have soured in recent months, beginning with the adoption of a controversial "foreign agent" law that critics say threatens to publicly discredit thousands of media outlets and civil society groups as "serving" outside powers.
Tensions rose after the ruling Georgian Dream party declared victory in an election on October 26 that the pro-Western opposition and Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili say was rigged with the help of Moscow.
Protests intensified after the Tbilisi government said it was suspending until 2028 talks with Brussels on Georgia's bid to join the EU.
In the Georgian capital, riot police have deployed tear gas and water cannons against mostly peaceful demonstrators over recent days, with many journalists reporting they have been targeted by security forces and men in civilian clothes.
Despite the strong words, the EU could have difficulties coming to a consensus during the summit.
Right-wing Hungarian leader Viktor Orban has expressed support for Georgia's government while condemning efforts to sanction Georgian Dream leaders over the brutal tactics.
With reporting by AFP
- By RFE/RL
U.S. Loans Ukraine $20 Billion Before Biden's Departure
WASHINGTON -- The United States on December 10 said it has loaned Ukraine $20 billion backed by the interest earned on frozen Russian assets, part of a $50 billion G7 support package agreed to this summer.
The Biden administration had promised to distribute the loan before the end of the year amid concern over whether President-elect Donald Trump would continue U.S. support for Ukraine.
Trump, who enters office on January 20, has repeatedly criticized the amount of U.S. aid to Ukraine but also said he would support a lend-lease program.
Ukraine is heavily dependent on U.S. and European military and financial aid as it seeks to stop Russia's invasion, now in its third year. The $61 billion U.S. aid package for Ukraine passed in April -- the fifth since the war started in February 2022 -- but will likely run out by early next year.
That means the $50 billion G7 loan is crucial to ensuring Ukraine has enough funds and weapons to defend itself through the first part of 2025 should Trump halt further support.
"These funds -- paid for by the windfall proceeds earned from Russia's own immobilized assets -- will provide Ukraine a critical infusion of support as it defends its country against an unprovoked war of aggression," U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said in a December 10 statement.
The G7's loans "will help ensure Ukraine has the resources it needs to sustain emergency services, hospitals, and other foundations of its brave resistance," Yellen said, adding that Washington's support would help Kyiv "defend its sovereignty and achieve a just peace."
The loan announcement follows many months of talks between the United States and its allies -- including the European Union -- about the best way to use frozen Russian assets, worth hundreds of billions of dollars, to help Ukraine without breaking international law.
The treasury said Washington had transferred $20 billion to a World Bank fund, which will make the money available to Ukraine.
Ex-Mercenary Bodyguard Of Moscow-Friendly Romanian Candidate Freed
A Romanian former mercenary and bodyguard of far-right pro-Russian presidential candidate Calin Georgescu has been released by a Romanian court after he and a group of armed associates were detained by police while heading toward Bucharest on December 8.
Horatiu Potra had been detained for 24 hours late on December 8 for violating Romania's laws on weapons and ammunition and for public incitement, but a court in the southern Romanian city of Ploiesti ordered him released and placed under judiciary control for 60 days for the duration of an investigation into the prosecutors' claims.
One of his associates, Andrei Florin Filip, 22, was also placed under judiciary control.
Prosecutor Maria Florentina Ilioiu told Romanian media she will appeal the court's decision to release Potra instead of ordering him in preventive custody.
Unnamed sources told Romanian media that investigators who searched Potra's residence found approximately 2 million euros ($2.1 million) in safes as well as weapons. Media reports said Potra owns 75 plots of land in Romania as well as 30 pieces of real estate and 15 kilograms of solid gold worth 6 million Romanian lei ($1.27 million).
Potra and a group of 20 people were stopped and searched in Ilfov county north of Bucharest by police on December 8. During the search guns, machetes, axes, and knives were found, which, authorities said, could have been used to "disrupt public order and peace."
At least 13 people were being questioned by law enforcement agencies.
The arrest came as Georgescu and dozens of his supporters staged a protest early on December 8 in Bucharest after a runoff presidential vote scheduled for that day was scrapped by the country's Constitutional Court.
Georgescu won a shock victory in the first round on November 24 amid accusations that he had been backed by a huge Russian-orchestrated online campaign using primarily the Chinese-owned TikTok social media platform.
Romania's Supreme Defense Council later declassified documents allegedly proving Georgescu's presidential bid had been aided by a campaign led by a "state actor" which was not named.
Following the council's move, the court canceled the December 8 runoff between Georgescu and pro-European center-right candidate Elena Lasconi.
Romanian authorities staged raids and traffic checkpoints after Georgescu urged his supporters to show up at polling stations on December 8 in defiance of the court's ruling and demand to vote.
Media reports said Potra and his companions had booked hotels in downtown Bucharest close to University Square, where anti-Georgescu protesters had gathered in previous days.
A former fighter in France's Foreign Legion, Potra is reported to have led a 900-strong contingent of Romanian military contractors who fought in the African country of Congo.
He is said to have had ties to Russian mercenary group Wagner, which fought in Ukraine and was established by the late Yevgeny Prigozhin, a close associate of Russian President Vladimir Putin, who died in a plane crash last year after staging a short-lived revolt against Russian military leaders.
Potra, who has denied having any links to Wagner, appears in a photo last year in the company of Russian Ambassador to Romania Valery Kuzmin at a ceremony at the embassy marking Russia's national day.
According to Romanian media, Potra was sentenced to two years in prison with a suspended sentence in 2011 after being found guilty of founding a paramilitary group. He has also entered Romanian politics and is currently a local councilor in the central Romanian city of Medias.
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