Category: General

The Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan reported the shelling of Azerbaijani army positions in Kelbajar, Nakhchivan and Shusha the night before and last night.

According to the press service of the Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan, on June 28, from 22:35 to 23:15, units of the Armenian armed forces fired at the positions of the Azerbaijani army stationed in the direction of the settlements of Zeylik and Istisu of the Kelbajar region and the Heydarabad-Sadarak region of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic.

Aside from this, the press release further states that from 23:55 on June 28 to 00:50 on June 29, Armenian armed units in Karabakh fired at the positions of the Azerbaijani army in the Shusha region. Azerbaijani units have taken retaliatory measures, the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry said in conclusion.

At that, the Armenian Defense Ministry and the separatists deny the information about the shootings in these areas.

Source: Turan News Agency

Regular bus service has started operating between the Armenian villages of Shusha district and Khankendi. Two trips accompanied by Russian peacekeepers will be carried out on this route every week. The first two flights have already been made on June 24 and 26, the “Caucasian Knot” reports.

Ambulances can also be accompanied by peacekeepers to these villages and, if necessary, patients can be delivered to Khankendi medical institutions.

It may be recalled that transport links between Khankendi and 4 Armenian villages of Shusha district have been restricted since last winter, when a protest rally of Azerbaijani environmentalists began on the Lachin-Khankendi highway near the city of Shusha.

As of the end of April, after the establishment of the Azerbaijani border checkpoint “Lachin” on the border with Armenia, the protest action of environmentalists was stopped. However, the Azerbaijani security forces took control of the road in this section.

Obviously, the launch of a bus service from Armenian villages to Khankendi was the result of recent discussions with the Azerbaijani authorities of representatives of the United States, the EU, and other international structures on improving the situation of the Armenian residents of Karabakh.

Source: Turan News Agency

The Council of Europe has published the report “Prison Population 2022”, prepared by the University of Lausanne.

According to the report, as of the end of 2022 in Europe’s prisons a total of 981,575 people were serving their sentences. Turkey has the largest number of prisoners – 303.945, followed by 79.092 in the UK, 71. 874 in Poland and 69.964 in France.

Lawyer Khalid Aghaliyev noted, commenting on the report, that in Turkey there are 355 people imprisoned or already convicted to imprisonment per every 100.000 people.

According to this index, Georgia follows Turkey with 237 prisoners per 100.000 people.

In third place is Azerbaijan with the index of 216.8 prisoners per 100.000 people, continued Aghaliyev.

According to him, in Azerbaijan the total number of prisoners is 22 334, of which 21 713 are men and 621 women.

In Azerbaijan prisons there are 436 foreign nationals of men and 11 – women.

Of the total number of prisoners, 12.6% were sentenced for 1 to 3 years, 39.6% for 3 to 5 years, 32.7% for 5 to 10 years, 13.1% for 10 to 20 years and 1.7% for life.

Total number of places in prisons in Azerbaijan is 25,471 and they are 87.7% occupied.

However, as Turan notes, the occupancy figures in the prisons are contrary to reports from relatives of prisoners, who claim that penitentiary institutions are overcrowded, and in particular that there are more convicts than there are beds in the cells.

Azerbaijani authorities do not provide information on the number of prison staff, citing the secrecy of such data, said lawyer Aghaliyev.

In 2020 there were 208 prisoners per 100,000 people in Azerbaijan, and 215 in 2021.

In 2021, the annual cost of imprisonment in Azerbaijan was 64.8 million EUR or 7.97 EUR per prisoner per day. This is the lowest figure among Council of Europe countries after Ukraine.

In Turkey the daily cost per prisoner is 9.81 euros, in Georgia it is 10.55 euros and in Moldova 12.7 euros.

At that, Ireland is the leader in terms of spending on prisoners, where the figure is 1,207 euro per inmate per day. Next comes Norway – 378 euro, Luxembourg – 327 euro, and Liechtenstein – 300 euro.

The European average is 81.41 euros. -03B06-

Unknown assailants attacked AzTV crew in Nanterre, France

Baku/29.06.23/Turan: A film crew of the state television of Azerbaijan – AzTV has been attacked in France, AzTV said in a statement of “Azerbaijan Television and Radio Broadcasting” CISC.

The crew of the state television AzTV in France was attacked, the press service of “Azerbaijani Television and Radio Broadcasting” CISC said in a statement.

Journalist Kamil Balakishiyev and cameraman Ogtay Gasymov were attacked the previous day in Nanterre where the crew was preparing a report on the consequences of the riots caused by the murder of a 17-year-old Algerian boy by police.

The journalist and cameraman were slightly injured in the attack and the camera was taken from their hands. Besides, when demanding the return of the camera, the attackers threatened them with weapons.

AzTV described the attack on the Azerbaijani journalists as a “violation of the principles of freedom of expression and independent journalism in general”.

AzTV called on the French law enforcement agencies to conduct a thorough and impartial investigation into the incident, detain and punish those responsible for the attack on the journalists with weapons and take appropriate measures to compensate for the damage caused.

Source: Turan News Agency

Deputies of the Parliament of Kyrgyzstan completed the summer session today, June 29. Deputies considered 53 issues on the agenda.

After the end of the session, the Speaker of the Parliament, Nurlanbek Shakiev reported on the work done during the year and the bills considered.

The deputies will resume their work in September.

Source: 24.kg News Agency

A solemn ceremony of the official launch of Creative Industries Park took place in Bishkek. The head of the Cabinet of Ministers of Kyrgyzstan Akylbek Japarov took part in the event. The press service of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic reported.

According to the head of the Cabinet, despite various negative forecasts, the authorities managed not only to ensure stability and steady growth of the country, but also to prove to the world the opposite — Kyrgyzstan can do it.

He added that now Kyrgyzstan is actively moving to the next stage of development, where about 50 percent of the country’s population are young people.

«Creativity is the engine of progress. From this day on, we are starting a bright and promising stage in the economic development of Kyrgyzstan, associated with the launch of Creative Industries Park, which will bring together talented, full of ideas and energy creators not only from all over Kyrgyzstan, but from all over the world. Throughout the year, our state, in a team with representatives of the creative industries, is making a creative breakthrough in Kyrgyzstan,» Akylbek Japarov said.

He called on creators from all over the world to become part of the Creative Industries Park in Kyrgyzstan.

«A vivid example of the creative industry is the creative group D Billions. They have become world stars and the pride of Kyrgyzstan. This confirms the enormous potential of our country and everyone present today. I urge you to continue actively and enthusiastically participate in building up this potential by promoting your projects and creating. The state, in turn, will continue to create conditions for promoting Zharatman Kyrgyzstan brand, help unlock the creative potential of citizens and create innovative products that are in demand in the world. Kyrgyzstan has great potential to become the first in the world in the field of modern developments and creative economy,» Akylbek Japarov said.

At the end of his speech, the head of the Cabinet thanked the Association of Creative Industries for their active creative work for the benefit of the country.

Source: 24.kg News Agency

Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of Kyrgyzstan Akylbek Japarov took part in the IV International Forum of Urologists of Kyrgyzstan. Press service of the Cabinet reported.

Akylbek Japarov noted that healthcare is one of the main social spheres.

«We are well aware that the possibilities in this direction are endless. Today we face many challenges and opportunities. Medicine is constantly developing, and urology is no exception. New technologies and diagnostic methods allow us to effectively provide assistance to patients with various diseases,» the head of the Cabinet said.

He noted that in 2010 the consolidated budget of the health care system was 5 billion soms, in 2022 — already 34 billion soms, and in 2023 — 37.2 billion soms.

The head of the Cabinet outlined the importance of training and constant exchange of knowledge in scientific activities.

«Exchange of experience is a very important aspect in science. Sharing your research, results, and findings allows to learn about new ideas, methods, and approaches, helps to avoid repetition and error, and promotes cooperation and interaction between scientists. The current forum is an excellent platform for this. I am sure that each of you will share your knowledge, ideas and experience,» Akylbek Japarov concluded and congratulated the participants on their professional holiday — the Day of the Medical Worker.

Source: 24.kg News Agency