The Caucasus Digest

The recent cuts to US foreign aid have affected media outlets across the Caucasus and the world — including OC Media. This week, OC Media editor-in-chief Robin Fabbro and co-directors Mariam Nikuradze and Dominik Cagara sit down to discuss how OC Media’s plans to survive and thrive in the new global reality through its membership programme and the support of its readers. Read more: * OC Media co-director Mariam Nikuradze fined twice for ‘road blocking’ while covering rallies [https://oc-media.org/oc-media-co-director-mariam-nikuradze-fined-for-road-blocking-while-covering-rally/] * OC Media donates crowdfunding proceeds to local media as Trump’s aid cuts continue to hit [https://oc-media.org/oc-media-donates-crowdfunding-proceeds-to-local-media-as-trumps-aid-cuts-continue-to-hit/] * OC Media faces closure after Trump–Musk aid cuts hit $250,000 in funding [https://oc-media.org/oc-media-faces-closure-after-trump-musk-aid-cuts-hit-250-000-in-funding/] Support independent journalism in the Caucasus and become an OC Media Member: Join today [https://oc-media.org/membership/].

Mzia Amaghlobeli, the director of Georgian news sites Batumelebi and Netgazeti, has been arrested on charges of assaulting a police officer after slapping Batumi’s police chief during a heated exchange. Journalists, legal experts, and media watchdogs have criticised the arrest, saying that the charges, under which she could face four to seven years in prison, are wildly disproportionate to what she had done. This week, we spoke with Batumelebi’s Irma Dimitradze about the circumstances surrounding the arrest, to journalist Tamar Rukhadze, about the current media environment in Georgia, and to OC Media’s Mariam Nikuradze about the legal debate around her prosecution. Read more: * Batumelebi and Netgazeti founder Amaghlobeli begins hunger strike while in pretrial detention [https://oc-media.org/batumelebi-and-netgazeti-founder-amaghlobeli-begins-hunger-strike-while-in-pretrial-detention/] * Batumelebi employee accuses police of hacking and wiping phone following arrest [https://oc-media.org/batumelebi-employee-accuses-police-of-hacking-and-wiping-phone-following-arrest/] Support independent journalism in the Caucasus and become an OC Media Member: Join today [https://oc-media.org/membership/]. …or donate to the collective Georgian media security fund [https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-media-in-the-fight-for-democracy-in-georgia].

On 9 January, Ukraine’s Parliament has recognised the Russian Empire’s 19th century genocide of the Circassians, during which Russian forced killed or deported hundreds of thousands of Circassians from their homeland in the Caucasus. This week, OC Media’s Yousef Bardouka talks about the genocide and its impact on the Circassians and the Caucasus and the significance of the resolution, while Ukrainian MP Oleksiy Goncharenko, a co-author of the resolution, talks about how the bill came to be and Ukraine’s role in supporting the people of the North Caucasus. Read more: * Ukraine recognises Circassian Genocide [https://oc-media.org/ukraine-recognises-circassian-genocide/] Support independent journalism in the Caucasus and become an OC Media Member: Join today [https://oc-media.org/membership/]. …or donate to the collective Georgian media security fund [https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-media-in-the-fight-for-democracy-in-georgia].

OC Media's Robin Fabbro, Mariam Nikuradze, and Shota Kincha sit down and chat about the protests against the Georgian government’s decision to halt EU integration, going on for almost a month now as the holiday season descends on Georgia.  Support independent journalism in the Caucasus and become an OC Media Member: Join today [https://oc-media.org/membership/]. …or donate to the collective Georgian media security fund [https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-media-in-the-fight-for-democracy-in-georgia].

OC Media's Robin Fabbro, Nate Ostiller, Arshaluys Barseghyan, and Yousef Bardouka talk about the regime change in Syria and what it means for the Caucasian diaspora communities in the country and what it says about Russia’s influence and power globally. Read more: * Armenia says ‘no opportunity’ to evacuate Syrian–Armenians [https://oc-media.org/armenia-says-no-opportunity-to-evacuate-syrian-armenians/] * Syrian rebel leader condemns Abkhazia and South Ossetia recognition [https://oc-media.org/syrian-rebel-leader-condemns-abkhazia-and-south-ossetia-recognition/] * Right of return? — The struggles of the Circassian diaspora to settle in Adygea [https://oc-media.org/features/right-of-return-the-struggles-of-the-circassian-diaspora-to-settle-in-adygea/]   Support independent journalism in the Caucasus and become an OC Media Member: Join today [https://oc-media.org/membership/]. …or donate to the collective Georgian media security fund [https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-media-in-the-fight-for-democracy-in-georgia].