Global unrest overnight: Shootings, protests, and political strives
Shooting at a police station in Paris leaves officers injured. A man shot and seriously injured two police officers at a police station in Paris, according to Reuters Agency. The incident occurred on Thursday evening. The assailant, who was detained at the station on charges of assaulting a woman, seized one of the officers' firearms, reported Paris police chief Laurent Nunez on Friday. "We have two police officers who are seriously wounded," Nunez stated, noting that the suspect was also gravely wounded. French media outlets report that officers returned fire after the man initially shot at them.
The prime minister conceded to four villages, and Armenians protested. On Thursday evening, thousands convened in downtown Yerevan to protest against Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's decision to cede disputed villages to Azerbaijan, reports PAP. The deal between Armenia and Azerbaijan was announced in April, including transferring four villages in the Tavush province to Baku. Thursday's protest was spearheaded by Archbishop Bagrat Galstanian, leader of the Tavush diocese. He led a congregation that marched approximately 100 miles over several days. The demonstrators demanded an end to the border delimitation and demarcation process with Azerbaijan and the cessation of unilateral compromises to Baku. Echo Kawkaza portal (Radio Free Europe's South Caucasus office) reported that residents of the border villages had been protesting for a few days prior. Subsequently, the opposition joined the demonstrations.
Putin nominates a prime minister, and Mishustin secures the position again. The Chairman of the Russian Duma announced on Friday that Russian leader Vladimir Putin has proposed Mikhail Mishustin for reappointment as the prime minister, according to reports by Reuters Agency. "President Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin submitted to the State Duma a proposal on the candidacy of Mikhail Vladimirovich Mishustin for the post of Chairman of the Government," Vyacheslav Volodin, the Duma Chairman, conveyed through Telegram. With virtually no opposition in the Russian parliament, Reuter notes that Mishustin's approval by the Duma is highly anticipated.
Lukashenko discusses Szmyd: "I've enlisted the police." Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko revealed to journalists that Minsk "will definitely consider" Tomasz Szmydt's asylum request. "They claim that the Russians and I recruit such individuals, that they are our agents, our staff. Absolute nonsense," he argued. "I've directed our police to ensure these scoundrels (from Poland) don't assassinate the man," he added. Lukashenko praised Szmydt as "a brave man" aware of the risks involved. He described Szmydt's flight to Belarus as "a blow to the Polish authorities." On Monday, it emerged that Tomasz Szmydt, a judge at the Provincial Administrative Court in Warsaw, had sought asylum in Minsk, alleging political persecution in Poland. Szmydt is implicated in the so-called hater affair at the Ministry of Justice.
Belgian station broadcasts a critical message: "Stop genocide." Before the Eurovision Song Contest transmission, Belgian television aired a statement condemning Israel's human rights violations. The VRT1 station published a special announcement. "We condemn the human rights violations of the Israeli state. Israel is also destroying the freedom of the press. That's why we temporarily interrupt the transmission. #CeaseFireNow #StopGenocide," the brief conveyed. The second semi-final of the 68th Eurovision Song Contest began on Thursday, featuring Eden Golan from Israel performing "October Rain," a song laden with references to a Hamas attack on Israel, igniting widespread controversy.
Source: Reuters Agency, PAP, WP News
