Top stories in Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia from January 22-26, 2024

● Two protesters in Tbilisi, who unsuccessfully attempted to prevent the eviction of a family for non-payment of a bank debt, are now facing 3-6 years in prison. Giorgi Hasaya and Kako Chikobawa are accused of damaging the car of enforcement bureau employees. The court rejected the lawyers’ proposal to release them on bail until the final court hearing, despite guarantees from professors at the universities where the accused work.

● The leader of the ruling party is confident in securing a constitutional majority in the upcoming parliamentary elections in October. Currently, Georgian Dream holds a simple majority in parliament. Irakli Kobakhidze believes that the United National Movement, led by the opposition leader, will receive no more than 30-35 mandates.

● The NGO “Coalition for Reliable Information” demands that the authorities “stop the targeted attack on civil organizations.” The statement cites “discreditable statements by the Chairman of Parliament against the head of the Tolerance Center under the Public Defender Beku Mindiashvili, the Laboratory for the Study of the Soviet Past (SovLab), and Civic Idea.” The organization sees these political manipulations as a significant threat, especially with elections scheduled this year.

● Georgia ranks third in the updated Eastern Partnership Index, following Moldova and Ukraine. Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Belarus share the fourth, fifth, and sixth places, respectively.

● Doctors included in the special commission created by the Public Defender visited ex-President Saakashvili at the Vivamed clinic after a four-month break. They noted some progress in his condition, although his neurological condition remains severe.

● Doctors at the Republican Hospital in Tbilisi urge fellow citizens to join their protest announced for today. The team is protesting against the decision to demolish the clinic, with authorities citing the old building’s condition. Plans include constructing a new clinic on the site, and all employees have been offered jobs in other clinics along with monetary compensation.

● A young man succumbed to knife wounds in the center of Tbilisi, on Orbeliani Square. Preliminary information suggests he was attacked on the street by several teenagers.

● Armenia’s National Security Service reports identifying 8 new minefield forms in Nagorno-Karabakh, soon to be shared with Azerbaijan and international partners. Information obtained from Karabakh military personnel surveys.

● Armenia’s government sends an agreement on the EU observation mission’s status, proposing an increase to 209 members, for parliament ratification. Constitutional Court approval is required.

● Baku court extends the arrest period for former Nagorno-Karabakh military-political leaders.

● Armenia to join China’s Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, acquiring a $37.4 million stake.

● Armenia to introduce penalties for driving with summer tires in winter.

● Armenian Ministry of Internal Affairs to sign a memorandum with Europol for a secure communication channel.

● Heavy snowfall in Armenia exceeds the entire month’s total in just 3 days.

● In Yerevan, Arianna Hovsepyan’s (owner of NewsPress.am) car set on fire by Martin Amirkhanyan, who confessed on social networks, promising to explain to the police.

● Early today, 30 families (104 people) of internally displaced persons left Baku for permanent residence in Fizuli, bringing the total to 500 families (1,854 people) settled in Fuzuli.

● Baku is exploring the procedure for Azerbaijan’s withdrawal from the Council of Europe, potentially in response to PACE’s refusal to approve the Azerbaijani delegation’s powers. There’s also consideration of refusing the jurisdiction of the ECHR, reports APA.

● Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs responds to Armenia’s intention to provide minefield maps, stating it cannot be seen as a trust-building measure. Azerbaijan expects accurate maps of all mined areas and information on the fate of around 4,000 missing Azerbaijanis, along with details on mass grave locations, according to the statement.

● The arrest period for former leaders of the unrecognized NKR, including Ruben Vardanyan, Arkady Ghukasyan, and others, detained in Karabakh, has been extended for another 4 months.

● Azerbaijan welcomed 2,085,000 foreigners from 187 countries in 2023, marking a 30.2% increase from 2022. Main sources include Russia, Turkey, Iran, India, and Georgia. Land borders have been closed since March 2020.

● Russia reports importing two more batches of eggs from Azerbaijan, totaling 4.2 million eggs, according to Rosselkhoznadzor.

● Azerbaijan suspends its activities in PACE, citing an “unbearable atmosphere of racism, Azerbaijanophobia, and Islamophobia.” The delegation, expressing dissatisfaction, leaves the hall after making a statement condemning the organization’s behavior.

● PACE does not ratify the powers of the Azerbaijani delegation, with 76 votes in favor, 10 against, and 4 abstentions.

● The Shanghai Cooperation Organization will send an observer mission to monitor Azerbaijan’s presidential elections on February 7, 2024, following an invitation from the Central Election Commission.

● New articles in the criminal code include penalties for displaying symbols violating Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity (up to 5 or 12 years) and disseminating information about Azerbaijani Armed Forces during wartime (3 to 8 years).

● Azerbaijan emerges as the primary buyer of Georgian potatoes, importing $861 thousand worth in 2023.

● The National Museum of Georgia has expressed readiness to assemble a specialized team of restorers to assist Abkhazia in the restoration of paintings and sculptures salvaged from the devastating fire on January 21 that ravaged the National Art Gallery of Abkhazia.

● The Center for Social Justice is urging authorities to halt any planned winter evictions from apartments due to unpaid bank debts. On January 23, the Khatiashvili family faced eviction, leading to a clash with police and the subsequent detention of 20 individuals amid significant resistance.

● The Ombudsman reported that six out of the 20 individuals arrested during the Khatiashvili family eviction, and who opposed it, claimed to have suffered bodily harm inflicted by police officers.

● Georgia and Saudi Arabia have agreed to establish an Intergovernmental Coordination Council, aiming to elevate existing relations between the two countries. The decision was reached during a meeting between Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili and Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince, Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.

● In 2023, Georgia saw an increased dependence on natural gas imports from Russia and Iran, with Russian supplies rising by 16.5%. Imports from Iran also witnessed a significant increase, though their share in total purchases remains negligible. The Ministry of Economy cited heightened annual gas consumption and reduced supplies from Azerbaijan as contributing factors.

● New ambassadors have been appointed to China, Israel, Jordan, and Kuwait.

● On February 4, an official farewell ceremony for Georgian sumo wrestler Levan Gorgadze (Tochinoshin) is scheduled in Tokyo. Tochinoshin, who competed in sumo from 2006 to 2023, secured the Emperor’s Cup in 2018 and attained the title of Ozeki, the second-highest rank in the sumo hierarchy.

● Due to heavy snowfalls and the risk of avalanches in the mountains, truck movement is prohibited on the Gudauri-Kobi section of the highway leading from the Russian border.

● An international cyber gang engaging in fraudulent investment schemes has been exposed. One leader is apprehended, and 20 others are implicated. The group, comprised of citizens from Armenia and other nations, deceived individuals with false promises of “super-profitable investments.” The scammers operated through a network of offices, targeting residents worldwide. Funds were fraudulently obtained in cryptocurrency, amounting to an estimated $320,000 in damages to the state, excluding individual losses. The community, posing as employment agencies and IT companies, was formed in March 2022. Read more here

● “The West challenges the Russian Federation’s role in the Azerbaijan-Armenia settlement and attempts to entice them to Brussels,” states Sergey Lavrov.

● Deputies from the ruling faction held discussions with Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan, covering topics such as the Armenian-Azerbaijani process, normalization of relations with Turkey, and regional issues.

● Armenia and Kazakhstan military colleges agree to enhance cooperation and collaborate on sergeant training.

● Armenian rescuers successfully freed 144 cars trapped in the snow in the last two days alone.

● Two horses spotted on the streets of Yerevan, one struck by a car on Isakov Avenue with broken hind legs. The purpose of the animals being on the city streets remains unclear, with speculation on social networks suggesting they were used for entertainment.

● The oldest Azerbaijani voter, Nabieva Bari, aged 124, is listed in Agdash for the upcoming early presidential elections on February 7, according to the Central Election Commission (CEC).

● Minister of Internal Affairs Vilayat Eyvazov issues directives to address persistent traffic jams on central Baku streets, prioritizing the crackdown on illegal parking.

● Azerbaijan’s 2023 oil exports exceeded 26 million tons, valued at $16.2 billion, with Italy, Israel, India, Germany, and Spain ranking as the top five buyers, as reported by the State Customs Committee.

● An explosion at a Ministry of Defense Industry plant in Shirvan resulted in three injuries, caused by a hammer striking a 120-mm mortar shell, according to the Prosecutor General’s Office.

● Jalilabad region observes a decline in measles cases, with only one reported in the past two days. Since November last year, 391 cases of measles have been recorded in the region.

● No new meeting agreements with Lavrov, states Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan. The last proposal came before the November 2023 OSCE ministerial meeting; no further offers have been presented.

● Washington expresses interest in restarting Armenia-Azerbaijan negotiations, but no new meeting details available, according to US State Department spokesman Vedant Patel.

● Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights Dunja Mijatović urges Armenia and Azerbaijan to prioritize human rights protection.

● The Belgian Embassy is set to open in Armenia.

● Eurowings plans to launch direct flights Yerevan-Berlin-Yerevan starting May.

● Central Bank Council member David Nahapetyan donates banknote samples from various series to the Museum of the History of Armenia.

● Broadcast ban lifted from Tospa company by the Television and Radio Commission; it rebroadcasts Sputnik Armenia radio.

● In the center of Tbilisi, 20 individuals were arrested on Kekelidze Street following clashes with police and executive bureau personnel during the eviction of the Khatiashvili family due to long-standing financial debt on a bank loan. Read more here

● Gela Mtivlishvili, editor of “Mtis Ambebi,” arrested during the Kekelidze Street protest, alleged mistreatment, and mockery by police, despite identifying as a journalist fulfilling professional duties.

● Ex-Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia, opposition leader, announced his party “For Georgia” will independently contest the parliamentary elections in October, ruling out participation in electoral alliances.

● The NGO “Civic Idea” and its founder Tina Khidasheli, monitoring Chinese activities in Georgia, express outrage over parliament chairman’s accusations of Taiwanese funding, claiming it deliberately incites anti-Chinese sentiment. This follows the article “A drop in the bucket – Chinese investment in Georgia.”

● Latest data on leading exporting countries to Georgia:
• Türkiye – $2.6 billion
• USA – $1.95 billion
• Russia – $1.74 billion.

● The crew of the ship Lider Halil, under Georgian captain Vazha Dzhangveladze, rescued 34 migrants from a sinking boat in the Mediterranean Sea near the island of Crete (pictured).

●  “The EU High Representative’s distortion of facts disregards Azerbaijan’s legitimate interests. The threatening rhetoric is an example of double standards, further exacerbating relations between Azerbaijan and the EU,” is how the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry responded to Josep Borrell who had expressed concern over “territorial claims by President Aliyev”.

●  PACE did not approve the credentials of the Azerbaijani delegation during its first meeting of the winter session, limiting its voting rights.

According to Azerbaijani pro-government sources, this proposal was put forth by Deputy Frank Schwabe from Germany. The main reasons cited include Baku’s refusal to allow MEPs to:

• visit the Lachin corridor,
• monitor the situation in Karabakh,
• meet with Azerbaijani political prisoners.

●  “The US is interested in close cooperation with Baku and Yerevan on the peace agreement. While there is no official announcement of a meeting between the foreign ministers of Azerbaijan and Armenia in Washington, we anticipate discussions on this soon,” said US State Department spokesperson Vedant Patel.

●  The Roadmap of Azerbaijani-Russian cooperation for 2024-2026 has been signed in Baku.

●  A new SOCAR gasoline station has opened in the town of Fizuli. This marks the ninth gas station for the company in Karabakh and East Zangezur.

●  Azerbaijan has sent another batch of eggs to Russia – 612,000 pieces. As of January 22, 3.6 million eggs have been imported to Russia from Azerbaijan.

●  In Canada, a group attempting to smuggle stolen cars to Azerbaijan and Georgia has been arrested. Charges related to nearly 100 offenses have been laid against 11 suspects. The police recovered 52 stolen vehicles after a series of searches over the past two months.

●  “The latest territorial claims by President Aliyev are very concerning, and any violation of Armenia’s territorial integrity would be unacceptable and will have severe consequences for our relations with Azerbaijan,” Josep Borrell, the European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, said told journalists following the EU Council meeting.

● Narine Hayrapetyan, a member of the Yerevan Council of Elders, reported having been abducted. She alleges that on the morning of January 15, unknown individuals forcibly placed her in a car, blindfolded her, and took her to an undisclosed location, where a man aged 60-65 discussed her political activities. Later, the same individuals released her on Yerevan’s Abovyan Street. The Investigative Committee of Armenia has opened a criminal case regarding the abduction, and investigation is underway to verify the incident’s details.

●  The Ministry of Education and Science suggests renaming the subject “History of the Armenian people” to “History of Armenia.”

●  Moped ambulances are set to be introduced in the Yerevan ambulance service. This move is prompted by the shortage of cars and brigades, as there are only 43 ambulance brigades for almost 2 million residents in Yerevan. Mopeds will be deployed for cases that do not require hospitalization.

●  Justice Minister Rati Bregadze (pictured) on the imprisoned former President Saakashvili: “He wanted to be alone. If he wants, we can arrange for someone to join him, no problem.”

● Leader of the “For Georgia” party Giorgi Gakharia: “We have no plans to unite with anyone. We will go to [the parliamentary elections in 2024] alone and win them on our own.”

●  A resident of Kakheti is accused of raping his deceased wife’s 13-year-old niece, the prosecutor’s office reports. The girl’s brother attacked the alleged rapist with a knife and is currently detained. The investigation is proceeding on two counts: “intentional infliction of grievous bodily harm” and “rape.”

● Georgia’s Anti-Corruption Bureau will check the property declarations of 300 officials “due to high public interest.” Among those to be checked are Prime Minister Garibashvili, Georgian Dream leader Irakli Kobakhidze, and Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze.

● Starting from April 20, the Dutch low-cost carrier Transavia will begin operating flights Tbilisi-Amsterdam-Tbilisi, as announced by the operator of Tbilisi and Batumi airports, TAV Georgia.

● Armenia’s first woman, Milena, is going to undergo six months of mandatory military service. As a programmer, she applied to the Military Academy, Vazgen Sargsyan, for two years. Initially rejected due to vision issues, she was later deemed fit for service after correction.

● Footage emerges on Azerbaijani social networks featuring former leaders and high-ranking officials of Nagorno-Karabakh, held in a Baku pre-trial detention center since September last year.

● The Armenian Prime Minister stated, “We expect guarantees from Baku that Azerbaijan does not want to leave arguments hidden between the lines for future territorial claims against Yerevan.”

● A friendship group with Armenia is established in the Greek parliament, led by the Secretary General of the Nea Democracy party, Stavros Kalafatis.

● Azerbaijan commemorated the victims of the January 20, 1990 tragedy. Read more here

● This morning, an additional 30 families of internally displaced persons (106 people) relocated for permanent residence in the city of Fizuli. Today, a total of 440 families (1,625 people) have been provided with accommodation in Fuzuli.

● Prosecutor General Kamran Aliyev informed reporters that the investigation against Armenian separatists (former leaders of the unrecognized NKR – JAMnews) is ongoing in accordance with international conventions and national legislation.

● In Agdam, a landmine blast injured 44-year-old Faig Abyshov, who was subsequently hospitalized. The Foreign Ministry stated that Armenia’s indiscriminate planting of landmines continues to endanger civilians, with the death toll reaching 342 since 2020. “All must exert pressure on Armenia to obtain precise information on landmine maps,” states the Foreign Ministry’s announcement.

● Baku and BP explored collaborative efforts for a solar power plant in Karabakh. Prime Minister Ali Asadov and BP’s Executive Vice President Gordon Birrell discussed future cooperation prospects and the significance of BP’s projects in Azerbaijan.

● Georgia’s Minister of Education and Science is anticipated in Baku this week. Giorgi Amilakhvari will meet with Azerbaijani counterpart Emin Amrullayev to discuss, among other things, the development of exchange programs for teachers and students and joint scientific research.

● A significant carbon monoxide poisoning incident occurred in the Bilasuvar region, with 11 people seeking treatment at a local hospital.

● Colombia extradited Azerbaijani citizen Syanan Shakyarli, wanted internationally, to Baku. Shakyarli faces charges of fraud causing major damage, and the extradition transpired despite the absence of a legal framework for extradition between the two countries.

● “The ruling party has adopted the manipulation of the Georgian Orthodox Church and anti-Western rhetoric as its primary strategy for the upcoming parliamentary elections in October,” declared the civil platform “No to Phobia!” This follows accusations by the Chairman of Parliament against NGO SOVLAB and the head of the Tolerance Center, Beki Mindiashvili, in relation to the public outrage over an icon depicting Stalin in Tbilisi’s main cathedral. The speaker accused them of “spreading disinformation, manipulation, and hysteria,” branding theologian Beka Mindiashvili as “hostile to the Georgian church” and urging the ombudsman to “react accordingly.”

● In Abkhazia, the National Art Gallery has been razed to the ground, resulting in the destruction of over 4,000 artworks. Read more here

● Mayor of the capital, Kakha Kaladze, remarked on the October parliamentary elections, stating that “the ruling party is not the kind of people who can follow orders to commit actions against the country.”

● Employees and visitors in the four largest shopping centers in Batumi were evacuated following an anonymous call about explosive devices. Police and dog handlers found nothing suspicious. A false report about the mining of Batumi airport was received the day before.

● Five prominent Georgian NGOs have called on the international community to respond to the detention of at least 10 journalists in Azerbaijan. The statement highlights the Azerbaijani government’s “intolerance of dissent” and the political motives behind the arrests. The appeal was endorsed by Democracy Research Institute (DRI), Civic Idea, Tbilisi office of the International Partnership for Human Rights, Center for Social Justice, and Center for Human Rights.

● Director of the Center for Infectious Pathology and AIDS, Tengiz Tsertsvadze, reported two deaths from influenza and zero deaths among Covid patients during this autumn-winter season. The peak incidence is anticipated in February-March.

● Another Georgian football player is set to join Serie A. Italian club Empoli officially announced the transfer of 19-year-old Georgian defender Saba Goglichidze from Torpedo Kutaisi. A four-year contract has been signed with the Georgian youth team player.

Top stories in Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia from January 15-19, 2024