Top stories in Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Georgia from September 30 - October 4, 2024

● U.S. Ambassador Robin Dunnigan in an interview with the Georgian branch of Radio Liberty: “Some in Georgia believe that the outcome of U.S. elections will impact American policy toward Georgia. I think it’s important to understand that there is complete unity on this issue between Democrats and Republicans. In August, a bipartisan, bicameral delegation from Congress, led by Democratic Senator Shaheen and Republican Congressman Turner, visited Georgia. Their message to the Georgian leadership was that they are equally critical of its actions. In Congress, bipartisan legislation is being developed that not only supports the current U.S. administration’s policy but also calls for even more effective results.”

● Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze stated that “U.S. Embassy staff are spreading lies in their incomprehensible cards they publish.” “I asked Madam Ambassador, who generally looks at events rationally, to take a closer look at the work of her employees, including those preparing these cards,” said Kobakhidze. He was referring to information cards published by the embassy on social media to expose disinformation from the ruling “Georgian Dream” party regarding the case of party leader and oligarch Bidzina Ivanishvili and Switzerland’s Credit Suisse. These cards also debunked the claims that the Georgian organization “For Free Elections” (ISFED), allegedly supported by the West, attempted a coup in 2020. On October 3, the U.S. Embassy posted another message on social media stating that “countries cannot develop in isolation. Georgia’s isolation from the West contradicts the interests of its people.”

● The U.S. Department of State website reports that Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs James O’Brien will meet in Washington with Bishop Iakob (Iakobishvili) of the Georgian Orthodox Church, who is known as a strong supporter of the ruling party. Georgian media speculate that the government tasked him with conveying their position to Washington after the U.S. decided to forgo meetings with the Georgian leadership. Media outlets also note that O’Brien’s meeting with the Georgian clergyman is scheduled after his talks with the EU Special Envoy for Sanctions David O’Sullivan. According to the official report, Keti Chachava, head of the “Center for Development and Democracy,” will also be present at the meeting with the bishop.

● Partner organizations of the Council of Europe’s Platform for the Protection of Journalists and members of the European Media Freedom Rapid Response Program (MFRR) published a critical interim report following their mission to Georgia. The mission aimed to gather information on Georgia’s compliance with its commitments to free expression and media freedom, especially during the ongoing election campaign. The report states that the situation in these areas, and human rights in general, has sharply deteriorated in Georgia. The mission participants claim that a wide range of mechanisms is being used in the country to discredit and suppress independent and critical opinions. They expressed full support and solidarity with journalists, publications, and civil society organizations.

● Twenty-four members of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe signed a statement expressing concern about the situation in Georgia ahead of the parliamentary elections on October 26. “The facts of intimidation and the spread of disinformation suggest that the ruling ‘Georgian Dream’ is planning to sabotage the elections,” the statement reads.

● The monitoring coalition “My Voice” states that thousands of Georgian citizens living abroad face difficulties reaching polling stations and that their right to participate in the October 26 elections is restricted. Specifically, the CEC did not include in the voter lists displaced persons from Abkhazia and South Ossetia who later emigrated abroad. The CEC cites the reason as the fact that they have no actual address anywhere in Georgia outside of the occupied territories. At a briefing, one of the coalition leaders, Londa Toloraia, called on the Central Election Commission and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to address these and other issues facing emigrants ahead of the elections.

● The UN Program on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) urged the Georgian authorities to repeal the recently passed anti-LGBT law, as it poses a serious threat to public health and human rights. The law’s restrictions have been described in detail and labeled “fascist” by both local and international human rights defenders, read more here

● Meanwhile, Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili posted a lengthy statement on Facebook listing “all the great benefits of the law” and said that “the entire nation supports it.” He also criticized the opposition and the president, who recently refused to sign the law passed by the parliament.

● The NGO “Rights Compliance in Georgia” reported the worsening health condition of Azerbaijani journalist Afghan Sadigov, who was arrested in Tbilisi and is being prepared for extradition to Azerbaijan at Baku’s request, where he is accused of extortion. The journalist’s lawyers and family claim political persecution and are appealing to prevent his extradition. The organization’s lawyers met with Sadigov at Prison No. 8 on October 2 and 3 and reported that he is having difficulty speaking, moving, and concentrating. They requested his transfer to an appropriate medical facility.

● At the request of the prosecutor’s office, Beka Djaiani, accused of murdering popular transgender model Kessaria Abramidze, will undergo a psychiatric evaluation. The defendant has so far exercised his right to remain silent, but according to his lawyer Salome Ardotelli, he will present his position for the first time on November 7 at the pre-trial hearing. According to the prosecutor, additional investigative actions related to the murder are ongoing.

● WizzAir has issued a warning about a technical glitch that caused users to receive false notifications of mass booking cancellations or changes. “Please check your booking in the mobile app or on the website, but ignore these email messages. We will notify everyone as soon as the issue is resolved,” the airline said in a statement.

● A meeting between Nikol Pashinyan and Emmanuel Macron took place at the Élysée Palace (pictured). The Armenian Prime Minister reiterated that 80% of the peace agreement with Baku has been agreed upon, and Yerevan is ready to sign the deal. Pashinyan believes signing 13 out of 16 points will help bring peace and stability to the region. The French President reaffirmed his support for Armenia’s peace efforts.

● “The draft peace agreement does not include a point on the return of Azerbaijanis to Armenia,” stated the Deputy Foreign Minister.

● Nikol Pashinyan presented Armenia’s new embassy in Paris, which cost €23 million. The building is a former mansion of French President Valéry Giscard d’Estaing (1974–1981), located in Paris’ 16th district.

● Lawyers for Ruben Vardanyan, the former state minister of the unrecognized NKR, who is imprisoned in Azerbaijan, have filed lawsuits claiming he was tortured in jail. One case involves mistreatment during his hunger strike in April 2024, as reported by Reuters. Lawyers state that Vardanyan was placed in solitary confinement, forced to stand for long periods, denied showers, and deprived of water for two days, which they classify as torture. Another case argues that his right to a speedy trial was violated due to his detention since 2023.

● In Yerevan today, the Coordination Council of Prosecutors General of CIS countries will hold a meeting.

● Nikol Pashinyan went on a night bike ride in Paris.

● An unknown individual cut down 45 poplar trees in Yerevan’s Davitashen district, leading to the arrest of two suspects, according to the mayor’s office.

● Yerevan will host the largest-ever World Congress on IT, with a video address from Elon Musk. The main topic for WCIT-2024 will be the applications of artificial intelligence.

● During President Ilham Aliyev’s visit to the Zangilan region, which returned to Azerbaijani control after the Second Karabakh War, foundations for new housing complexes were laid, and a hydroelectric power station was inaugurated.

● Four mass graves and two burial sites were discovered in the Agdam district of Karabakh (pictured). “During the First Karabakh War, intense fighting took place in the Agdam district, and many of our soldiers were killed. It was impossible to recover most of the bodies, and they are still listed as missing,” said Zaur Ismailov, a representative of the State Commission on Prisoners of War, Hostages, and Missing Persons.

●  “Russia welcomes and supports Azerbaijan’s observer status in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and its closer interaction with BRICS,” said Sergey Naryshkin, head of Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service, during his visit to Baku, where he met with President Ilham Aliyev.

● “Russian and Azerbaijani intelligence services jointly thwarted a provocative threat from Americans against a Russian diplomat,” said Sergey Naryshkin.

● Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs dismissed as “unfounded and unacceptable” the anti-Azerbaijani statements by Lithuania’s Foreign Minister, Gabrielius Landsbergis, made at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE).
“The deadlock in cooperation between Azerbaijan and the Council of Europe, as claimed by Landsbergis, is due to PACE’s actions, particularly the unjust initiative to suspend the Azerbaijani delegation’s powers, supported by 76 parliamentarians. Azerbaijan’s representation in PACE is its right and must be unconditionally ensured,” Baku stated. Landsbergis had criticized Azerbaijan’s decision to blacklist MEPs who voted against extending Azerbaijan’s mandate in PACE.

● Azerbaijan’s Minister of Defense is on a working visit to Turkey. Zakir Hasanov will participate in the “TEKNOFEST 2024” aviation, space, and technology festival in Adana.

● Russia and Azerbaijan have established a bilateral working group to address the issue of the Caspian Sea’s decreasing water levels.

● Azerbaijan plans to include outpatient medications in the mandatory health insurance package.

● A Kazakh woman was arrested in Baku for helping phone scammers deceive elderly people. Korlan Asan Berdimurat was involved in stealing a total of 6,000 manats (around $3,600) from two Baku residents. She was caught after one victim, a 1936-born woman, reported the crime to the police. The scammers had called her landline, claiming her daughter-in-law was in a serious car accident and convinced her to hand over a large sum of money.

● Two passengers fell onto the tracks at different Baku metro stations. One died, and the condition of the other is unknown.

● Agdam’s football club “Qarabağ” lost its UEFA Europa League group stage match. The Azerbaijani champion was defeated 1-2 by Sweden’s Malmö in Baku.

● Renowned Russian figure skater Alena Kostornaia may join the Azerbaijani national team. Baku will host its first-ever Grand Prix of figure skating from September 24-27, 2025.

● Access to the bank accounts of the children of Bidzina Ivanishvili, the leader of the ruling party and oligarch, who live abroad, has been restricted, reported the TV channel “Formula.” Citing their sources, journalists claim that international banks have completely blocked access to some of the family members’ accounts, while others have been moved to operational status with limited access. These measures are part of “preliminary sanctions,” meaning the decision was made based on highly reliable information provided by the U.S. Treasury, State Department, or European institutions, according to the source. It is noted that this applies not only to banks under U.S., UK, and EU jurisdiction but extends to a broader geographic scope.

Local media report that Ivanishvili’s daughter Gvantsa lives in the U.S., his son Uta in France, and another son, the rapper Bera, lives in Brazil. According to journalists, only his youngest son Tsotne lives in Georgia.

● President Salome Zourabichvili, after meeting with European Council President Charles Michel and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, announced on her X page that she thanked European leaders on behalf of the Georgian people for their support of Georgia’s European path and emphasized the exceptional importance of this support.

● “[The parliamentary elections on October 26] are a crucial moment for Georgia. As a candidate country, Georgia needs to deepen its reforms in line with our common democratic values. Reforms, the rule of law, and democratic principles are at the core of the EU path. A decision on Georgia’s future can only be made in Georgia by the Georgian people,” – European Council President Charles Michel wrote on X after meeting with the President of Georgia.

● Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze: “The global party of war interfered with my visit to the U.S. and at the last minute managed to have the Georgian delegation’s invitation to the reception for world leaders organized by President Joe Biden canceled.”

● One of the participants of the permanent protest in front of the parliament by residents of the Shukruti mining village, hunger striker Giorgi Neparidze, accused the prime minister of refusing to address the situation and merely repeating the statements of the company “Georgian Manganese.” Protesters claim the company is responsible for the destruction of their homes and large-scale environmental pollution. Neparidze told reporters that the health condition of those on hunger strike is deteriorating daily. He also accused the police of not allowing protesters to set up tents or even use plastic coverings for rain protection. More details here on what is happening in Shukruti and why local residents, some of whom have sewn their mouths shut, are protesting.

● “Transparency International-Georgia” stated that it has not received an official document, despite the Anti-Corruption Bureau publicly announcing that it has revoked the decision to assign it the status of an “election subject,” allowing the organization to resume monitoring the parliamentary elections on October 26. TI-Georgia is calling on the relevant authorities to immediately provide this document. More details on this scandal here.

● Natia Mezvrishvili, one of the leaders of the “For Georgia” party, is calling on the prosecutor’s office to investigate the legality of the prime minister’s interference in the Anti-Corruption Bureau’s activities. The Bureau’s decision to revoke TI-Georgia’s “election subject” status came after the prime minister publicly recommended this action. Mezvrishvili claims that “Irakli Kobakhidze has interfered with the Bureau’s operations on multiple occasions.” More details here.

● Imprisoned ex-president Mikheil Saakashvili has proposed creating a volunteer institution to monitor the October 26 parliamentary elections. “If many people are involved in overseeing the election process, the authorities will not be able to falsify it,” Saakashvili said.

● The president’s administration announced that Salome Zourabichvili did not sign the anti-LGBT law passed by parliament but also did not use her veto power. The law will be signed by the speaker of parliament and will take effect soon. It bans same-sex marriages, adoption by same-sex couples, gender transition, and “LGBT propaganda in education and media.” However, what constitutes such propaganda is not specified. More details here.

●  In a police special operation in nightclubs, 14 people were arrested on charges of extortion and fraud. “This is an organized group that managed all five clubs in Tbilisi. They deceived foreigners and extorted money from them using psychological and even violent methods. Arrests will continue,” said the director of the Central Criminal Police Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Teimuraz Kupatadze.

● Alexander Tsuladze has become the new Minister of Education after Giorgi Amilakhvari left the position on September 28. Tsuladze was the first deputy minister of education until July 31, 2024, and later the director of the National Center for Educational Quality Enhancement. From 2019 to 2023, he served as a judge of the Supreme Court.

📷 In the photo: Three of Bidzina Ivanishvili’s children who are under sanctions.

●  “The Warsaw Forum is aimed at inciting anti-Azerbaijani sentiments,” stated Ayhan Gadzhizade, head of the press service of the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry. He called the comments made by Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan at the forum “inaccurate disinformation and manipulations.” Mirzoyan specifically mentioned concerns that Azerbaijan might pursue new military plans against Armenia.

●  UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed will visit Azerbaijan to participate in a pre-COP29 event scheduled for October 10-11 in Baku.

●  “Serbia cannot replace gas supplies from Russia with purchases from Azerbaijan,” said Dušan Bajatović, director of Srbijagas. “The contract with Baku was necessary for diversification, but there is not enough gas there. The required volumes can only be purchased from Russia,” he noted in a local TV interview. Serbia plans to buy 3 billion cubic meters of gas from Russia in 2024, while the agreement with Azerbaijan only covers about 400 million cubic meters.

●  Azerbaijan is seeking to impose stricter penalties for animal cruelty. Amendments to the “Animal World” law are being prepared, as current violations carry a fine of up to 500 manats (around $300).

●  The Baku Cinema Breeze film festival has opened, featuring participants from the film industry in the USA, Canada, India, the Netherlands, Turkey, Germany, Portugal, Russia, and other countries.

● The leader of the “Sacred Movement,” Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan, delivered a 25-minute address live on Public Television after demanding this opportunity during a protest with his supporters outside the channel’s building (pictured). He also gave a brief interview after the speech. Galstanyan confirmed that the main demand of the movement is Pashinyan’s resignation. He did not comment on specific political issues raised by the journalist, only saying: “This is our business; we know how to resolve these matters.” He ignored the journalist’s suggestion to explain this to the public. Earlier, the movement nominated him as a candidate for prime minister.

● The parliamentary opposition is preparing a lawsuit against the government for refusing to provide access to the peace agreement text with Azerbaijan. This was announced during a government session in the National Assembly by Arzvik Minasyan, secretary of the “Hayastan” faction. In response, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan stated that he had prohibited showing the opposition the text “to avoid speculation.”

● Opposition MP Gegham Manukyan presented Nikol Pashinyan with books on the Armenian Genocide during a parliamentary session, taken from his personal library. “You do like receiving books as gifts,” Manukyan said, referencing a recent incident when the Turkish president gifted the Armenian Prime Minister his book titled “A Fairer World Is Possible.”

● “All risks must be calculated,” said the Foreign Minister when asked about the possibility of the country leaving the CSTO (a post-Soviet military alliance led by Russia). “I think we should all be more cautious. Stability must be a priority, the process needs to be well thought out, and it should be manageable,” said Mirzoyan, speaking at the Warsaw Security Forum.

● “Russia regrets Armenia’s continued ‘freeze’ of its activities in the CSTO and welcomes the country’s active participation in the Eurasian Union,” stated Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova.

● Catholicos Aram I of the Great House of Cilicia of the Armenian Apostolic Church condemned Kyiv’s ban on the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church as “illegal and morally unacceptable.” This was stated in his letter to Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia. “We were deeply shocked to learn about the persecution and arrests of clergy and believers carried out by Ukrainian state authorities,” the letter said.

● Michael Carpenter, head of the European division of the U.S. National Security Council: “The Georgian Dream government has made a 180-degree turn away from European integration. If the authorities continue to undermine civil society and if elections are not free and fair, new measures will be taken against those violating democratic norms.” The statement was made at the Warsaw Security Forum.

● Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili met with Polish President Andrzej Duda. During their joint press conference, Zourabichvili thanked him for his support and stated, “Georgia and the Georgian people have always felt and continue to feel Poland’s unwavering support on their European path.” Zourabichvili emphasized the importance of parliamentary elections, saying that “on October 26, the Georgian people will choose between a European future and a Russian past.”

● During this press conference, Polish President Andrzej Duda said that Europe eagerly awaits the decision of Georgian voters. “Georgia needs a government that truly wants and does everything to ensure the country becomes a member of the European Union,” he said.

● Bidzina Ivanishvili, founder of the Georgian Dream party, issued an open letter stating that he does not accuse the U.S. or the EU of “financial blackmail.” He claims that the so-called “party of global war,” which he believes controls the leadership of the U.S. and the EU, is responsible for the blackmail. Ivanishvili also warned the U.S. and EU that they would suffer irreparable damage if the public believed they wanted to overthrow Georgia’s government. The letter responded to a Facebook post by the U.S. Embassy in Georgia, which refuted the Georgian Dream’s claims that sanctions were imposed on Ivanishvili over the Credit Suisse case. Read more here

● “This insults not only Ukraine but also Georgia,” said Mykhailo Podolyak, an advisor to the Ukrainian president, in response to propaganda banners by the Georgian Dream. The banners depict destroyed Ukrainian cities alongside beautiful Georgian landmarks. “Russia will always find an excuse to attack any neighbor, as it believes it has the right to do so. It views the post-Soviet space, where both of us reside, as its sphere of influence,” said Podolyak. Read more here

● Tbilisi Mayor and Georgian Dream General Secretary Kakha Kaladze: “Twelve years ago, Bidzina Ivanishvili united Georgia and rejected the term ‘beacon of democracy,’ which was used by external forces. Those words were a thorn in the side of the entire population, as we all knew the evil and bloody regime behind that term.”

● Former U.S. Ambassador to Georgia Ian Kelly responded to Kaladze’s statement: “You’re talking about your friends in the West. I was proud to call you that. One external actor has never said that, continues to kill and kidnap your citizens, and occupies 20% of your territory. And yet who’s the evil-doer?” Kelly posted on X.

● Prime Minister Irakli proposed lifting the designation of International Transparency as an “electoral target,” which stripped the organization of its right to monitor the parliamentary elections on October 26. This decision sparked protests from civil society, the opposition, and the Western community. Kobakhidze suggested reversing the decision to prevent external forces from manipulating the situation in Georgia. Read more here

● Russian State Duma member Konstantin Zatulin: “Russia has no plans to withdraw troops from Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Lavrov’s words should not be interpreted as an interest in returning South Ossetia and Abkhazia to Georgia. That issue is long gone. We have agreements with Abkhazia and South Ossetia on security and military matters, and no one is discussing this issue.”

● The Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association (GYLA) reported that the High Council of Justice is preventing activists monitoring the Council’s work from entering the building. They were told they could only observe the session on a screen in the lobby. “This deprives the public of the right to be informed about events happening within the judicial system,” GYLA stated.

● During last night’s Iranian missile strikes on Israel, one Georgian citizen was injured. Air raid sirens were sounded across Israel.

● Nikol Pashinyan called claims that Armenia allegedly agreed in some document to allow third countries to manage communications on its territory a distortion of reality. Speaking at the extended meeting of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council, he said Yerevan has never agreed to such terms.

● Employees of the International Committee of the Red Cross visited Armenians detained in Azerbaijan, according to Zara Amatuni, head of communication programs for the ICRC delegation in Armenia. The visits took place in September, and detainees were allowed to contact their families.

● Armenian delegate to PACE, Armen Gevorkyan, told the organization’s Secretary-General, Alena Berse, that Armenian prisoners must be released before the COP-29 summit in Baku, reports News.am. “Aliyev publicly promises his citizens that they will live on Armenian territories, calling them ‘Western Azerbaijan.’ Meanwhile, Armenian prisoners, including former leaders of NK, remain detained in Baku. Yet this is the country hosting COP-29 under the slogan ‘For Peace,'” said the Armenian politician.

● Armenian Parliament Speaker Alen Simonyan sharply responded to statements from Azerbaijan that Azerbaijanis who lived in Armenia before the 1990s (before the start of the Karabakh conflict) have the right to return to their homes. These territories in Armenia are being referred to as “Western Azerbaijan.” Simonyan stated, “The draft peace agreement does not contain any requirement for resettling Azerbaijanis in Armenia. Those in Azerbaijan looking for their ‘historic homeland’ shouldn’t get too carried away, as they might find themselves relocating to places like the Altai region.”

● Grigor Minasyan resigned as Minister of Justice, saying it is difficult to hold the position in a parliamentary system when there is an issue with even one MP. More than 20 MPs have opposed him. Minasyan referred to the ruling party’s initiated petition to remove him from office.

● An earthquake struck the Armenian-Georgian border last night, 15 km east of the village of Bavra. The magnitude was 3.7, with the tremors reaching 5 on the Richter scale at the epicenter. The quake was felt in several settlements in Shirak Province, registering 4-5 on the scale.

●  A fashion show took place in Yerevan on International Day of Older Persons. Local women showcased dresses they designed, with special attention given to 98-year-old Silva’s appearance on the runway.

● Several planes from foreign airlines requested emergency landings at Baku airport last night due to the closure of airspace over Iran.

●  “If the U.S. wants to demonstrate impartiality, they must demand an investigation into Armenia’s crimes,” responded Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry to a statement by U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, Daphne Rand. At the Warsaw Human Dimension Conference, Rand said that “Washington continues to review alleged violations of international humanitarian law and human rights in Karabakh.” The Foreign Ministry noted, “It is interesting that despite Armenia’s mass killings of Azerbaijanis during the occupation, the U.S. is only now emphasizing the importance of addressing international humanitarian law violations.”

● Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov hosted a farewell lunch for Azerbaijan’s ambassador to Moscow, Polad Bulbuloglu, who has held the position for 18 years.

● Rakhman Mustafayev has been appointed Azerbaijan’s ambassador to Russia. He previously led the diplomatic mission in the Netherlands.

● International Committee of the Red Cross staff visited Armenian citizens detained by Azerbaijani law enforcement in Karabakh, in Baku.

● Azerbaijani political exile Vidadi Iskanderli has died in a French hospital after an attack by unknown assailants. The motives remain unclear. Iskanderli was a video blogger critical of the Azerbaijani government.

● Azerbaijan’s next census is scheduled for 2029, according to the state statistics committee. The last census took place in October 2019.

● The Ministry of Ecology reported that a reduction in rainfall is leading to lower crop yields. Mukhtar Babayev, COP29 president and Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources, said at Baku’s Climate Action Week that precipitation in Azerbaijan has decreased by about 10% in recent years.

● The 10th Baku International Book Fair opens today and will run until October 8. It features 47 organizations from 19 countries, including Turkey, Russia, Ireland, and Germany. The guest of honor is Irish author John Boyne, known for his works for both adults and children.

● Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze, also the Secretary General of the ruling “Georgian Dream,”(pictured) announced that he closed his accounts in European banks because he “no longer trusts them.” He said, “Look at how they treated Bidzina Ivanishvili (oligarch, head of the ruling party), they robbed him in the full sense of the word. Why should I trust them?”

● Former U.S. Ambassador to Georgia Ian Kelly told TV channel Formula: “The actions and rhetoric of the ruling party, especially regarding the ‘foreign agents’ law and the anti-democratic threats of political and legal reprisals against the opposition, have escalated significantly. This is such an anti-democratic step that I could never have imagined it. I believe that the U.S. and the European Union are genuinely concerned about keeping Georgia on a Euro-Atlantic and Western trajectory. What we should do at this point is make it clear to the ruling party leaders, including Ivanishvili, that we will impose significant financial sanctions on their assets if they continue down this path and, especially, if they do anything to undermine the legitimacy of the elections in Georgia.”

● President Salome Zourabichvili protested that her daughter and nephews, who live in France, could not find their names on the voter list. The Central Election Commission responded by stating, “Ketevan Gordjestani is registered at the consulate in France and will be included in the list and able to vote in Paris according to the law.” In social media videos and street banners, the CEC urges Georgian citizens to check if their names are on the voter list and to do so by October 7. After that, changes will not be possible. “There is a whole ‘army’ of Georgian emigrants living abroad. What will happen if they, like my daughter, cannot find their names on the lists and are waiting to be added by October 7, and that doesn’t happen? This is a violation of voting rights, yet they claim I’m the one discrediting the flawless election administration,” the president wrote on her Facebook page.

● Director-General of the European Commission for Neighborhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations, Gert Jan Koopman: “We continue to make it clear what the Georgian government needs to do to correct the situation and return to the path of European integration. The withdrawal of the ‘foreign agents’ law is a crucial factor, as it contradicts European values. We have not abandoned the Georgian people; we see real problems with the government’s policies. It’s important what the people say in the elections.”

● “The ruling party is preparing not to recognize the evaluations of observer missions and is already attempting to discredit them by portraying them as biased,” said Natia Mezvrishvili, a representative of the opposition party “Gakharia for Georgia.” She also said that the authorities would try to justify violations before and during the October 26 elections by using the Public Defender. “Levan Ioseliani is already in contact with international observers, trying to convince them that the pre-election environment in Georgia is calm and fair,” Mezvrishvili said. A few days ago, the Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association (GYLA) published a detailed report proving that “representatives of the ruling party attempted to demonize political opponents in public speeches and statements, accusing them of treasonous actions and labeling much of the opposition as ‘externally controlled agents.'”

● The ruling “Georgian Dream” postponed the presentation of its election program, initially scheduled for October 1, due to the health condition of Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, who is the head of the election campaign. A new date for the presentation will be announced in the coming days.

● The government submitted the initial draft budget for 2025 to Parliament. The expenditure is set at 31.2 billion GEL, fully covering the state’s commitments, according to the Ministry of Finance. The ministry noted that “next year’s budget is planned with a conservative approach.”

● The accused in the murder of conservatory student Giorgi Sakurashvili in central Tbilisi has been remanded in custody. During the court session, it was revealed that a mass brawl between two groups from Saburtalo and Gldani districts took place on Chabukiani Street on September 27. Sakurashvili was at the scene of the conflict. According to witnesses, he told Mirian Tokhadze, who is accused of his murder, that he was not involved in the fight, but to no avail. According to the prosecution, the accused was intoxicated.

● Georgian citizen Vladimir Tsabadze, illegally detained by Russian soldiers in the Georgian-Ossetian conflict zone near the village of Dirbi in the Kareli district, has been released and is now in an area controlled by the central government. The State Security Service reported that the EU Monitoring Mission and its “hotline” mechanism supported the Georgian side.

● An incident occurred in central Athens during a meeting of opposition activists with the Georgian diaspora to discuss voting procedures for Georgian emigrants in Greece in the October 26 parliamentary elections. Participants told TV channel Formula that “they were attacked, and attempts were made to disrupt the meeting by individuals associated with pro-government groups in Tbilisi.”

● “The day will come when we restore the monument to Ashig Alasgar, destroyed by Armenians, and hold a similar ceremony in the village of Agkilsa [located in the Gegharkunik region of Armenia – JAMnews],” said Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev during the unveiling of a monument to Ashig Alasgar in Baku.

● Russian President Vladimir Putin awarded Polad Bulbuloglu the Order of Alexander Nevsky for his contributions to strengthening cooperation between Russia and Azerbaijan.

● Iranian drones attempted to smuggle drugs into Azerbaijan, according to the State Border Service and State Security Service. The intercepted contraband contained 19.7 kg of marijuana and 1,500 methadone M-40 tablets (as shown in the photo).

● The “Harmony with Nature” festival opened at Zaman Art Gallery in the ancient part of Baku, Icherisheher. The festival is timed to the upcoming international environmental conference, COP29, to be held in Baku in November. More than 30 Azerbaijani artists and sculptors are participating.

● Azerbaijan will host the Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating in 2025, with around 150 athletes from over 20 countries expected to participate. The competition will take place from September 24 to 27 next year and will be the first event of this scale in the country.

● Armenia has gained access to Iran’s Chabahar port, which will boost trade between Iran and the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), according to Iran’s Minister of Industry, Mines, and Trade, Seyed Mohammad Attabak.

● The Armenian side welcomes the positive progress in Armenia-Turkey relations but believes more can be done, said Armenia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Vahan Kostanyan in an interview with Anadolu. He called the recent meeting between Pashinyan and Erdogan at the UN General Assembly a positive step, noting that “the leaders of both countries showed a willingness to understand each other’s positions.” Kostanyan expressed Armenia’s desire to reopen the Kars-Gyumri railway, which would provide new gateways for Armenia to Europe and for Turkey to Central Asia and China.

● The prime ministers of Russia, Belarus, and Kazakhstan have arrived in Yerevan. Mikhail Mishustin, Roman Golovchenko, and Olzhas Bektenov will participate in the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council meeting.

● A new Iranian trade office, the largest in the world, has opened in Yerevan. The ribbon was cut by Iran’s Ambassador to Armenia, Mehdi Sobhani, and Armenia’s Minister of Economy, Gevorg Papoyan. Papoyan stated that Armenia is interested in establishing its own trade office in Tehran.

● A major car accident occurred on the Yerevan-Gyumri highway, injuring nine people, including four children. According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, two Mercedes-Benz vehicles and one Ford collided near the village of Nerkin Bazmaberd. One of the drivers is in critical condition.

● In Paris, Turkish fans armed with knives attacked ethnic Armenian football players on a French team. The incident occurred during a match on September 29 between the Franco-Turkish FC Turquoise and the Franco-Armenian team Homenetmen, reports Nouvelles d’Arménie. The Armenian team was leading 2-0 when Turkish fans became violent. Police intervened, and the match was stopped. Several injured players were taken to the hospital, the report said.

● A massive forest fire broke out in the Gali district of Abkhazia, near the Inguri River and Samegrelo region. Residential areas are under threat, particularly the village of Makhundzhia (as seen in the video). Local administration head Konstantin Pilia urged residents to remain vigilant and ready for potential evacuation.

● Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze welcomed Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s statement that Moscow is willing to “assist in the reconciliation of neighboring countries—Georgia, Abkhazia, and South Ossetia—if they are interested, including by ensuring a non-aggression pact.” Kaladze suggested that Moscow take concrete steps toward this by developing a plan for the partial withdrawal of Russian troops from Georgia’s occupied territories. “We support the idea that only through peace and mutual forgiveness can we restore territorial integrity with our brothers and sisters in Abkhazia and South Ossetia and live together,” said the mayor. A few days earlier, Russian State Duma Deputy Konstantin Zatulin had suggested that “Georgia, Abkhazia, and South Ossetia could successfully unite within a union state with Russia.”

● South Ossetia’s Foreign Minister Akhsar Dzhioev stated that “Russia’s position regarding us has remained unchanged since the August 2008 war,” referring to Russia’s recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia as independent states—a stance not shared by the UN or most of the international community, which still considers them part of Georgia. Dzhioev reminded that Lavrov referred to Abkhazia and South Ossetia as “countries neighboring Georgia” and added that Moscow is “doing everything to secure a peace agreement, including a non-aggression pact.”

● Lavrov’s statement was called “cynical” by Hatia Dekanoidze, a representative of the opposition United National Movement. “Lavrov said that Georgia must first recognize Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali region as independent states, and then Russia will help them ‘settle their relations.’ He also praised Georgia for ‘reassessing its past.'”

● Former U.S. Ambassador to Georgia Ian Kelly and George W. Bush Institute Executive Director David Kramer called on the Biden administration to impose additional sanctions on Georgia’s ruling party. “The visa and financial restrictions imposed in September and earlier against officials and members of the Georgian Dream government have not touched oligarch Bidzina Ivanishvili, who is responsible for authoritarian, pro-Russian rule in Georgia,” they wrote in an op-ed in The Hill.

● According to the “Formula” TV channel, among the 60+ individuals sanctioned by the U.S. are four leaders of the Georgian Dream party: Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze, Majority Leader Mamuka Mdinaradze, Chairman of the Legal Affairs Committee Anri Okhanashvili, and MP Dimitri Samkharadze (pictured). The official list of sanctioned individuals remains undisclosed.

● Former President and member of the “Strong Georgia” coalition Giorgi Margvelashvili: “I can’t recall an example in global politics where a government suddenly and radically changed a country’s geopolitical course, one that has remained consistent for 30 years and is supported by 80% of the population. These 80% believe in our Western and European orientation, with clear messages from our partners. And yet, the authorities have undone it all. They plan to confirm this through the parliamentary elections on October 26, but this itself poses a serious challenge for them.”

● Huge crowds gathered in Tbilisi to celebrate UFC bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili’s return. In Las Vegas, he defeated reigning champion Sean O’Malley, with judges unanimously declaring him the victor.

● A Russian tourist died in central Tbilisi after accidentally falling down a flight of stairs in an underpass. She and a friend were walking through the city, cheerfully singing the song “For the Last Time” while recording themselves on a mobile phone, and didn’t notice the steps. The 27-year-old suffered a severe skull fracture, and doctors were unable to save her.

● There’s been a lot of public discussion about Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan attending the rededication ceremony of the Etchmiadzin Cathedral and being present for the holy liturgy. Some doubted he would attend, given the strained relationship between the government and the leadership of the Armenian Church in recent months. Church representatives have called for Pashinyan’s resignation. A notable incident occurred on May 28, Republic Day, when police prevented the Catholicos Garegin II from entering the Sardarapat Memorial, where Pashinyan was present. Garegin II’s name was not on the guest list, but the issue was quickly resolved, and he was allowed in.

● Social media in Armenia is abuzz with reports that government officials allegedly left the cathedral before the ritual of kissing the cross during yesterday’s ceremony. The Catholicos was supposed to descend from the pulpit with the cross for the faithful to kiss. However, other reports claim this is a false narrative spread by the Russian news agency Sputnik, and that the officials merely stood up because the official part of the ceremony had concluded.

● “The decision for Aliyev and Pashinyan to meet at the BRICS event in Russia is up to them. If they want to meet, we are always ready to facilitate any prior agreements that involve us,” said Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.

● A tunnel and bridge will be constructed on the new Kajaran-Agarak section of Armenia’s North-South highway near the Iranian border. Minister of Infrastructure Gnel Sanosyan and Iranian Ambassador Mehdi Sobkhani visited the site. The minister also inspected the future transport hub in Meghri, where an overpass will be built.

● The Prime Minister of Armenia awarded participants in the “Prime Minister’s Cup” road cycling competition. Teams of high school students, grades 10 to 12, took part, and winners, along with their teachers, received cash prizes.

● Ten-year-old Leo Mkrtchyan will represent Armenia at the Junior Eurovision 2024, to be held on November 16 in Spain.

In the photo: Nikol Pashinyan on his now customary cycling ride.

● “Since 2020, Azerbaijan has provided humanitarian, economic, and technical assistance totaling $330 million to more than 140 countries,” said Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov during his speech at the UN General Assembly.

● “The decision on a meeting between Aliyev and Pashinyan at the BRICS events in Russia is up to them,” said Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. The BRICS summit is set to take place in October.

● The multinational command-staff exercises “Eternity-2024,” involving Azerbaijani, Georgian, and Turkish military personnel, have concluded in Georgia. At the Vaziani training center, the forces worked on securing strategically important regional economic projects.

● A financial pyramid scheme has been exposed in Azerbaijan. The platform operated on social media, posing as an investment site using an online pyramid scheme to steal funds. The Ministry of Internal Affairs arrested the app’s administrator, 18-year-old Huseyn Guliyev. Investigations revealed that Guliyev had defrauded more than 18,000 people, stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars. To withdraw the funds, he used an e-wallet registered to his 20-year-old acquaintance, who has also been arrested.

● The Azerbaijani tricolor has been raised on Flag Square in Baku (as seen in the video). Following restoration work, the flagpole’s height now reaches 191 meters, making it the tallest in the world. Flag Square in Azerbaijan was originally opened on September 1, 2010, when the flagpole stood at 162 meters.

Top stories in Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Georgia from September 23-27, 2024