Latest news in Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, summary. Live

● Tbilisi mayor and Georgian Dream secretary general Kakha Kaladze: “Foreign diplomats in Georgia are representatives of the deep state. We cannot call them diplomats based on their statements and actions. They represent only one side, and therefore, their presence in the country is meaningless.” Kaladze made this statement while commenting on Thursday’s meeting between accredited diplomats in Georgia and the 5th president, Salome Zourabichvili.

● A court fined TV Pirveli cameraman Lasha Jioshvili 2,500 lari (about $900) for violating public assembly participation rules. On the night of February 19, masked individuals forcibly put him into an unmarked vehicle in central Tbilisi. Lawyers searched for him for several hours before finding him in a detention facility on the outskirts of the city.

● Georgian Dream MP Levan Machavariani criticized Russian Foreign Minister’s statement that Georgia should participate in the “3+3” regional cooperation format. This format, established in 2021, includes Iran, Turkey, Russia, Azerbaijan, and Armenia, while Georgia refuses to join. “Russia, which has occupied our territories, is part of this format, and of course, we are not going to sit at any table with this country.”

● The Georgian Dream-led parliament has fast-tracked (passing in all three readings at once) a law on state grants for non-governmental organizations. A new agency will be created with a budget of 20 million lari (about $7 million). Independent experts and human rights activists claim this initiative aims to bring NGOs under state control.

● The State Security Service reported that multiple special operations were conducted simultaneously across the country, leading to the arrest of two Georgian citizens suspected of ties to an international terrorist organization. “Important evidence for the investigation was seized from their homes, including ammunition, various electronic devices, cash, and other significant items. The case is being handled by the counterterrorism center of the State Security Service,” the statement said.

● Due to heavy snowfall, traffic is restricted on the Vaziani-Gombori-Telavi highway in eastern Georgia (Kakheti region).

Photo by David Pipia/JAMnews: Tbilisi from above:

● Early this morning, 183 people (33 families) moved to the city of Jabrayil for permanent residence. Jabrayil came back under Azerbaijan’s control after the Second Karabakh War in October 2020. As of today, 2,293 people (512 families) have been resettled there.

● As part of the “Meydan TV case,” independent journalist Nurlan Libre (Gahramanli) has been detained. His apartment in Sumgait was searched. Today, he will appear in court.

● The Azerbaijani branch of BBC has shut down its office in the country “after receiving verbal instructions from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.” “We deeply regret this restrictive step against press freedom. This decision will hinder reporting in and from Azerbaijan,” a BBC representative stated. In response, MFA spokesperson Ayhan Hajizade called for an end to the “politicization of the issue” and said that BBC was offered accreditation for one correspondent.

● Several popular Azerbaijani news websites were simultaneously hit by a hacker attack around noon yesterday. Some (Oxu, Report) have already restored operations, while work continues to bring others back online (baku.tv, baku.ws, 365.az, Kaspi, Azpolitika). All of them are considered pro-government.

● Another court hearing was held in Baku in the case of the leaders of the separatist regime in Karabakh. Former president of the now-defunct self-proclaimed NKR, Arayik Harutyunyan, stated that “the Soviet Union’s security services were responsible for igniting the Karabakh conflict.” “I know what has happened in Karabakh over the past 34 years. I deeply regret it. The conflict was provoked by the Soviet security agencies. That’s why we see ourselves as victims,” he said in court.

Photo: Snow and icy roads led to multiple traffic accidents in Baku on Thursday evening:

● In Yerevan, 15 mm of snow fell in 10 hours, which is half of the monthly average. The capital experienced a transportation collapse—buses stopped running, multiple accidents occurred, and people spent 3-4 hours getting home.

● School classes in Armenia were canceled due to the snowfall.

● Yerevan Mayor Tigran Avinyan walked through the city’s streets in the evening to personally monitor the situation. He reported that all services were operating in emergency mode, with 40 snowplows working across the city. He suggested that employers switch to remote work where possible.

● The car of Russia’s ambassador to Armenia, Sergey Kopyrkin, was also involved in an accident due to the snowfall and icy roads. Both he and his driver sustained minor injuries, with no threat to their lives, according to his press service.

● The new constitution will be ready by the 2026 parliamentary elections, after which a referendum may take place, Minister of Justice Srbuhi Galyan told journalists.

● Armenian and Turkish delegations met on the sidelines of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly’s winter session in Vienna. They discussed issues related to normalizing relations between the two countries, including the swift unblocking of communications.

● The Armenian authorities are not considering a return to the trilateral agreement of November 9, 2020, which was signed by the leaders of Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Russia to end the Second Karabakh War. “Eight out of nine points of the document have not been implemented—this is the de facto reality. Taking this agreement into account for just one point would be surprising,” Secretary of the Security Council Armen Grigoryan stated at a briefing.

● The Armenian community of Abkhazia issued a new statement: to strengthen interethnic unity, community leader Alik Minosyan withdrew complaints previously filed with the police against Enver Bganba and Yuri Vanaba. The reason was the threatening accusations they had spread on social media against local ethnic Armenians for overwhelmingly voting in the first round of the presidential election for a candidate openly supported by Russia. Minosyan stated that reconciliation was reached following a meeting between Enver Bganba (the nephew of the acting president) and honorary representative of the Armenian community Khachik Minasyan. Read more here

● The Kutaisi Court of Appeals rejected the motion to lift the arrest of Mzia Amaglobeli, head of the popular media outlets “Batumelebi” and Netgazeti. This is the second appellate court to deny her lawyers’ request, with the first rejection coming from the Batumi court. Amaglobeli, who was arrested during a pro-European protest for slapping the Batumi police chief after he insulted her, went on a 38-day hunger strike in protest. She faces a prison sentence of 4 to 7 years.

● 5th president Salome Zourabichvili said in an interview with Formula TV that the main topic of her speech at the Munich Security Conference was Russia’s hybrid warfare. “Moscow’s new strategy is election manipulation, as seen not only in Georgia but also in Romania, Moldova, and Ukraine. Russia knows it has failed to achieve results in Ukraine, which is why it will use the Ukrainian elections for further manipulations,” Zourabichvili stated.

● Salome Zourabichvili met with opposition leaders. Tina Bokuchava, a leader of the “Unity – United National Movement” alliance, said after the meeting that “opposition parties have unanimously decided not to participate in the ‘commission for reviewing the previous government’s activities,’ created by the illegitimate Georgian Dream parliament.” The commission aims to investigate the presidency of Mikheil Saakashvili, during which Bokuchava’s party was in power.

● Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski stated during a speech in the European Parliament: “During Poland’s presidency, one of the key priorities will be expansion to the east and south. Whether we are talking about Moldova or the Western Balkans, we must recognize that we are confronting anti-democratic forces, and we must also consider the enthusiasm of the people in these countries. We need to fight against anti-democratic policies—such as those of ‘Georgian Dream,’ which is in power in Georgia. We must oppose such actions and support pro-European forces in Ukraine and Georgia during Poland’s presidency.”

● Former president of the National Bank of Georgia, Giorgi Kadagidze, shared data from the banking sector’s 2024 financial reports, revealing that nearly 80% of the market turnover is controlled by just two banks—Bank of Georgia and TBC. “This can be considered a classic oligopoly (a market structure where only a few companies dominate and are forced to coordinate policies with each other),” Kadagidze wrote on his Facebook page.

Photo by David Pipia/JAMnews: During a performance at a mass protest in Tbilisi, participants brought and then burned a giant feather-adorned head representing the head of the special forces, known by the nickname “Khareba.” He is notorious for his extreme brutality during crackdowns and arrests of protesters:

● Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan delivered a policy speech titled The Ideology of Real Armenia. He emphasized the need for a referendum to adopt a new constitution, stating that “all previous constitutional referendums, at least in public perception, suffered from a serious lack of legitimacy.”

● The former state minister of the unrecognized Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, currently imprisoned in Baku, has resumed a hunger strike in protest against what he calls Azerbaijan’s “judicial farce.” In a statement relayed by his family after a phone call, Vardanyan said, “What is happening in the courtroom cannot be called a trial. It is a political show that blatantly disregards the right to a fair hearing.”

● Nikol Pashinyan has signed a decision to establish a commission for reviewing Armenia’s national security strategy. The interagency body will be led by Security Council Secretary Armen Grigoryan. The current strategy was adopted in August 2020.

● The Italian Senate has passed a resolution in support of peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

● Armenia’s State Revenue Committee chief Eduard Abrahamyan and Georgia’s Ambassador Giorgi Sharvashidze discussed the creation of a joint checkpoint on the Armenian-Georgian border.

● All employment contracts in Armenia will soon be signed electronically, according to the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs.

The Road Department has published a video of snow-covered highways from the Georgian-Armenian border to Yerevan. Meteorologists predict the snowfall will soon reach the capital:

● President Ilham Aliyev participated in the foundation-laying ceremony of Victory Park in Khankendi, attended the opening of the “Bulud” hotel, and visited a textile factory—a joint venture between Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan.

● Azerbaijani presidential aide Hikmet Hajiyev and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu discussed bilateral cooperation and regional developments.

● In January, Azerbaijan exported nearly 3.5 million tons of oil to 10 countries—2.4 times more than in the same period of 2024. The top three buyers of Azerbaijani oil in January were Italy, Germany, and the Czech Republic.

● The group “Mamagama” will represent Azerbaijan at Eurovision 2025 with the song “Run with U.”

📹 The film Codes of Gobustan was screened at the Nine Senses art center in Baku. Gobustan is a reserve near Baku known for its ancient rock carvings:

📍 Today marks the 84th day of large-scale pro-European protests in Georgia. In the evening, thousands of people once again gathered in front of the parliament in Tbilisi, demanding new parliamentary elections, a lawful change of power, and the release of arrested protesters. Several performances took place on Rustaveli Avenue, as it was the birthday of oligarch Bidzina Ivanishvili, the honorary chairman of “Georgian Dream,” who is considered the country’s shadow ruler. While party representatives warmly congratulated their leader on his 69th birthday, thousands on Rustaveli Avenue chanted “Oligarchy to the fire!”, released black balloons, and burned effigies of Ivanishvili and the head of the special forces unit “Kareba” (photos and videos below).

📍 Mzia Amaglobeli, founder and director of the popular independent outlets Netgazeti and Batumelebi, has decided to resume eating on the 38th day of her hunger strike. She informed her colleagues in a letter, which Batumelebi’s editor-in-chief Eteri Turadze read aloud in the courtyard of the “Vivamed” clinic in Tbilisi, where Mzia is hospitalized. “I feel a special responsibility towards my colleagues, partners, friends, and family. I do not want my hunger strike to weaken you. You must fight instead of me,” the letter says. Read more here

📍 Police have effectively abducted Pirveli TV cameraman Lasha Jioshvili. The incident occurred in Tbilisi, near Elbakidze Street. He was reportedly returning from the rally when, according to witnesses, unknown individuals forced him into an unmarked car near the Radisson Hotel. After several hours of searching, his lawyer found him in a detention facility in the suburban Zages district.

📍 The leader of the “For Georgia” party, Giorgi Gakharia, stated that he will not give up his parliamentary mandates to maintain the party’s political independence. “It is important for us to receive part of our funding as the money of citizens who supported us in the elections and not to depend on financial groups and bankers,” Gakharia said. Three other opposition groups that entered parliament in last October’s elections have renounced their mandates and, accordingly, state funding. Gakharia, like the rest of the opposition, considers the elections rigged, and deputies from his party are boycotting parliamentary work.

📍 Two residents of the Kareli district, who were illegally detained by Russian occupation forces near the village of Dirbi in the Georgian-Ossetian conflict zone, have been released, according to the State Security Service. “Kakha Tshelidze and Giorgi Chitadze are now in territory controlled by the central government. The EU Monitoring Mission’s ‘hotline’ mechanism was actively used in their release. The government continues its active work to free all Georgian citizens illegally detained in the occupied territories,” the statement reads.

📍 The 5th president, Salome Zourabichvili, announced that she has filed a complaint over an attack at the airport, where unknown individuals pelted her with eggs. Zourabichvili called the incident “violence incited by Georgian Dream supporters” and demanded an investigation.

📍 Courts continue to issue sentences against protesters detained for administrative offenses. Actress Ana Tkebuchava was found guilty and fined 5,000 lari (approximately $1,800).

More photos and videos from Rustaveli Avenue in #Tbilisi, where thousands of pro-European protesters “marked” the birthday of oligarch Bidzina Ivanishvili, including by burning effigies of him and the head of the special forces unit nicknamed Khareba. #GeorgiaProtests pic.twitter.com/FgkueypZFA

— JAMnews (@JAMnewsCaucasus) February 18, 2025

● Today, 212 internally displaced persons (37 families) are returning to Jabrayil, a city liberated during the Second Karabakh War in the fall of 2020. This brings the total number of resettled residents in Jabrayil to 2,110 people (479 families).

● President Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva visited the city of Aghdam in Karabakh yesterday, where they attended the opening of the regional digital management center and the “Azerishyg” training and education complex. They also reviewed infrastructure construction projects and the conceptual design of the Askeran Fortress complex.

● The material damage suffered by Azerbaijan in the First and Second Karabakh Wars exceeds 100 billion manats (over $60 billion), according to the indictment in the ongoing trial in Baku against 15 former officials of the unrecognized NKR.

● Passenger rail services between Azerbaijan and Georgia may resume on May 1. This was discussed in Tbilisi between Azerbaijan’s Minister of Transport, Rashad Nabiyev, and Georgia’s Minister of Economy, Levan Davitashvili. Train services between the two countries had been suspended since March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

● Azerbaijan recorded 1.86 million tourist visits last year, the highest figure in the past five years. More than half (53.9%) of all visitors came from Russia, India, and Turkey.

● Baku has announced the completion of the reading of the indictment against the former leaders of the unrecognized Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, who are currently under arrest there. They are accused of “war crimes against Azerbaijan, crimes against peace and humanity, violations of the laws and customs of war, and terrorism.”

● In Armenia, social media posts from Abkhazia with anti-Armenian rhetoric have sparked controversy. These posts were fueled by claims that almost the entire Armenian population allegedly voted for Badra Gunba in last weekend’s presidential elections—Gunba is openly supported by Russia. An audio recording surfaced in which a supporter of opposition candidate Enver Bganba called for action against Armenians during the second round of elections. The Armenian diaspora has appealed to the authorities for protection. Bganba later apologized to the Armenian community. Read more here

● A new type of fraud is spreading in Armenia, this time under the guise of mandatory car insurance. Scammers pose as employees of insurance companies and offer to arrange policies remotely. They issue fake contracts or ones with shorter validity than promised. The Central Bank has warned citizens against dubious deals, urging them to trust only licensed insurance companies and agents.

● “At any moment, Mzia Amaglobeli could face organ failure due to the prolonged hunger strike (37 days). I urge her family, friends, and lawyers to convince her to stop and follow doctors’ recommendations to avoid a fatal outcome,” said Zurab Chkhaidze, director of Vivamedi clinic, commenting on the health condition of the imprisoned founder of Netgazeti and Batumelebi. She was arrested during a protest after slapping the head of Batumi police, who had insulted her. Local and international human rights organizations consider her a political prisoner.

● EU Ambassador Paweł Herczyński: “Mzia has been on a hunger strike for 37 consecutive days – an act of extraordinary bravery and determination. She has become a symbol of journalistic courage, and of the relentless fight for justice. She embodies the spirit of all those unjustly detained. We are all extremely worried for her health, and I assure you – we will continue to plea for her immediate release. ”

● Paweł Herczyński: “The circumstances in Georgia today are extremely dire for journalists. Journalists are being intimidated, beaten, and imprisoned. And for what crime? For sharing the truth. For being the voice of those who have been silenced. For exposing human rights violations. For acting as one of the pillars of democracy. This is unacceptable. This cannot be happening in a country that aspires to join the European Union.”

● Georgia’s criminal code has been amended to include a new article on treason, announced Georgian Dream parliamentary leader Mamuka Mdinaradze. Analysts believe this will be used to target the opposition, particularly the United National Movement, which was the ruling party under Mikheil Saakashvili.

● Mdinaradze also announced plans to introduce a media law this week, banning any foreign funding of journalism. Analysts warn this could amount to outright censorship. He also signaled plans to incorporate the U.S. Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) into Georgian legislation.

● Transparency International Georgia issued a statement in support of Giorgi Bachiashvili, former head of the Co-Investment Fund and once a close associate of oligarch Bidzina Ivanishvili. Now one of Ivanishvili’s most outspoken critics, Bachiashvili faces money laundering charges and accusations of embezzling the oligarch’s bitcoins. Transparency International Georgia stated: “These charges have no legal or factual basis. The case lacks convincing and consistent evidence.”

● A new leftist political movement, The People’s Party for Social Democracy, has been established. It claims to unite citizens from various professions and backgrounds, drawing from European left-wing traditions. The movement currently has around 100 members. Read more here

● Georgian Dream parliamentary speaker Shalva Papuashvili: “The war in Ukraine creates a moral dilemma for some Europeans. Calling for the war to continue without taking responsibility or action is unethical.”

● A massive forest fire has broken out near Akhalgori in the Georgian-Ossetian conflict zone. The State Security Service has informed the EU Monitoring Mission and activated a hotline.

● Remittances to Georgia in January totaled $242.44 million, down 8.5% from the same period last year. The largest share—19.52%—came from the U.S., followed by Italy and Russia.

Freedom for Mzia Amaglobeli!

● Former Armenian President Robert Kocharyan held a major press conference, focusing largely on Russia. He explained why Russia did not help Armenia during the 2022 Karabakh war, saying: “Many are upset that Russia didn’t fulfill its obligations. But let’s see it from Russia’s perspective. It could only stop the war through military intervention. But for whom? For Armenia, which essentially betrayed it and joined the enemy’s camp? Would any of you do that? I don’t think so.” Read more here

● His remarks were seen in pro-government circles as “essentially a speech by Russia’s ambassador Kopirkin.” Kocharyan responded: “Then shouldn’t they be called ambassadors of Brussels and Washington?”

● 41 cybercriminals were arrested in Yerevan in a joint operation by Armenian and Kazakh security forces. The suspects include citizens of Armenia, Georgia, Iran, Syria, and Lebanon. Authorities seized electronics, gold, cars, and various currencies. The scammers lured victims into fake investment schemes. The investigation is ongoing.

● In Baku, another court hearing took place for Ruben Vardanyan, former PM of the unrecognized Nagorno-Karabakh Republic. His request to disqualify the judges was denied. “No surprise,” Armenian media commentators noted. Here is the list of charges brought against Vardanyan in the Azerbaijani court.

● John van’t Schip has been appointed as the new head coach of Armenia’s national football team. The 61-year-old Dutchman, who previously coached Greece and Ajax, will start on March 1.

● Representatives of the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem were among those welcoming new US Secretary of State Marco Rubio at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, according to the Armenian Apostolic Patriarchate of Jerusalem.

● Azerbaijani Prime Minister Ali Asadov is on a working visit to Iran, where he will attend the 3rd Caspian Economic Forum.

● Azerbaijan has reopened its embassy in Damascus after a 13-year hiatus. The chargé d’affaires has already begun work, according to the Foreign Ministry.

● Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will visit Azerbaijan on February 24. Local media report that investment agreements worth $2 billion will be signed.

● Azerbaijani weapons are showcased at the IDEX-2025 international defense exhibition in Abu Dhabi, featuring around 100 types, including firearms, mortars, ammunition, and drones.

● At a court hearing, former state minister of the unrecognized Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, Ruben Vardanyan, and his lawyer requested the judges’ recusal, but the motion was rejected due to a lack of specific justification. Vardanyan faces a long list of serious charges. The indictment states that “these crimes were committed under the direct leadership and participation of Armenia, its state bodies, officials, armed forces, and illegal armed groups.” Read more here

● In Azerbaijan, pharmacy sellers will face a 200-manat ($120) fine if they fail to provide customers with information about medicines and prices.

● In 2024, Azerbaijan exported 1,200 kg of sturgeon caviar worth $1.24 million. Compared to 2023, exports increased by 85% (550 kg), and total revenue grew 2.1 times. The average export price of black caviar reached 1,760 manats ($1,035) per kg, a 15% rise from last year, according to the State Statistics Committee.

● The ombudsman urged relevant authorities to ensure a swift and objective investigation into the Batumi tragedy, where two young children died after falling into an unprotected water-filled pit at a construction site. Levan Ioseliani also called for effective safety standards in public spaces and construction sites. The tragedy occurred in an impoverished Batumi district, ironically called the “City of Dreams.” Read and watch our report on living conditions there.

●  Less than a month ago, a similar tragedy happened in Tbilisi. A teenager fell into a water-filled trench near Rike Park. No one was held accountable for his death.

● Thousands of pro-European protesters, demonstrating for over two and a half months, lit candles in front of parliament to honor the two children who died in Batumi. On the 81st day of protests, demonstrators blocked Rustaveli Avenue, demanding new parliamentary elections and the release of all detained protesters.

● The Charter of Journalistic Ethics called on Ajara’s authorities and the Ministry of Internal Affairs to ensure journalist safety and urged the investigative service to probe cases of police mistreatment of reporters covering the Batumi tragedy. The charter expressed deep condolences to the victims’ families.

● The Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association (GYLA) stated that the Batumi incident was not an accident but a result of state negligence. The site lacked proper fencing or warning signs. GYLA also accused authorities of restricting journalists from the area, limiting public access to information.

● GYLA condemned the Kutaisi Appeals Court’s refusal to lift pretrial detention for Mzia Amaglobeli, founder of Netgazeti and Batumelebi, who has been on a hunger strike for nearly a month. Local and international rights groups consider her a political prisoner and demand her release.

● Two Georgian citizens were detained by Russian forces near Dirbi village in the Kareli district, within the Georgian-Ossetian conflict zone. Georgia’s State Security Service activated the EU monitoring mission’s hotline and informed international partners, stating that occupation forces are responsible for destabilizing actions in and around occupied territories.

● The European External Action Service (EEAS) declared that the EU does not recognize the so-called presidential elections held on February 15, 2025, in the Russian-occupied region of Abkhazia. The EU reaffirmed its support for Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, rejecting the legitimacy of the election process. More on the elections here.

● 205 displaced persons (42 families) are returning to Jabrayil today, liberated in the Second Karabakh War in fall 2020. So far, 1,898 people (442 families) have been resettled in the district.

● Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić awarded Azerbaijani FM Jeyhun Bayramov the Order of the Serbian Flag (1st class) for contributions to bilateral cooperation and friendly relations.

● Azerbaijan does not recognize the “so-called presidential elections in Georgia’s Abkhazia region,” reaffirming its support for Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. Baku calls for a peaceful resolution in line with international law.

● A major accident in Ujar district involved 13 vehicles, leaving two dead and 22 injured.

● Azerbaijan will have 12 consecutive public holidays for Novruz and Ramadan, with March 27–28 swapped with March 10 and April 1.

● Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz discussed regional stability, security, and Armenia-Azerbaijan talks over coffee in Munich during the security conference opening (pictured).

●  In Munich, Pashinyan met OSCE’s new Secretary-General Feridun Sinirlioğlu to discuss the Armenia-Azerbaijan peace process. Sinirlioğlu reaffirmed OSCE’s readiness to support peace efforts.

● Yerevan will challenge Azerbaijan’s international lawsuit under the Bern Convention, accusing Armenia of environmental destruction in Karabakh. Armenia argues that independent analysis shows Azerbaijan is responsible for recent environmental damage.

● An explosion occurred at the parish house of the Holy Mother of God Church in Martuni, Gegharkunik. The church’s priest, Hakob Barseghyan, was injured and transferred to a burn unit. The cause is still unknown.

● Armenian runner Ervand Mkrtchyan won the Balkan Athletics Championship in the 1500m race, finishing in 3:49.82 ahead of Slovenia’s Anže Požga and Turkey’s İbrahim Erat.

Top stories in Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Georgia from 10-14 February, 2025