Top stories in Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Georgia from 7-11 April, 2025

● The United Kingdom has imposed financial sanctions on four more high-ranking officials of Georgian Dream, holding them responsible for serious human rights violations. The sanctions target Prosecutor General Giorgi Gabitashvili, Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Shalva Bedoidze, Deputy Special Forces Chief Mirza Kezevadze, and Head of the Special Investigation Service Karlo Katsitadze. All their assets in the UK have been frozen. Read more here

● UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy issued a statement following the announcement of the sanctions. “The footage of unspeakable violence against protesters, journalists, and opposition members was shocking. Over 100 days have passed, yet the authorities have not held those responsible to account—despite Georgian Dream’s claims of building a democratic future for its citizens. Today’s sanctions demonstrate that such blatant evasion of responsibility is unacceptable to the United Kingdom. We will continue to consider all options at our disposal until Georgia changes its current trajectory. We stand with the Georgian people and their constitutional right to enjoy fundamental freedoms and pursue their European path,” Lammy said.

● The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) adopted a sharply critical resolution on Georgia. The document was supported by 89 members, with only 3 voting against. It references a previous resolution adopted in January, which already expressed serious concern over democratic backsliding and a deepening social crisis in Georgia—raising doubts about the country’s willingness to fulfill its membership obligations and commitments to the Council of Europe. Read more her

● The position of Germany’s next government regarding Georgia has been outlined in the published coalition agreement. In paragraph 4472, it states: “The continuation of Georgia’s EU accession process can only be reconsidered once concerns about the adherence to democratic processes in the country are dispelled. We support pro-European forces.”

● British MP and Liberal Democrat James McCleary, in an interview with the Georgian service of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, said: “The oligarch and shadow ruler of Georgia, Bidzina Ivanishvili, is afraid that one day he’ll wake up and find himself under sanctions.” McCleary is one of the international politicians actively calling for personal sanctions against Ivanishvili and his entourage. He has submitted what’s known as an Early Day Motion to the UK Parliament—a procedural initiative aimed, in his words, at “drawing the attention of the British leadership to what is happening in Georgia.” Read more here

● The parliamentary commission investigating the actions of the previous government (during the presidency of Mikheil Saakashvili), established by the Georgian Dream party, has summoned opposition party “For Georgia” leader Giorgi Gakharia for a hearing. “He and many other politicians have caused and continue to cause harm to the country alongside foreign agents,” said the head of the commission, Tea Tsulukiani. The “For Georgia” party stated that Gakharia was summoned in connection with the dispersal of protests in Tbilisi on June 20, 2019 — a period when the Georgian Dream was in power and Gakharia served as prime minister.

● A new youth political movement has been established in Georgia called “Sartali – The Power of a New Generation.”

● Reporters Without Borders reports that two French journalists—Clément Girardeau and Jérôme Chobeaux—have already been denied entry into Georgia without an official explanation. The organization views this as part of a broader effort by the Georgian government to restrict independent media in connection with the ongoing pro-European protest movement.

● The “Journalists’ Safety Platform” has reported intimidation of staff members at the Georgian Public Broadcaster who have criticized management and editorial policies. According to the platform, the chair of the Board of Trustees, Vasil Maghlaperidze, suggested that the channel’s management refer these journalists to the prosecutor’s office, claiming that their criticism allegedly stems from personal political or financial motives.

● A sports tournament organized by Russia—called the “International Mas-Wrestling Championship”—is planned to take place in Tskaltubo, western Georgia. The Formula TV channel reports that a member of the Russian government, Senator Alexander Akimov from the Yakutia region, is expected to arrive in Georgia for the event. He is being assisted in organizing the tournament by Mamuka Tuskadze, who is working to establish a national armwrestling federation in Georgia.

● Secretary of the Security Council Armen Grigoryan did not confirm media reports about a buildup of Azerbaijani forces on the border. “If there is any information concerning national security, the authorities will certainly share it,” Grigoryan assured journalists. He called insider reports by various media outlets about alleged buildups “inaccurate and incomplete.”

● “Armenian prisoners in Baku are forced to stand for long periods without being allowed to sit or lie down,” said human rights lawyer Siranush Sahakyan during a panel discussion in Yerevan. According to her, “numerous cases of torture have been documented, with physical abuse accompanied by serious psychological pressure.” Sahakyan declined to disclose specific cases, stating she does not want to expose the detainees to further risk.

● The first meeting between deputy foreign ministers of Armenia and Turkey took place ahead of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum in Turkey (pictured below). Vahan Kostanyan and Beris Ekindji reportedly discussed the normalization of relations and possible new areas of cooperation between the two countries.

● Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan will participate in a panel discussion at the Antalya forum alongside the foreign ministers of Azerbaijan and Georgia.

● Armenia commemorated the victims of ethnic cleansing in the village of Maragha in 1992. According to official information, more than 50 people, including 30 women, were killed by Azerbaijani forces, and the entire population—around 5,000 people—was forcibly displaced. Twenty-nine women and nine children were taken hostage, and the fate of 19 of them remains unknown. “These atrocities were documented in reports by HRW and Amnesty International. Ethnic hatred, impunity, glorification of war crimes, destruction of Armenian cultural heritage, and forced displacement led to the Maragha massacre. These patterns were also observed earlier during the pogroms of Armenians in Sumgait, Kirovabad, Baku, and other locations from 1988 to 1990,” the Armenian MFA stated on X.

● Remembering the victims of Maragha, the MFA urged Baku “to abandon hate speech and promote respect for fundamental human rights in order to prevent such crimes and achieve lasting peace.”

● “If relations between Russia and Armenia become unfriendly, Russia will of course be very sad. But as for Armenia, it might cease to exist altogether,” said RT editor-in-chief Margarita Simonyan.

● Armenia will open an embassy in Oman this year, according to a decision approved at a government meeting.

● Displaced persons from Nagorno-Karabakh who are in difficult social situations will continue to receive financial assistance until December 2025, though the aid will be reduced. According to the decision made by the cabinet, support will be provided to families whose monthly income per person does not exceed 55,000 drams (just over $130). One family member will receive 40,000 drams ($100), while the others will receive 10,000 drams each.

● “The Armenian government has made a decision that will deepen poverty among 100,000 Karabakh Armenians and force many of them to emigrate,” wrote former State Minister of the unrecognized Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, Artak Beglaryan, on social media. “The poverty rate among Karabakh Armenians already stands at around 70–80%, and it will soon rise even further, pushing most of them into extreme poverty. Instead of helping displaced people settle in Armenia, the authorities treat and present us as ‘enemies,’” Beglaryan said.

● Armenia’s Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport has signed memorandums with the American company Netflix regarding the production of several TV series to be filmed in Armenia.

● Residents of the village of Kasakh are protesting, demanding the restoration of a bus service that connects them to Yerevan. “Until we receive a real and justified response, we will block traffic on the highway completely,” the protesters stated.

● Negotiations between Israel and Turkey took place in Baku, according to the office of the Israeli Prime Minister, which also thanked Azerbaijan and President Ilham Aliyev for organizing the meeting. According to sources in the Turkish Ministry of Defense, the talks marked the beginning of a process to establish a communication channel between the two countries to prevent potential clashes or misunderstandings in the region. The Times of Israel reported that “the deployment of foreign troops in Syria was discussed, and Israel made it clear that the establishment of Turkish bases near Palmyra is a red line.”

● “President Ilham Aliyev’s words about ‘Western Azerbaijan’ should not be viewed as a territorial claim against Armenia. It simply refers to the fact that Azerbaijanis historically lived in those lands and formed the majority population,” said Elchin Amirbekov, special representative of the President of Azerbaijan, in an interview with Swedish Radio. “Armenia does not trust our leader, and we do not trust Armenia. There are legitimate concerns about their true intentions. The issue of amending Armenia’s constitution, which includes territorial claims against Azerbaijan, remains on the agenda. These claims must be removed for a peace agreement to be signed between our countries,” Amirbekov said, according to local media.

● The Ministry of Defense reported another shelling of Azerbaijani positions from Armenian territory, specifically near the village of Seyrek Mesha in the Tovuzgala district.

● Political consultations were held in Baku between representatives of the foreign ministries of Azerbaijan and Portugal. Local media noted the importance of mutual official visits and cooperation within international organizations.

● Azerbaijan’s ambassador to Ukraine, Seymour Mardaliyev, posted on X, thanking Ukraine’s Minister of Education, Oksen Lisovyi, for the “strong support of the strategic partnership between the two countries.”

● In the ongoing criminal case against local and international NGOs, two more people have been charged. According to relatives, activist Asaf Ahmadov and social worker Zamia Zaki have been arrested and sentenced to three months of pretrial detention. Several others have been summoned for questioning. No official information has been released on these cases. On March 24, Mehriban Ragimli, a former adviser to the German Marshall Fund (GMF), was arrested in connection with the case. Others previously detained include Hafiz Hasanov, head of the “Law and Development” NGO; Mamed Alpay (Mamedzade), director of the Election Monitoring Alliance; and Bashir Suleymanli, head of the Institute for Civil Rights. An arrest warrant was also issued for Subkhan Hasanli, head of the Center for Social Rights, who is in exile and wanted by authorities. In total, around 50 people are involved in the case, including staff of international donor organizations. They face charges such as large-scale money laundering, abuse of official power, and document forgery, which carry prison sentences of up to 12 years.

● The Prosecutor General’s Office has summoned exiled blogger Imamedin Alimanov for questioning on May 5 in connection with a criminal case against him. He is accused of publicly calling for the violent overthrow of the government and for changing the constitutional order in videos published on YouTube between 2019 and 2021. Alimanov has been arrested in absentia and declared wanted.

● The Court of Appeals granted the request of jailed “Channel 11” internet TV director Teymur Kerimov and returned his case for retrial to the Baku Serious Crimes Court. Kerimov was sentenced to eight years in prison. The retrial was ordered after his lawyer discovered inconsistencies between the court transcript and the audio recording of the lower court hearing. Kerimov claims this was done deliberately. He was charged with extortion, but says the accusation is false and that he was arrested for filming and publishing material about protests and human rights violations. In the past 18 months, over 30 journalists and bloggers have been arrested in Azerbaijan, mostly on charges of smuggling or extortion. Journalists say the charges are fabricated and that they are being punished for their work.

● The trial continues for former leaders of the unrecognized Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR), who are in custody. They are accused of war crimes, attempting to overthrow the government, terrorism, and other serious offenses. According to the pro-government outlet Report, former NKR paramilitary member Melikset Pashayan testified that he helped plant landmines near combat positions. Another defendant, David Allahverdyan, said he worked in the “Ministry of Agriculture” of the unrecognized NKR and was involved in shipping crops from occupied Azerbaijani territories to Armenia. According to official information, a total of 15 people are involved in the case. Hearings continue today.

● Georgian Foreign Minister Maka Bochorishvili: “Georgia has proven itself as a platform for negotiations between Baku and Yerevan and is ready to contribute to lasting peace in the South Caucasus. Tbilisi wants to help the sides engage in dialogue and sign a peace agreement.”

● Tomorrow, April 12, the foreign ministers of Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Armenia will hold a joint panel discussion during the Antalya Diplomatic Forum in Turkey. The topic: “Challenges and opportunities for regional cooperation in the South Caucasus.”

● Baku and Tbilisi are negotiating the resumption of passenger rail transport. The exact start date will be announced later, according to Georgian Railways. Azerbaijan’s land borders have remained completely closed since March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

● A joint transport committee between Iran and Azerbaijan will begin work in the coming weeks, according to Iran’s Minister of Roads and Urban Development, Farzaneh Sadegh. She said the committee aims to speed up joint projects in rail, road, air, and sea transportation.

● In March, the official inflation rate in Azerbaijan rose by 5.9% compared to the same period in 2024. According to the State Statistics Committee, the rate was 6.5% for food, beverages, and tobacco; 2.8% for non-food items; and 7.5% for paid services. Independent economists claim the real inflation rate is much higher.

● Georgian Dream Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze issued a statement on the tragedy of April 9, 1989, in which he did not mention Russia and said that people were killed by a “foreign power.” He also referred to the thousands who gathered at the memorial on this commemorative day as a “foreign force.” Thirty-six years ago, Soviet troops dispersed a peaceful demonstration in front of the parliament in Tbilisi that was demanding the restoration of Georgia’s independence. 21 people were killed and thousands injured.

● A similar statement was made by Georgian Dream parliamentary faction chairman Shalva Papuashvili. In his address on the April 9 tragedy, he also omitted any reference to Russia and spoke of “provocations” by pro-European protesters.

● Georgia’s 5th president Salome Zourabichvili responded, calling on Kobakhidze to remember that “the soldiers who attacked and killed peaceful demonstrators on April 9, 1989, were Russians, not a ‘foreign force.’”

● German Ambassador to Georgia Peter Fischer expressed outrage at Kobakhidze’s statement. “Germany honors the memory of Georgians killed by Soviet troops during the demonstration for freedom and democracy on Rustaveli Avenue on April 9, 1989. In East Germany, people protested for the same reasons, and in November 1989, the Berlin Wall fell. Defending freedom and democracy is an ongoing task. For several months now, Georgians have been protesting on Rustaveli. Comparing them to the Soviet Union is wrong. Comparing Germany and the European Union to the Soviets is also wrong. We are friends of Georgia, not a hostile foreign power. Every sincere Georgian knows this from the experience of the last 30 years,” Fischer wrote on X.

● Opposition leader Giorgi Gakharia criticized Kobakhidze’s remarks. “This is an attempt to rewrite Georgia’s history and distort reality. It started under the self-proclaimed government of Georgian Dream, and it is deeply concerning,” Gakharia said.

● MP Gia Volski called Kobakhidze’s parallel “fair,” comparing the Soviet troops that killed Georgian citizens on April 9, 1989, and the thousands currently participating in pro-European protests, both described as “foreign forces.” According to Volski, the fairness lies in the “double standards used by foreign forces in 1989 and now.”

● Responding to public backlash over his statement, Kobakhidze told journalists that “the methods used today by the ‘deep state’ against Georgia are comparable to those of the KGB 36 years ago.”

● Leaders of Georgian Dream broke tradition by not laying wreaths at the April 9 memorial on Rustaveli Avenue in front of the parliament. It was said they “wanted to avoid provocations” since thousands of pro-European protesters had gathered there. Instead, party leaders and ministers appointed by them went to the Sameba Cathedral in Tbilisi.

● Lithuanian MEP and standing rapporteur on Georgia Rasa Juknevičienė presented a draft report on Georgia for 2024 at the European Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee. The document states that Georgia is experiencing democratic backsliding, the EU integration process has effectively stalled, and mass protests have been ongoing since November 2024. It also says that “the ruling team has not seized the historic opportunity and has moved further away from EU recommendations.”

● At the Foreign Affairs Committee meeting, MEP Michael Gahler spoke about possible overseas assets of billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili, founder of Georgian Dream and considered the country’s shadow ruler. Ivanishvili owns property in France and holds French citizenship, which may lead to potential actions by France, Gahler said. “For a long time now, thousands of people have taken to the streets every evening with Georgian, EU, and Ukrainian flags. This clearly shows their stance. They don’t want a future with Russia, which contradicts the direction of the government created by Ivanishvili,” the MEP said.

● Georgia’s 5th president Salome Zourabichvili addressed the Czech Senate, stating that “democracy in Georgia is being dismantled day by day.” She spoke of repressive laws passed by Georgian Dream targeting the media, opposition parties, and NGOs. Zourabichvili also pointed to Russia’s influence over institutions captured by oligarch Ivanishvili, including the judiciary.

📍 “This is not a fight against grants but hatred toward Georgia,” Georgian Dream Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze said of the planned amendments to the grant law. Under the proposed changes, government approval would be required to receive a foreign grant. Read more here

● Georgian fighter Giorgi Goglidze (pictured below), who fought on Ukraine’s side, was sentenced in Russia to nine years in prison for “mercenarism.” According to Russian investigative sources cited by local media, he was captured in November 2023 along with another Georgian fighter, Giorgi Chubitidze.

● “Azerbaijan may refuse to recognize rulings of the European Court of Human Rights,” President Ilham Aliyev said. The statement follows the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe’s decision in January last year not to approve the mandate of Azerbaijan’s delegation. As a result, Aliyev said, “we no longer participate in the election of ECHR judges, and therefore its decisions hold no authority for us. That is our position.” Azerbaijan is among the top countries in terms of complaints filed to the ECHR, mainly related to property and political rights violations. PACE cited Azerbaijan’s failure to meet its core obligations as a Council of Europe member as the reason for the decision. In response, Azerbaijan accused the body of bias against its restoration of territorial integrity and banned entry for PACE members who supported the decision. Read more here

● An international forum titled “Towards a New World Order” is taking place in Khankendi (Karabakh), organized by ADA University (Diplomatic Academy) and the Center of Analysis of International Relations. More than 80 international experts from 44 countries are participating in the event. Ilham Aliyev made his statement on not recognizing the rulings of the European Court of Human Rights during the forum’s opening ceremony.

● “There are rather strong revanchist groups in Armenia. The deadly weapons their new friends are supplying will not bring peace or stability,” Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said in a speech at the forum.

● Ilham Aliyev also stated: “We are waiting for Armenia to amend its constitution, which contains claims against Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity. Once that is done and a peace agreement is signed, it could become a win-win situation for all three South Caucasus countries. Realistically, we cannot expect to become friends with Armenia overnight. But we are ready to take small steps toward confidence-building measures. These could include mutual visits by journalists, members of the intelligentsia, or perhaps joint meetings on transboundary rivers, as pollution of the Araz River by Armenia is a serious problem for Azerbaijan. Recently, there have been some initiatives from our Georgian friends, and we responded positively. Now we await Armenia’s position. Building trust will take years, but at the very least, we are ready to work on reducing mistrust.”

● Elnur Guliyev, an activist with Azerbaijan’s opposition Popular Front Party, has been sentenced to 30 days of administrative detention. The party had reported his disappearance on April 8 and suspected he had been detained by police, though the Interior Ministry has not confirmed this. Party leader Ali Karimli said Guliyev is part of his personal security detail. Around 15 party members are currently in prison, including two of Karimli’s bodyguards. All are facing various charges but claim to be political prisoners. According to local human rights groups, there are over 350 political prisoners in Azerbaijan—a figure the government denies. Read more here

● Azerbaijan’s ambassador to Belgium Vagif Sadigov took part in a session of the Belgian Parliament’s Foreign Relations Committee on a draft resolution concerning Armenia-Azerbaijan relations. The ambassador criticized the draft as “biased and pro-Armenian,” saying it ignores the regional reality. He raised the issue of displaced Azerbaijanis’ right to return to their homes in Armenia, alleged widespread destruction on formerly occupied Azerbaijani territories, and landmine contamination. Sadigov expressed hope the resolution would be revised “to promote peace rather than hinder it.”

● The president of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, Ersin Tatar, welcomed Ilham Aliyev’s latest remarks in support of Northern Cyprus. “We are only thinking about how we can help our brothers so that they can preserve their state. They have earned it through their history and their actions,” Ilham Aliyev said.

● Azerbaijan’s Defense Ministry reported another alleged shooting incident by Armenian forces near the villages of Khoznevar and Khanazakh in Armenia’s Goris district. The ministry has issued near-daily reports of similar incidents in recent weeks. Armenia denies all such claims and has repeatedly proposed establishing a joint investigative mechanism.

● Khalaf Khalafov, special representative of the president of Azerbaijan, held high-level meetings in Moscow with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, presidential aide Yuri Ushakov, and others. Pro-government media in Azerbaijan reported that “special attention was paid to addressing issues of concern to Baku.” Discussions also covered joint efforts to strengthen long-term stability and security in the South Caucasus.

● A meeting of the heads of Azerbaijan–Iran inter-parliamentary working groups was held in Baku.

● The Summit of the Organization of Turkic States will take place in May in Lachin, a town that returned to Azerbaijani control following the Second Karabakh War in autumn 2020, according to Turkish presidential adviser Çağrı Erhan.

● Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan will participate in the Antalya Diplomacy Forum in Turkey on April 11–12. Yerevan said several bilateral meetings are scheduled during the forum, though no details were provided. At last year’s forum in March 2024, a panel featured Azerbaijani presidential foreign policy aide Hikmet Hajiyev and Armenian parliament vice speaker Ruben Rubinyan, who also serves as Yerevan’s envoy for normalization talks with Turkey.

This video from the international forum “Towards a New World Order” was published on the official Instagram page of President Ilham Aliyev:

 

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A post shared by @presidentaz

● “Armenia is ready to verify the accuracy of the minefield maps handed over to Azerbaijan with the participation of international experts,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated in response to Baku’s accusations of providing incorrect and incomplete maps.

● Armenia and Iran are holding special forces exercises on April 9–10. The drills include simulations of repelling attacks by hypothetical terrorist groups on border checkpoints located along the Armenia-Iran border.

● European observers have increased the number of night patrols along the Armenian side of the Armenia-Azerbaijan border.

● The head of the Football Federation, whose resignation has been demanded for a long time by fan clubs and national teams, said he has no intention of stepping down. At a press conference, Armen Melikbekyan stated that “there are people who are sponsoring the media buzz.”

● “Azerbaijan is resorting to open political blackmail by refusing to comply with the rulings of the European Court. Such behavior is characteristic of authoritarian regimes and is a result of dangerous compromises Europe has made with gas-rich Baku at the expense of human rights,” said opposition MP and former deputy prime minister Armen Gevorgyan at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), commenting on President Ilham Aliyev’s recent statement. In January last year, PACE did not approve the credentials of the Azerbaijani delegation. Because of this, Aliyev said, “the country no longer participates in the election of European Court judges, and therefore its decisions hold no power for us.”

● Georgia’s Football Federation has been fined €40,000 for the behavior of Georgian fans during the match against Armenia in Tbilisi. The Georgian national team must also play one home match behind closed doors. UEFA’s ruling includes a two-year probation period, meaning the sanctions could be reinstated if similar incidents occur again.

● On April 9, Armenia’s Ministry of Defense twice denied Azerbaijan’s claims that Armenian forces had opened fire on its positions.

● The parliamentary mandate of ruling “Civil Contract” party member Vilen Gabrielyan, who stepped down after an incident involving a journalist, has been transferred to the next candidate on the party list — Artem Meghrabyan. From 2022 to 2024, Meghrabyan served as the head of Armenia’s Military-Industrial Committee.

● Russia expects to finalize agreements by May on the opening timeline for its consulate general in the city of Kapan, Armenia (near the border with Azerbaijan), according to Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova.

● Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan and special representative for normalization with Turkey Ruben Rubinyan have been included on the list of participants for the Antalya Diplomacy Forum in Turkey on April 11–13. Their participation has not yet been officially confirmed.

● Road fatality trends in Armenia have remained largely unchanged over the past two years, MP Armen Khachatryan said during parliamentary hearings. He called it alarming that over the last decade, more than 3,600 people have died in road accidents in the country of three million. Around 70,000 people were injured, and 2,000–3,000 were left disabled.

● Thousands of people spent the night outside the parliament in Tbilisi. This is a round-the-clock protest in memory of those killed by Soviet troops at the same location at dawn on April 9, 1991, during pro-independence demonstrations. Here is a story about the April 9 tragedy.

● Today marks the 133rd day of pro-European protests in Georgia. Protesters are demanding the release of arrested demonstrators and new parliamentary elections to ensure a lawful change of power. The protests have continued for four months.

● The French Embassy issued a statement of support: “On the eve of the Day of National Unity, France pays tribute to the women and men of Georgia who died at the hands of the Soviet army on April 9, 1989, in the struggle for freedom and independence. France continues to support the Georgian people in their pursuit of independence, democracy, and Europe.”

● Families of arrested protesters have declared solidarity with students holding a 24/7 protest outside parliament. A large protest march, organized by relatives of the “regime’s prisoners,” is planned for April 14.

● Journalist Saba Sordia from Indigo was released from the courtroom. He had been arrested on the street a few days earlier for “disobeying police orders.” He told Formula TV that the incident began when a police officer who stopped him for a search began rummaging through the inside pocket of his bag without consent. Sordia said officers insulted him in the police car.

● UK Minister for Europe Stephen Doughty congratulated the Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association (GYLA) on receiving the “Defender of Democracy” award. In a Facebook post, Doughty wrote that “after democratic backsliding, arbitrary arrests of protesters, and the excessive use of force against politicians and journalists, Georgian Dream shows no intent to return to a European path.” He called on the ruling party to “end its isolationist behavior.”

● GYLA has filed a lawsuit against the Central Election Commission over its April 3 resolution that restricts observers’ rights at polling stations — including bans on verifying ID documents and filming. Read more here

● Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili (Georgian Dream) voiced strong support for a Politico article highlighting an EU audit report criticizing the lack of oversight on NGO funding. The article claims the EU gives billions of euros annually to NGOs without ensuring proper control. “This is what we’ve been saying all along,” Papuashvili said. “European grants have been spent non-transparently in Georgia and used to interfere in politics. There’s corruption in the grant distribution system — the same NGOs and people always get the money.” MEP Daniel Freund warned the report “may be misused by some political forces to fuel further attacks on NGOs.”

● Former defense minister Irakli Okruashvili (from the Saakashvili era) was released on bail set at 20,000 lari (about $7,000) and banned from leaving the country. He faces charges for refusing to appear before a parliamentary commission investigating past government actions. The charges could also lead to imprisonment.

● The Ministry of Internal Affairs ranks first among government bodies in terms of bonuses and extra pay from the state budget. In 2024, staff received 527.5 million lari (around $190 million) — a record high for the past decade. The data was published by the Institute for Development of Freedom of Information (IDFI).

● Georgian Railways reported that a young child was fatally struck by a passenger train near Batumi station. The company expressed condolences to the child’s family.

Thousands of people spent the night outside the parliament in #Tbilisi. This is what it looks like now. It’s a round-the-clock rally in memory of those killed by Soviet troops at this very spot on the morning of April 9, 1991, during pro-independence demonstrations.

Today marks… pic.twitter.com/uyP8FuryFy

— JAMnews (@JAMnewsCaucasus) April 9, 2025

● The authorities are ready to extend support for Karabakh Armenians by another month—on the condition that they remove their protest tent from Freedom Square in central Yerevan. However, member of the Council for the Protection of Karabakh Armenians’ Rights, Nzhde Iskandaryan, stated that “the protesters will not back down.” As of April 1, financial support for displaced Armenians from Karabakh has been significantly reduced or partially discontinued.

● New passports issued to displaced persons from Karabakh list “Azerbaijan” as their place of birth. The Ministry of Internal Affairs explained that documents must comply with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards and use geographical names the organization deems acceptable. Otherwise, holders may face difficulties crossing borders.

● A court found Samvel Vardanyan guilty of hooliganism for publicly insulting MP Hakob Aslanyan (then of the ruling party faction) last year. He faces a fine (about $50), 80–150 hours of community service, or up to two years in prison. However, the judge acquitted him of inciting or promoting hatred.

● Two French TV channels are seeking access to Armenia’s public multiplex, according to Tigran Hakobyan, head of the Television and Radio Commission. One of them, Arte France, was recently involved in a controversy over a report that showed a map of the South Caucasus without Armenia.

● Two Iranian nationals have been arrested in Armenia for smuggling 12 kg of methamphetamine.

● A tragic accident involving an ambulance occurred early in the morning in Yerevan. Doctor Asmik Kazaryan died from her injuries. The driver and a nurse were hospitalized in serious condition.

● American pop star Jennifer Lopez will perform in Yerevan on August 3. The concert is scheduled to take place at the Republican Stadium named after Sargsyan and will be the final show of her international tour.

● A family of six, including three children, died from carbon monoxide poisoning caused by a gas water heater installed in the kitchen.

● Another journalist, Anar Abdulla (pictured below), has been charged in the criminal case against jailed head of the Center for Election Monitoring and Democracy Education, Anar Mammadli. Abdulla remains free but is under police control. He faces charges including smuggling, tax evasion, and others, which carry a prison sentence of up to 12 years. He says he is being politically persecuted for criticizing the government. Mammadli has been in detention for over a year as part of the AbzasMedia case. Read more here

● Detained economist Farid Mehralizade testified in court yesterday, saying he is being punished for his research and critical analysis of economic issues. Arrested in May last year, Mehralizade is also linked to the AbzasMedia case, though he denies any connection to the outlet. Read more here

● Baku’s Serious Crimes Court is reviewing the cases of seven AbzasMedia staffers: founder and executive director Ulvi Hasanli, editor-in-chief Sevinj Abbasova (Vagifgizi), coordinator Magomed Kekalov, and journalists Hafiz Babaly, Nargiz Absalamova, Elnara Gasimova, and Farida Mehralizade. Over the past 16 months, around 30 journalists and activists from AbzasMedia, ToplumTV, and MeydanTV have been arrested on smuggling charges, which they all reject as politically motivated.

● The opposition Popular Front Party reported the disappearance of activist Elnur Guliyev, believed to be detained by police. The Interior Ministry has not commented. Party leader Ali Karimli said Guliyev was expected to accompany him to a meeting with the German ambassador but never showed up. Around 15 party members are currently jailed, including Karimli’s two bodyguards. All claim to be political prisoners. Local rights groups list over 350 political prisoners in Azerbaijan, a claim the authorities deny. Read more here

● Azerbaijan’s Defense Ministry reported renewed gunfire from Armenian positions on April 8, between 19:20 and 22:30, allegedly targeting Azerbaijani positions near Garaiman and Yukhari Shorja in the Basarkechar region. Armenia denies the claims and calls for a joint investigation commission.

● Hearings continued in Baku in the case of former unrecognized Nagorno-Karabakh State Minister Ruben Vardanyan, who is charged with war crimes, overthrowing state power, terrorism, and more. At the session, victims gave testimony, and Vardanyan requested access to court transcripts, which the judge approved. The next hearing is set for April 15.

● Azerbaijan held a conference in Tbilisi titled “Western Azerbaijan: Right to Return, Justice, Genocide, and Demining.” Speaking there, Azerbaijani Ambassador to Georgia Faig Guliyev said Armenian forces had heavily mined the territories during the occupation. Four incidents were recorded in the past eight days. Since November 2020, 70 people have been killed and 311 seriously injured by landmines, he said.

● A photo exhibition titled “Demining in Azerbaijan: Priorities and Challenges” has opened in the US Congress.

● Turkish presidential advisor Çağrı Erhan said Turkey’s normalization with Armenia depends on Armenia meeting Azerbaijan’s peace treaty demands, especially recognizing Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity and amending its constitution accordingly.

● The ruling Georgian Dream party is preparing to submit a draft law that would require prior government approval for receiving foreign grants. Under the proposal, politicians would also be prohibited from holding public events with the support of foreign organizations. Accepting a banned grant would result in a fine twice the amount of the grant itself. The information was reported by Interpressnews, though the draft has not yet been published on the parliament’s website. Read more here

● The Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association (GYLA) stated that “the purpose of the illegitimate parliament’s bills is to establish an authoritarian government. They aim to eliminate political opponents by restricting not only current but also future parties, which contradicts the principle of a pluralistic democracy.”

● The Coalition for Media Rights protested the arrest of Indigo journalist Saba Sordia (pictured below), stating, “Independent media are a key target of the Georgian Dream regime. Sordia’s arrest is yet another example of the regime’s growing repressive policies against journalists.” Sordia was detained on April 6 in Tbilisi for allegedly disobeying a police officer.

● Police used force to arrest three young people last night during the fourth month of ongoing pro-European protests on Rustaveli Avenue in front of the parliament. The Ministry of Internal Affairs did not comment on the arrests. Activists identified the detainees as Vato Samkharadze, Tazo Qveselava, and Rezi Dumbadze.

● Another hearing was held in Batumi in the case of detained media figure Mzia Amaglobeli, founder and director of Netgazeti and Batumelebi. Three investigators testified at the hearing, while dozens of activists outside the courthouse chanted, “Free Mzia!” The next session is scheduled for April 14.

● “The situation in Georgia has deteriorated,” said Swedish MP Boriana Åberg in her report to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE). She cited numerous cases of violence and repression against protesters and emphasized that no police officers have been held accountable. Åberg said the only way forward is outlined in PACE’s earlier resolution: new, fair parliamentary elections and the release of political prisoners.

● Georgian Dream Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze said on the pro-government Imedi TV channel that “restoring Georgia’s territorial integrity is realistic if we show patience and pursue the right policy.” The comment quickly prompted reactions from the de facto “foreign ministries” of the Tskhinvali region (South Ossetia) and Abkhazia:

• “South Ossetia is focused on building an independent state and has no intention of changing its development course. We aim to strengthen our relations with our security guarantor — the Russian Federation.”

• “Abkhazia’s coexistence with Georgia is possible based on good neighborly relations between two states and mutual respect.”

● Journalists asked Georgian Dream PM Kobakhidze how Sulkhan Tamazashvili, the newly appointed head of the Acharan autonomous republic, would receive his salary despite being under international financial sanctions. Kobakhidze replied, “Sanctions don’t work. Tamazashvili will continue to officially receive a very good salary.”

● Giorgi Gakharia, leader of the “For Georgia” party, wrote on X that he “delivered the Georgian people’s message to the country’s European partners in Brussels. Political prisoners must be freed. New elections must be held. Georgia’s European path must be restored. Alongside progressive leaders, our message was clear — Georgia belongs in the European Union.”

● Former defense minister Irakli Okruashvili has been charged with failing to appear before the parliamentary commission created by Georgian Dream to investigate the actions of the previous government (during the presidency of Mikheil Saakashvili). “No one has the moral right to participate in this farce while dozens of young people, including Mzia Amaglobeli, remain in prison. There is no commission, just as there is no real parliament in Georgia,” Okruashvili said.

● British citizen Daniel Travis told the Daily Express that he was detained for 12 days during last year’s protests, beaten, and is now not allowed to leave Georgia. The 28-year-old said he remains stuck in the country.

● The National Food Agency reported that it has removed a batch of milk produced by “Soplis Nobati” from the market after excessive levels of aflatoxin M1 were found. The agency added that the company’s other dairy products — milk, sour cream, cottage cheese, etc. — fully comply with safety standards.

● The UK Foreign Office has advised its citizens in Azerbaijan to avoid traveling to regions bordering Armenia due to ongoing tensions. The warning applies specifically to areas returned to Azerbaijani control after the 2020 and 2023 Karabakh wars. Baku regularly reports cross-border fire, while Yerevan denies the accusations. The advisory excludes the Nakhchivan border area.

● Azerbaijan’s Defense Ministry reported heavy shelling from Armenian territory early on April 7, naming several affected districts: Gorus, Gharakilsa, Basarkechar, Keshishkend, Tovuzgala, and Chambarak.

● An employee of Azerbaijan’s demining agency ANAMA was injured by a landmine while working in the Jabrayil region. The blast led to the amputation of his right ankle. A day earlier, a landmine explosion in Aghdam killed a border guard and injured three others, including two children. Since the 2020 ceasefire, 70 people have been killed and around 300 injured by mines. Azerbaijan says the maps of mined areas handed over by Yerevan are incomplete; Armenia insists they provided everything available.

● The UK Embassy in Baku expressed concern over recent mine explosions and reiterated its ongoing support for demining efforts with ANAMA and the UNDP since 2020.

● Azerbaijani FM Jeyhun Bayramov visited the UAE, meeting with his counterpart Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan to discuss deepening bilateral ties and broader regional and global issues.

● Trials continue for former leaders of the unrecognized Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, arrested by Azerbaijan. They face charges of war crimes, terrorism, and other serious offenses. During the latest hearing, several defendants reportedly admitted to using Armenian diplomatic passports and confirmed official websites used Armenia’s .am domain.

● The family of prominent opposition figure Tofig Yagublu, who was sentenced to nine years in prison, has asked the authorities to allow a medical examination by Dr. Adil Geybulla, a doctor they trust. Yagublu has been on a hunger strike for a week, protesting what he says is an unjust, politically motivated conviction. His family is alarmed by his rapid weight loss. The opposition politician has declared he will continue the hunger strike “until death.” Read more here

● The court has rejected civil activist Bakhtiyar Hajiyev’s appeal against what he called an unfair conviction. His 10-year prison sentence with asset confiscation remains in force. Hajiyev was charged with misusing state-funded grants, illegal entrepreneurship, tax evasion, smuggling, use of forged documents, and other crimes. Arrested in December 2022, he maintains that he committed no crimes and insists he is imprisoned on politically motivated charges for criticizing the interior minister. Read more here

● Pre-trial detention was extended for 14 residents of Imishli, arrested after January protests sparked by the death of two children in a traffic accident. The protests escalated into violence against police vehicles involved in the incident. A 17-year-old has been arrested for allegedly stealing and driving one of the cars. No update has been provided about the police officer. Read more here

● Military analyst Adalet Verdiyev received a 3-year suspended sentence for allegedly sharing state secrets. He posted a video from a media tour of recently recaptured areas, revealing military positions and coordinates.

● Visa liberalization between Armenia and the EU could take 4–5 years, according to Nelli Davtyan, head of the Migration and Citizenship Service at the Interior Ministry. The EU will present an action plan in June, after which Yerevan must complete a set of tasks and report annually. Only then will the actual liberalization process begin.

● Mothers of missing soldiers gathered again outside the government building. April 7 is marked in Armenia as Motherhood and Beauty Day. Protesters said they want their “flowers” — their missing sons — back.

● Council of Europe Human Rights Commissioner Michael O’Flaherty said the condition of Armenian prisoners in Baku is a top priority for him. Speaking at a PACE plenary session, he stressed the need to protect the rights of all people in the region, including the right of those who wish to return to Karabakh.

● “The disgraceful trials of Armenian prisoners in Baku show that Azerbaijan is not ready for peace with Armenia,” said former Armenian Deputy Prime Minister Armen Gevorgyan at PACE. He recalled that about a month ago, Yerevan and Baku announced they had agreed on the text of a peace treaty, but there are no guarantees or mechanisms to ensure a just peace — and the treatment of prisoners in Azerbaijan is clear proof of this.

● Armenia’s Defense Ministry denied Azerbaijan’s claim that Armenian forces had shelled Azerbaijani positions from the evening of April 6 to 4:30 a.m. on April 7. The ministry called the reports false.

● The Foreign Ministry also denied reports that Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan had held informal meetings with the Azerbaijani delegation in Dubai. “He held no official or unofficial contacts with representatives of any country in Dubai,” the ministry said.

● A court has rejected the lawsuit filed by the opposition coalition “Strong Georgia” and the NGO International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy (ISFED) against the Central Election Commission’s decision to impose new restrictions on election observers. Observers are now barred from viewing voters’ IDs and from taking photos or videos. Key local elections are scheduled for October. Read more here

● “If opposition parties boycott the elections, it will be better for democracy, as they are still busy deceiving their supporters,” said Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili. He claimed the CEC’s new decisions (see above) follow the highest international standards. Papuashvili also stated that “another attack is being prepared against elections and democracy in Georgia.” He added: “The problem is not ISFED, Transparency International, or other groups acting as foreign agents. The problem lies with the donors funding them and pushing them to act against democracy in Georgia.”

● ISFED has released a report on a Russian-led disinformation campaign targeting Georgia during last October’s parliamentary elections. The opposition rejected the results as rigged and has since refused to participate in parliament, which is now composed solely of the ruling Georgian Dream party. ISFED said the Russian campaign involved both foreign intelligence services and Kremlin-aligned media. Its key message was that the West—particularly the U.S.—was allegedly funding protests in Georgia and urging the country to “open a second front” against Russia.

● “Russia, through its puppet oligarchs, has nearly seized full control of power in Georgia. Moscow has launched a new hybrid strategy here to replace more costly military tactics. This hybrid strategy threatens everyone,” said 5th President Salome Zourabichvili during the “Meeting for Democracy” event in Paris. She called on the EU “not to let a country granted candidate status turn into a model of totalitarian dictatorship within a year.” Zourabichvili urged the international community to “resist this.”

● Vazha Siradze, the head of Georgia’s patrol police who is under international sanctions for violence against protesters and unlawful detentions, has been appointed governor of the Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti region. Sergi Bzishvili will replace him as head of patrol police, according to TV Pirveli sources.

● Saba Sordia, a journalist from Indigo magazine, was detained in Tbilisi for allegedly disobeying police orders. Authorities did not inform his family or relatives of the arrest. The Social Justice Center said the incident reflects a broader pattern of “arbitrary and unjustified searches and arrests used by police as tools of intimidation and repression.”

● A debate on Georgia is taking place today in Paris as part of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) session. A resolution is expected to be adopted outlining measures against the ruling Georgian Dream party over its adoption of new repressive laws. The mandate of the Georgian delegation at PACE is currently only partially recognized. A previous resolution demanded the release of detained protesters and the scheduling of new parliamentary elections by April—conditions that have not been met.

● Georgia national team goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili was named man of the match in Valencia’s 2–1 win over Real Madrid on April 5. He is under contract with Liverpool and currently on loan to Valencia. That same day, fellow Georgian footballer Khvicha Kvaratskhelia was also named man of the match in PSG’s 1–0 home win over Angers, after providing an assist. Kvaratskhelia has become the first Georgian footballer to win top-5 league titles in two different countries.

● Georgian Airways is launching another flight to Russia, this time to Yekaterinburg. The airline already flies from Tbilisi to Moscow, St. Petersburg, and Novosibirsk. Red Wings is also adding new routes. Currently, more than 400 flights per month operate between Georgia and Russia.

Photo: Mass pro-European protests have continued in Tbilisi for the fourth month, demanding the release of detained protesters and new parliamentary elections to allow a lawful change of power in the country:

● Former head of the State Revenue Committee Gagik Khachatryan has been barred from traveling to Germany for medical treatment due to a new criminal case opened against him. He has been placed under a travel ban. Khachatryan is accused of abuse of power, embezzlement, involvement in money laundering, and corruption. As part of ongoing legal proceedings, the authorities are seeking to confiscate 210 real estate properties, 13 vehicles, and over 33 billion drams (approximately $84 million) from him, his sons, and others involved.

● “Following the announcement of the decree on the forced displacement of Armenians from Nagorno-Karabakh and the dissolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh entity, this issue is no longer on the agenda of the normalization process between Armenia and Azerbaijan,” Armenia’s foreign ministry said in a response to a query from the Armenian service of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. The query followed Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev’s statement during a meeting with the German president, in which he claimed that “Armenia’s insistence on including the fate of the so-called ‘Nagorno-Karabakh Republic’ in the peace agreement” was the main obstacle in negotiations.

● MP Levon Kocharyan from the opposition “Armenia” party called the foreign ministry’s statement “treacherous and anti-national.”

● Armenia’s Central Electoral Commission has finalized the results of the March 30 municipal elections in Gyumri, the country’s second-largest city. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s Civil Contract party won more seats than any other political force—14 out of 33—but fell short of the majority needed to appoint its own mayoral candidate. More details available here.

● Ruben Vardanyan, the former state minister of the unrecognized Nagorno-Karabakh Republic currently imprisoned in Azerbaijan, has released another message through his family, thanking everyone “who is thinking of and praying for him and the other detainees.”

● Suspicious Telegram channels have become more active recently. “The content is published in Armenian, but there are credible suspicions that these channels were created outside Armenia,” said Defense Ministry spokesperson Aram Torosyan.

● A Sochi–Yerevan flight finally landed at Zvartnots Airport after a 24-hour delay caused by heavy fog in Sochi.

● The Foreign Ministry has called on the international community to hold Armenia accountable following new landmine explosions on April 6 in the Jabrayil and Aghdam districts, which returned to Azerbaijani control after the 2020 Second Karabakh War. Four people, including children, were reportedly seriously injured. The statement noted that “since the 2020 war, 392 people have been killed or injured due to mine contamination of Azerbaijani territories by Armenia.”

● Ombudsperson Sabina Aliyeva issued a statement on what she called “Armenia’s mine terror” and also urged the international community “to assist Azerbaijan, including in holding Armenia accountable.”

● “Around ten thousand internally displaced persons have already returned to their native lands in Azerbaijani territories liberated from Armenian occupation in the 2020 Second Karabakh War. That number is expected to reach 140,000 by the end of 2026,” said Milli Majlis Speaker Sahiba Gafarova, speaking at the Inter-Parliamentary Union Assembly in Tashkent. “Armenia occupied 20% of Azerbaijan’s territory for 30 years. Nearly one million Azerbaijanis became refugees and internally displaced. More than 250,000 of them were expelled from Armenia,” Gafarova said.

● “Respond promptly to any provocations from Armenia and increase vigilance in organizing combat duty,” Defense Minister Zakir Hasanov instructed during a large-scale video conference with deputy ministers, branch commanders, department heads, unit leaders, and military academy heads. The main focus was the regular shelling of Azerbaijani positions and reconnaissance drone flights from Armenia. Yerevan, for its part, denies the accusations and calls for joint investigations.

● Reporters Without Borders has launched a campaign on behalf of five prominent journalists imprisoned in different countries. One of them is 35-year-old Sevinj Vagifgizi, editor-in-chief of the popular outlet AbzasMedia, who is in detention on charges of “foreign currency smuggling,” along with several colleagues. They deny the charges, calling them retaliation for critical reporting on Azerbaijani authorities. At her most recent court hearing on March 11, Vagifgizi said President Ilham Aliyev bears direct responsibility for her imprisonment. Reporters Without Borders published an article about Sevinj Vagifgizi, featuring a story from her mother about raising her, and renewed their call for the immediate release of the journalist and her colleagues.

Top stories in Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Georgia from 31 March – 4 April, 2025