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

● The Georgian Dream-led parliament unanimously passed the third and final reading of amendments to the law on foreign grants, requiring prior government approval to receive them. Read more here

● Kaja Kallas, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy: “Georgia has adopted a law that further restricts civic space. The law was passed hastily and without consultation, adding to other repressive legislation recently adopted. Such steps undermine Georgia’s EU candidate status and fundamental democratic principles.”

● EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos: “I deeply regret that the Georgian government has taken another step away from EU values and standards. The law passed today will further shrink civic space and intensify existing repression. Such actions go against democratic principles and must be reversed.”

● “Norway is seriously concerned about amendments to Georgia’s grant law. It is becoming a tool of state control that will harm the independence of civil society. We call for the law to be repealed,” said Norway’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

●  “Georgia is sliding deeper into authoritarianism,” wrote MEP Rasa Juknevičienė on X about the grant law amendments. “This is a state capture. The regime’s goal is to punish protesters, silence critical media, and fund only regime-friendly NGOs. Georgian Dream claims this is about transparency, but it’s repression—straight from the Lukashenko playbook. […] EU friends—this must not go unanswered! We must impose sanctions and fundamentally reassess EU policy toward Georgia. We must not allow Georgian Dream to turn Georgia into Belarus.”

● Davit Doiashvili (pictured below) has been dismissed as director of the state-run Vaso Abashidze New Theatre, according to pro-government media citing the Ministry of Culture. Doiashvili and the theatre’s actors have been actively demanding the release of arrested protesters. On January 23, they issued a manifesto in which Doiashvili announced the theatre would take protest performances to the regions.

● “I can’t imagine this theatre without Dato Doiashvili. Let everyone understand that this theatre became a symbol of what a public theatre should be. Repression against the theatre and an independent artist is, above all, repression against free citizens,” said theatre director Data Tavadze.

● Georgian Dream Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze: “Among those who dispersed the peaceful demonstration on April 9, 1989, in Tbilisi were not only Russians but also representatives of other Soviet republics, including those now considered part of the civilized world. There were Ukrainians, Balts, Central Asians, etc. It was the Soviet Union.”

● Irakli Kobakhidze on Mzia Amaghlobeli, the arrested director of popular outlets Netgazeti and Batumelebi: “She is not a victim—she was carrying out a specific order when she insulted a police officer. Her goal was to humiliate the police. But most of those [referring to arrested participants of the mass pro-European protests], especially the youth, are victims. Therefore, our attitude should generally be humane. But that doesn’t mean the law shouldn’t be enforced.”

● The European Union is planning to tighten its visa suspension mechanism soon, which will apply to 61 countries, according to Rikard Jozwiak, editor of Radio Free Europe’s Europe bureau. He writes that a new basis for suspending visa-free travel will be introduced: it will be possible “in cases of serious human rights violations, breaches of international law and standards, including failure to comply with human rights legislation and rulings of international courts.”

● “The new constitution should not include a reference to the Declaration of Independence, but the final decision must be made by the people of Armenia,” said Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. The reference in question mentions the unification of Armenia and Karabakh. Azerbaijan sees this as a territorial claim and demands the removal of this clause as one of the conditions for signing a peace agreement between the two countries.

● Yerevan has submitted written proposals to Baku regarding the continuation of border delimitation, Prime Minister Pashinyan announced.

● Trilateral talks on regional cooperation with the participation of deputy foreign ministers from Armenia, Georgia, and Azerbaijan will take place today in Tbilisi, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

● Former Yerevan mayor Gagik Beglaryan, accused of illegally acquiring 27 properties between 2004 and 2017, caused damage to the state amounting to 2.3 billion drams ($5.7 million), the Anti-Corruption Committee reported.

● The prime minister’s wife has once again decided to host a charity dinner. A ticket for one person will cost $2,500, and two tickets $3,800. The press service of the “My Step” foundation, chaired by Anna Hakobyan, stated that the dinner will launch the “Creating Together” initiative, and all proceeds will go toward supporting small family businesses.

● Discussions continue regarding a potential €20 million EU allocation to Armenia. “We hope for a positive decision,” said Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan.

● In Armenia’s second-largest city, Gyumri, opposition candidate Vardan Ghukasyan has been elected mayor. All 18 members of the Council of Elders voted for him. More details here.

● Statement from Gyumri’s new mayor: “If it weren’t for the Russians, Armenia wouldn’t even have 29,800 square kilometers.” He expressed support for a union state with Russia similar to Belarus and called himself a “pro-Armenian politician guided by Armenia’s interests.”

● Over 20,000 people have applied for Armenian citizenship over the past three years, according to Interior Minister Arpine Sargsyan. The number of applications increased largely due to the influx of Russians (including those of Armenian descent) and Armenians from Karabakh.

● Los Angeles County in the US has officially recognized April 24 as Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day and called for sanctions against Azerbaijan.

● Shavo Odadjian, bassist of the rock band System of a Down, posted a photo of Nikol Pashinyan on Instagram and wrote: “I cry when I see someone erasing the history of genocide, and the one who does that deserves death.” He was likely referring to the prime minister’s recent proposal to remove the reference to the Declaration of Independence from the constitution. That declaration includes not only a mention of Karabakh but also of the mass killings of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire in 1915.

● “Georgia and Azerbaijan have repeatedly been targeted by double standards and foreign interference in our internal affairs. Despite these numerous efforts, we are decisively eliminating these threats and ensuring the security and stability of the region,” said Georgian President Mikheil Kavelashvili during his visit to Baku in a joint press statement with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev. “No third country or organization can know better than us what’s best for our nations. I am glad that cooperation between Azerbaijan and Georgia in defending our common interests has intensified,” Kavelashvili added. He invited President Aliyev to visit Georgia.

● Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan agreed that the new Constitution should not reference the Declaration of Independence, which includes a clause on unification with Karabakh. Pashinyan noted that this issue has been on his government’s agenda since coming to power in 2018. Azerbaijan demands this reference be removed, calling it a territorial claim and a condition for signing a peace treaty.

● “Armenia is unjustifiably questioning the Azerbaijani Constitution, claiming it includes territorial claims against Armenia. There is a reference to the First Republic of 1918–1920, but similar wording exists in Georgia’s Declaration of Independence, which Armenia never protested — even though Georgia controlled what is now Armenia’s Lori region at the time,” said Farid Shafiyev, head of the Center for Analysis of International Relations. “Meanwhile, Armenia’s Constitution contains a direct reference to the unification of ‘Nagorno-Karabakh’ with Armenia. International precedent exists for changing such wording via referendum — as Ireland did in 1998. As unpopular as it may be, Armenia must hold a referendum to amend its Constitution,” Shafiyev told the pro-government outlet Report.

● “The Zangezur Corridor is extremely important for Azerbaijan, as it would give the country direct access to the Mediterranean via Turkey, toward North Africa and Southern Europe,” said Khudayar Hasanli of the Baku International Sea Trade Port. The Zangezur Corridor is a proposed route that would connect mainland Azerbaijan with its Nakhchivan exclave through Armenia. Yerevan insists it will maintain control over the road within its territory, while Baku argues it should be extraterritorial.

● The foreign ministries of Azerbaijan and Iran held consular consultations in Tehran with the participation of representatives from justice, interior, migration, and border agencies. Both sides reportedly agreed to step up cooperation to resolve ongoing issues.

● A visa-free travel agreement between Azerbaijan and China is expected to be signed during President Ilham Aliyev’s upcoming visit to China, according to the APA news agency.

● Heavy rains caused flooding in Azerbaijan’s Shabran district. According to AZERTAC, residents of about 30 homes near the river have been evacuated. Other regions also reported flooding.

● Former Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan has renewed his political feud with his predecessor, Robert Kocharyan. In recent months, opposition groups led by the two politicians have accused each other of aiding Nikol Pashinyan’s rise to power in 2018. Sargsyan claimed Kocharyan’s supporters took part in street protests organized by Pashinyan to oust him and now “are trying to steal opposition votes ahead of next year’s parliamentary elections.” Both men are widely seen as pro-Russian figures in Armenia.

● Republican Congressman Joe Wilson: “The illegal parliament of [oligarch] Ivanishvili is trying to ban international support for the Georgian people. No matter what this fake parliament says, we will never stop supporting the people. Free and fair [parliamentary] elections are the only way forward!” Holding new parliamentary elections — enabling a legitimate change of power — remains the main demand of the large-scale pro-European protests now in their fourth month.

● The Georgian Dream’s parliament unanimously passed legislative amendments expanding mechanisms to ban political parties, with all 83 MPs voting in favor. The bill was introduced by the ruling Georgian Dream faction.

● Parliament approved in the first reading a draft law requiring government consent for receiving foreign grants. The amendments, initiated by the Georgian Dream’s government, are being added to the Law on Grants. Under the proposal, any change in the purpose of a grant will be considered as receiving funds without consent, which will result in liability. The Anti-Corruption Bureau will oversee enforcement, and violations will be punishable by a fine equal to double the grant amount.

● Giorgi Gakharia, leader of the “For Georgia” party, said the party is preparing for any upcoming elections and does not rule out participating in the municipal elections in October, although he noted that “he is not ready to make such a decision today.” Some opposition forces have called for a boycott of the elections “in protest of the rigged parliamentary vote in October 2024.”

● According to Russia’s Ministry of Transport, ticket sales have begun for flights from Russia to the airport in Sukhumi. The first flight by UVT AERO from Moscow to Sukhumi is scheduled for May 3, while flights by Ikar Airlines from Nizhny Novgorod to Sukhumi are scheduled to begin on May 6. Both airlines are under EU sanctions and are banned from flying to EU countries.

● Georgia’s National Agency for Cultural Heritage Protection issued a statement regarding a troubling situation — flooding in the main cathedral of the Georgian Church, Svetitskhoveli (Mtskheta). The agency said that the wall paintings are currently not at risk, though this was not the first incident: water had already entered the cathedral in mid-March. At that time, the agency claims, immediate action was taken and restoration work began, but it had to be suspended due to worsening weather. The agency emphasized that as soon as weather conditions improve, “the issue will be resolved without delay.”

● A jury found Ministry of Internal Affairs special unit inspector Demetre Revazashvili and another individual guilty in the beating that led to the death of Revaz Mikhanashvili in the village of Ateni, Gori district. According to investigators, on the night of July 29, 2024, the defendants, while intoxicated, inflicted serious bodily harm during a conflict and fled the scene. The victim later died in the hospital.

● Imprisoned ex-president Mikheil Saakashvili has proposed reforming the United National Movement (UNM), the party he founded and once led. He stated that in the face of growing repression, the role of political parties is changing, and the UNM should reassess its goals and tactics. According to Saakashvili, the party should transform from a classic political structure into a resistance movement.

The pro-European protest in Tbilisi continues despite the pouring rain:

Thousands of Georgians have gathered outside the parliament today for the 138th consecutive day of anti-government protests, demanding snap parliamentary elections and the release of demonstrators they say were detained unlawfully.

Joining the crowd are waves of students who… pic.twitter.com/1g0lTnjRqh

— JAMnews (@JAMnewsCaucasus) April 14, 2025

● Civil activist Bakhtiyar Hajiyev called the decision of the Baku Court of Appeal to uphold his sentence unjust. Hajiyev was sentenced to 10 years in prison with confiscation of property on charges including misuse of government grant funds, illegal entrepreneurship, tax evasion, smuggling, and use of forged documents. He continues to assert that he committed no crimes and that he is imprisoned on politically motivated grounds for criticizing the interior minister. “We all need a fair judicial system. Because it doesn’t exist, there are now over 350 political prisoners in the country. Society must not remain indifferent. What will citizens do when their rights are violated and there are no independent journalists left to report it?” said Hajiyev. His family has announced plans to file a cassation appeal with the Supreme Court. Read more here

● Mehman Aliyev, a member of the opposition Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan, has been sentenced to five years in prison on charges of possessing narcotic substances in large quantities with the intent to distribute. In his final statement, Aliyev reiterated that he had been falsely accused and was in fact being punished for a video he recorded and shared when his relative, Ali Isayev, was detained by police in Shirvan in May last year. The footage shows plainclothes officers attempting to detain a man who then injured himself with a sharp object and claimed the police were trying to plant drugs on him. Mehman Aliyev said police had pressured him to delete the video and threatened him, but he refused. His lawyer has stated that an appeal will be filed. According to the party, more than 15 of its activists are currently imprisoned, many on drug-related charges. None admit guilt, all claim to be targeted for their political beliefs.

● Lawyers for Avaz Zeynalli, the imprisoned head of “Xural TV,” have filed a petition seeking his release due to a cancer diagnosis. They cited Article 78.2 of the Criminal Code, which provides such a possibility. Zeynalli was accused of extorting and accepting bribes from officials in exchange for withholding compromising information. In 2024, he was sentenced to 9 years in prison. He denies the charges and maintains that his arrest is politically motivated, a response to his critical journalism. Read more here

● Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has proposed that Armenia and Azerbaijan simultaneously sign a peace treaty and a joint statement at the OSCE announcing the dissolution of the Minsk Group. The group, co-chaired by the US, France, and Russia, had facilitated peace negotiations over the Karabakh conflict since the 1990s. The dissolution of the Minsk Group is one of Azerbaijan’s conditions for signing a peace deal. “I’ve repeatedly stated that the dissolution of the Minsk Group structures is a logical step for Armenia. If we are closing the chapter on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, then what is the point of the body that dealt with it? But the OSCE Minsk Group, at least de facto, has a broader context, and we want to make sure Azerbaijan doesn’t see its dissolution as a step toward transferring the conflict from Azerbaijani territory to sovereign Armenian territory,” said Pashinyan.

● The Armenian prime minister also commented on Baku’s second condition for signing a peace treaty — amendments to the Armenian constitution, which references the Declaration of Independence, a document that contains territorial claims against Azerbaijan. “Only the Constitutional Court of Armenia can provide an official interpretation of the constitution. And on September 26, 2024, the court stated that the provisions of the Declaration of Independence are valid only insofar as they align with the articles of the constitution.” More details on Pashinyan’s latest remarks are available here

● Georgian President Mikheil Kavelashvili is visiting Baku (pictured below). He met with Azerbaijani Prime Minister Ali Asadov, and both sides expressed satisfaction with the comprehensive development of friendly relations and strategic partnership between Georgia and Azerbaijan.

● The trial of Ruben Vardanyan, former state minister of the unrecognized Nagorno-Karabakh Republic and Armenian citizen, is ongoing in Baku. He is accused of torture, mercenary activity, war crimes, terrorism, and other offenses. During the hearing, victims testified and called for the harshest sentence. The next court session is scheduled for April 22.

● The Ministry of Finance has announced that Azerbaijan will spend 20 billion manats (approximately $11 billion) over the next five years on the reconstruction of territories regained following the 2020 Karabakh war. This figure represents around 30% of the state budget’s expenditures.

● The Baku Initiative Group has launched an anti-colonial petition, according to its director Abbas Abbasov, speaking at the international conference “Decolonization: The Silent Revolution” at the UN headquarters in New York. The petition calls for recognition of the material and moral damage inflicted on tens of millions of people subjected to colonial rule by France and the Netherlands, and demands compensation.

●  The ninth group of Ukrainian children has arrived in Azerbaijan for rehabilitation. Ukrainian Ambassador Yuriy Husiev said on social media that these are children of missing or fallen Ukrainian servicemen.

● Prime MinisterNikol Pashinyan outlined his policy agenda in a speech in parliament, stating that “the shelling from Azerbaijan is either the result of a lack of discipline in its armed forces or is aimed at exerting psychological pressure.” He emphasized that “the Armenian army has no and will not have any tasks beyond the internationally recognized territory of Armenia.” Touching on broader issues, he declared that “Armenia has become a democratic country, not one where people are killed,” and expressed confidence that “justice and the rule of law will prevail for all.” Read more here

● The U.S. State Department has canceled funding for foreign aid projects in several countries, including Armenia. A total of 139 grant programs worth $215 million have been cut across Armenia, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, and several other countries in Europe, Africa, and South America.

● Opposition MP Hayk Mamijanyan claimed that “the Armenian authorities are afraid to publish the findings of the commission investigating the circumstances of the 44-day war in October 2020 — they fear it may reveal that the ruling party was responsible for the defeat.”

● Armenia’s National Security Council Secretary Armen Grigoryan met with Viviane Lunella, head of the office of the European Commission vice president. Grigoryan reportedly spoke about the Armenian government’s efforts to establish lasting peace and stability in the South Caucasus.

● Parliamentary Speaker Alen Simonyan commented that “when [former president] Serzh Sargsyan speaks negatively about the current Armenian government, he actually boosts its ratings.” Simonyan added, “I invite Mr. Sargsyan to participate in the elections under his own name, to take part in debates on Public Television, as provided by law. It seems he still hasn’t realized that power is now formed by the people.” Many in Armenia view Serzh Sargsyan as a pro-Russian politician.

● Karabakh Armenians are refusing to dismantle their protest tent in central Yerevan. They continue to demand the preservation of a monthly allowance, which the Armenian government decided to end on April 1. Authorities proposed extending the payment of 40,000 drams (around $100) for two more months, but this offer was rejected. Nzhde Iskandaryan, a member of the Council for the Protection of the Rights of Karabakh Armenians, said their demands also include collective return to Nagorno-Karabakh and the release of Armenian prisoners held in Azerbaijan.

● Armenian border guards intercepted the smuggling of over 85 kg of hashish from Iran. The drugs were hidden in a truck compartment. The driver, an Iranian citizen, has been detained, and a criminal case has been opened.

● The “Law Code of Mkhitar Gosh” (Datastanagirk), a 12th-century Armenian legal text written around 1184, has been added to UNESCO’s Memory of the World register. It outlines principles and procedures of judicial processes.

● Employees of the Yerevan State Youth Theatre have not received salaries for three months. They held a protest in front of the city hall building.

● Georgia has announced a tender for the reconstruction of a road leading to the border with Armenia

At a church in Yerevan. Photo by JAMnews:

● Georgian Dream plans to file a constitutional lawsuit demanding a ban on opposition political parties, but it will do so after the local elections scheduled for October. This was announced by the party’s secretary, Mamuka Mdinaradze. He noted that although the party had previously voiced this intention, it decided to postpone the lawsuit to allow the completion of the work of a commission set up by the one-party parliament to investigate the actions of the former authorities and the current opposition.

● The leader of the For Georgia party, Giorgi Gakharia, took part in a session of this commission and spoke about the decision-making process that led to the violent dispersal of the June 20, 2019 protest. At the time, Gakharia was Prime Minister. He admitted that he gave the order to use tear gas and water cannons, but not rubber bullets — the latter caused three people to lose an eye. He also said that the responsibility for the reason behind the protests — the visit of Russian MP Gavrilov — lies with the then-parliament leadership, particularly Irakli Kobakhidze, as both the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the security service were strongly against his arrival. Read more here

● Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin stated that Moscow is ready to restore diplomatic relations with Tbilisi. “These ties were severed by the regime of former president Mikheil Saakashvili,” Galuzin said, expressing support for Georgian Dream. He also called the apology to the Ossetian people for the 2008 August war, made last fall by oligarch Bidzina Ivanishvili (widely seen as Georgia’s shadow ruler), “justified.” Read more here

● The Legal Affairs Committee of parliament, dominated by Georgian Dream, supported in the first reading a bill that would require government approval for receiving foreign grants.

● Transparency International – Georgia presented findings on repressions carried out by Georgian Dream against civil servants who criticized government policies. Around 700 employees across dozens of state institutions have already been affected. This is a result of amendments to the Law on Public Service, which significantly weakened legal protections for civil servants and effectively dismantled a reform that had been implemented over the years with support from international organizations — a reform seen as key for Georgia’s integration into European structures. TI argues that these repressions are one of Georgian Dream’s main tools in its attempt to suppress the large-scale pro-European protests now in their fourth month.

● A new court hearing took place in Batumi City Court in the case against Mzia Amaghlobeli, founder of the prominent outlets Netgazeti and Batumelebi, who has been recognized by both local and international rights groups as a political prisoner. The next hearing is scheduled for April 28.

● On April 14, Georgia marked Mother Language Day. The date commemorates a major event in 1978, when the Supreme Soviet of the USSR decided to revoke Georgian’s status as the state language and replace it with Russian. Over 100,000 people took to Rustaveli Avenue in protest — an unprecedented event that led Moscow to back down and cancel the decision (pictured below).

● “France is concerned about rising tensions on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border and would like to expand the EU monitoring mission in Armenia to help improve the situation,” said French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Noël Barrot. He also emphasized the need for “the swift signing of a peace agreement and the return of Armenian detainees from Azerbaijan.”

● The Armenian border village of Khndzoresk in the Syunik region was once again shelled from the Azerbaijani side. No injuries were reported, but the local cultural center was damaged. The Ministry of Defense has called on Azerbaijan to investigate the incident and provide a public explanation.

● Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan: “My Turkish and Azerbaijani colleagues can confirm that our countries have never been this close to each other.”

● Another meeting between Armenian and Turkish specialists was held in Istanbul regarding the reconstruction of the historic bridge near the ancient city of Ani (located in Turkey’s Kars province near the Armenian border), Vice Speaker of Parliament Ruben Rubinyan told journalists.

● Former president Serzh Sargsyan (widely viewed by society as pro-Russian): “Today we are being slandered by those who once demanded our resignation and openly welcomed the unlawful actions taken against us by the state’s repressive machine.”

● Displaced persons from Karabakh claim there is “hate speech targeting them in Armenia” and demanded that certain public and state figures be held accountable. During a protest outside the Prosecutor General’s Office, one participant, Tatev Khachatryan, released balloons with leaflets listing insults she says displaced people “regularly hear directed at them.”

● Samvel Vardanyan, accused of insulting former MP Hakob Aslanyan, was fined over $1,800. However, taking into account his 100-day house arrest, he was released from the penalty, his lawyer said.

● The opposition faction in Yerevan’s Council of Elders spoke out against a ruling party initiative to fine citizens (15,000 drams, about $37) for boycotting the rise in public transport fares.

● Alexandra Grigoryan became vice-champion at the European Weightlifting Championships. The Armenian athlete won silver with a total lift of 202 kg and also secured a small gold medal in the clean and jerk by lifting 117 kg.

Photo by JAMnews: In the village of Ohanavan, Aragatsotn Province, Armenia. Local residents sell sweets and souvenirs to tourists here:

● The spokesperson of Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Aykhan Hajizadeh, stated that “the destabilizing interference of third countries, including France, in regional matters is one of the obstacles to lasting peace with Armenia.” He made this comment on X in response to French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot, who called on Azerbaijan to “sign a peace agreement with Armenia and release all detained Armenians.” Hajizadeh wrote that “Azerbaijan and Armenia have made progress on the text of the peace agreement, but in order to sign it, Armenia must remove the territorial claims against Azerbaijan enshrined in its constitution.” He also said, “France’s supply of lethal weapons to Armenia and its continued anti-Azerbaijani stance not only fail to promote peace but also expose France’s hypocrisy.”

● Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov met with Lithuania’s Deputy Foreign Minister Julius Pranevičius. Local media reported that Bayramov spoke in detail about Azerbaijan’s efforts to clear landmines from territories it regained from Armenian occupation, as well as the ongoing normalization process with Yerevan. He also pointed to Armenia’s territorial claims in its constitution, its rapid militarization, and the continued existence of the OSCE Minsk Group aimed at facilitating the “Karabakh conflict,” which Azerbaijan insists must be dissolved.

● Armenia is open to signing a peace agreement with Azerbaijan either at the border or in a third country, Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan said in an interview with Turkish channel NTV. He also noted that Yerevan is willing to simplify control procedures on the road (the Zangezur corridor) that Azerbaijan seeks to use for overland access to its Nakhchivan exclave via Armenian territory. “We have proposed using electronic scanning systems and e-declaration to speed up cargo flow and eliminate delays. Insurance mechanisms have also been proposed to ensure the safety of the transit,” said Mirzoyan.

● Prominent opposition figure Tofig Yagublu, a member of the National Council and Musavat party, who has been on a hunger strike since April 1, has lost more than 10 kilograms and is reportedly feeling very weak, according to his daughter Nigar Hazi. She said the penitentiary service has not responded to the defense team’s request to allow a family-appointed doctor, Adil Geybulla, to examine him. Yagublu was sentenced to nine years in prison for fraud, a charge he claims is fabricated. He has declared that he will hunger strike “until death” unless the sentence is overturned. Several major international human rights organizations, including Amnesty International, have recognized him as a political prisoner and are calling for his release. Read more here

● The family of imprisoned Xural TV founder Avaz Zeynalli announced that he has been diagnosed with cancer. His wife told journalists that his condition is worsening rapidly, and he has lost over 25 kilograms in recent months. With little time left for treatment, she has appealed to the Ministry of Justice and is preparing a plea to the president, begging for his release. Zeynalli was convicted in 2024 of extortion and bribery of officials in exchange for withholding compromising material. He denies the charges and claims his arrest is politically motivated retaliation for his critical journalism. Read more here

● In Baku, the trial of former leaders of the unrecognized Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR) continued. They are accused of war crimes, terrorism, attempts to overthrow the Azerbaijani government, and other serious offenses. The pro-government agency AZERTAC shared details from the session:

• Evidence was presented that weapons for Armenian illegal armed groups in Karabakh were supplied from Armenia. Funds for this purpose were reportedly sent by Vazgen Manukyan, then Deputy Chairman of Armenia’s Supreme Council. These funds were received and distributed among the armed groups in Azerbaijani territories by Robert Kocharyan (first “president of the unrecognized NKR” from 1994–1997 and President of Armenia from 1998–2008).

• Arkadi Ghukasyan, who served as the “foreign minister” and later “president” of the NKR from 1993 to 2007, asked the court for time to prepare responses to the evidence presented. His request was granted.

• Araik Harutyunyan, “president of the unrecognized NKR” from 2020 to 2023, said that in the 1990s, Kocharyan, Murad Petrosyan, and others were leaders of the “Karabakh liberation movement.” He recalled that thousands of Azerbaijanis fled their homes in 1988–1990. “I can say for certain that it wasn’t by their own will,” Harutyunyan stated. He said he had heard about arson, killings, and looting, but claimed he didn’t know the full scale of the violence or that criminal cases had been launched in Azerbaijan. The next hearing is scheduled for April 17.

● The Azerbaijani Ministry of Defense denied Armenia’s claims that Azerbaijani army units opened fire at the Armenian village of Khanazakh, damaging a local cultural center. “This is false information and disinformation. Armenia is attempting to mislead the international community and cover up its own provocations, which include recent regular attacks on Azerbaijani army positions from various directions,” the ministry stated.

● A new judge has been introduced to the Constitutional Court – Khanlar Valiyev. Reports say he was appointed on the president’s recommendation. Valiyev is a former military prosecutor and has been repeatedly linked to the “Tartar case” – a 2017 scandal involving severe torture and human rights violations against dozens of servicemen accused of spying for Armenia. Read more here

Photo by JAMnews: On the Caspian Sea shore near Baku:

● Local media, citing a source in the Ministry of Internal Affairs, report that a decision has been made for the resignation of Interior Minister Vakhtang Gomelauri. It is expected that he will be replaced by Mamuka Mdinaradze, the leader of the Georgian Dream parliamentary faction. According to the same source, changes are also expected at the level of deputy ministers.

● Opposition leader Giorgi Gakharia scheduled a briefing today at the exact time he was summoned to appear before the commission set up by Georgian Dream to investigate the actions of previous authorities — at 12 p.m. Several other opposition figures have already refused to attend the commission’s sessions, and the Prosecutor General’s Office is initiating criminal cases against them as a result.

● Today, the Legal Affairs Committee of Parliament, led by Georgian Dream, will consider a legislative package in its first hearing, which includes:

• A ban on international organizations holding lectures, seminars, and other public events for political parties;

• A requirement for international donors to obtain government approval before providing grants;

• Authorization for the Constitutional Court to ban the creation of a new political party if its goals, activities, or leadership mirror those of a party already banned by the court;

• Shortened deadlines for Constitutional Court rulings on whether a party’s activities are constitutional, as well as for lawsuits seeking to revoke the mandate of an MP elected through such a party.

Once reviewed by the committee, the package will move to a plenary session.

● The Social Justice Center declared the dismissal of journalists Vasil Ivanov-Chikovani and Nino Zautashvili from Public Broadcaster to be unlawful. The journalists had criticized the channel’s editorial policy. According to the organization, their dismissal violated both labor rights and freedom of expression. Two days ago, the channel’s management stated that the decision followed a disciplinary investigation (more details available). For several months, mass protests have taken place in front of the Public Broadcaster’s building, with widespread public criticism of its perceived full loyalty to Georgian Dream.

● Giorgi Vashadze, one of the leaders of the “United National Movement Alliance,” said: “Georgian Dream is using a psychological strategy developed in Russia: to create so many mutually exclusive ‘truths’ that people can no longer distinguish between them — and remain silent.”

● Tbilisi City Hall made a statement regarding the death of a 13-year-old boy in the Avchala district of the capital on April 12, effectively placing responsibility on local residents. The boy died after falling into an open elevator shaft. The city hall confirmed that the building is in a state of disrepair and stated that several years ago, residents were offered relocation to a safer place — some agreed, others refused. Residents told the “Pirveli” TV channel that some families indeed left, but those who remain have been asking City Hall for support for years without any result.

● The airline Edelweiss, part of the Lufthansa Group, has launched operations in Georgia. On April 12, the company completed its first direct flight from Zurich to Tbilisi, carrying 151 passengers. Edelweiss will operate direct Zurich–Tbilisi–Zurich flights twice a week. According to Levan Moseshvili, Director of the Airports Association, there had previously been no direct flights from Georgian airports to Zurich.

📷 Pictured on the left: potential new Interior Minister Mamuka Mdinaradze and current Minister Vakhtang Gomelauri:

● President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), Theodoros Roussopoulos, sharply criticized Azerbaijani president Ilham Aliyev, calling him a “dictator.” His remarks came in response to a recent statement by Aliyev that Azerbaijan would no longer recognize rulings of the European Court of Human Rights, since its delegation was excluded from PACE and does not participate in the selection of judges. “Aliyev jails his political opponents and has long refused to respect the rule of law and human rights or to meet the standards of the Council of Europe. That is why the Assembly rightfully did not recognize the mandate of the Azerbaijani delegation. No one can blackmail the Council of Europe. We are not afraid of Aliyev or others who behave like dictators,” Roussopoulos said in an interview with Alpha News.

● Foreign ministry spokesperson Aykhan Hajizadeh issued a strong response to Theodoros Roussopoulos’s statement. “Roussopoulos, Schwabe (a PACE deputy from Germany), and others like them constantly try to discredit Azerbaijan’s position, which is based on international law and justice. Over the years, PACE has earned the justified resentment of the Azerbaijani people due to its anti-Azerbaijani policy based on double standards. Insulting the head of state and calling him a ‘dictator’ is completely unacceptable—it reflects political incompetence and ignorance. The name of Theodoros Roussopoulos, along with the 76 PACE members who supported the unfair and legally questionable initiative to suspend the powers of the Azerbaijani delegation in PACE, has been added to a blacklist. If Roussopoulos attempts to enter Azerbaijan, he will be expelled.”

● “Thanks to Turkey’s support, Baku thwarted Western plans to punish Azerbaijan for restoring its territorial integrity. They held discussions at the UN Security Council and tried to impose EU sanctions, but all these attempts were in vain,” said foreign minister Jeyhun Bayramov in an interview with the Turkish agency Anadolu. “The OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs — the US, France, and Russia — took no practical steps to resolve the Karabakh issue. No pressure was put on Armenia, the occupying country. But after the problem was resolved in the Second Karabakh War, Western countries that had been inactive for 30 years began pressuring Azerbaijan,” Bayramov said, adding that “France and Emmanuel Macron personally are behind all this.”

● President Ilham Aliyev met with Secretary General of the Council of Europe Alain Berset during the Diplomatic Forum in Antalya, Turkey. Reportedly, they discussed prospects for cooperation.

● A meeting between Azerbaijani president Ilham Aliyev and Georgian prime minister Irakli Kobakhidze took place in Antalya. According to the press release, Kobakhidze noted that recent statements by the Azerbaijani president regarding bilateral relations had sparked significant interest in Georgia. The release also states that Ilham Aliyev emphasized the importance of solidarity between Azerbaijan and Georgia amid an unstable international environment and said that regional issues should be resolved directly by the countries of the South Caucasus.

● On the same day in Tbilisi, Azerbaijani ambassador Faig Guliyev met with Georgian president Mikheil Kavelashvili and the new head of the State Security Service, Anri Okhanashvili.

● At the Antalya forum, Azerbaijani and Armenian foreign ministers discussed normalization following the agreed text of a peace treaty (announced on March 13). Both sides expressed readiness to continue dialogue.

● Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov said Moscow is ready to help finalize a peace treaty between Armenia and Azerbaijan and emphasized implementing all previous trilateral agreements.

● Foreign ministers of Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia participated in a panel on South Caucasus cooperation (pictured below). Moderators included Nigar Göksel of the International Crisis Group and TRT World’s Auskar Surbakti.

● During the discussion, Azerbaijani foreign minister Jeyhun Bayramov said:

• Once the OSCE Minsk Group is dissolved and amendments are made to Armenia’s Constitution, there will be no obstacles to signing the peace agreement.

• The resolution of the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan will be formalized in a legally binding manner.

• For Azerbaijan, it is very important to ensure a secure and direct connection with its Nakhchivan autonomy (the road for this must pass through Armenian territory, but the sides have not reached an agreement on who will control it – JAMnews).

● Georgian foreign minister Maka Bochorishvili said during the discussion: “For decades, we have had a strategic partnership with Azerbaijan based on friendship and strong cooperation. With Armenia, we have traditionally had very good relations, which were recently upgraded to a strategic partnership. We are genuinely committed to strengthening peace and stability in our region. Both Armenia and Azerbaijan can count on Georgia, which is ready to provide all possible means to support dialogue in our region.”

● Armenian foreign minister Ararat Mirzoyan said during the discussion: “After lengthy negotiations, we have agreed on the text of the peace agreement. Armenia’s current goal is to determine the place and date for signing the peace agreement with Azerbaijan. We believe this marks the beginning of establishing relations.”

● Former military prosecutor Khanlar Valiyev, known for his role in the 2017 Terter case (where dozens of soldiers were tortured on espionage charges), has been appointed to Azerbaijan’s Constitutional Court. Read more here

● Former diplomat and activist Emin Ibrahimov was sentenced to 7 years in prison for allegedly stabbing someone during a dispute. He denies it, saying the charges were fabricated due to his criticism of authorities. He called the trial a “state crime” ordered by Ilham Aliyev. Read more here

● Georgian president Mikheil Kavelashvili will visit Baku on April 15–16, marking his first foreign trip since his 2024 inauguration. Armenia is expected to follow.

● An official summit of the Organization of Turkic States is planned in Baku this autumn.

● In Armenia, “Palm Sunday” (Tsakhkazard) was celebrated – a popular holiday marking the “last Sunday” before Easter (pictured below). It commemorates the triumphant entry of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem, where he was greeted with palm branches. In Armenia, these are represented by olive and willow branches, which are blessed in all churches.

● A panel discussion on regional cooperation opportunities in the South Caucasus took place in Antalya, Turkey, with the participation of the foreign ministers of Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia. The moderators were the Director of the International Crisis Group in Turkey, Nigar Çoksel, and TRT World journalist Auskar Surbatkin.

● As part of this forum in Antalya, Armenia’s Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan also held meetings with his counterparts from Azerbaijan and Turkey.

● The Armenian national team won 24:3 against Malaysia in the first match of the Division IV Ice Hockey World Championship. This is the first victory for the Armenian team in the last 15 years.

● Arthur Davtyan won a bronze medal at the World Cup in artistic gymnastics, held in Osijek, Croatia.

● Armenia is participating in the World Expo 2025 in Osaka. The pavilion is represented by 8 “pillars,” each representing Armenia – from ancient history to modern technologies.

● Over 13,000 cubic meters of garbage were collected in the Razdan, Getar, and Vohchaberd rivers flowing through Yerevan over the course of the year. This information and video (see below) were published by Yerevan’s municipal government. (Video below)

● The family of Ruben Vardanyan, the former state minister of the unrecognized Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, who is imprisoned in Baku, has released another fragment of his memoirs. “First, meaning is born, and only then comes recognition. Today, however, it is often the other way around. This is the main crisis of our time. No one can stop us, except ourselves,” the excerpt reads.

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