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

●  Alex Raufoglu, Washington correspondent for Foreign Press USA, wrote on social media that three U.S. senators – Rand Paul, Mike Lee, and Marquise Mullin – were misled by lobbying groups into believing that the MEGOBARI Act would sanction all of Georgia. Earlier, Raufoglu reported that these senators were delaying the passage of the MEGOBARI Act in the Senate.

The MEGOBARI Act envisions U.S. sanctions against officials of Georgian Dream and their allies involved in corruption, acts of violence, and intimidation aimed at obstructing Georgia’s European integration. Sanctions would include visa bans and freezing of overseas assets. Details of the MEGOBARI Act here.

●  A large protest took place in Tbilisi near the hotel where Russian fencers are staying for the ongoing World Championship in Georgia. Activists set off firecrackers and displayed a banner reading: “You’re not welcome here! Fireworks today, ‘Grads’ tomorrow.” The protest also occurred near the Sports Palace where competitions are held. Russia has 25 athletes participating, with local media reporting that 17 of them hold military ranks. Olympic champions Sofya Velikaya and Yana Egorian were campaign proxies for Vladimir Putin in presidential elections.

●  The Russian Interests Section of the Swiss Embassy in Georgia posted a statement on Facebook saying they are closely monitoring “Russophobic actions” against Russian athletes at the fencing championship in Tbilisi. They said they “expect relevant Georgian authorities to take necessary measures.”

●  The Georgian Institute of Public Opinion and Business Research GORBI (often described as pro-government) conducted a poll commissioned by pro-government TV channel Imedi. When asked which party they would vote for if parliamentary elections were held this week, the majority chose the ruling Georgian Dream with 56.2%. The rest of the votes were distributed as follows:

• • Lelo – For Strong Georgia: 10.7%
• • Gakharia for Georgia: 10%
• • Coalition for Change: 9.5%
• • United National Movement: 7.5%
• • Girchi: 3.2%
• • Alliance of Patriots of Georgia: 1.8%
• • Others: 1.1%

●  Former Deputy Minister of Defense Giorgi Khaindrava, former head of the ministry’s procurement department Vladimir Gudushauri, and a close relative of the then-minister of defense (identified as “V.M.”) have been arrested. According to the State Security Service, they are accused of colluding to illegally embezzle Ministry of Defense funds in an especially large amount, causing damages of at least 1,333,728 GEL (about $600,000). They face 7 to 11 years in prison.

●  The verdict for Giorgi Akhobadze, a doctor and participant in pro-European protests, will be announced today. He is charged with a drug-related crime, which he and human rights advocates deny, calling it politically motivated. He faces 8 to 20 years in prison or life imprisonment.

●  Former ruling party MP and freestyle wrestler Eldar Kurtanidze has been detained on charges of domestic violence and violating a restraining order, according to the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Local media report that the arrest followed the circulation of a social media video showing violent actions against his ex-wife, Khatuna Makaradze.

●  Iranian Ambassador to Armenia Mehdi Sobhani reiterated support for Armenia’s position on unblocking regional communications. “Iran opposes border changes, which would inevitably occur if Baku gains a 42-km corridor through Armenian territory. Azerbaijan demands an extraterritorial ‘Zangezur corridor’ to connect to its Nakhchivan exclave, which Armenia would not control. If Yerevan agrees to Baku’s demand, Iran would lose its border with Armenia, which is unacceptable,” Sobhani said. According to him, Armenia’s southern Syunik region, bordering Azerbaijan, is a “red line” for Iran. “Armenian authorities assured us they will not allow violations of territorial integrity under the guise of unblocking. Iran fully supports this stance. Territorial integrity cannot be subject to manipulation. If such actions become normalized, it will set a dangerous precedent under international law,” he added.

Armenian authorities have long stated they are ready to unblock roads but will not give up sovereign control of their territory.

●  “The so-called ‘Zangezur corridor’ is not aimed at regional integration, economic stability, or people’s welfare. On the contrary, it is a plan to block Iran by land, posing a threat to Iran’s national unity and territorial integrity,” said Ali Akbar Velayati, senior adviser to Iran’s Supreme Leader and former foreign minister.

●  On Sunday, Armenia celebrated Vardavar, one of the main holidays of the Armenian Apostolic Church — the Transfiguration of Jesus Christ. Its roots, however, date back to pre-Christian times. It is believed that water splashed on people during Vardavar brings good luck, so anyone soaked cannot take offense and should even thank the person for the greeting. The weather also favored water festivities, with temperatures in Yerevan reaching +37–40°C in recent days. More on the holiday in JAMnews video.

●  Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan congratulated the nation: “Vardavar is an essential holiday of the real Armenia. It celebrates the natural desire to live, enjoy life, be happy, and guides us deep into our roots. Vardavar is a hymn to our martyrs who gave us the opportunity to live, to rejoice, and to build an eternal state. We will not miss this chance. Happy Vardavar!”

●  A fire in the Khosrov Reserve has been contained, and emergency mode has been established, the Ministry of Internal Affairs reported. The affected area covered 1 hectare. Firefighting involved rescue and eco-patrol services, police, reserve staff, and local residents, with the Defense Ministry helicopter also engaged.

●  From January to June, the 1,000 largest taxpayers contributed over 986 billion drams (\$2.5 billion) to the state budget — \$225 million more than last year, according to the State Revenue Committee.

●  Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan announced on social media a new record for registered jobs in Armenia, calling it “historic.” In June 2025, there were 796,473 registered jobs. “I love you, working people of Armenia, creating results for the good of your state,” Pashinyan wrote.

●  The Sevan Startup Summit 2025 has concluded (pictured). This major tech event has been held annually in Armenia since 2016, bringing together entrepreneurs, investors, and tech representatives from different countries. Its goal is to find new solutions for developing Armenia’s business environment and economic growth. “Developing a startup culture is crucial not only for Armenia but for the global tech ecosystem. We will continue implementing programs to strengthen this ecosystem and position Armenia as a promising hub for investors and tech companies,” Minister of High-Tech Industry Mkhitar Hayrapetyan wrote on social media.

●  “Baku expects Moscow to take responsibility for the Azerbaijani passenger plane shot down over its territory during the Baku–Grozny flight. We know how it happened; it’s no longer a secret,” said presidential aide Hikmet Hajiyev in an interview with Berliner Zeitung, according to the pro-government outlet Report. “There have been no fundamental changes in Russian-Azerbaijani relations, but in recent months there has been a sense of misunderstanding and growing tension. Incidents can happen between neighboring countries. To resolve them, ensuring justice is important,” Hajiyev said.

●  Germany can make a significant contribution to economic transformation in the South Caucasus, said presidential aide Hikmet Hajiyev in an interview with Berliner Zeitung. “Germany has high authority in the region. President Frank-Walter Steinmeier recently visited Baku and is highly respected in Azerbaijan. So, Germany could do more not only in peace policy but especially in the economic transformation of the South Caucasus. We expect German companies to be more active,” Hajiyev said.

●  Hikmet Hajiyev also commented on reports of a possible U.S. company’s involvement in controlling part of the potential Zangezur Corridor, which would connect Azerbaijan to its Nakhchivan exclave through Armenia. Baku insists the road must be extraterritorial, while Yerevan maintains it will not relinquish control over it. “Whether Armenia cooperates with U.S. companies is their business. We are focused on our own efforts, expanding transport links and establishing contacts with all our neighbors — Georgia, Iran, and Russia. Overall, such connections will benefit the entire region. If Armenia is ready, we’d like to jointly develop the Trans-Caucasus transport corridor,” Hajiyev said.

Earlier, Spanish outlet Periodista Digital reported that Armenia had accepted a U.S. proposal to create the Zangezur Corridor, but Yerevan later denied it.

●  “A new wave of revanchism is emerging in Armenian society, with attempts to challenge the current status quo. Signs of ideological indoctrination among Armenian youth promoting confrontation and new wars are visible. Azerbaijan finds this unacceptable,” said Hikmet Hajiyev. In his view, Armenia’s government should focus on instilling the idea of peace in its society. “An important step toward ending all this would be amending Armenia’s constitution to remove its territorial claims against Azerbaijan,” Hajiyev said.

●  Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian: “In foreign policy, we prioritize strengthening relations with neighboring countries, including Azerbaijan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Persian Gulf coastal states. Iran will expand relations with BRICS members, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, and the Eurasian Economic Union (led by Russia). In this process, we will coordinate our actions with Russia, China, Europe, and other countries.”

●  The Milli Majlis (Parliament) has approved legislative amendments tightening conditions for NGOs’ operations and increasing fines and penalties for violations. Previously, NGOs needed government approval to receive grants; now this also applies to service contracts. Lawyer Samed Rahimli told Meydan TV that “this amendment completely eliminates the possibility of working under service contracts, which remained the only way for NGOs to earn income after foreign grants were banned in 2015 without prior government approval.” “These legal changes violate Azerbaijan’s international obligations and the constitutional right to freedom of association,” Rahimli said.

●  Georgian Education Minister Givi Mikanadze visited Baku. Discussions included an initiative to open a joint STEAM Education Center in Tbilisi, offering a multidisciplinary approach combining science, technology, arts, and mathematics. During the meeting with Azerbaijan’s Education Minister Emin Amrullayev, they agreed to resume the joint working group on education and culture starting in August. Mikanadze invited his Azerbaijani counterpart to visit Georgia.

●  The Georgian-Azerbaijani Youth Forum is taking place from July 22 to 28 in Quba, Baku, and Sumgayit. Ninety students are participating, exploring the cultures of both countries. The next stage of the forum will be held in Georgia.

●  At the State Flight Academy in Kropyvnytskyi, Ukraine, a memorial exhibition has opened honoring Azerbaijan’s national hero Aleksandr Kalyaninov. He was the co-pilot of the Azerbaijani passenger plane shot down by Russian air defenses near Grozny last December. Of the 67 people on board, 38 died. According to the investigation, the pilots’ professional actions prevented an even greater tragedy. The academy staff initiated the permanent exhibition, supported by Ukrainian MP Roman Hryshchuk and the Azerbaijani Embassy in Ukraine. Over 60 Azerbaijani cadets are currently studying at the academy.

Photo by Zulfugar Karimov

Top stories in Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Georgia from 21-25 July, 2025