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

● Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian called President Ilham Aliyev and thanked him for visiting the Iranian embassy and expressing condolences over the deaths of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei and many civilians, as well as for the intention to provide humanitarian assistance to Iran. Aliyev emphasized the importance of investigating the incident in the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, which was struck by an Iranian drone on March 5.

Earlier, President Ilham Aliyev clearly stated that the attack on Nakhchivan had been carried out by Iran and that civilian facilities were the targets. He described the incident as a “vile terrorist act.” According to official information, one drone hit the terminal building of Nakhchivan International Airport, while another fell near a school in the village of Shekerabad, injuring four people. Azerbaijan stated that it reserves the right to carry out a retaliatory strike. Initially, Iran’s Foreign Ministry denied claims that the country had carried out strikes on Azerbaijan.

● The Foreign Ministry stated that the support of the U.S. State Department, which issued a special statement condemning the Iranian drone attack on Nakhchivan, is of particular importance for the country.

● French President Emmanuel Macron called President Ilham Aliyev and expressed solidarity with Azerbaijan following the air attack from Iran. Macron also thanked Azerbaijan for helping evacuate French citizens from Iran through Azerbaijan.

● On Saturday, the State Security Service announced that it had uncovered a planned series of terrorist attacks that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) was preparing on the territory of Azerbaijan. The state television channel AzTV reported that several local residents had been recruited and that an assassination attempt on a public figure was being planned. The targets were said to include the Baku–Tbilisi–Ceyhan oil pipeline, the Israeli embassy, the Ashkenazi synagogue in Baku, and one of the leaders of the Mountain Jewish community. Reports indicate the direct involvement of an officer from the IRGC’s intelligence structure. The State Security Service said that operational and investigative measures to uncover terrorist and sabotage plans by foreign intelligence services in Azerbaijan are ongoing.

●  The foreign ministers of the Netherlands and Bulgaria held phone conversations with Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov to express solidarity after the recent Iranian drone strike on Nakhchivan Airport and to thank Azerbaijan for assisting in the evacuation of their citizens from Iran through Azerbaijan’s land border.

● Since the start of the U.S.–Israeli operation in Iran on February 28, more than 2,000 people have been evacuated from Iran to Azerbaijan. Among them, 314 are Azerbaijani citizens, while the rest are citizens of more than 40 countries. The evacuees also include staff from diplomatic missions.

● Turkey welcomes the steps being taken to achieve lasting peace and stability between Azerbaijan and Armenia, as well as to develop regional cooperation, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan told journalists. According to him, these steps show that peace in the South Caucasus is already beginning to take shape in practical terms.
“Our greatest wish is to preserve this momentum and conclude the process as soon as possible with a permanent peace agreement,” Fidan said.

● The first Night of Decree (Laylat al-Qadr, the Night of Ahya) of the month of Ramadan was observed today. March 20 and 21 have been declared public holidays in connection with Ramadan.

● Heavy snowfall occurred in the mountains of Nakhchivan over the weekend, with the snow cover exceeding one meter, according to the local Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources.

● Former diplomat and active participant in the pro-European protests in Tbilisi, David Chkheidze (pictured), has been detained. During a live broadcast on his Facebook page, he managed to report that police officers had stopped him as he was leaving a protest rally. He was tested for alcohol and drugs, and officers said the drug test came back positive. Chkheidze was taken to a police station for further testing. He claims he has never used any drugs.

● Israel’s national security agency has assigned Georgia, Azerbaijan, and Armenia a Level 3 security rating and recommended that its citizens refrain from “non-essential” travel to these countries. The statement says that in light of the ongoing U.S.–Israeli operations, the risk of Iranian actions against Israelis and Jewish facilities in the region has increased.

● Major General Vakhtang Kapanadze, former Defense Minister Tina Khidasheli, and Giorgi Kandelaki, a representative of the Soviet Past Research Laboratory, were questioned as witnesses at Tbilisi City Court. The case was opened by the State Security Service in connection with their public statements about a possible increase in Iran’s influence in Georgia and threats to the country’s security. Read more here

● After leaving the interrogation, Tina Khidasheli told journalists: “My task is accomplished — I have drawn attention to a possible threat to my country’s security. Let us hope this will be clarified. If there is no threat, we will all be grateful,” Khidasheli said.

● German Ambassador Peter Fischer stated that for Georgia to continue moving closer to the EU, the country’s legislation must align with EU law. In his opinion, Tbilisi should stop adopting laws that contradict the EU legal system and also end its anti-European propaganda campaign.

● A delegation of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, led by its President Pere Joan Pons Sampietro, is visiting Georgia. It is reported that on Sunday the members of the delegation, together with the chair of the Georgian parliament’s Committee on European Integration, Levan Makhashvili, visited the occupation line in the village of Khurvaleti (in the Georgian–Ossetian conflict zone). Makhashvili spoke about Russia’s ongoing occupation of regions of Georgia, the problems faced by the local population, and the related threats to the country’s security, according to a press release from the parliament.

● A group of Georgian citizens of Azerbaijani origin held a rally outside the Iranian embassy with photographs of the killed Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Participants expressed their support and chanted slogans in his favor. The leader of Georgia’s Federalist Party, Goga Bokeria, called it “a public declaration of loyalty to a foreign regime” and warned of threats to the country’s security.

● A Georgian citizen has been arrested in Greece on suspicion of spying for Iran. According to Greek media, the 36-year-old ethnic Azerbaijani with Georgian citizenship was located near a naval base in Crete. The case concerns a strategic facility where the U.S. aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford was recently stationed.

● The Interior Ministry has detained four minors accused of group robbery and theft. Three of them had previously been convicted and were serving suspended sentences. These crimes carry a maximum penalty of up to eight years in prison. Read an analytical review on the sharp rise in juvenile crime in Georgia here

● Gender policy remains a subject of political debate. On International Women’s Day, the Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association stated that the government uses stereotypes and disinformation instead of addressing gender equality issues.

● The issue of the Istanbul Convention on preventing violence against women and domestic violence has entered the political agenda in the country. Georgia ratified the convention in May 2017. Zurab Makharadze, a representative of the pro-Russian organization Alt-Info, called on the government to withdraw from this international document. Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze said this could become possible “if questions arise regarding legislation.” Kobakhidze stated that “in previous years Georgia faced strong external pressure to introduce harmful ideological approaches regarding legislation on minors’ rights, family values, and gender equality.” He said he considers the ideology “that negatively affects the institution of marriage and birth rates” to be a problem.

● Another train carrying grain from Russia to Armenia will be sent in transit through the territory of Azerbaijan, pro-government Azerbaijani media report. In total, the shipment consists of seven railcars.

●  Mothers of missing servicemen held a peaceful protest outside the government building. “Waiting and uncertainty are getting worse every day. It’s not true that time heals. The pain only grows stronger; we cannot live, we are dying. Many parents are no longer with us because they could not bear this pain. We demand that the Ministry of Justice, the Human Rights Protection Office, and the Prosecutor’s Office find our sons,” said Asya Danielyan, the mother of Varuzhan Israelyan, who went missing during the 44-day war with Azerbaijan in the autumn of 2020.

●  The Armenian Embassy in Abu Dhabi and the Consulate General in Dubai organized free transportation for 54 Armenian citizens to Oman, the Foreign Ministry reported. As of the morning of March 8, 95 Armenian citizens remaining in the UAE were registered on the list, the statement said.

📌 Both religious and political authorities issued congratulatory messages on the occasion of International Women’s Day. “Today women are represented more than ever in the government, the legislative bodies, the judiciary, in local self-government, in military service, in the police, and in economic, political, and public life,” said Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.

“In today’s unstable world, when our people everywhere face many difficulties, many concerns also fall on the shoulders of women. Alongside caring for their families, they selflessly contribute to the progress of national life and the strengthening of our homeland,” said Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin II.

● “We have exhausted this government by initiating street actions and actively participating in other street protests,” said former president and leader of the opposition Armenia bloc Robert Kocharyan. “If we look at opinion polls, about 1.5–2 years ago around 60% of people had not decided who they would vote for. A significant part of them were those disappointed in the Civil Contract party but who had not yet decided whom to support. Now the percentage of such people is much lower — about 25–30%. We cleared the field for other political forces, perhaps partly exhausting ourselves as well. And it is good that there are other forces. Previously 5–6 parties entered parliament; now it is normal for three to enter. One could say that our efforts and street struggle have created good opportunities for a change of power,” Kocharyan said. The opposition in Armenia largely has a pro-Russian reputation.

● The Foreign Ministry has proposed compensating citizens up to 250,000 drams (about $670) per person whose return or transit flights to Armenia were canceled due to military actions in the Middle East and who had to purchase new tickets. If the ticket cost less, the compensation will be paid in the amount actually spent, said Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan.

Top stories in Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Georgia from 2-6 March, 2026