Top stories in Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Georgia from 19-23 October, 2026

● The Constitutional Court continues hearing a lawsuit filed by 88 MPs from the ruling Georgian Dream party seeking to ban five opposition parties: Unity – National Movement, Coalition for Change, Strong Georgia – Lelo, the Federalist Party and Gakharia for Georgia. At the second hearing on 22 October, the seven-member plenary court rejected all motions, including requests for an advisory opinion from the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg and for experts from the Venice Commission to be invited. The hearing continues today, 23 October, and, according to court president Revaz Nadaraia, proceedings will be intensive over the coming days.

● OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Vice-President Gudrun Kugler urged Georgia’s authorities to withdraw the lawsuit seeking to ban opposition parties and “stop politically motivated persecution”. Parliamentary Speaker Shalva Papuashvili described “threatening” statements by foreign governments as an attempt to pressure the Constitutional Court. He said MPs had a constitutionally guaranteed right to file the lawsuit.

● Dito Chubinidze, a journalist with the Asaval-Dasavali newspaper, has been arrested on charges of treason and sabotage. According to the indictment, since February 2026 he has spread false information by accusing the prime minister of secretly handing over part of the ancient David Gareji monastery complex to Azerbaijan. Located directly on the border between the two countries, the complex is disputed, leaving this section of the border undelimited. Chubinidze also claimed that the prime minister’s alleged actions had obstructed the work of the government commission on border delimitation and demarcation. The charges carry a prison sentence of up to four years. His lawyer says Chubinidze rejects the accusations. The Georgian Charter of Journalistic Ethics has called on the prosecutor’s office to make its evidence and arguments public.

● Foreign ministers from Georgia and four Central Asian countries – Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan – will meet in Batumi today, 23 October. Bilateral talks between Georgia’s foreign minister and his counterparts are also expected. Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze met the ministers on the eve of the meeting, saying that expanding cooperation with Central Asian countries across various sectors was a priority for Georgia.

● According to Freedom House’s annual Freedom on the Net 2026 report, Georgia has lost its “free” status and is now classified as “partly free”. The country scored 68 out of 100, down from 70 last year. Georgia had been rated “free” since 2012. The report says the government restricts online activism and criticism of the ruling party, while critical social media users and online journalists face fines, searches and investigations.

● High fuel prices will continue to contribute to inflation until the second quarter of 2027, according to the National Bank’s monetary policy report. Annual inflation reached 5.6% in September, with energy prices directly accounting for around two percentage points. The report says long-term loans in lari, mainly mortgages, have become cheaper, while lending conditions in foreign currencies are expected to tighten.

● The Georgian Diplomatic Society has described the extension of the mandate of the prime minister’s special representative for relations with Russia as a “dangerous move”. First Deputy Foreign Minister Giorgi Zurabashvili was appointed to the role, with “peaceful resolution of the conflict with the Russian Federation” added to his mandate. The society’s members argue that appointing a serving diplomat to the position could be seen as a step towards restoring diplomatic relations, while the new wording “threatens the international Geneva talks format” on the conflict stemming from Russia’s occupation of Georgian territories.

● Russia has announced that two Georgian dairy-processing companies will be allowed to enter its market from November. The decision followed a meeting in Tbilisi between representatives of Russia’s food safety watchdog and Georgia’s National Food Agency. Russia had previously imposed a ban on imports of a range of Georgian products. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said the restrictions introduced on 9 October were not politically motivated.

● Georgia’s Public Defender’s Office has called on the prosecutor’s office to investigate the alleged abuse of David Peikrishvili, a jailed crime boss, including possible involvement by prison staff. According to the office, Peikrishvili provided detailed information through his representatives at Vivamedi clinic, where he was hospitalised. He alleges that he was severely beaten at Gldani Prison No. 8. The Special Penitentiary Service denies that physical abuse took place. The case is currently being investigated by the Justice Ministry’s General Inspection. More on the case here.

● A court has found Levan Zardiashvili and Saba Mindashvili guilty of obstructing journalists’ professional activities and fined them 3,000 and 4,000 lari, respectively (approximately $1,100 and $1,500). The incident took place on 8 September 2025, during a protest against Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze amid his election campaign. Reports at the time said Publika journalists Aleksandre Keshelashvili and Keto Mikadze were beaten and had their phones taken away.

PHOTO: Well-known animal rights activist Tamaz Elizbarashvili, who had been arrested, has signed a plea deal and was released from the courtroom. He was accused of threatening an opponent with death and physical violence during a dispute in Tbilisi on 30 August. He later published a letter on social media admitting guilt. Photo: Vano Gorgishvili / Interpressnews.

● Azerbaijan’s Media and Broadcasting Council has dismissed reports in Turkish media and on social media alleging mass arrests in Azerbaijan for wearing hijab and claiming that people are leaving the country as a result, calling them disinformation. The statement also strongly condemned Turkish politicians and public figures who spread such claims in offensive terms. The Council urged media outlets and public figures to act responsibly when publishing information and to verify it through reliable sources.

Context. Experts point to two reasons for the ongoing deterioration in relations between Azerbaijan and Turkey. One is Azerbaijan’s partnership with Israel, while Turkey’s relations with Israel have sharply worsened. The other is the strong backlash in Turkey against Azerbaijan’s de facto ban on wearing hijab in schools. Critics include an adviser to the Turkish president, ruling party representatives, prominent public figures and journalists. Azerbaijan’s ruling party issued a strongly worded response, describing the statements made in Turkey as interference in the country’s internal affairs. Read more here.

● Eight imprisoned religious activists have appealed to foreign embassies in Azerbaijan, asking them to grant asylum to their families or at least arrange for their children to attend schools run by the embassies. The signatories say their children face rough treatment and psychological pressure at school because they wear hijab. The activists have also asked for help ensuring their safety in prison. The Interior Ministry reported that 37 people had been detained amid protests against new secular school uniform rules that exclude hijab. Religious activists claim that around 400 people have been detained across the country.

● Defence cooperation between Turkey, Azerbaijan and the United States has considerable potential, Mert Yunsal, head of the defence, aerospace and space industries committee at the Turkish-American Business Association (TABA-AmCham), said at an investment summit in Baku. According to Yunsal, the current volume of defence-related transactions between Turkey and Azerbaijan stands at $160–197 million, while trade between Turkey and the US in this sector is worth $1.2–1.4 billion. Figures for US-Azerbaijan defence trade are not available. Yunsal said the three countries share numerous interests and could benefit from cooperation in producing missile systems, aircraft and drones. However, he noted that entering the US market involves complex licensing procedures for Azerbaijani companies, requiring considerable time and financial resources. TABA-AmCham plans to help companies from all three countries find partners and establish joint ventures in the defence industry.

● Azerbaijan’s Supreme Court has upheld a prison sentence of seven years and three months for Zamin Zaki, a social affairs expert and head of the Ubuntu association, who is one of the defendants in the criminal case against NGOs. Like other civil society representatives charged in the case, Zaki was accused of money laundering, abuse of office and official forgery over the handling of a grant worth 50,000 manats (approximately $29,000). Zaki denies the charges. His lawyer said the allegations had not been proven and that receiving a grant should not, in any case, carry criminal liability.

Around 50 people are involved in the broader NGO case; some have already been sentenced, while others are awaiting verdicts. They include staff from international organisations that provided grants in Azerbaijan. None of the defendants admit guilt, and they describe the prosecution as politically motivated.

● Following a meeting in Rome between Italy’s Minister of Enterprises and Made in Italy Adolfo Urso and Azerbaijan’s Economy Minister Mikayil Jabbarov, the two sides agreed to expand investment, technological cooperation and trade ties, with the aim of increasing bilateral trade from €8 billion in 2025 to more than €10 billion. They also discussed joint projects involving critical raw materials, innovation and strategic supply chains. During the visit, the Azerbaijani delegation met representatives of Italian companies including Eni, Snam, Saipem, Ansaldo Energia, Danieli, Aruba and TIM. Italy is the largest market for Azerbaijani exports and ranks seventh among suppliers of goods to Azerbaijan.

● Azerbaijan has approved a national strategy to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 40% by 2035 compared with 1990 levels and achieve net-zero emissions by 2060. The plan includes expanding solar and wind power, developing clean transport, reducing methane leaks, improving waste recycling and restoring forests. “Green energy zones” are planned for Karabakh, East Zangezur and Nakhchivan. To implement the strategy, Azerbaijan is seeking international funding, investment and the transfer of modern technologies.

● Azerbaijan has protested against a report by the UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief, accusing the rapporteur of ignoring damage to religious heritage during more than 30 years of Armenian occupation of Azerbaijani territories. The report focused on religious rights and, among other issues, referred to the destruction of Christian gravestones and cemeteries in Nakhchivan, an Azerbaijani autonomous republic. “Why did the rapporteur fail to mention that at least 65 mosques were completely destroyed in Azerbaijani territories during the Armenian occupation, while cemeteries were extensively desecrated and looted?” asked Shahriyar Hajiyev, Azerbaijan’s representative to the UN. He said the report contained unverified information and questioned the rapporteur’s impartiality. Hajiyev said Azerbaijan has 994 officially registered religious communities, 2,387 mosques, 16 churches and seven synagogues.

● Azerbaijani media are quoting Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan as saying: “I said that a peace agreement with Azerbaijan could be signed before 2031. To be precise, I believe we should sign the agreement in 2027–2028. We must work with Azerbaijan.”

● Azerbaijani media are also quoting Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan, who told a government meeting that signing a peace agreement with Azerbaijan as soon as possible is a political commitment of Armenia’s government.

● Javid Aghamaliyev, chairman of the board of the state-owned Nakhchivan Agroservice company, has been arrested in the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic on suspicion of embezzling state funds. A criminal case has been opened.

● The 2026 FIFA U-15 World Cup and Festival will take place in Baku from 24 to 30 October. FIFA is organising the tournament and festival for the first time. A total of 189 countries are expected to participate, with around 1,000 matches planned. Azerbaijan’s team will play its first match against Timor-Leste on 24 October, followed by two matches on 25 October against Andorra and Australia. On 26 October, the Azerbaijani team will face Israel and Haiti.

● Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan commented at a briefing on warnings from the Russia-led Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) that Armenia’s membership could be suspended because of its deepening ties with the EU. The EAEU statement forecast substantial economic losses for Armenia in such a scenario. “For the first time in our history, the ‘metropole’ is not drawing us towards itself but, on the contrary, is effectively saying: ‘We will push you away’,” Pashinyan said. He stressed that Russia’s restrictions on imports of virtually all Armenian goods “did not produce the results that certain circles, both inside Armenia and beyond its borders, had expected”. “This step did not work either economically or politically,” the prime minister said. Full details here

● EU Ambassador to Armenia Vassilis Maragos declined to comment on warnings issued by the Russia-led Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) to Armenia. “This is a matter for the Armenian authorities. But, of course, the EU is monitoring developments. We are here to support the Armenian people,” Maragos said.

● A peace treaty with Azerbaijan could be signed in 2027–2028, the prime minister told journalists. He was commenting on statements by Azerbaijani leaders that a condition for signing the treaty is the removal from Armenia’s Constitution of a provision that Baku regards as a territorial claim against Azerbaijan. Nikol Pashinyan said he had personally told Azerbaijan’s leadership that raising this issue in Baku was unacceptable to him. According to Pashinyan, he was told in response that Azerbaijan had no intention of interfering and was merely stating its political position. Pashinyan stressed that Armenia intends to amend its Constitution regardless. He did not rule out holding snap elections if the opposition opposes the changes.

● An Azerbaijani shepherd who illegally crossed the Armenian border has been handed over to Azerbaijan, the prime minister said. Armenia’s National Security Service had earlier reported that the man had got lost. “The man was walking along the road. What, were we supposed to start shooting at him and kill him? He was detained and handed over to Armenia’s National Security Service,” Nikol Pashinyan said. He added that there was no border in the world that a person could not somehow cross.

● Vazgen Galstanyan (Archbishop Bagrat), who previously led a movement demanding Nikol Pashinyan’s resignation, says the border has been left unguarded. “This is already the second such incident referring to the 1 October incident, when an Azerbaijani serviceman illegally crossed the border and wounded a local woman – JAMnews].  They talked a lot about how well protected we were, and now two people have crossed the border. Imagine if they had been armed groups, even just three people, or even two. What would we have done then?” he said.

Galstanyan is under house arrest. He was detained in June 2025 on charges of plotting terrorist attacks and attempting to seize power in the country.

● A working group led by Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigoryan has travelled to Syunik Province, on the border with Azerbaijan, to begin practical work on the transit project known as the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP). “We are talking about railways, roads and energy infrastructure,” Grigoryan said.

● Security Council Secretary Alen Simonyan met in Yerevan with Cosmin Dinescu, head of the European Union Mission in Armenia. Simonyan stressed the importance of EU support in strengthening Armenia’s state institutions. They discussed prospects for further developing cooperation.

● Armenia’s Prosecutor General Anna Vardapetyan is on a working visit to Tbilisi at the invitation of Georgia’s Prosecutor General Giorgi Gvarakidze. She also met Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze. Both sides stressed the importance of strengthening the partnership between the two countries in the legal sphere and joint efforts to combat crime.

● The conditions in which former Armenian President Robert Kocharyan is being held in a detention facility do not meet standards, MP Agnesa Khamoyan, an ally of Kocharyan, told journalists. She said she was speaking from personal observation, having seen the cell where he is being held. However, she believes Kocharyan himself will not complain about the conditions. Public criminal proceedings were launched in August this year against Kocharyan and nine other people. According to the charges, while president, Kocharyan abused his office to carry out transactions through which he obtained valuable state property for himself and transferred it to his son and people and companies linked to him at prices significantly below market value. The prosecution says the deals were often conducted without tenders and according to prearranged schemes.

● The state budget has allocated 148.5 million drams (approximately $412,000) to purchase two manuscripts for the Matenadaran’s historical archive.

● Armenia’s National Security Service has confirmed that an Azerbaijani citizen illegally crossed the Armenian border on 19 October. Yashar Gasimov, son of Ali, born in 1968, reportedly lost his way. “Appropriate measures are being taken to return the Azerbaijani citizen,” the NSS said. Armenian media were the first to report that an Azerbaijani shepherd had illegally crossed into Armenia. Some reports said he was carrying a white flag.

● Armenia is discussing a report by the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), led by Russia, which warns of serious economic consequences if the country leaves the bloc. Economy Minister Gevorg Papoyan believes the report greatly exaggerates the potential impact. According to Papoyan, leaving the EAEU would have a limited effect on Armenia’s economy, estimated at -0.61%. Responding to the report’s claim that gas prices in Armenia would rise by 69% if the country left the bloc, Papoyan argued that changes in gas prices could affect the economy by around 5–7%. “There will be no situation from which we cannot find a way out. We have already paid, or are still paying, the difference in the price of supplied gas one way or another. An increase in gas prices is undesirable, but I believe that, over time, buying gas at market prices should become a logical decision. Through adaptation, we should reach that point,” Papoyan said.

● Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan commented on a statement by the secretary general of the Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO), a military alliance led by Russia, suggesting that Armenia could resume active participation in the organisation “in view of the changing international situation”. “I cannot imagine how Armenia would return to the CSTO,” the minister told reporters.

Armenia froze its participation in the CSTO two years ago and has since neither taken part in its activities nor paid membership fees. Yerevan’s decision was a response to what it saw as the allies’ failure to help when Azerbaijani forces entered Armenia’s sovereign territory. Several such incidents occurred in 2021–2022. The CSTO justified its failure to intervene by saying that the border with Azerbaijan had not been delimited.

● Ararat Mirzoyan said Armenia should wait for the results of a joint Armenian-Russian commission before deciding the future of the country’s railways, which are currently under Russian concession management. The minister said Armenia has Western partners interested in using the railway but unable to do so because it falls under sanctions due to its management by Russia. The Armenian-Russian commission has three months to find solutions. Mirzoyan stressed that Armenia has a historic opportunity to become an important hub on the Middle Corridor and should not let it slip away.

● Law enforcement officers carried out large-scale searches in the city of Stepanavan from early morning. Around 15 people have been detained on suspicion of distributing electoral bribes, including Arsen Gevorgyan, a candidate for head of the local community representing the pro-Russian opposition party Strong Armenia. Elections are scheduled for this weekend. Courts are currently considering pre-trial measures for more than ten detainees.

● The Strong Armenia party has accused the authorities of political persecution. “The detention of our candidate only shows that the authorities are afraid that, after losing in Stepanavan, they will lose elsewhere as well,” said Tigran Abrahamyan, secretary of the party’s parliamentary faction. He vowed that “the struggle in Stepanavan will continue”.

● Armenia and Azerbaijan have reached an understanding that the TRIPP transit route — connecting Azerbaijan with its Nakhchivan exclave through Armenian territory — will not be used to transport weapons, ammunition or hazardous chemical cargo, Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan told MPs. He added that carriers would have to obtain prior authorisation for certain categories of goods.

● The parliamentary Committee on Foreign Relations has issued a positive opinion on a bill to ratify the agreement on strategic partnership between Armenia and the United States concerning the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP). The bill will be discussed during the National Assembly’s next four-day session.

● Armenia’s exports to the EU have increased by 51%, from $475 million in 2025 to $717 million currently, Economy Minister Gevorg Papoyan wrote on Facebook.

● The Anti-Corruption Committee has brought a new charge against Gyumri Mayor Vardan Ghukasyan, accusing him of abuse of office. He is already under house arrest on corruption charges. According to Radio Liberty’s Armenian service, one of the new charges concerns the October cinema, while another relates to an alleged violation of Article 60 of the Land Code. Ghukasyan’s lawyer said the statute of limitations had expired in either case.

● Employees of the Hrazdan Cement plant held a protest demanding clarity about the future of around 450 workers, as the factory has been inactive for years and its status remains uncertain. Local media reported that businessman Narek Nalbandian intended to acquire Hrazdan Cement, secure loans and restart production. However, financing problems subsequently emerged, and the acquisition may not go ahead. One factor was a statement by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan: “If we obtain evidence that any businessman, including Narek Nalbandian, is trying to create the impression that he has some connection with the prime minister’s family, I assure you the response will be very harsh.” Protesters said restarting the plant would benefit both the workers and the country. “We can produce cement locally, but instead we are helping develop production in Georgia and Iran by buying cement from them,” they said.

● The health minister has warned that someone has created a fake Telegram account using her name and photograph and is sending messages to doctors.

● Pro-government media in Azerbaijan are publishing comments criticising the “belated and insufficiently open and clear assessment by Turkish officials” of the current deterioration in relations between the two countries. At the same time, the reports stress that a significant part of Turkish society supports respect for Azerbaijan and opposes interference in its internal affairs. Media outlets have highlighted the fact that on 21 October, the Turkish president called his Azerbaijani counterpart and invited him to the upcoming summit of the Organisation of Turkic States in Ankara. The conversation, they write, “demonstrated mutual political will to develop cooperation and fraternal ties”.

Context. Experts cite two reasons for the deterioration in relations. One is Azerbaijan’s partnership with Israel, while Turkey’s relations with Israel have sharply worsened. The other is the strong negative reaction in Turkey to Azerbaijan’s de facto ban on wearing the hijab in schools. The Turkish president’s adviser and representatives of the ruling party have criticised the move, while social media in Turkey has been flooded with comments condemning Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan’s ruling party responded sharply, describing the statements made in Turkey as interference in the country’s internal affairs. More here.

● Azerbaijan has added 31 Turkish citizens to its list of undesirable persons and banned them from entering the country. According to the Foreign Ministry, the decision was prompted by statements these individuals had posted on social media and other online platforms against Azerbaijan’s sovereignty, national security, constitutional order, people and leadership. Their posts also allegedly called for the violent overthrow of the government and incited religious hatred on extremist grounds. The list includes numerous journalists, as well as religious figures and members of parliament. The Foreign Ministry said that “measures in response to calls directed against Azerbaijan and activities that encourage hostility will continue”.

● Armenia’s National Security Service has confirmed that an Azerbaijani citizen illegally crossed the Armenian border on 19 October. Yashar Gasimov, son of Ali, born in 1968, reportedly lost his way. “Appropriate measures are being taken to return the Azerbaijani citizen,” the Armenia’s NSS said.

● Senior-level talks between Italy and Azerbaijan took place at the headquarters of the Confederation of Italian Industry (Confindustria) in Rome. The discussions focused on strengthening economic and industrial cooperation and preparing for a major bilateral business forum to be held in Baku shortly. Participants included Italy’s foreign minister and minister for enterprise, Azerbaijan’s economy minister, and representatives of leading Azerbaijani state-owned and private companies. They included the state oil company SOCAR, the Azerbaijan Investment Holding, AzerGold, Azeraluminium, Baku Steel Company, PASHA Holding, the Centre for Analysis and Coordination of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4SIM), and the Azerbaijan Business Development Fund.

● Italy and Azerbaijan signed a joint declaration on cooperation in critical raw materials following the meeting in Rome. Italy’s Minister for Enterprise and Made in Italy, Adolfo Urso, said on X that the two countries aimed to attract Azerbaijani investment into Italian industry and expand cooperation in innovative sectors, including artificial intelligence and robotics. Urso said the goal was to combine Azerbaijan’s resources with Italy’s expertise across all stages of the production chain. “Azerbaijan could also become an important partner in the strategic critical raw materials storage facility that Italy has proposed establishing in Porto Marghera. This would be Europe’s first pilot facility of its kind, designed to protect Italian and European industry from supply disruptions and strengthen strategic autonomy,” the minister wrote.

● The EU–Azerbaijan business forum was held in Baku. It was stated that European companies view Azerbaijan as a reliable alternative to transit routes through Russia, despite the fact that the Middle Corridor is not yet operating at full capacity and cargo deliveries take longer than planned. Key obstacles include a shortage of funding, uneven infrastructure development and delays in digitalisation along the Georgian section of the corridor. European businesses, however, continue to expand their presence in Azerbaijan.

● The speed of freight transport along the Middle Corridor depends on three main factors: the capacity of the Caspian Sea, congestion at border crossings and transit hubs, and effective integration between countries. Elmir Poladov, deputy chair of the Azerbaijan Freight Forwarders Association, made the statement at the EU–Azerbaijan business forum in Baku. As an example, he cited weather conditions and a shortage of ferries, which meant that Kazakhstan’s Port of Aktau operated for only 10 days out of 60 in December and January. Further delays are caused by cargo transfers due to different railway gauges on the route to Turkey, as well as an imbalance in freight flows: containers mainly travel from east to west, while returning them in the opposite direction incurs additional costs. The lack of a unified cargo-tracking system also creates major difficulties. Poladov cited the construction of new vessels, the expansion of the Baku–Tbilisi–Kars railway’s capacity to 5 million tonnes, the expansion of Azerbaijan’s Port of Alat and the introduction of a national “single window” system as improvements.

● The EU and European Commission are working to attract private European investment into Azerbaijan’s strategic sectors, EU Ambassador to Azerbaijan Mariana Kujundžić said at the business forum. She stressed that the EU remains Azerbaijan’s largest trading partner and that Azerbaijan is an important energy supplier to the EU, particularly through the Southern Gas Corridor. Kujundžić also noted that negotiations have resumed on a new comprehensive EU–Azerbaijan agreement to replace the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement in force since 1999. Two rounds of talks have already taken place, in Brussels and Baku.

● Azerbaijan’s state-owned AzerGold is entering gold exploration at the Akba deposit in Uzbekistan. The company has registered its first foreign subsidiary, AzerGold Uzbekistan. Once a licence is obtained, an 18-month exploration programme will assess the gold resources and the deposit’s potential for development in the Kashkadarya region. AzerGold also plans joint geological surveys with Uzbek partners at other prospective sites in the country.

● Azerbaijan’s Press Council has warned of scams involving fake WhatsApp accounts impersonating well-known journalists. Law enforcement agencies say organised cybercrime networks based abroad are behind the schemes and use artificial intelligence to deceive people. The council urged the public to verify senders, avoid responding to suspicious messages, and report incidents to the police or the national cybersecurity agency.

● Representatives of the Azerbaijani public association Families of Missing Persons in Karabakh, who are holding a peaceful protest in Brussels, met with Ocke Bouwman, an adviser to the EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus, and Marco Cardinali, the EU’s coordinator for relations with Azerbaijan. During the meeting, which lasted about an hour, the families of Azerbaijanis who went missing during the First Karabakh War said Armenia bore direct responsibility for the fate of their relatives and was obliged to provide information about the locations of mass graves, but had failed to do so even after the conflict. They said that 32 mass graves had already been discovered in Azerbaijani territories retaken from Armenian occupation during the 2020 Second Karabakh War, illustrating the scale of the humanitarian tragedy. The families said they would continue protesting outside EU buildings in Brussels until they learned what had happened to their loved ones.

● Fixed broadband speeds in Azerbaijan have increased by 10.6% over the past year, reaching an average of 98.92 Mbps. Azerbaijan has retained 47th place among 100 countries in this ranking.

● The Constitutional Court has begun hearing a lawsuit filed by 88 MPs from the ruling Georgian Dream party seeking to ban five opposition parties: Unity – National Movement, Coalition for Change, Strong Georgia – Lelo, the Federalists and For Georgia. The seven-member plenary court rejected all opposition motions, including requests to recuse judges; summon Georgian Dream founder and honorary chairman, billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili, and jailed former president Mikheil Saakashvili as witnesses; and exclude evidence from a parliamentary investigative commission that spent several months examining the authorities’ actions during Saakashvili’s presidency. During the hearing, National Movement representative Khatia Dekanoidze was removed from the courtroom at the court president’s request. The hearing will continue today, 22 October. A ban requires the support of four of the seven judges.

● Germany’s Foreign Ministry described the planned ban on opposition parties in Georgia as a cause for concern. Ministry spokesperson Kathrin Deschauer said such a decision would distance the country from the European Union and weaken domestic democracy. The Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE) said Georgian Dream was intensifying authoritarian repression and called on the EU to impose tougher sanctions on those responsible.

● Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze has appointed First Deputy Foreign Minister Giorgi Zurabashvili as special representative for relations with Russia. Zurabashvili will retain his position as deputy minister. Kobakhidze said the appointment did not mark the beginning of a new stage in relations with Russia, adding that the obstacles to restoring diplomatic ties remained unchanged. He also stressed that the appointment was unrelated to Russia’s recently introduced ban on imports of a range of Georgian products, including several wine brands, alcoholic beverages and mineral water.

● The General Inspection of the Ministry of Justice has launched an investigation into injuries sustained by prisoner David Peikrishvili under the article concerning violence. According to his lawyer, Peikrishvili, a criminal underworld figure, suffered broken ribs and facial bones. He accuses fellow inmates and other underworld figures, Vato Kipiani and Avtandil Bilanishvili, of the attack. Kipiani’s lawyer previously denied the allegations, while the Special Penitentiary Service said Peikrishvili’s fellow inmates had not assaulted him. The prime minister said the investigation would also establish whether prison officials had played a role. Read more about the case here.

● A working group of the State Committee for the Prevention of Corruption has concluded that the major power outages on 24–25 July, which left the entire country without electricity, could have been avoided. According to the group’s findings, violations were identified at electricity transmission and generation facilities, including Enguri HPP. The Energy Commission will consider imposing the maximum fine of 75,000 lari (around $29,000) on energy companies for each violation and will make a decision within two weeks.

● The Government Administration has published details of the expenses incurred for the funeral of Catholicos-Patriarch Ilia II. The Ministry of Culture spent 722,645 lari (around $280,000) and signed 26 contracts. Of the 3 million lari (around $1.1 million) allocated from the government’s reserve fund, 2,277,355 lari was returned to the budget. Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze said the figures did not warrant an investigation.

● A court has sentenced Giorgi Papashvili to life imprisonment for the murder of 22-year-old Tamaz Mtivlishvili. According to investigators, Papashvili tortured the victim for six hours. The defence said it would appeal the verdict.

● The Roads Department has announced an international tender for construction of an approximately 31-kilometre, four-lane section of a new highway in the Kakheti region, running from Badiauri to Bakurtsikhe. The estimated cost of the two sections is $183 million. The project will be funded by the Georgian government, the World Bank and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank. Bids will be accepted until 21 December.

● The Government Administration has published data on applications for foreign grants. Between 1 October 2025 and 16 October 2026, 215 of the 330 applications received were approved, 13 were rejected and 88 remain under review.

● The Georgian National Energy and Water Supply Regulatory Commission has said natural gas and water tariffs will be reviewed at the end of the year, as the current rates expire in late December.

● For three days, from 21 to 23 October, the Constitutional Court’s plenary session will hear on the merits a lawsuit filed by 88 MPs from the ruling majority seeking to declare five opposition parties unconstitutional and ban them. The parties named in the lawsuit are Unity – National Movement, Coalition for Change, Strong Georgia – Lelo, the Federalists and For Georgia. The court approved a request from Georgia’s Public Broadcaster to allow the hearings to be streamed live. A final ruling must be issued by 24 June 2027. Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze said of the parties targeted by the lawsuit: “Their days are numbered.” Georgia’s opposition party ban: detailed analysis here

● The opposition has announced a protest rally outside the Constitutional Court building in Batumi, starting at 11:00 on 21 October.

● Council of Europe Secretary General Alain Berset has urged Georgia’s ruling majority to “protect political pluralism and preserve space for political opposition”. He said that, under the European Court of Human Rights’ case law, banning a political party requires compelling justification and strict scrutiny of whether the measure is necessary and proportionate. Berset said the Council of Europe would “follow developments closely”.

● The Foreign Ministry expressed concern over recent statements by EU representatives regarding the case. “This is an attempt to exert excessive pressure on a constitutional institution and interfere in Georgia’s internal affairs,” the ministry said, urging European officials to refrain from making statements until Georgia’s Constitutional Court has delivered its ruling.

● Representatives of opposition parties met with the ambassadors of the United Kingdom, Germany and France at the British Embassy. The meeting was attended by representatives of the Federalists, the United National Movement, Lelo, For Georgia and the Coalition for Change. According to Badri Japaridze of Lelo, the discussion focused on “how to protect the interests of our state”. Tengiz Sharmanashvili, an MP from the ruling Georgian Dream party, claimed that the politicians had been given “their final briefing” ahead of the Constitutional Court hearings.

● Lawyers have reported a suspected violent confrontation between criminal figures in prison. According to reports, David Peikrishvili, described as a criminal underworld authority, suffered four broken ribs and fractures to his skull and facial bones. His lawyer said Peikrishvili claimed that the injuries had been inflicted by criminal figures Vato Kipiani, Avtandil Bilanishvili, known as “Katsro”, and others. The Special Penitentiary Service denied that Peikrishvili had been assaulted by fellow inmates, saying he had smashed a corridor window and threatened to harm himself. A lawyer for Kipiani ruled out any physical confrontation. Peikrishvili was taken to Vivamed clinic in the evening, where fresh injuries to his upper limbs were diagnosed.

Context: The Peikrishvili brothers were arrested on 22 September on charges of violence and extortion, while Kipiani and Bilanishvili were arrested on 15 October on suspicion of group violence. Bilanishvili is frequently described in the media as a friend of Bera Ivanishvili, the son of billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili, widely regarded as the country’s shadow ruler. The alleged links between the individuals involved and elite circles have long been discussed in Georgian media and on social networks, and their arrests have attracted considerable public attention.

● Rikard Jozwiak, editor of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty’s Europe bureau, has offered his prediction of what the European Commission’s annual enlargement report, due to be published on 4 November, will say about Georgia. He expects the report to reaffirm the assessment that Georgia is a candidate country “in name only”. In his view, new sanctions are unlikely because EU member states lack consensus on the issue.

● The government has established the Georgian Economic Development Corporation on the basis of the Enterprise Georgia agency. The new corporation will also take over the functions of the Energy Development Fund and the Georgian Development Fund, formerly known as the Partnership Fund. According to the prime minister, the corporation will co-finance energy projects and major strategic infrastructure. The initial draft budget for 2027 allocates 200 million lari (around $77 million) to the corporation.

● The National Agency of State Property has announced electronic auctions for the privatisation of 10 former sanatoriums in the resort town of Tskaltubo, with bidding scheduled to close on 15 November. The properties have a combined starting price of 49.2 million lari (around $20 million). The winning bidders will be required to invest at least 314 million lari (around $120 million) in total over five years. According to the prime minister, developing Tskaltubo resort is one of the government’s priorities.

● The Roads Department has signed an agreement with China Railway Tunnel Group to build a 7.3-kilometre section of the Tbilisi bypass road between Tsitsamuri and Avchala. The section will include a four-lane road and two parallel tunnels with a combined length of 3.4 kilometres. According to the prime minister, a continuous four-lane motorway will also be built by 2030 from Sarpi on the Black Sea coast to Sadakhlo in the Kvemo Kartli region, spanning the country from west to east. Construction of all motorways is scheduled to be completed by 2031.

● Police in Marneuli municipality have arrested three people who, according to the Interior Ministry, forced their children, including minors, to marry men from their villages against their will. The charges concern two separate cases and include forced marriage and domestic violence. The relevant articles of the Criminal Code carry prison sentences of up to four years.

Photo: The opposition alliance has announced a protest against the Constitutional Court hearing on the lawsuit seeking to ban political parties.

● The Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), led by Russia, has warned Armenia of serious consequences if its membership in the bloc is suspended. Representatives of Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan have prepared a report predicting a 69% increase in the price of Russian gas for Armenia, a 30–50% drop in Armenian exports and a decline of more than 90% in re-exports. The report also forecasts the reintroduction of customs controls and tighter labour migration rules. Yerevan has repeatedly said it has no plans to leave the EAEU, while EU membership remains an aspiration. However, the report suggests the EAEU could suspend Armenia’s participation until the country holds a referendum on whether to choose the EAEU or the EU.

● A decision to suspend Armenia’s EAEU membership could be taken at the next meeting of the bloc’s heads of state in December, Nikolai Silaev of the Russian Foreign Ministry’s Institute of International Studies told Armenian media. The EAEU treaty contains no provision setting out a procedure for suspending membership, but it refers to the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties, which would provide the legal basis for such a decision, Silaev said. “The convention says that all parties to an international treaty must comply with its terms. Armenia is not complying, and this has been demonstrated in the report. Thus, a legal mechanism for suspending Armenia’s participation has been found. At the same time, nobody wants this decision to have to be taken,” he said.

● Pro-Russian opposition forces have warned that Armenia’s departure from the EAEU would be a disastrous decision. Arthur Khachatryan, secretary of the parliamentary faction of the Armenia party, said: “If even half of the report’s forecasts are realistic, the consequences for Armenia will be apocalyptic.”

● Bloomberg has published an interview with Konstantin Sokolov, an American businessman who heads the US-based TRIPP+ fund, also known as the Trans-Caspian Enterprise Fund. The fund, with a budget of $201 million, was established to support the implementation of the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP), a transit route linking Azerbaijan with its Nakhchivan exclave through Armenian territory. International media have reported that Sokolov has ties to Donald Trump’s administration. He told Bloomberg he plans to expand his investments in Armenia’s copper industry. In September, he acquired the country’s second-largest copper mining company. “The peace agreement initialled by the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan is an unprecedented development that could fundamentally transform the region. It has opened the way for greater US involvement in the South Caucasus. I am extremely interested in expanding my activities across the region, as I firmly believe in its combined potential,” Sokolov said. More on Sokolov and the fund here.

● An employee of the Hrazdan municipal administration has been charged with offering an electoral bribe and official forgery. According to the Investigative Committee, he issued forged certificates, some of which enabled recipients to qualify for reduced electricity bills. In another case, a forged certificate helped a citizen obtain an agricultural loan with an interest-rate subsidy from the Economy Ministry. The official thereby facilitated the fraudulent embezzlement of state funds, the committee said.

● The Corruption Prevention Commission could be granted direct access to the electronic border management system to verify officials’ asset declarations. This would allow it to check whether officials have declared their trips abroad and establish when officials or family members were outside the country. The commission currently has to submit written requests to government agencies to obtain such information, adding administrative work and slowing investigations.

● An Armenian delegation led by Defence Minister Suren Papikyan has left for an official visit to the Czech Republic.

● Armenia has exported 908.6 tonnes of flowers to 30 countries since the beginning of the year, the Economy Ministry said. Destinations include neighbouring Turkey, Iran and Georgia; 14 European countries; the United Arab Emirates and Oman; Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan; and the United States. The ministry said the export geography had expanded significantly compared with the same period last year, with 23 new markets added. On 10 October, an EU decision allowing more than 80% of Armenian products to enter the bloc duty-free came into force.

●  Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has urged citizens to organise protests if anyone obstructs their voting rights or subjects them to unlawful pressure. He previously invited candidates and voters who claim to have faced illegal pressure to contact him directly by email. Pashinyan has said any official found responsible for such actions will be publicly reprimanded.

● A manager at the Gustav restaurant in Yerevan has been placed on a wanted list after allegedly secretly filming inside the women’s toilet. A criminal case has been opened on suspicion of violating privacy. A female customer accidentally discovered a phone recording under a sink. Local media reported that when she confronted the manager, he acknowledged that the phone belonged to him. The incident was initially discussed in reviews on the restaurant’s Google page, where the restaurant said the manager had been dismissed.

● A video circulating on social media showing a man publicly humiliating his wife on a bus has sparked widespread outrage. A female passenger intervened, leading to a heated argument, and forced the couple to leave the bus. Police became involved and arrested the man. She filmed the incident on her mobile phone, accompanied the footage with profanity, and later posted the video online. Both social media users and investigators considered her words and actions potentially disruptive to public order. The investigation is ongoing.

●  Azerbaijan has called on the UN and other relevant international organisations to step up their involvement in the search for missing persons, the development of forensic expertise and support for their families. Speaking at a meeting of a UN General Assembly committee, Azerbaijan’s representative Shahriyar Hajiyev said that more than 4,000 Azerbaijanis remain missing in connection with the former conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia. Since the end of the conflict, 32 mass graves containing the remains of 253 people have been discovered. Hajiyev reiterated his call for Armenia to open its archives, disclose information about burial sites and collect witness testimonies so that families can learn the fate of their missing relatives.

● The Azerbaijani public association Families of Missing Persons in Karabakh is holding a peaceful demonstration outside the European Parliament in Brussels, calling for the fate of more than 4,000 Azerbaijanis who went missing during the first Karabakh war to be established. Participants displayed photographs and personal belongings of the missing and urged Armenia to provide access to its archives and information about mass burial sites.

● Prison sentences have been sought for two more civil society activists. The prosecutor is seeking 12 years in prison for Imran Aliyev, head of the Meclis.info platform, and 11 years for Elgiz Gahraman on charges including smuggling, money laundering and tax evasion, as well as other alleged offences. Both categorically deny the charges and say they are being persecuted for criticising the authorities. The prosecutor’s closing statement was interrupted after a third defendant, Tamilla Musayeva, became unwell and lost consciousness. The hearing at the Baku Court of Grave Crimes was postponed until 2 November.

Since late 2023, more than 30 journalists and activists have been arrested in Azerbaijan on smuggling charges. The defendants say the cases are linked to their professional activities, while the authorities deny that there are political prisoners in the country. According to human rights organisations, 328 political prisoners are currently held in Azerbaijani jails.

● The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has requested explanations from the Azerbaijani government over a complaint filed by NIDA movement activist Elmir Abbasov, who was sentenced to 12 years in prison in the Toplum TV case. Abbasov was previously accused of drug possession. He maintains that the drugs were planted on him and that his arrest was punishment for accusing President Ilham Aliyev of corruption in Facebook posts. The activist also alleges that he was subjected to police brutality and that his complaints were not effectively investigated.

Arrests in the Toplum TV case began in March 2024. The defendants were initially charged with smuggling, but the charges were later expanded. All the activists and journalists deny wrongdoing and say their arrests were politically motivated. On 27 July this year, sentences were handed down: Akif Gurbanov, head of the Institute for Democratic Initiatives, and Ruslan Izzatli, a co-founder of the institute, received 15 years in prison. Toplum TV co-founder Alasgar Mammadli and activist Ali Zeynal were sentenced to 14 years. Institute for Democratic Initiatives staff members Ramil Babayev and Ilkin Amrakhov, along with Toplum TV video editor Mushfig Jabbar, received 13-year sentences. Journalists Farid Ismayilov and Elmir Abbasov were sentenced to 11 years, 11 months and 28 days. The court also ordered the confiscation of their cars and apartments.

● BP Azerbaijan has announced that the $2.9 billion Shah Deniz Compression project, designed to increase gas production, has entered the offshore construction phase. BP has installed four piles with the largest diameter the company has ever used in the Caspian Sea. The project is expected to yield an additional 50 billion cubic metres of gas and 25 million barrels of condensate. Construction is scheduled for completion in 2029.

● Hungary has invested around $2 billion in Azerbaijan’s economy. Hungarian companies MOL and MVM have acquired stakes in major oil and natural gas fields, while MVM is also a shareholder in the Shafag solar power plant. Hungarian Ambassador to Azerbaijan Tamás Torma announced the figures, noting that the two countries have maintained an expanded strategic partnership since 2023. They cooperate in energy, agriculture, pharmaceuticals and water management, including through the green energy corridor project. Torma also highlighted Azerbaijan’s contribution to Europe’s energy security and its role in international transport projects.

● Cargo transit through Azerbaijan has reached a five-year high. Since the beginning of the year, transit volumes have increased by 14.5%, exceeding 12 million tonnes. Container traffic through the country’s ports has risen by 29%.

●  President Ilham Aliyev has signed a decree establishing Karabakh National Park, covering 88,418 hectares of state land in the Aghdara, Khojaly, Kalbajar, Shusha and Lachin districts. The stated aim is to protect biodiversity and the natural heritage of territories that Azerbaijan says were liberated from Armenian occupation during the Second Karabakh War of 2020.

● The National Cybersecurity Agency has warned of widespread cyber fraud targeting, among others, relatives of government officials. Scammers posing as government employees and law enforcement officers use caller ID spoofing, WhatsApp, psychological pressure and AI-generated voice impersonation to steal money and personal data. The agency urged the public to verify information through official channels and never share sensitive information with strangers.

● The Foreign Ministry has advised Azerbaijani citizens to refrain from travelling to France amid an increase in unrest, violence and civil disobedience in the country in recent days.

● Azerbaijan’s Prosecutor General’s Office has placed seven people living and working in Turkey on an international wanted list over allegations of publicly calling for the violent seizure of power in Azerbaijan, a change to the constitutional order and the incitement of religious hatred in the country. Those named in the case include Haksöz author Rıdvan Kaya, Değişim TV presenter Zekeriya Ceran and Analiz Merkezi founder Fatih Tezcan. According to investigators, the seven published relevant material on social media and online platforms between 25 September and 18 October. Kaya and Ceran also spoke at rallies outside Azerbaijani diplomatic missions in Istanbul and Ankara. A court in Baku ordered all seven to be arrested in absentia. The authorities are using international legal assistance mechanisms, including cooperation with the relevant Turkish authorities.

● The Azerbaijan Press Council accused several Turkish media outlets and social media users of spreading biased and inaccurate information about Azerbaijan, including claims that the country had introduced a hijab ban in schools. According to the council, the school uniform rules have been taken out of context and portrayed as an issue of religious confrontation, with old and fake photographs and videos also being used. “The published material openly crosses the boundaries of criticism and freedom of speech by giving a platform to dangerous calls for the violent change of Azerbaijan’s constitutional order and the unlawful seizure of power,” the statement said. The Press Council urged Turkish media to avoid spreading disinformation that could damage relations between the two countries, which are based on the principle of “one nation, two states”.

● Detained Meydan TV journalist Aynur Elgunash has finally been transferred to a clinic, her lawyer said. Her family and friends had been urging the authorities to arrange medical treatment for some time, citing serious concerns about her health. According to her lawyer, Elgunash had undergone 17 operations on her leg and was preparing for another surgery when she was arrested. Her most urgent health problem is now related to her kidney, which requires immediate surgery, the lawyer said. The authorities have not commented on the situation.

Aynur and 11 other journalists and activists have been arrested in the “Meydan TV case” on charges including currency smuggling. They all deny wrongdoing and say the case is linked to their critical reporting on the authorities.

● Military representatives from NATO member states and partner countries conducted a joint assessment in Baku to determine whether Azerbaijan’s military capabilities meet alliance standards, the Swedish Embassy in Azerbaijan reported. The process is aimed at improving interoperability and expanding defence cooperation. Among those who visited Baku were John Mead, Deputy Commander of NATO’s Allied Joint Force Command Brunssum, and Air Commodore Jeff Brock. They held meetings with the leadership of Azerbaijan’s General Staff.

● A delegation from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), led by Chief of Staff of the UAE Armed Forces Lieutenant General Issa Saif bin Ablan Al Mazrouei, is visiting Azerbaijan. He met Azerbaijani Defence Minister Zakir Hasanov and Chief of the General Staff of the Azerbaijani Army Karim Valiyev. The discussions focused on expanding military cooperation, regional security and the joint air-tactical exercise “Falcon Encounter 2026”, currently taking place in Azerbaijan. The delegation also visited the Azerbaijani Air Force’s Joint Air Operations Centre.

● NVIDIA, Apple and Microsoft topped the State Oil Fund of Azerbaijan’s technology stock portfolio in 2025. Over the year, the fund’s investments in telecommunications and IT company shares rose by 18.8%, reaching nearly 9 billion manats (around $5.3 billion). Seven technology companies featured among the fund’s ten largest stock investments, compared with five a year earlier.

● Czech company Škoda Group has said it is ready to become a key partner in modernising public transport in Baku, other Azerbaijani cities and territories regained by Azerbaijan, according to Roman Sorkin, the company’s vice-president for sales in Central Asia and the South Caucasus. The company sees the Baku Metro as a strategic project and is also interested in developing tram systems and light rail, as well as supplying electric traction vehicles for the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route. Read more here.

● Cooperation between Azerbaijan and Ukraine in education, law enforcement and regional ties was discussed during a series of meetings involving Azerbaijani Ambassador to Ukraine Seymour Mardaliyev and Ukraine’s ministers of education, interior and justice. Mardaliyev also met the mayor of Ivano-Frankivsk and the head of the Ivano-Frankivsk regional military administration.

● Another video about the 2020 Second Karabakh War has been published on Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev’s account on X. The video shows footage from the more than 30-year period of Armenian occupation of Karabakh and surrounding Azerbaijani territories, including the mass displacement of local Azerbaijanis during the First Karabakh War in the early 1990s, as well as the destruction and desecration of mosques. It also features Armenian leaders who supported the occupation over the years. Footage of meetings at the UN and EU institutions accompanies a narrative accusing the international community of inaction and applying double standards towards Azerbaijan. The video then shows scenes from the Second Karabakh War and states that Azerbaijan restored its territorial integrity on its own. Aliyev goes on to discuss the peace process, saying that Azerbaijan did not seek revenge for the suffering of its people but instead offered Armenia peace, which, he says, remains fragile and needs to be protected and strengthened.

● Azerbaijan exported goods worth $23.45 million to Armenia from January to September 2026, while its indirect imports from Armenia amounted to just $96,500, according to the State Customs Committee.

● Since the beginning of the year, Georgia has increased its imports of fuel and lubricants from Azerbaijan by more than 23%. Azerbaijan is now Georgia’s second-largest supplier of these products.

● Since the beginning of the year, 25 main telecommunications lines with a total length of more than 1,000 kilometres have been built in the Karabakh region, state-owned Aztelecom reported. Telecommunications infrastructure has been established in 11 cities and 54 villages and settlements, with 12,267 subscribers connected to the network.

● Football fans are preparing for this evening’s match in Baku between Azerbaijani club Sabah and Germany’s Borussia Dortmund, part of the third round of the UEFA Champions League’s league phase in the 2026/27 season. The match will kick off at 20:45. Free buses to the stadium will be provided from different parts of the city at the initiative of Sabah FC and with the support of the Land Transport Agency.

● Popular Formula TV presenter and journalist Vakho Sanaia has been sentenced to 30 days of administrative detention. The Interior Ministry accused him of publishing social media posts and videos containing obscene insults directed at political figures. Sanaia was arrested at his home after failing to attend the court hearing, which he had described as absurd. The Media Advocacy Coalition said the judicial system was being used to silence critical voices and punish journalists. Read more here.

● European Commission spokesperson Christian Wigand said in Brussels that the EU was closely monitoring the lawsuit filed by Georgia’s ruling party with the Constitutional Court seeking to ban five opposition parties. He said this case, together with legislative amendments, pointed to the alarming use of the judicial system for political purposes and threatened fundamental freedoms and political pluralism. The European Commission is calling on the Georgian authorities to immediately release politicians, journalists and activists who have been unjustly detained and repeal what it calls “repressive legislation”.

● Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili named the lawmakers who will defend Georgian Dream’s position before the Constitutional Court: Archil Gorduladze, Giorgi Kakhiani, Tengiz Sharmanashvili and Tornike Cheishvili. In their lawsuit, 88 ruling party MPs are seeking to ban five parties: Unity – National Movement, Coalition for Change, Strong Georgia – Lelo, the Federalists and Gakharia for Georgia. Hearings are scheduled for 21–23 October, while the opposition has announced plans to hold rallies in Tbilisi and Batumi.

● The case against former Prime Minister Irakli Gharibashvili, who has been convicted of corruption, has been referred to court for consideration on its merits. The Prosecutor’s Office has brought additional charges against him, accusing him of receiving a large bribe as part of a group. The offence carries a prison sentence of 11 to 15 years. The court rejected as evidence a public letter from Gharibashvili in which he alleged that former Deputy Prime Minister Mamuka Mdinaradze was involved in the case. Gharibashvili has already been sentenced to five years in prison under a plea agreement in a separate case involving the laundering of illicit income.

● The Prosecutor’s Office is negotiating a plea agreement with Zurab Chavchanidze, who was sentenced to five years in prison in connection with the alleged attempt to seize the Presidential Administration on 4 October 2025. Under the proposed agreement, Chavchanidze would serve one year and one month in prison, followed by a two-year suspended sentence. If the Tbilisi Court of Appeals approves the agreement, he will be released from prison in early November. Anton Vardanidze, who was convicted in the same case, has also asked the Prosecutor’s Office to conclude a plea agreement.

● Georgia’s exports totalled $6.15 billion in January–September, up 19.6% from the same period last year, according to the National Statistics Office of Georgia (Geostat). Imports rose by 5.3% to $14.38 billion, leaving a trade deficit of $8.23 billion. China, Russia and Turkey were Georgia’s largest export markets, while crude oil and petroleum products were among its main export goods.

● Georgian wine exports fell by 0.6% in value and 6% in volume in January–September, reaching $188.7 million. According to Geostat, Russia still accounted for 63.4% of the total value of wine exports. Poland and Ukraine ranked second and third.

● Enguri Hydropower Plant has prepared a report on the large-scale power outages that affected the country on 24–25 July. The report says the control systems and voltage regulators of four of the plant’s generators failed to operate properly. The company had previously signed a €560,000 contract with Voith Hydro to upgrade these systems without holding a tender. The State Security Service is investigating the causes of the outages as a possible act of sabotage. The findings have not yet been made public.

● Internally displaced people who have not received housing or financial compensation from the state can apply for compensation of 10,000 lari (around $3,000) per family member. Applications are being accepted at Public Service Halls and community centres until 2 November. Payments are to be made within 45 days at the latest.

● Seasonal flu vaccination will begin across Georgia on 21 October. According to the Ministry of Health, the country has purchased 200,000 doses of the French-made Vaxigrip vaccine. Vaccination is free for all citizens.

● A meeting chaired by the prime minister discussed progress on the Academic City programme. This major state project aims to create a unified technology hub bringing together universities, research organisations and other educational institutions in a modern environment. Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport Zhanna Andreasyan presented the concept of consolidating higher education institutions and outlined plans to cooperate with leading international universities in specific areas of the programme. She also presented an estimate of the costs of developing the necessary infrastructure.

● New appointments have been made at the Ministry of Defence. Taron Yeghiazaryan has been appointed head of the Armament and Technical Support Department, while Norayr Mkrtchyan will head the Armed Forces’ Moral and Psychological Support Department.

● Construction waste was found to have been dumped into Lake Sevan using heavy machinery. The incident damaged 580 square metres of a specially protected area and polluted 33 square metres of the lake’s water surface. The damage is estimated at 946,404 drams (around $3,000). A report of a suspected crime has been sent to the Prosecutor General’s Office.

● Another lawsuit seeking compensation for damage caused to the state by unpaid taxes has been upheld. Once the court rulings take effect, 39,128,615 drams (around $110,000) will be confiscated from an individual.

● A silver commemorative coin dedicated to the natural monument known as the “Symphony of Stones” will be issued into circulation today. Located in the Azat River gorge near the ancient Garni Temple, around 30 kilometres from Yerevan, the formation consists of symmetrical basalt columns that resemble the pipes of an organ. The site is included on the list of specially protected natural areas.

●  Police have uncovered cannabis cultivation and drug production on a plot of land near the home of a 37-year-old local resident.

● Holding COP17, the UN’s international environmental conference, in Armenia is raising the country’s international profile and boosting tourism, Economy Minister Gevorg Papoyan told journalists. According to the minister, the number of flights to Armenia has increased sharply during the conference, and an additional 10,000–15,000 tourists are expected to visit the country. Papoyan also said that events of this kind help improve the investment climate and create opportunities to attract new investment.

● Azerbaijan has exported goods worth $23.45 million to Armenia since the beginning of the year, while indirect imports from Armenia into Azerbaijan totalled just $96,500, according to Azerbaijan’s State Customs Committee.

PHOTO: Two young bezoar goats, a species listed in Armenia’s Red Book, were found and seized from the yard of a house in the village of Tsakhkunk. The animals were estimated to be around four to five months old: one male and one female. The damage caused to wildlife is estimated at 3 million drams (around $8,300). The Environmental Protection and Mining Inspection Body has referred the case to the Investigative Committee.

● The 17th UN Biodiversity Conference has opened in Yerevan. COP17 will run from 19 to 30 October. The event’s official opening ceremony has taken place. Following the high-level presidential summit “Leaders for Nature”, held on 16 October, world leaders have already adopted the Yerevan Declaration. It reaffirms countries’ political commitment to deepening international cooperation to restore ecosystems and protect nature.

● Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan called on the international community to move from declared commitments to concrete action to preserve biodiversity. He made the statement at the opening ceremony of the 17th COP17 conference in Yerevan. “Let Yerevan mark a new stage of political determination. Let this be the moment when we move from words to action, from division to cooperation,” Pashinyan said.

● The former “Public Council of Karabakh” expressed outrage over remarks made by UN Secretary-General António Guterres at COP17, which is being held in Yerevan. “Guterres spoke about the rights of indigenous peoples, biodiversity conservation and the responsibility of the international community, but did not mention the forced displacement of the indigenous Armenian population of Artsakh or their right to return to their homeland. We condemn this silence. In September 2023, more than 100,000 Armenians from Artsakh were forced to leave their homeland as a result of Azerbaijan’s military actions and the prolonged blockade that preceded them. How can one speak about protecting the rights of indigenous peoples while in a country that has provided refuge to tens of thousands of people forcibly expelled from their homeland, yet ignore their right to return?” the statement said.

● UNESCO Director-General Khaled El-Enany, who is in Armenia to attend the 17th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP17), visited the Zvartnots Temple, which is included on the UNESCO World Heritage List. El-Enany stressed the importance of proper management of historical monuments and their use for cultural and educational purposes.

● Asoghik Karapetyan, Director of the Museums and Archives of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin and a member of Armenia’s National Commission for UNESCO, expressed outrage that a visit to Zvartnots Temple had been arranged for the UNESCO Director-General, but not to the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. “If it was possible to visit Zvartnots, why not visit the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin? Why not showcase the magnificent, fully restored and lavishly decorated cathedral? It was the nomination of the cathedral that was included on the UNESCO World Heritage List, whereas Zvartnots Temple was only part of that nomination. Such a decision is a clear indication of a lack of state consciousness,” Karapetyan said.

● Armenia’s delegation to the United Nations took part in an interactive dialogue with UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk, held as part of the UN General Assembly. It was emphasised that Armenia remains firmly committed to promoting lasting and sustainable peace in the region. The delegation also stressed that resolving humanitarian issues is crucial to building trust and promoting reconciliation, particularly in relation to detained persons and missing people.

●  Relations between Russia and Armenia are going through a period of seeking a new balance, Russian Ambassador Sergey Kopyrkin said at an event marking the 70th anniversary of the public organisation Union of Veterans of Armenia named after Marshal Baghramyan. “Regardless of how the political situation changes, our shared history, joint victories and the figure of Marshal Baghramyan remain powerful unifying factors for our peoples. It was through unity that we won the most difficult war, and it is unity that we must rely on to meet the challenges of today,” Kopyrkin said.

● An analytical centre for Armenia’s mining and metallurgical sector will be established. The centre will serve as a platform for research and for strengthening dialogue between the public and private sectors.

●  Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan received a delegation led by Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov, who arrived in Armenia on his first official visit to the country. “There is significant potential for developing practical cooperation in trade, transport, agriculture, information technology, education and tourism. One important outcome of the talks will be the signing of a broad package of documents,” Japarov said.

● The European Union Mission in Armenia (EUMA) presented a photo exhibition exploring the links between peace, security, biodiversity conservation and the well-being of local residents. The exhibition features more than 40 photographs taken during routine patrols and visits to local communities in the Syunik, Vayots Dzor, Tavush and Gegharkunik provinces.

●  The ruling Georgian Dream party held meetings of its Political Council and parliamentary majority, attended by the party’s founder and honorary chairman, billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili. According to the officially released information, Ivanishvili reviewed a series of corruption-related arrests within the party’s ranks and said the problems had been overcome. Parliamentary majority leader Irakli Kirtskhalia and head of the government of the Autonomous Republic of Adjara Zurab Pataradze were added to the Political Council as new members. Speaking to journalists, Kirtskhalia dismissed rumours that Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze would soon resign. Kobakhidze himself said that no personnel matters had been discussed at the meetings, including the possible release from prison of former Prime Minister Irakli Gharibashvili, who was convicted of corruption. Read more here.

●  Several people convicted in the “4 October case” of 2025, concerning an alleged attempt to seize the Presidential Administration, have been released from Gldani prison under plea agreements.

●  The body of Lasha Broladze, a Georgian citizen killed while fighting against Russian forces in Ukraine, has been brought to Tbilisi. He will be buried in the village of Natanebi, in the Ozurgeti district.

● The European Union Monitoring Mission in Georgia said it would no longer fund the country’s government because of the deterioration of democratic processes, but would continue supporting the population and allocate €38 million for new projects in 2026. Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili said that, with this statement, the European Union had effectively abolished Georgia’s statehood and that “this disgrace must soon be washed away”. On 17 October, Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze proposed that the European Union begin an open and public dialogue at the political level.

● A court denied bail and remanded criminal underworld figures Vato Kipiani, Avtandil Bilanishvili, also known as “Katsro”, and Shota Kipiani in custody. According to the Prosecutor’s Office, on 14 October they beat a 65-year-old man at a restaurant in Tbilisi’s Vake district. They are charged with group violence, an offence carrying a prison sentence of up to two years. Bilanishvili is frequently described in the media as a friend of Bera Ivanishvili, the son of billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili, who is widely regarded as the country’s shadow ruler. The alleged links of all three suspects to elite circles have long been widely discussed in Georgian media and on social media, and their arrests have caused a major stir.

●  Nana Keinishvili, a member of the National Bank of Georgia’s board, has left her post amid an investigation into her activities. According to the Prosecutor’s Office, the case was opened following testimony from executives of BitExchange, who accused her of illegal business activity. Keinishvili strongly rejects the accusations and says she stepped down to protect the interests of the state and the reputation of the National Bank.

●  On 16 October, Swiss Foreign Minister and current OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Ignazio Cassis visited Georgia. Georgian Foreign Minister Maka Bochorishvili said that Georgia had applied to chair the OSCE in 2027. Cassis said that a broad consensus was needed for next year’s chairmanship and that the aim was to find a solution by the end of November, although he could not guarantee the outcome. Gigi Tsereteli, chairman of the opposition European Georgia party, described the government’s initiative as a PR stunt.

●  Kobakhidze met Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian in Yerevan on the sidelines of the UN COP17 biodiversity conference. According to the Georgian prime minister, they discussed bilateral relations and the current situation in the Middle East. US Republican Congressman Joe Wilson commented on news of the meeting, describing the Georgian government as an “America-hating regime” and Iran as a “terrorist state”.

● Applications for a cash compensation programme for internally displaced persons (IDPs) will open on 19 October. According to the Ministry of Health, an IDP family that has not yet received housing or compensation from the state can receive 10,000 lari (around $4,000) for each family member. Applications will be accepted at court buildings until 2 November. Georgia’s independent Social Justice Center said that the programme’s low compensation amount could put families at risk of homelessness.

● Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili said that during a meeting in Rome, he had explained to the president of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) that the Georgian delegation would not participate in the assembly’s work as long as PACE continued to violate Georgia’s sovereignty.

● Tbilisi hosted the 44th “Saturday March” as part of the continuous pro-European protest movement that has been ongoing for almost two years. The march’s main slogan was “No torture in prisons!”, with participants demanding an end to degrading treatment in prisons and by the police. Former President Salome Zourabichvili joined the march and delivered a speech criticising the authorities’ intention to ban five opposition parties. The Constitutional Court is reportedly due to hear the ruling party’s lawsuit on 21–23 October. Watch all the videos in the “Protests in Georgia” podcast here.

● A major scandal continues over the municipal shelter for stray animals in the city of Gori. Footage posted on social media showed hundreds of puppies kept in a single cramped, dirty enclosure, reportedly with very little food and water. Dozens of animal rights activists arrived at the shelter, sparking mass protests. Many people took puppies home, while private shelters took in several dozen. Many of the animals were already seriously ill, and some died on the way. A number of veterinary clinics joined the rescue effort, offering free treatment to the rescued animals. Hundreds of appeals demanding immediate action have been posted on social media and in the media, calling on local authorities and the country’s leadership to investigate the situation.

● Azerbaijan marked Restoration of Independence Day on Sunday. Congratulations were extended to the country by the European Union Delegation, the embassies of the United Kingdom, Belgium, Ukraine, Latvia and the Netherlands, Turkey’s Foreign Ministry and the Organisation of Turkic States.

● Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan congratulated Azerbaijan on Restoration of Independence Day, writing on X: “We are always united, in sorrow and in joy.”

● On Sunday, Azerbaijan marked the sixth anniversary of taking control of the 13th-century Khudafarin Bridge over the Araz River, near the Azerbaijan–Iran border in the Jabrayil district, during the Second Karabakh War in 2020. Local media recalled that on 18 October 2020, two other historic villages in the same district were also liberated from more than 30 years of Armenian occupation.

● The hacking group “313 Team” has claimed responsibility for DDoS attacks carried out between 13 and 15 October against the information resources of Azerbaijani government agencies, media outlets and foreign diplomatic missions in Azerbaijan. The incident was reported by the National Cybersecurity Agency.

● The ruling Yeni Azerbaijan Party announced that it had expelled Ramiz Mehdiyev, the detained former head of the Presidential Administration, from its ranks. He is accused of treason, attempting to seize power by force and laundering criminal proceeds.

● The Prosecutor’s Office announced that the investigation into the cases of detained opposition figures Ali Karimli and Mammad Ibrahim, leaders of the Azerbaijan Popular Front Party, had been completed. Their case was initially linked to the investigation into Ramiz Mehdiyev, but the proceedings were later separated. Karimli and Ibrahim have also been charged with attempting to seize power by force, an offence punishable by up to 20 years in prison or life imprisonment. Both deny the charges and consider their prosecution politically motivated.

●  Turkish commentator Celal Çiftçi, who has been placed on Azerbaijan’s international wanted list, has apologised to the Azerbaijani state and people for his publications. He is accused of calling for the violent seizure of power in Azerbaijan and disseminating material inciting religious hatred and enmity. Çiftçi had protested against restrictions on wearing hijabs in Azerbaijani schools and posted on social media a video generated using artificial intelligence, showing an armed man in military uniform knocking over a street sign bearing an image of President Ilham Aliyev. In a post on X, Çiftçi wrote that he had “gone beyond what hehe intended to say” and acknowledged that “decisions about the future of Azerbaijan fall within the competence of the Azerbaijani people and the country’s own constitutional institutions”.

● A book entitled “Factors Creating Serious Difficulties for Students in Azerbaijani-Language Schools in Georgia in Learning Their Native Language” was presented in Tbilisi. Its author is Aygul Isayeva, head of the public organisation Maarif. Among the main problems she identified were the reduction in the number of native-language lessons, the abolition of the graduation examination in the subject, errors in textbook translations and a shortage of qualified teachers. The study notes that the suspension of admissions to the Azerbaijani Language and Literature programme at Ilia State University in 2006 had a negative impact on the training of qualified specialists.

● Mass brawls broke out before and after the Qarabag–Neftchi football match in Baku, and 19 people were detained. The match ended in a high-scoring 3–3 draw. The Disciplinary Committee of the Association of Football Federations of Azerbaijan imposed fines on both clubs and ruled that their next home matches must be played behind closed doors.

Top stories in Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Georgia from 12-16 October, 2026