Explainers

EU, US and Georgian officials sound off on the 2018 Georgian elections

The opposition has accused the ruling party of violations, while foreign diplomats call on the authorities to quickly improve the electoral environment

Abkhazia's pelmeni saga

There are no food testing laboratories in Abkhazia, so customers have to judge the quality of food products ‘by eye’

Armenian Insurance Foundation for Servicemen will reach more victims

The foundation pays compensation to the families of the dead and injured soldiers through monthly deductions from the salaries of all residents of Armenia

Alaverdi announced Armenia’s most polluted city

...even though the city is located on the slopes of a gorge

World Bank warns of slowdown in Armenian economy

World Bank experts warn: If the government fails to achieve significant success, political and social tensions may flare up in the country again

RFE/RL might have to shut down Georgian, North Caucasus services

The proposal to shut down RFE/RL’s operations in the area came directly from US President Donald Trump’s administration

Armenian PM at 5hr press conference on politics, dialogue with Azerbaijanis and family

Armenian nuclear power plant to continue running, but supplemented by new power unit

The authorities of the country have stated that they have no obligation to close the nuclear power station, but there is a need to find sources to replace it

How Russian propaganda sways Georgia’s ethnic minorities

“Russians may lie, but their information is better conveyed,” say ethnic minorities in Javakheti and Kvemo Kartli

Foreign ministries of Armenia, Russia claim Azerbaijanis can come to Armenia

The statement came in response to the statement of an ethnic Azerbaijani on a Russian TV show, Rovshan Askerov, that he "is simply not allowed into Armenia”

Russians will now be punished for ‘fake news, disrespecting the authorities’

Social media users: "Scold the authorities, and you go to prison for disrespect. Praise them, and you go to jail for fake news."

Kazakh president unexpectedly resigns, but will retain power

Nursultan Nazarbayev is no longer the president of Kazakhstan, but he is still the secretary of the Security Council and leader of the ruling party

Chechen human rights advocate sentenced to 4 years for marijuana possession

Oyub Titiev says that the drugs were planted on him and the case fabricated

Is Georgia changing its position on the Karabakh conflict?

Reactions from Baku, Yerevan and Tbilisi to the recent controversial statements of Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili on the Karabakh conflict

Political prisoners ‘pardoned’ in Azerbaijan: a sign of change?

Some have thanked the president for the decree, while others demand the release of the remaining political prisoners

An Abkhazia without thieves-in-law?

The Abkhaz parliament has been presented with a bill criminalizing affiliations with crime groups

Crimea: propaganda vs. reality

What has changed five years after the “referendum” on the accession of Crimea to Russia? An analysis of five propaganda claims

North Ossetia: local politician allegedly assaults school teacher

Despite public protest, the Federation Council has interceded on behalf of the accused MP