Geography

Flags at half-mast as crowds gather at Holy Trinity Cathedral - Georgia bids farewell to patriarch. Photo

Patriarch to be buried at Sioni Cathedral in line with his wishes

Armenia’s cultural scene expands as rising demand drives up prices

What a theatre-goer, marketer and sociologist say about rising interest in cultural events and higher prices

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

Daily morning roundup. Top stories in local media, commentary, trending photos and videos

'Changing Armenia’s constitution is our decision, not others’,' Pashinyan says in briefing

Many believe Armenia’s authorities intend to meet Baku’s key precondition for a peace deal by amending the constitution. However, the prime minister insists the issue is strictly an “internal matter”.

Azerbaijani student in Latvia jailed for 11 years over Starlink sales to Russia

The court also ordered his deportation from Latvia and imposed a five-year entry ban as an additional penalty

Disinformation ahead of Armenia’s elections: new claims exposed

Fact-checking platforms report a high volume of disinformation across a wide range of issues. It often targets the prime minister and members of his team, including claims as extreme as “organ trafficking”. Rebuttals

Head of Abkhaz diaspora in Rostov remanded in pre-trial detention over 'anti-Russian statements'

On social media, Bzhinava’s detention has been linked to his stance on the issuing of Russian domestic passports in Abkhazia

Abkhazia resident jailed for “glorifying” Shamil Basayev

The sentence was based on ten pro-Basayev posts on Telegram

Arrests in Azerbaijan over alleged blackmail of president’s family: video bloggers, Alena Aliyeva and State Security operation

State Security Service says it conducted operation over alleged attempt to blackmail President Ilham Aliyev’s family

Catholicos-Patriarch of Georgia Ilia II has passed away

The new Patriarch will be elected by the Holy Synod and the Expanded Council of the Georgian Church - after 40 days, but no later than two months

Robert Kocharyan named prime minister candidate: will he become represent opposition in Armenia’s upcoming elections?

Some suggest that opposition forces planning to take part in the June elections are betting on Kocharyan. However, most social media users oppose his return to power

In Abkhazia, archaeologists uncover I–IV century fortress linked to Roman Empire. Video

It is the only surviving fortification from antiquity

Abkhaz opposition figure faces criminal charges, final decision rests with parliament

Kan Kvarchia is one of the figures in a scandal involving Russian political consultants who worked illegally in Abkhazia

'We had only seconds': what we know about landslide in Georgia’s village of Kursebi

Possible causes of the disaster and survivors’ accounts

Lucky: the story of a rescued kitten. Video from Tbilisi Zoo

In this vlog from Tbilisi Zoo, we meet Lucky, a lucky rescued kitten

Ruben Vardanyan was not allowed to finish what he wanted to tell Azerbaijan’s ombudsman

“His call was forcibly cut off,” his family said. They published an audio recording of his appeal to Sabina Aliyeva. The Armenian detainee could not reach her by phone or through his lawyer.

Meydan TV case in Azerbaijan: 'If I wrote paid articles, I would choose local officials, not foreigners'

At the latest hearing in the Meydan TV case, the defendants rejected the charges brought by the investigation. Editor-in-chief Aynur Elgunes told the court that the journalists were under arrest because of their beliefs.

How does the hippo that survived the 2015 Tbilisi flood live now? Video from Tbilisi Zoo