Top stories in Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Georgia from September 9-13, 2024

● Michael Carpenter, Special Assistant to the U.S. President: “The U.S. will pursue accountability for those behind the adoption of the ‘foreign agents’ law.” Read more here

● The OSCE’s Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights has officially launched its election observation mission in Georgia. The mission includes 12 international experts and 30 long-term observers, with an additional 350 short-term observers joining just before the elections. The team will monitor various cities and villages across the country, evaluating media processes and the overall online environment. They will also hold regular meetings with government officials, opposition members, civil society, and media representatives. A preliminary report on the electoral process will be presented the day after the elections, with the final report published in a few months.

● The U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee discussed Georgia’s “foreign agents” law. Eka Gigauri, Executive Director of “Transparency International – Georgia,” was the speaker. Senator Jim Risch asked, “Why is Georgia moving towards Russia, which has occupied two regions of the country, and why do a significant number of people in Georgia want to return to life as it was in the Soviet Union?” Eka Gigauri responded that “for many years, the government has organized disinformation campaigns aimed at undermining Western values and civil society. However, despite this, the majority of the country’s population desires integration with the West.”

● Georgian Paralympians were welcomed yesterday at the Palace of Ceremonies in Tbilisi. At the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris, they competed in six sports and won a total of nine medals: one gold, four silver, and four bronze. Like the Olympians, all Paralympians will receive state awards and cash prizes.

● Ten Georgian citizens are currently being held illegally in the Tskhinvali region after being detained by Russian military forces in the Georgian-Ossetian conflict zone for allegedly crossing the so-called border, which Georgia considers an administrative line. One of them, Lasha Khetereli, will be released today, and consultations are underway for the release of several others in the near future, according to Irakli Antadze, Director of the Analytical Department of the State Security Service. Most of the recent MPRI (Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism) meeting in Ergneti was dedicated to discussing the issue of illegal “borderization.”

● Businessman Giorgi Chikvaidze, founder of “Ramses Yacht,” has accused oligarch and honorary chairman of the ruling party Bidzina Ivanishvili of organizing blackmail against him and his family, including involving the prosecutor’s office, because the businessman did not comply with his demands. “Any actions to physically neutralize or harm me or my family members will be Ivanishvili’s personal responsibility,” Chikvaidze stated on Pirveli TV.

● A high-profile court case that has captured public attention has concluded. Otar Tsindeliani has been sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of 21-year-old Ketevan Javakhishvili, whom he stabbed more than 50 times in a jealous rage.

● Georgia has selected Rusudan Glurjidze’s film “Antiquarian,” which centers on the mass deportation of Georgians from Russia in 2006, as its entry for the 2024 Oscars, according to the Georgian National Film Center.

● Georgia has signed a visa-free agreement with the Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis, a Caribbean island nation with a population of around 55,000 people.

●  Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan held a phone conversation with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken. They discussed issues related to the Armenia-Azerbaijan peace process and the Armenia-U.S. bilateral agenda.

●  Alexander Lukashenko stated that he is “open to restoring good relations with Armenia.” The Belarusian leader claimed that Minsk bears no responsibility for the current situation, as Belarusians have always supported and cooperated with Armenians. However, he noted that Armenians “wanted to go West, to the EU.” Lukashenko added, “Armenians are very smart people. They will soon realize where their true happiness lies.”

●  Armenia and China plan to strengthen high-level military contacts: results of the defense ministers’ talks in China.

●  Residents of Yerevan have complained that the demolition of a high-rise building on Paruyr Sevak Street has caused a massive dust cloud (as seen in the video). The Prosecutor’s Office has requested an investigation by the police into potential safety violations and threats to public health during the demolition.

● President Salome Zurabishvili spoke online at the Fourth Crimea Platform Summit (as shown in the photo): “This war is fundamentally about upholding the principles of international law, respecting borders, and protecting the rights of people to peace. Ukraine continues to fight for its freedom and the freedom of Europe, and I want to once again affirm that the Georgian people stand with you, the whole world stands with you. Together, we will show that the free world cannot be intimidated.”

●  “The West must prepare for a crisis in Georgia”—an analytical article was published under this headline in the Financial Times. “The country is counting down to the elections, and many opponents of the ruling ‘Georgian Dream’ believe that they will go to any lengths to stay in power. Russian leaders are already claiming that they foresee violence in these elections. After years of integration into Euro-Atlantic structures, Bidzina Ivanishvili, the de facto leader of Georgia, has steered the country off this course. Now Georgia wavers between the West and the ‘Russia-BRICS’ world,” the article states.

● The Russian Foreign Intelligence Service claims that the US, together with the OSCE, is allegedly planning to interfere in the Georgian parliamentary elections on October 26 to prevent the ruling ‘Georgian Dream’ from winning.

● Mamuka Mdinaradze, secretary of the ruling party, announced that oligarch and honorary party chairman Bidzina Ivanishvili is at the top of the party’s electoral list due to the exceptional importance of the parliamentary elections in October. “Ivanishvili is not interested in the presidency or any other state position, but his presence at the top of the list is meant to ensure that ‘Georgian Dream’ secures a constitutional majority in the new parliament,” Mdinaradze said.

● Khatuna Beridze was fined 1,500 lari (about $550) after calling Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze and other ruling party leaders “slaves” when she encountered them on the boulevard in Batumi in June. Beridze also recorded the incident on video. She was then detained under administrative law.

● Politician Aleko Elisashvili was fined 2,000 lari (about $550) for hooliganism and resisting the police. He was detained and severely beaten by the police during mass protests against the “foreign agent” law in April. Elisashvili says he will appeal the fine in court.

● Michael Roth, chairman of the Bundestag’s Foreign Affairs Committee, will visit Georgia from September 16-18, and then travel to Armenia. “I look forward to meeting friends, allies, and loyal Europeans in Georgia and Armenia,” he wrote on his X account.

● Olympic champion Lasha Talakhadze, who is listed as number seven on the ruling ‘Georgian Dream’ electoral list, stated that he “chose to be with the team that has maintained peace in the country.” He also supported the “foreign agent” law, saying, “Everything should be public and transparent; a transparency law is necessary.”

● Tea Godoladze, director of the National Center for Seismic Monitoring, stated that the suspension of US aid to Georgia amounting to $95 million will not affect the Center’s operations.

● Gurgen Arsenyan has been appointed as the new Ambassador of Armenia to Russia. During a meeting with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin, the ambassador expressed his hope for the support of the Russian authorities.

● Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan, leader of the protest movement, held meetings with Robert Kocharyan and Serzh Sargsyan. However, according to the Telegram channel “Sacred Struggle,” he has not yet been able to meet with Armenia’s first president, Levon Ter-Petrosyan.

● Can ethnic Armenians seeking asylum in Germany be deported to Azerbaijan? This question was posed to the Armenian Foreign Minister. Opposition MP Artsvik Minasyan stated that in the personal data of some Armenian citizens applying to German migration authorities, Azerbaijan is listed as their country of origin. Therefore, there is a risk of their deportation. Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan promised to look into the matter and provide a clear response.

● “Armenia must solve its problems on its own. It is either the guarantor of its own security, or there is no guarantor at all. For all those we might consider security guarantors, we are merely a bargaining chip. We must solve our problems ourselves,” said Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan during a government session in the National Assembly.

● “The biased and unfair statements from the EU are an interference in the internal affairs of Azerbaijan. We recommend that the EU focus on human rights violations within its own member states.” This was how the Ministry of Foreign Affairs responded to statements made at the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, which cited a public statement by the Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment from July 3.

● The Turkic world has agreed on a unified alphabet consisting of 34 letters. The third meeting of the Commission on the Common Alphabet of the Turkic World, established by the Organization of Turkic States, was held in Baku from September 9-11. Turkey, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan already use the Latin alphabet. Now the task remains for Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan.

● “Moscow is ready to provide Baku with allied support in joining BRICS,” said Maria Zakharova, the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry. Azerbaijan has officially applied for BRICS membership.

● The Central Election Commission of Azerbaijan has annulled the election results from five polling stations in the parliamentary elections.

● Ilgar Mammadov, the leader of the opposition party “Republican Alternative,” has resigned. The former political prisoner lost the parliamentary election in his district. He believes that significant election violations had a major impact on the results.

● The men’s and women’s national chess teams of Azerbaijan won in the first round of the World Chess Olympiad in Budapest. The men’s team defeated their Jordanian opponents with a score of 3.5:0.5, while the women’s team won against Nicaragua with a score of 4:0.

● The ruling “Georgian Dream” party has unveiled the top 20 candidates on its party list for the October 26 parliamentary elections. The list is headed by the party’s honorary chairman, oligarch Bidzina Ivanishvili. Several new faces are included, such as renowned athletes Geno Petriashvili and Lasha Talakhadze, as well as deputies from the “People’s Power” party, considered a satellite of the ruling party. However, some well-known politicians, including Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze and Archil Talakvadze, who was second on the party list in the 2020 parliamentary elections, are notably absent. Read more here

● President Salome Zurabishvili announced her readiness to run for a second term, calling the October parliamentary elections a “referendum on the country’s European future.” She stated in an interview with *Le Figaro* that “stability in Georgia depends on a major victory for the pro-Western opposition in the elections. I believe the ruling ‘Georgian Dream’ has weakened, as polls show it cannot gather more than 25% of the votes.” Read more here

● U.S. Ambassador Robin Dunnigan: “It’s unbearable to hear disinformation [likely from Georgian authorities, although no names are mentioned – JAMnews] suggesting that the U.S. is some ‘party of global war,’ or that America has anti-Georgian intentions. This disinformation is tied to Western aid to Georgia and is being used as a backdrop for the ‘Transparency of Foreign Influence’ law (‘foreign agents’ law). Meanwhile, this aid supports people with disabilities and the preservation and development of Georgian culture. It’s a positive, not a negative.”

● Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights Michael O’Flaherty urged Georgian parliament members in an open letter to refrain from passing the homophobic “Family Values” bill in its third reading. He stated that such a law would create a legal basis for discrimination against the LGBTQ community and contradict the European Convention on Human Rights. The bill includes a ban on same-sex marriage registration and adoption by queer individuals, although both are already prohibited. It also bans gender transition services and requires that gender markers in documents match biological sex. Read more here

● Leaders of the opposition United National Movement stated they would begin EU accession negotiations immediately after a change in government, should they win the parliamentary elections in October. “After this, Georgia will gain access to a €14 billion fund, which the ‘Georgian Dream’ is currently blocking.”

● A member of the opposition coalition “Strong Georgia,” Vusal Kayubov, was arrested by police in the Sagarejo district of the Kakheti region. The Ministry of Internal Affairs claims that an unregistered firearm and 59 rounds of ammunition were found during a house search. Family members assert that he has never had any connection to weapons. Coalition representatives expressed doubts about the Ministry’s charges, citing suspicious circumstances and linking the arrest to Kayubov’s political activities.

● In the second round of the UEFA Nations League, Georgia’s national football team defeated Albania 1-0. The only goal was scored by Giorgi Kochorashvili. The Georgian team has now accumulated a total of 6 points. “I know neither I nor my teammates will stop here,” Kochorashvili said after the match.

📸 In the photo: Giorgi Kochorashvili celebrates his goal.

● Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan stated, “Azerbaijan’s Constitution includes territorial claims against Armenia, but we don’t bring this up in negotiations because the peace agreement text clearly addresses this issue by stating that neither side can use its internal legislation to justify not fulfilling international treaty obligations.”

● Hungary has offered to host the signing of the peace agreement between Yerevan and Baku, announced Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó during his visit to Armenia.

● Former Armenian Education Minister Armen Ashotyan will be released from custody after the court changed his detention to house arrest with a bail set at 25 million drams ($60,000). He had been in detention for a year and five months, accused along with the former rector of Yerevan State Medical University of embezzling about $100,000 in university funds.

● One person died and five others were injured in an explosion at the Razdan thermal power plant. The blast occurred in an inactive foundry, and the cause remains unknown. A criminal case has been initiated.

● Armenia plans to crack down on unqualified fitness trainers and tighten licensing requirements. Deputy Minister of Sport Karen Giloyan stated that many trainers in the country’s fitness clubs are unqualified, often worsening the physical condition of clients instead of improving it.

● President Ilham Aliyev reviewed the preparations for COP29 at Baku Olympic Stadium. The international environmental forum will take place at this venue in mid-November.

● “Regardless of the form in which Armenia intends to sign the ‘peace agreement,’ the key condition is that Armenia must abandon its territorial claims against Azerbaijan, which are enshrined in various legal and political documents, particularly in its Constitution. As for claims about Azerbaijan’s Constitution containing territorial claims against Armenia, we reiterate that attempts to draw parallels between the two countries’ Constitutions will yield no results,” the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry responded to comments made by Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan at the “Yerevan Dialogue” forum yesterday.

● “Azerbaijan has no obligations to release war criminals and representatives of the separatist regime. Azerbaijan returned Armenian prisoners of war, adhering to the principle of humanitarianism,” the Foreign Ministry stated.

● Azerbaijan, Turkey, and Georgia signed a trilateral defense memorandum in Batumi following the 11th meeting of the defense ministers of the three countries.

● Azerbaijan and TikTok are in negotiations regarding the taxation of content monetization on the platform.

● Sentences have been handed down to foreigners who intentionally damaged property in the Baku metro. The court concluded the criminal case against French, New Zealand, and Australian citizens Clerc Tego Hugo, Ismael De Saint Quentin, and Khan Paul. In April, they broke into the Baku metro depot and painted several train cars. Hugo was sentenced to 3 years in prison, while the others were fined 6,800 manats (about $4,000).

● Slackliner Jaan Roose performed one of the most spectacular and challenging slackline acts in Baku, walking 183 meters above the ground between the Flame Towers (see video). Jaan Roose is a three-time world champion in slacklining, a holder of multiple world records, and the only athlete in the world to have performed a double backflip on a slackline. Slacklining involves walking on a tensioned strap between two points without using balancing aids.

● “Azerbaijan is open to holding negotiations with Armenia in Astana,” said Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev during a phone conversation with Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.

● “Azerbaijan has never considered involving a third party in the process on its territory. If the Armenian side is genuinely interested in opening regional communications, it must fulfill its commitments,” stated Foreign Ministry spokesperson Ayhan Hajizadeh. Earlier, Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan declared that Armenia excludes third-party control over the road between mainland Azerbaijan and Nakhchivan in Syunik.

● The deadline for submitting complaints to the Central Election Commission (CEC) regarding district election commission decisions has passed. “We will review all submissions. The final protocols concerning the parliamentary elections will be sent to the Constitutional Court,” said CEC Chairman Mazahir Panahov.

● Slovak experts will build a “smart village” in the Aghdam region. Funded by Azerbaijan, the first phase will include 851 homes over 275 hectares.

● Defense Minister Zakir Hasanov will attend the 11th trilateral meeting of the defense ministers of Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Turkey in Batumi. Discussions will focus on new cooperation prospects and regional security.

● Influenza vaccines have been delivered to Azerbaijan, and vaccinations will begin soon, according to the Ministry of Health.

● The famous Kalbajar mineral water “Istisu” has returned to Azerbaijani store shelves after 31 years. One liter costs 1.30 manats (about $0.76), and 0.5 liters costs 0.9 manats (about $0.53).

● Negotiations between Yerevan and Brussels on visa liberalization have begun. During a meeting with European Commission Vice-President Margaritis Schinas, Nikol Pashinyan noted that he is pleased to see “significant changes in Armenia-EU relations.”

● “The Armenian authorities have no unpleasant surprises for their own society,” said Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan regarding border delimitation with Azerbaijan and the recently signed regulations on joint commission work.

● The Armenian parliamentary opposition will propose the creation of an investigative commission on the socio-economic rights of Karabakh residents, announced “Hayastan” faction secretary Artsvik Minasyan. He accused the Armenian authorities of continuing the Turkish-Azerbaijani policy of denying Nagorno-Karabakh as a subject and the rights of its people.

● Three people have died in Armenia from West Nile fever, according to the Ministry of Health.

📌 Five men and five women from Armenia’s national chess teams will participate in the 45th World Chess Olympiad in Budapest.

● The perpetrators of a woman’s kidnapping in Yerevan were tracked down through messaging apps and linked phone numbers, police report. The suspects were caught demanding a $4 million ransom in cryptocurrency through accounts tied to Georgian SIM cards. Three members of the criminal group were arrested in Yerevan, two more in Voskepar (Tavush), where the kidnapped woman was found. A sixth suspect, a 38-year-old man, is still at large.

● Armenian boxers won 11 medals at an international tournament in Gori, Georgia, including four gold medals.

● The opposition party “For Georgia,” founded by former Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia, criticized Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze’s statement that the government is ready to fund NGOs “two to three times more than Western sponsors.” “The authorities claim they want to create additional anti-corruption mechanisms. In reality, they have long disregarded the objective assessments of local and international monitoring organizations, aiming instead to produce favorable evaluations signed by ‘governmental’ NGOs,” the party stated. Other opposition politicians said the government is trying to bribe the civil sector and media ahead of the elections. Read more about the PM’s proposal here.

● The U.S. Helsinki Commission stated: “The people of Georgia have chosen a free, democratic future and integration with Euro-Atlantic institutions. We must support their aspirations, especially now as they face Russian interference and the collapse of democracy in their country.”

● The U.S. has cut funding for the National Seismic Monitoring Center. The center’s director, Tea Godoladze, wrote on social media, “We knew this was inevitable after funding for the Lugar Lab ended.” Georgia’s National Center for Disease Control and the Lugar Lab lost funding in August after the U.S. halted $95 million in direct aid due to the Georgian government’s “anti-democratic policies and anti-Western rhetoric.” Read more here

● Lasha Bakradze, a prominent writer and long-time director of the State Museum of Georgian Literature, has been dismissed from his position. Bakradze stated that the reason for his dismissal was his decision to enter politics and join the opposition election bloc “Unity for the Salvation of Georgia,” which includes the United National Movement, Strategy Aghmashenebeli, and European Georgia.

● Thirty NGOs have formed a new joint monitoring mission ahead of the parliamentary elections on October 26.

● Ukraine’s new Foreign Minister has recalled his special representative, Mykhailo Kharishin, from Georgia, publicly stating that he “does not understand how diplomacy should be conducted by a country at war.” Georgia has been without a Ukrainian ambassador since spring 2022, with “strained relations with the Georgian government” cited as the reason.

● On September 13 at 7:00 PM, President Salome Zourabichvili will honor Olympic and Paralympic athletes at her residence. A concert will follow the ceremony, and all are welcome to attend.

● U.S. Helsinki Commission: “The MEGOBARI Act is designed to provide crucial support to the people of Georgia in their efforts to realize their democratic aspirations at a pivotal moment in the country’s history. We look forward to its approval by the Senate.” The MEGOBARI Act, passed by the U.S. Congress Foreign Relations Committee in July, includes sanctions for the Georgian government and ruling party members over the “foreign agents” law but also promises new military and economic cooperation packages if the country returns to the path of democracy. Read more here

● Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze: “It’s a problem when the European Union stops funding based on false information. Lies are very bad, and they harm the reputation of EU representatives.” Kobakhidze also mentioned that “we’re talking about small amounts.” In July, the EU suspended €30 million in direct aid to the Georgian government and warned of further measures. Read more here

● Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze stated that the parliamentary elections on October 26 “will be a choice between slavery and independence, between the loss of statehood and love for the country, between atheism and respect for the church.”

● U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Jim O’Brien called Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze’s earlier statement about banning opposition political parties in Georgia “undemocratic.” He said, “This shows that the ruling ‘Georgian Dream’ cannot lead Georgia into Europe.”

● Bidzina Ivanishvili, oligarch and honorary chairman of the ruling party, met with voters in Akhaltsikhe, in the Samtskhe-Javakheti region, and stated: “‘Georgian Dream’ is the only guarantee of peace, prosperity, and a dignified European future for Georgia. If you support us in the elections, we will put an end to the radical opposition, which is one of the main threats to the country’s security. The issue of declaring the ‘National Movement’ unconstitutional will be on the agenda.”

● Speaker of Parliament Shalva Papuashvili: “Having obtained EU candidate status, Georgia is now preparing for membership negotiations. We are working on new ‘9 steps’ and will do everything possible to successfully pass this stage. The government welcomes the engagement of civil society, but the actions of some NGOs do not show progress in this regard. The latest Eastern Partnership Index report, based on NGO information, was unfairly biased against Georgia. Now, the same NGOs that distorted the Index’s findings are manipulating the work on implementing the ‘9 steps towards the EU.'”

● About 30 non-governmental organizations have joined a new monitoring mission ahead of the October 26 elections. The platform is called “My Vote for the European Union.”

● Tamar Kordzaya, leader of the “Unity – National Movement” party: The CEC and district election commissions did not take into account the recommendations of the Venice Commission and the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights during the hiring process.

● Members of the opposition coalition “Strong Georgia” were attacked during pre-election meetings with voters in the town of Kareli, in the Shida Kartli region. Coalition member Lana Galdava posted a video of the incident on social media. Patrol officers arrived at the scene but did not intervene.

● Zurab Zabadze, a member of the United National Movement, stated that an aggressive group waited for him outside his home and threatened him, demanding that he withdraw from politics.

● Georgian director Dea Kulumbegashvili and her film “April” received the Special Jury Prize at the 81st Venice Film Festival. The last time Georgian directors won at the main competition of the festival was in the 1990s.

● Armenia has submitted a package outlining its approach to restoring the Ani Bridge on the border with Turkey – Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

● “The main heroes in our country are the taxpayers,” stated Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan during a meeting with youth. “Why don’t we raise a toast to taxpayers at weddings? Without them, we wouldn’t have an army, soldiers, food, or clothing for soldiers. Even the star pinned on a soldier’s epaulette is the result of a taxpayer’s work.”

● “It’s not too late to develop and implement the concept of a ‘state without territory’ for Nagorno-Karabakh,” said Ashotyan, Deputy Chair of the opposition Republican Party.

● The investigation continues into the shooting in the village of Nalbandyan, where local resident Manuk Margaryan has been arrested for allegedly killing one police officer and wounding four others. He has confessed to the crime, according to the Investigative Committee.

● Today, the disposal of another batch of expired and unusable ammunition will begin at the Seyfeli range. The process will continue until September 13, according to the Ministry of Defense.

● Azerbaijani athletes concluded the Paralympics in Paris with 11 medals: 4 gold, 2 silver, and 5 bronze.

● The Azerbaijani football team lost 0-2 to Slovakia in their away match during the second round of the UEFA Nations League group stage.

📸 In the photo: Children in the village of Khinalug, one of the highest settlements in Europe. More photos and stories in the JAMnews report here 

Top stories in Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Georgia from September 2-6, 2024