Top stories in Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia from January 15-19, 2024

● President Ilham Aliyev met with the new US Ambassador Mark Libby, discussing the normalization of Azerbaijan-Armenia relations and prospects for Azerbaijan-US relations across various sectors.

● Baku airport marked a historic milestone in 2023, serving over 5.85 million passengers, a 33% increase from 2022. Learn more about the challenges faced by regional airports in Azerbaijan here

● TripAdvisor ranked Baku 13th among the world’s best culinary destinations.

● The Crew Dragon spacecraft, carrying the first Turkish cosmonaut Alper Gezeravci, successfully launched to the ISS last night. Gezeravci’s inaugural words in space echoed those of Ataturk: “The future is in the skies.”

● Tragically, a 13-year-old girl in the Gazakh region succumbed to measles. Despite efforts to transport her to a hospital in Baku due to her critical condition, she passed away en route.

● Azerbaijan expresses readiness to sign a peace treaty with Armenia on Russian Federation territory, but Armenia’s stance remains unclear, according to Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. He clarified that the Zangezur corridor was never discussed within the trilateral agreements involving Putin, Pashinyan, and Aliyev.

● Former head of the Armenian Foreign Ministry, Vardan Oskanyan, will lead the Committee on Repatriation and Rights of the People of Karabakh. The committee, fully constituted, made this announcement, noting Oskanian’s selection at the members’ suggestion.

● Deputy Foreign Minister Vahan Kostanyan criticized President Aliyev’s recent statements, deeming them contradictory to the logic of Armenian-Azerbaijani negotiations. This was conveyed during a meeting with NATO Secretary General’s Special Representative for the Caucasus and Central Asia, Javier Colomina.

● President Vahagn Khachaturian discussed recent developments in the South Caucasus region with French leader Emmanuel Macron on the sidelines of the Davos forum.

● The ombudsman’s office reports a dynamic increase in deaths in the army during peacetime, along with a rise in incidents involving “crossbows.”

● In Armenia, authorities found 12 kg of drugs smuggled from Iran. Two drug couriers were arrested, and investigations are underway to trace the entire drug trafficking chain.

● Imprisoned former President Mikheil Saakashvili emphasized, “The Georgian people must free themselves, and also free me. The people must release me from prison now so that I can help the country more effectively.”

● The Committee for the Prevention of Torture of the Council of Europe issued a critical report on conditions in the secure wards of the Vivamed clinic, which provides medical care to prisoners. The report emphasizes that “the final word remains not with doctors but with the penitentiary system.” Mikheil Saakashvili is also housed in this clinic, and according to the commission, “the oppressive and humiliating environment in the clinic does not contribute to improving his health.”

● Parliament Chairman Shalva Papuashvili accused the opposition party “European Georgia,” stating, “This party is distinguished by its fight against the Georgian Church.”

● Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili expressed confidence that if parliamentary elections were held today, the current ruling Georgian Dream party would secure at least 60% of the votes.

● Opposition “National Movement” Chairman Levan Khabeishvili addressed oligarch Bidzina Ivanishvili, the honorary chairman of the ruling party, stating, “If your knees do not tremble with fear, then release Mikheil Saakashvili from prison.”

● “Russia continues to occupy the lands of Georgia, but we managed to ensure peace,” stated Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili at the economic forum in Davos.

● In 2023, Georgia became the leader among countries where Russian citizens started a business; during the year, they registered 13 thousand legal entities in the country, as reported by Forbes citing Finion analysts. Read more here

● “Some mass diseases are curable; they can be stopped. This is what happened with the COVID pandemic. And the healthcare system has become much stronger,” mentioned Director of the Infectious Diseases Hospital Tengiz Tsertsvadze.

● Bidzina Ivanishvili has lost a money laundering case against a Swiss bank, involving former banker Patrick Lescadron. Accusations include forging signatures and illegally transferring millions from Ivanishvili’s accounts. UBS Group AG inherited the lawsuit from Credit Suisse, and the legal battle has spanned a year and a half, as reported by Bloomberg.

● Tbilisi is embroiled in a scandal over the prolonged renovation of Tsereteli Avenue. Mayor Kakha Kaladze blames contractors and terminated their contract, pledging completion by the end of January. European Georgia, the opposition party, alleges that shareholders in the new contractors have ties to the ruling party.

● Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili met with Iranian counterpart Hossein Amir-Abdolahyan at Davos’ World Economic Forum. Discussions focused on trade, economic relations, increased people-to-people contacts, and potential cooperation in culture, education, and tourism.

● Guram Macharashvili, a member of the pro-Russian “Power of the People” movement that formally split from the ruling party, announced intentions to register the movement as a political party. An analysis titled “Power of the People: An Anti-Western Movement in the Service of Georgia’s Ruling Party” is available here

● Mamuka Khazaradze, chairman of the Lelo party and former banker, is suing Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze for spreading false information and insulting his honor, dignity, and business reputation. Kaladze accused Khazaradze of carrying out “dirty orders” during Mikheil Saakashvili’s presidency. Kaladze also stated that “Khazaradze brings great misfortune to people.”

● A fire at a Rustavi city transport enterprise resulted in one fatality. Shock-absorbing equipment stored on the premises caught fire.

● Two football coaches were banned from activities due to sexual harassment of female players, reported by the Partnership for Human Rights.

● In Tkibuli, Western Georgia, outrage follows the release on bail of Johnny Kasrashvili, head of the local mayor’s office procurement department. He is accused of repeatedly abusing and physically injuring his wife in the presence of their minor children.

● Levan Akin’s film “Crossing” involving Georgian authors, will open one of the sections of the Berlin International Film Festival “Panorama 2024.” The film follows two Batumi residents searching for a transgender woman, Tekla, in the labyrinths of Istanbul.

A still from the movie “Crossing”, by Haydar Taştan:

● The EU Council has greenlit an expansion of the European observer mission in Armenia, increasing personnel from 138 to 209, a decision endorsed by EU foreign ministers in December. European observers conduct patrols from six forward operating bases situated in Kapan, Goris, Jermuk, Yeghegnadzor, Martuni, and Ijevan.

● The French Senate has passed a resolution in favor of imposing sanctions against Azerbaijan, with overwhelming support—336 votes for and 1 against.

● Chinese Ambassador to Yerevan, Fan Yong, visited the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant to discuss collaboration in nuclear energy, including potential involvement in the construction of a new power unit in Armenia.

● Armenia contemplates the establishment of a “non-ambulance” service, designed to address non-emergency calls, according to Health Minister Anahit Avanesyan.

● Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan clashed verbally with Levon Kocharyan, the son of Armenia’s second president, during a parliamentary session. Kocharyan, addressing the prime minister by his first name, questioned the viability of Pashinyan’s security policy, sparking emotional reactions from ruling party deputies. In response, Pashinyan advised his opponent to articulate questions more clearly, emphasizing the formal setting of the event.

● Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry strongly rebuked allegations of interference in its judicial system, calling it unacceptable. This response came after EU Ambassador Peter Michalko expressed shock over reported mistreatment of journalists arrested in Azerbaijan. The Foreign Ministry dismissed Michalko’s claims as “unfounded and irresponsible,” suggesting he focus on issues within the judicial systems of some EU countries.

● This morning, 30 families (127 people) of forced refugees resettled to their permanent residence in the city of Fizuli, bringing the total to 410 families (1,519 people) accommodated in Fuzuli today.

● Observers from the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) commenced their mission for the presidential elections in Azerbaijan. Secretary-General Sergei Lebedev leads the delegation.

● Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov embarked on a visit to Uganda to participate in the XIX Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Non-Aligned Movement.

● A fire in a college dormitory in Sumgait resulted in three people being poisoned by smoke. The blaze consumed the entire second floor of the building, where 20-30 families reside.

● Jaundice has spread in the Baku villages of Amirjan and Bulbul, reportedly due to the contamination of drinking water with wastewater, as per local residents. Water operator Azersu denies the accusations. Currently, all 14 people infected with hepatitis A (9 women and 5 men) are undergoing hospital treatment.

● Following a day’s deliberation, Baku’s Court of Appeal releases journalist Shahin Rzayev, substituting the remaining 15-day administrative arrest with a $30 fine. Rzayev’s arrest, linked to a social media post, sparked controversy.

● Independent journalists initiate the “Abzasdayıq” (“Paragraph and I”) flash mob on social media in support of six Abzas Media employees facing charges related to alleged smuggling. Arrests are seen as connected to their professional activities.

● Azerbaijan commences pre-election campaigning for the February 7 presidential elections. Notably, the European Parliament is not invited to observe, a decision reciprocated by the Parliament.

● President Ilham Aliyev inaugurates new enterprises and infrastructure facilities during visits to Lankaran and Neftchala.

● Saudi Arabia pledges financial support for mine clearance in Azerbaijan through the King Salman Center for Humanitarian Aid.

● Azerbaijani student Farid Safarli, arrested in Iran, receives a 2.5-year prison sentence on revised charges from “espionage” to “intent to spy.”

● Azerbaijan’s State Oil Fund reports a 14.3% increase in assets to $56.69 billion last year.

● Absheron and Khizy regions designate municipal lands for renewable energy, planning a wind power plant on a 37-hectare site.

● Search and rescue operations conclude at the Baku furniture workshop explosion site, resulting in 9 fatalities, including a Georgian citizen, and 24 injuries.

● Jalilabad district reports 17 new measles cases, marking the highest daily infection rate in the area.

● In Sumgait, carbon monoxide poisoning affects five family members, resulting in one fatality, two in serious condition, and two in moderate condition.

● The Instagram page of renowned singer Aygun Kazimova, boasting 1.4 million subscribers, is hacked and stolen, as announced by the singer’s producer.

● The Freedom Institute is suing the Public Procurement Agency for withholding public information. The institute sought a list of Russian companies receiving government procurement orders for research purposes, but the agency refused, sparking a legal challenge.

● Predicting a robust victory, Georgian Dream Chairman Irakli Kobakhidze anticipates a strong majority for the ruling party in the upcoming October parliamentary elections.

● Opposition Lelo party’s secretary, Salome Samadashvili, contradicts Kobakhidze, asserting that the ruling Georgian Dream will convincingly lose the October parliamentary elections.

● Reverend Nikoloz criticizes the depiction of Stalin in the main cathedral of Tbilisi Sameba, terming it “wrong.” The Patriarchate decides to replace the icon, citing insufficient proof of the depicted meeting between Stalin and Saint Matrona.

● Plans for a 40-45-story skyscraper on the Kobuleti seashore, constructed by the company “Vitikey” owned by dual citizens (Georgia and Russia) from Belarus, stir controversy.

● Extensive water supply shutdown in six Tbilisi districts today due to pipe repairs.

● Starting May 1, pensions for former military personnel in Georgia will increase to 1,000 lari (approximately $300).

● Cable car passengers in Gudauri mountain resort endure over three hours in strong winds after a breakdown, requiring rescue operations to lower them to the ground.

● Western Georgia expects heavy snow and blizzards today in the mountains.

● Renowned journalist Shahin Rzayev has been detained in Baku, arrested for 15 days on charges of petty hooliganism. According to Rzayev himself, he was detained over a social media post.

● In Baku, journalist Elnara Gasymova has been sentenced to 2 months and 17 days of preliminary arrest on charges of smuggling in conspiracy with a group. Five other Abzas Media employees await trial on the same charges.

● A powerful explosion and subsequent fire in a Baku furniture workshop resulted in 7 fatalities and 24 injuries (pictured). Two employees are still missing under the rubble. The cause is undisclosed, and a criminal case has been initiated.

● Another explosion occurred in a Sumgait dormitory, reportedly from a household gas leak. Four family members, including two children, sustained injuries.

● The European Parliament will abstain from sending observers to Azerbaijan’s presidential elections, refraining from commentary on the process or results.

● Foreign Ministry spokesman Aykhan Hajizade dismissed Armenian accusations regarding the January 1990 tragedy, labeling them as absurd distortions. He asserted these claims aim to conceal a systematic policy of ethnic cleansing against Azerbaijanis.

● State Security Service detained members of a transnational criminal group involved in producing fake Ukrainian passports for individuals seeking refugee status in Europe and visa-free travel.

● Renowned journalist and founder of the popular Mtavari Arkhi TV channel, Nika Gvaramia, announced his entry into politics, advocating for a broad political union to contest victory. Gvaramia expressed readiness to discuss unification with any group to achieve his political goals. Read more here

● Activists staged a demonstration outside the European Parliament urging the release of Lazar Grigoriadis (pictured), currently detained in Georgia. The 21-year-old was arrested last March on charges of assaulting police during protests in Tbilisi against the controversial “foreign agents law.” Prosecutors allege he threw Molotov cocktails at police twice. Protesters argue he is imprisoned “only because he looks different.”

● Lazare Grigoriadis’s next trial is scheduled for February 26th, marking the final hearing according to his lawyer, Lika Bitadze.

● U.S. State Department Coordinator for Global Anti-Corruption Issues Richard Nephew is currently on an official visit to Georgia. He is set to visit Armenia until January 18, engaging in discussions on corruption-related issues in both nations.

● Georgian Dream deputy Nikoloz Samkharadze criticized the opposition for lacking constructive analysis of Georgia’s relations with China. This response comes amid opposition concerns that attempts to replace the West with China are harmful to Georgia. A delegation from the ruling party is currently on a week-long visit to China. Read more here

● The Lelo party concluded internal party elections, electing Badri Japaridze as chairman of the political council and Ana Natsvlishvili as his deputy. Irakli Kupradze has been approved for the position of Secretary General.

● In Gori, a court decision granted bail of 4,000 lari (approximately $1,500) to a man who shot a dog in the village of Rekha.

● Doctors are urging the population to get vaccinated against the widespread flu, anticipating a new outbreak by the end of March. “Protect your families and children; do not bring the infection home,” writes Maya Chkhaidze, director of a children’s clinic in Tbilisi, on social networks.

● The Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasizes that “Armenian pogroms commenced in the capital of the Azerbaijan SSR on January 13, 1990. By January 1990, only 35-40 thousand Armenians remained out of the 250 thousand Armenian population in Baku. These events marked the apex of forced displacement and ethnic cleansing,” stated the Foreign Ministry.

● Following the 44-day war in 2020, the disappearance of 17 thousand Kalashnikov assault rifles remains unexplained, according to the head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

● “Direct negotiations between Yerevan and Baku are not ruled out, as any country mediating in the peace process naturally has its own interests,” commented Speaker of Parliament Alen Simonyan.

● Eco-patrols are set to be established in Armenia.

● Richard Nephew, Coordinator of the U.S. State Department for Global Anti-Corruption, has arrived in Yerevan as part of his visit. His meeting with Nikol Pashinyan has already occurred. Prior to this, Nephew visited Georgia.

● A young girl succumbed to burns in a Yerevan hospital; hot coffee was spilled on her at home, and attempts were made to treat the wounds independently.

● Journalist Elnara Gasimova has been detained as a suspect and is facing accusations under the charge of “smuggling in conspiracy with a group of persons” according to the Criminal Code of Azerbaijan. Five other employees of the online publication Abzas Media have already been arrested under the same charge. Read more here

● Today marks the beginning of the election campaign for the early presidential elections in Azerbaijan. Candidates are now allowed to commence campaign events, which will continue until February 6. Seven candidates will vie for the presidency, and the elections are scheduled for February 17.

● “It would be better if France promoted peace instead of destabilizing the situation in the region.” This is the response from Leyla Abdullayeva, the Ambassador of Azerbaijan in Paris, to the publication in Le Figaro titled “Large-scale attack by Baku to discredit France.” She commented on social networks, stating, “France acts as if it does not know that Karabakh is part of the internationally recognized territory of Azerbaijan.”

● Azerbaijan has supplied approximately 2.1 million eggs to Russia.

● In Baku, 22 people sought medical assistance from the ambulance service due to snowy weather. All of them were hospitalized with various injuries.

● Baku hosted the ice show “Tales of Evgeni Plushenko.” This marked the first event of its kind in the history of Azerbaijan on the ice sports arena.

● Nikol Pashinyan proposed to Azerbaijan to establish a mechanism for mutual arms control, stating, “We aim to sign a peace treaty that prevents war; allowing Armenia and Azerbaijan to reach specific agreements on weaponry with the capability to monitor each other’s compliance.” However, Pashinyan also expressed concerns that “Baku’s proposals give the impression of preparing a document to legitimize a future war instead.”

● The decision to revamp a segment of the Ring Boulevard in downtown Yerevan, entailing the demolition of existing tennis courts, has sparked significant controversy. Many individuals on social networks argue that this area holds sentimental value for Yerevan residents and is deeply intertwined with the city’s history.

● Security Council Secretary Armen Grigoryan met with US Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs James O’Brien in Davos. They discussed Armenia-US relations and ongoing negotiations with Azerbaijan. The meeting occurred on the sidelines of talks about the “peace formula” in Ukraine.

● Armenia experienced heavy snowfall in the past 24 hours, with the snow cover reaching 90 cm in the resort town of Jermuk. Yerevan was the only area where dry weather prevailed.

● An ambulance doctor was assaulted in Yerevan. The mayor’s office, responsible for the ambulance service, explained that this occurred when the doctor declined to administer tramadol (a potent psychotropic analgesic) to the patient but intended to use another drug for pain relief. The doctor faced verbal abuse and was subsequently attacked by three individuals in the apartment. As a result, the doctor suffered a concussion and a bruised nose.

● In Greece, police arrested seven Georgian citizens who robbed the apartment of the Archbishop of Australia. The group is reported to have connections with organized crime.

● Fitch Ratings believes that the ruling Georgian Dream party has a serious chance of winning the important parliamentary elections in October. Fitch Ratings does not expect significant changes in political and economic trends.

● The head of the ruling party, Irakli Kobakhidze, and the accompanying delegation are on a week-long visit to China.

● Activist Lazare Grigoriadis, currently under arrest, mentioned in a telephone conversation with Formula TV that he might consider asking the president for a pardon after a guilty verdict. 21-year-old Grigoriadis was arrested in March 2023 on charges of attacking police officers and using Molotov cocktails during protests in Tbilisi against the controversial “foreign agents law. Read more here

● Rev. Shio, considered the heir to the throne of the Catholicos-Patriarch of Georgia, condemned the activists who poured paint on the icon depicting Stalin in the Sameba Cathedral in Tbilisi. He urged against repeating such a grave sin and prayed that the law would apply to prevent similar actions. Here is more information about the protests against the icon with Stalin in the main cathedral of Tbilisi

● Another incident of cruelty to animals occurred in Gori, where a local resident shot a stray dog. The perpetrator was arrested, and a criminal case was opened under Article 259 for cruelty to animals.

? Photo by zougla.gr shows items found during an investigation into organized crime in Greece.

Top stories in Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia from January 8-12, 2024