Top stories in Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Georgia from August 12-16, 2024

● Meta Corporation (Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp) announced that it has uncovered a fake news network based in Russia, operating in Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan. The network was linked to Moscow-based company IMA Digital and used multiple platforms, including news sites, to spread political content in Georgian, Armenian, Azerbaijani, and Russian. Meta has blocked 76 Facebook accounts, 30 Facebook pages, and 11 Instagram accounts. The network particularly targeted Georgian audiences with a coordinated campaign against protests opposing the “foreign agent” law while supporting the ruling party.

● The UN Security Council has called on Russia to immediately withdraw its troops from Georgian territory, fulfilling the obligations it undertook by signing the ceasefire agreement on August 12, 2008, following the five-day Russo-Georgian war over South Ossetia. Read more here

● The Prime Minister responded to remarks by Dmitry Polyanskiy, Russia’s Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, who quoted the ruling “Georgian Dream” party’s statement that former President Mikheil Saakashvili was responsible for the 2008 war. “The Georgian government cares little about what others say on this matter. In 2008, the ‘National Movement’ government acted in sync with Russia’s government, which was a serious betrayal. It is important for us to establish the truth, especially considering that these people are still trying to drag the country into war,” said Irakli Kobakhidze. However, he emphasized that this does not imply acknowledging Georgia’s guilt. “When Saakashvili’s regime committed treason, they acted as a foreign agency and represented the interests of other powers. They betrayed Georgia. Therefore, their crime cannot be qualified as Georgia’s crime—on the contrary, they committed a crime against Georgia. And the guilt of Saakashvili’s regime in no way absolves Russia’s guilt.”

● Imprisoned ex-President Mikheil Saakashvili called the statement “unheard-of treachery.” On his Facebook page, Saakashvili wrote: “Even the government of occupied France, Hitler’s trusted ally, did not consider prosecuting compatriots who fought against Germany in World War I and the early stages of World War II. Such brazen treachery is a clear signal to all who love Georgia to recognize the nature of this regime. Otherwise, the Georgian state will disappear from the world map forever,” Saakashvili wrote.

● The Prime Minister stated that the president faces “the wrath of the people” and “should fear her own citizens.” This was in response to Salome Zourabichvili’s criticism of the government’s decision to honor Georgian Olympic champions in a private ceremony rather than a nationwide celebration. The president also deemed it unethical to hold such celebrations while the Paralympic Games were still ongoing.

● The Prime Minister welcomed the results of a poll commissioned by the pro-government TV channel “Imedi.” The poll concluded that nearly 60% of voters are ready to support the ruling “Georgian Dream” party. “We need just a little more strength to secure a constitutional majority in the parliamentary elections in October,” said Irakli Kobakhidze. Other polls have found that the ruling party currently has no more than 32% support.

● The launch of the new “Federalists” party took place at the Hilton Hotel in Tbilisi. The founders, prominent politicians Giga Bokeria and his wife Tamar Chergoleishvili, recently left the “European Georgia” party. The party’s name was explained as follows: “To allow society to realize its right to life and freedom, we must dismantle this egocentric, centralized state and create a new one based on strong citizens. Federalism is not just a system of governance; it is a system that limits power and places special value on human life.” It is still unclear whether the party will run independently in the October parliamentary elections or join an opposition bloc.

● The famous “Deserter’s Market” in Tbilisi will close today to make way for a new shopping center. Thousands of people, now facing unemployment, along with human rights activists, are protesting the decision. The Social Justice Center has urged the government to reverse the decision to protect both the people and this historic site. Read more here

● In the first half of the year, the State Agency for the Protection and Assistance of Victims of Trafficking received up to 1,000 reports of child abuse.

● SOVA published a video message from a Georgian volunteer fighting with the Ukrainian army, currently involved in a high-profile operation on Russian territory. He said, “In 2008, when Russia occupied 20% of Georgia, Russian soldiers wrote on a wall: ‘Comrades Georgians, learn military affairs properly! We’ll come back to check.’ We took their advice, and now, alongside Ukrainians, we’re here to take the test on your territory. If necessary, we’ll come back and retake it.”

Photo by JAMnews/David Pipia.

● Armenia has appointed a new border representative on the Georgian border. The decision, made during a government session, follows the promotion of the previous representative, Colonel Edgar Unanyan, to Commander of the Border Troops.

● Armenia’s former defense minister has been released from custody. David Tonoyan was greeted by family and supporters outside the detention center. He was released on bail of 15 million drams ($37,500) after nearly three years. Tonoyan faces charges related to the procurement of unsuitable aviation munitions and was arrested in September 2021.

● The Armenian Defense Ministry has dismissed as misinformation Baku’s claim that Armenian forces shelled Azerbaijani positions in the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic. The ministry reiterated Yerevan’s proposal to establish a bilateral mechanism for investigating ceasefire violations.

● “Moscow expects Armenian authorities to reject blatant attempts to distort our shared history and to prevent the introduction of an eighth-grade history textbook that misrepresents events in the South Caucasus at the end of the 18th and beginning of the 19th centuries,” stated Russia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. They criticized the textbook as “provocative,” particularly the chapter titled “The Forced Annexation of Eastern Armenia by Russia,” which describes the Treaty of Turkmenchay as the “annexation of Eastern Armenia.”

● The Azerbaijani Ministry of Defense reported two incidents of shelling targeting Azerbaijani army positions in the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, one last night and another this morning. The Armenian Ministry of Defense has categorically denied these claims.

● Extensive restoration efforts continue in the liberated regions of Azerbaijan. According to the State Statistics Committee, over 2 billion manats (approximately $1.2 billion) have been spent in the first half of 2024, marking a 22.8% increase from the previous year. Most of these funds have been allocated to the reconstruction of Kelbajar, Aghdam, and Lachin districts.

● Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has advised its citizens in Azerbaijan, Turkey, Armenia, and Turkmenistan to remain vigilant against potential threats from Iran.

● No cases of monkeypox have been reported in Azerbaijan, according to the Ministry of Health. The WHO previously declared the current monkeypox outbreak in Africa a public health emergency of international concern.

● Baku will host the World Metro Conference in 2025. The event will be organized by Baku Metro CJSC and Metro Istanbul.

Photo: Sultan chickens, residents of Baku Zoo.

● Another tragic anniversary in August: 32 years ago, on August 14, 1992, the Georgian-Abkhaz war began. Over 413 days, thousands lost their lives, and hundreds of thousands became refugees. Georgian and Abkhaz experts Paata Zakareishvili and Inal Khashig have compiled the chronology of how the conflict started and developed

● The pro-government TV channel “Imedi” has published a pre-election party rating, with the survey conducted by the company “Gorbi.” Two weeks ago, the opposition channel “Formula” published a similar rating, conducted by Edison Research. The question was the same: “If parliamentary elections were held this week, whom would you vote for?” Here’s a brief comparison of the results (the first number is from “Imedi,” the second from “Formula”):

The ruling “Georgian Dream” – 59.3% / 32.4%

Opposition:

• Block “Unity for the Salvation of Georgia” (includes Mikheil Saakashvili’s “United National Movement” + “Strategy Aghmashenebeli”) – 13.1% / 17.3%
• Coalition of parties “Lelo,” “Ana Dolidze – for the People,” “Freedom Square” – 5.8% / 12.8%
• Block “Coalition for Changes” (includes parties “Akhali,” “Girchi – More Freedom,” “Droa”) – 5.5% / 9.9%
• Party “For Georgia – Giorgi Gakharia” – 4.8% / 11.2%

The crucial parliamentary elections are scheduled for October 26, with a 5% threshold. In the opposition “Formula” ranking, another party, “Girchi – Iago Khvichia,” would also cross the threshold if elections were held today, with 5.2%. In the pro-government “Imedi” ranking, this party has only 2.1%.

● Opposition politicians Giga Bokeria and Tamar Chergoleishvili, who demonstratively left the “European Georgia” party a week ago, have announced the creation of a new party called “Federalists.” The presentation will take place today in Tbilisi at 19:00.

● Georgia has seen a significant increase in COVID-19 cases compared to the same period last year. However, according to Ivane Chkhaidze, the director of Iashvili Central Children’s Hospital, the current version of the virus is not particularly severe and mostly has symptoms similar to a cold.

● Five men involved in the kidnapping of a 23-year-old woman for forced marriage in the village of Kabali, Kakheti region, have been arrested. The 26-year-old suspect and his four accomplices have been charged with “rape” and “illegal deprivation of liberty” and face up to 10 years in prison.

● A man accused of attacking a Glovo courier has been arrested. This incident, which occurred in early July, sparked outrage and was at the center of public attention. The courier was beaten and shot in the legs three times over a missing bottle of beer in an order.

● A group of Azerbaijani bloggers arrived in the seaside region of Adjara, sharing their travel experiences with hundreds of thousands of their followers (see photo). The trip was organized by the region’s tourism department. It is reported that this year, the authorities in Adjara have organized more than 30 media tours involving about 100 journalists and bloggers.

● President Ilham Aliyev met with Azerbaijani athletes who won medals at the Summer Olympic Games in Paris. “Our achievements show that Azerbaijan is a strong sporting nation. At these Games, we ranked among the top 30 countries in the world,” he said at the meeting.

● Starting today, internet prices in Azerbaijan will increase. However, not only will the cost change, but the speed as well. Aztelekom and Baktelekom previously announced that broadband internet speeds in their tariff packages would increase by 2.5 times. Read more here

● Following the above, the Antimonopoly Service has launched an investigation into suspected cartel agreements among internet providers and violations of consumer rights.

● U.S. Ambassador to Baku Mark Libby met with Ali Karimli, chairman of the opposition Azerbaijan Popular Front Party, “to learn about the criminal case initiated against him” (pictured). The ambassador reaffirmed U.S. support for democracy, human rights, and fundamental freedoms, according to a statement from the U.S. embassy in Baku. Details of the criminal case against Karimli here

● Azerbaijan’s population increased by 19,243 people in the first half of the year, reaching a total of 10,200,013, according to the State Statistics Committee. Of the population, 54.5% live in urban areas, and 45.5% in rural areas. Men make up 49.8%, and women 50.2%.

● In Azerbaijan, 2,524 passenger cars and 290 trucks were produced from January to July. Compared to the same period last year, the production of passenger cars increased by 35.3%, and trucks by 42.2%.

● Uzbek military personnel are in Azerbaijan to participate in a course on the planning and tactical use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in modern armed conflicts. The visit was organized in line with the bilateral cooperation plan for 2024.

● Azerbaijani and Georgian railways have created a joint venture, “BTKI Railways,” which will be responsible for operating and managing the infrastructure of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway section between Marabda and Kartsakhi, as well as for efficiently organizing cargo transportation.

● “40-45% of buildings in Yerevan are at risk of collapse in the event of an earthquake of 9 or more points, as construction for many years was based on the risk of only 7-8 point earthquakes,” said Sose Markaryan, the director of the Seismic Service at the Ministry of Internal Affairs, during a press briefing.

● The incidence of domestic violence in Armenia has increased, according to data from the Investigative Committee. In the first half of the year, 1,535 such cases were reviewed, which is significantly higher than the same period last year—1,051. A total of 206 people were recognized as victims, 189 of whom are adults. Indictments have been issued in 195 cases.

● The Central Bank of Armenia is issuing commemorative silver coins to mark the 100th anniversary of the birth of Charles Aznavour and the 125th anniversary of the birth of Yervand Kochar (pictured).

● Republican Congressman Mike Turner and Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen issued a press release following their joint visit to Georgia. “U.S. concerns about Georgia’s democratic backsliding will not change, regardless of who comes to power after the November presidential elections, as both leading parties share these concerns,” the statement reads. They also reminded that both chambers of the Senate supported suspending direct financial aid to the Georgian government. “We cannot stand idly by in the face of democratic regression and false accusations against the U.S. Free elections in Georgia and the repeal of the ‘foreign agents’ law are essential,” said Jeanne Shaheen.

●  The U.S. Embassy has again urged the Georgian government to stop “disinformation and speculation [against Western partners], as it won’t help achieve consensus.” The U.S. seeks to restore good relations with Georgia, and the first step must come from the Georgian government. “We await their proposals,” the statement read. The remarks follow the visit of Republican Congressman Mike Turner and Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen to Tbilisi. The Georgian government insists that it also wants good relations with the U.S. and is waiting for steps from the U.S. side.

● Three employees of the Georgian online casino “Evolution Georgia” have started a hunger strike on the 33rd day of a strike involving about 5,000 workers demanding higher wages and better working conditions. Management claims only 800 are striking. The union states the hunger strike and the strike will continue until their demands are met. Read more here

● The head of the Georgian diaspora in Russia, David Tsetskhladze, has called on Georgian fighters participating in the Ukrainian army’s offensive against Russia to lay down their arms. “Hundreds of thousands of Georgians live in Russia, and the participation of Georgian mercenaries in the conflict is against all of them. Waving the Georgian flag in the ranks of the Ukrainian army, you do not represent Georgia,” said Tsetskhladze, who actively collaborates with Russian authorities and publicly supported the invasion of Ukraine.

● Georgia has a new British ambassador, Gareth Ward, who previously worked in Russia.

● A new tunnel, the longest at 1,800 meters, has opened on the Rikoti Pass, the main highway from Eastern Georgia/Tbilisi to Western Georgia. The travel time from Tbilisi to Batumi is now less than four hours.

● Insects have been found on several exhibits at the Dimitri Shevardnadze National Gallery in Tbilisi, which were brought from other countries for a contemporary art exhibition. Public outcry was particularly strong because the exhibition includes unique works by Niko Pirosmani. The Georgian National Museum reported that “immediate measures” were taken and that the artworks are not in danger.

Photo by JAMnews/David Pipia.

●  Mikael Minasyan, the son-in-law of Armenia’s third president (Serzh Sargsyan), is accused of large-scale fraud and bribery involving the misuse of his official position. The damage to the country is estimated at $350 million. He is also implicated in money laundering, according to the Prosecutor General’s Office. Minasyan has been outside Armenia for an extended period.

●  Armenia’s Ministry of Internal Affairs announced a 30% reduction in the number of temporary detention centers. Of the 33 facilities, 8 have already been closed, and another will be closed soon. The savings will be used to improve conditions in the remaining centers.

●  A Brazilian citizen passed away at Yerevan’s Zvartnots Airport, and a criminal case has been initiated.

●  The football club “Qarabağ” crushed Bulgaria’s “Ludogorets” with a score of 7-2 (regular time – 3-2) and advanced to the UEFA Champions League playoffs.

●  In Azerbaijan, the winners and medalists of the Paris Olympics were awarded. Two Olympic champions received cash prizes of 600,000 manats (around $353,000) each.

●  The verdict was announced for those accused of attempting to assassinate former MP Fazil Mustafa. Azer Sarydzhanov was sentenced to life imprisonment, while other defendants received sentences ranging from 4 to 20 years. Fazil Mustafa was shot near his home on March 28, 2023.

●  The chief editor of the news site Az24saat.org has been arrested in Baku on extortion charges. According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Vugar Gurdganly fraudulently obtained a large sum of money (over $60,000) from others.

● The number of local observers for the parliamentary elections in Azerbaijan has exceeded 50,000 people. Of these, 5,831 are registered with the Central Election Commission, and 44,868 with district election commissions.

● Two organizations have applied to conduct exit polls during the upcoming parliamentary elections.

● “There are no military contingents from any country on the territory of Azerbaijan,” stated the Media Development Agency, responding to reports from Israeli media claiming that “due to the threat of a possible strike from Iran, Israel is prohibiting its military personnel from staying in Azerbaijan.” Later, it was clarified that the Israeli media reports were fake.

● In Azerbaijan, fraudsters deceived around 50 pilgrims planning to visit the holy city of Karbala in Iraq. At the airport, it was discovered that the company organizing the trip had sold them fake tickets. Investigations are underway based on the victims’ complaints.

● A resident of Khirdalan (a city 7 kilometers from Baku) was unknowingly paying for the lighting of a park out of his own pocket. Over the past five months, his electricity bills suddenly increased several times. Suspecting something was wrong, he contacted “Azerishyg,” where it was found that 11 streetlights installed in the recently renovated park were mistakenly connected to his meter. The operator apologized and promised to fully compensate for the costs.

● Burial mounds containing traces of the Khojaly-Gadabay culture have been discovered in Azerbaijan. The first stage of archaeological excavations at the “Keshikchidag” State Historical and Cultural Reserve has been completed.

● Armenia will build a modern, professional army, according to Defense Minister Suren Papikyan. To achieve this, he mentioned plans for large-scale engineering and fortification projects, diversification of military-technical cooperation, and educational initiatives.

● The Armenian National Olympic Committee has appealed to international bodies regarding the outcome of Artur Aleksanyan’s final match at the Olympics. The committee believes the Greco-Roman wrestler would not have lost the match. However, the International Federation of Greco-Roman Wrestling dismissed the appeal, stating that the judges made no errors.

● Three Armenian Olympic medalists returned from Paris, greeted with music, applause, and laurel wreaths.

● A 7-year-old boy died after an incident at a children’s party. During a foam party in a backyard pool, the child hit his head on the pool’s bottom and drowned. He was rushed to the hospital but could not be saved.

● There have been several updates in the composition of opposition election blocs:

• The leader of the “Anti-Occupation Movement,” David Katsarava, is forming a new party called “We.” He announced that the party will participate in the October elections but has not yet disclosed which bloc it will join.

• The “Strong Georgia” bloc has been joined by the “Citizens – Aleko Elisashvili” party. The bloc already includes “Lelo,” “For the People” led by Anna Dolidze, and “Freedom Square.”

● The U.S. Helsinki Commission has urged the State Department to “take action against ‘call centers’ that fund the ruling Georgian Dream party’s anti-democratic campaign against the Georgian people.” The use of fraudulent call centers by the ruling party was also mentioned in a letter from U.S. congressmen to Secretary of State Antony Blinken on July 31, calling for sanctions against Bidzina Ivanishvili and his associates.

● Athletes who won medals at the Paris Olympics will be awarded honors: Gold medalists Lasha Talakhadze, Lasha Bekauri, and Geno Petriashvili will receive the Order of Saint George and a cash prize of 1 million GEL (approximately $380,000). Silver and bronze medalists Tato Grigalashvili, Ilia Sulamanidze, Givi Macharashvili, and Lasha Guruli will receive the Order of Honor and cash prizes of 500,000 GEL for silver and 250,000 GEL for bronze. Georgia ranked 24th in the unofficial medal count at the Olympics, the best result in the country’s history of participation.

● Another Georgian fighter, 34-year-old Vaso Kardava, has been killed in combat against Russian forces in Ukraine.

● After two days of searching, the body of renowned mountaineer Archil Badriashvili has been found in the mountains of Svaneti. He was struck by lightning during his descent. He was 34 years old.

● Israel has banned its military personnel from staying in Azerbaijan and Georgia due to the threat of a potential strike from Iran, according to the Israeli publication Kan. The publication reported that the Israeli military leadership has ordered even those on vacation in these countries to return home immediately.

● Bidzina Ivanishvili, founder and honorary chairman of the ruling “Georgian Dream” party and a billionaire, refused to meet with representatives of both houses of the U.S. Congress who are currently in Tbilisi. “From what we’ve heard in Georgia, he is the main figure in the country, the decision-maker. We requested a meeting with him, and it’s very unfortunate that he declined,” said Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen and Republican Congressman Mike Turner. The visit of the representatives of the two major U.S. parties comes amidst a full-scale crisis in relations between the two countries. The U.S. has halted financial aid to the Georgian government, canceled military exercises, and accused the Georgian authorities of backsliding on democracy and spreading false accusations against Western partners.

● Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze accused Western countries of interfering in the elections in Georgia. “We see that the parliamentary elections will take place amid unprecedented and blatant foreign interference, which is a very clear violation of electoral principles,” said Kobakhidze.

● Nika Melia, one of the leaders of the opposition party “Akhali,” was attacked during the opening of the “Coalition for Change” office in Samtredia, Western Georgia. According to the party’s press service, as Melia was answering journalists’ questions, a young man ran up, hit him, and insulted him. The Ministry of Internal Affairs has not reported launching an investigation.

● Natia Mezvrishvili, a leader of the opposition party “Gakharia for Georgia,” stated that she has twice officially requested that the prosecutor’s office summon Parliamentary Speaker Shalva Papuashvili for questioning. She holds him responsible for spreading misinformation and lies regarding the parliamentary elections scheduled for October 26. “Papuashvili personally oversees the creation of a tense pre-election atmosphere. The letter includes specific statements by Papuashvili that incite violence. His actions show signs of a crime under Article 239 prima of the Criminal Code (incitement to violence), and some of these incitements have already been carried out, resulting in harm to people,” said Mezvrishvili. Here are the false statements made by the Speaker against JAMnews

● On the final day of the Paris Olympics, Georgian freestyle wrestler Givi Macharashvili won a silver medal. This brought Georgia’s total to seven medals: three golds (wrestler Geno Petriashvili, judoka Lasha Bekauri, and weightlifter Lasha Talakhadze), three silvers (judokas Tato Grigalashvili and Ilia Sulamanidze, and wrestler Givi Macharashvili), and one bronze in boxing by Lasha Guruli. With this result, Georgia ranked 24th among 84 countries.

● Renowned mountaineer Archil Badriashvili (pictured) died in the mountains of Svaneti. He was struck by lightning during the descent. According to local social media, his body is in a hard-to-reach location, making the descent difficult. Three Svan guides accompanied him on the climb and were successfully rescued by helicopter.

Photo: Olympic champion Lasha Bekauri
Photo: Renowned mountaineer Archil Badriashvili, who was struck by lightning during the descent.

● The pretrial detention of journalist Elnara Gasimova has been extended by another 1 month and 7 days. She was arrested in January 2024 as part of the “Abzas Media case” and, along with other staff members of the online publication, is accused of “smuggling committed in collusion with a group of persons.” Read more about Elnara here

● A total of 61 observers from the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly and an additional 40 observers from the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) have been registered for the September 1 early parliamentary elections, according to the Central Election Commission.

● A shepherd was injured by a landmine in the village of Kyuky in the Shakhbuz District of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, near the border with Armenia. He has been hospitalized, and his condition is reported as serious.

● The Azerbaijani national team has concluded its participation in the Paris Olympic Games, winning two gold, two silver, and three bronze medals.

● At a memorial service in Ganja, 111 people were poisoned and hospitalized. The details of the incident are still unknown.

Photo by JAMnews: Khan’s Garden (Xan bağı) in the city of Ganja.

● The Armenian city of Goris and the Iranian city of Kashan will become sister cities. An agreement has already been reached with the Iranian Consul General, and certain steps have been taken, said Goris Mayor Arush Arushanyan. This will bring more visitors from Iran to the city, enhancing opportunities for interaction between the two nations.

● The Armenian Prosecutor’s Office seeks to confiscate about $2.5 million from the Mayor of Kajaran, Manvel Paramazyan, and related individuals. The Anti-Corruption Court has already accepted the corresponding lawsuit from the supervisory body. The confiscation also includes six properties, two vehicles, and shares in a company.

● An earthquake with a magnitude of 4.2 occurred in Armenia. The tremors were recorded today at 02:02, 9 km northwest of Martuni (Gegharkunik region), with a strength of 5-6 points at the epicenter. The earthquake was also felt in Kotayk (4 points) and Yerevan (2-3 points).

● The “Taraz Fest” festival was held in Yerevan, concluding with a showcase of Armenian national costumes. Among the models were outfits from Syunik, Karabakh, Van, Vaspurakan, and other regions, under the theme “Future of the Past” (as seen in the photo).

Top stories in Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Georgia from August 5-9, 2024