Top stories in Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia from 1-5 April, 2024

● A trilateral meeting is scheduled to take place in Brussels today between Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

● Turkish Foreign Ministry: The planned EU-US-Armenia meeting “will pave the way for turning the South Caucasus into a zone of geopolitical confrontation.”

● Yesterday, Parliament Speaker Alen Simonyan published a map “with which Armenia gained independence and which is not subject to discussion.” Later, he posted another map showing more Azerbaijani territories, including the enclave of Tigaranashen (Kyarki).

● “France’s significant contribution to establishing peace in the region is well known to all” – Armenia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs responded to criticism of Paris from several countries, including Italy. Earlier, the Italian Foreign Ministry issued a statement saying that “the intervention of a third party in the peace process between Azerbaijan and Armenia could create additional tension”.

● “There are no political prisoners in Armenia”: Minister of Justice Grigor Minasyan.

● “Yerevan is still waiting for the CSTO to provide a political assessment of Azerbaijan’s aggression in 2022”: Deputy Foreign Minister of Armenia Vaan Kostanyan.

● President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen called President Aliyev to discuss the prospects of cooperation between Azerbaijan and the EU. During the conversation, they also discussed the upcoming trilateral meeting scheduled to take place in Brussels tomorrow.

● President’s administration commented on Aliyev’s phone call with Blinken. “In his discussion with Blinken, Aliyev expressed strong disapproval of any attempts to meddle in Azerbaijan’s internal affairs using human rights as a pretext. He brought to the attention of the US Secretary of State the detentions of opposition figures in Armenia, highlighting the puzzling silence of Western nations on this matter, which he deemed a glaring display of double standards.” Aliyev underscored the case of prominent journalist Julian Assange, emphasizing that Assange endured prolonged physical and psychological torment due to his journalistic pursuits. He further pointed out ongoing discussions regarding Assange’s extradition and potential execution in the US. The head of state emphasized the importance of addressing human rights concerns not just on a local level but also within a broader global context.”

● “Azerbaijan intends to participate in many investment projects in the Congo, primarily in the agricultural sector,” Ilham Aliyev said in a press statement with President of the Republic of Congo Denis Sassou-Nguesso.

● Azerbaijan’s foreign ministry called on European countries, especially France, “to emulate Italy’s approach in evaluating processes in the South Caucasus and peace negotiations between Baku and Yerevan”. Earlier, the Italian foreign ministry had issued a statement emphasizing that third-party intervention in the peace process between Azerbaijan and Armenia could create additional tension.

● Foreign minister Jeyhun Bayramov discussed the regional situation with head of the Turkish delegation to the NATO PA Mevlut Cavusoglu who is on a visit to Baku. “We’ve had a detailed exchange of views on strengthening allied relations, multilateral cooperation, and the regional situation in the post-conflict period,” the minister reported on social media.

● Russian peacekeepers will clear mines in Khojaly. They will start the demining work tomorrow, April 6, after their accreditation process is completed.

● Ankara called on Yerevan to provide Baku with accurate mine maps. “Turkey shares Azerbaijan’s concern about security due to the large number of mines planted in the liberated territories,” the Turkish foreign ministry said.

● Azerbaijani singer Raksana Ismailova has been detained in Moscow on charges of falsifying immigration documents. According to Russian media sources, she was released on a written pledge not to leave city. Ismailova herself refuted reports of her arrest.

● NATO Secretary General believes that passing a law on “foreign agents” in Georgia would “contradict all efforts to strengthen democratic institutions in Georgia.” “Georgia should work on reforms to move closer to NATO and the EU,” Jens Stoltenberg said at a press conference in Brussels.

● A small protest took place on the evening of April 4 in front of the parliament in Tbilisi against the “foreign agents” law. The rally under the slogan “No to the Russian law” was not intended to be extensive. It was conceived as a coordination meeting to plan further actions. It will soon be known what decisions were made.

● Latvia has called for stripping honorary consul Beka Odisharia of his status after he insulted female MPs in Georgian parliament. The Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Latvian Saeima, Rihards Kols, described Odisharia’s statement as “disgusting” and “vile.” During Wednesday’s session, the honorary consul of Latvia Odisharia who is also an MP from the “Georgian Dream” ruling party, uttered the phrase “herd of underf***ed women” while a female opposition MP was speaking in parliament. Odisharia attempted to apologize, stating he did not intend to offend anyone. His fellow “Dream” party member, Irakli Zarkua, supported him, claiming that Odisharia was “talking to himself in the corner,” and now the opposition is exploiting the situation.

● The Georgian government has once again denied President Salome Zurabishvili a working visit abroad — this time to Lithuania. The history of denying the president foreign trips dates back to last year. At the time, Zurabishvili traveled to Europe for meetings with foreign leaders at her own expense, while the ruling party attempted to impeach her for violating the procedures outlined in the Constitution – but they lacked the votes.

? The Zugdidi court set bail at 5000 GEL [$1,900] for the leader of the Georgian pro-Russian “Conservative Movement,” Zurab Makharadze, and another member of the party, Giorgi Gogia, in a case of group violence. The accused consider themselves innocent and refuse to pay bail. Makharadze labelled the court’s decision “pre-election political pressure.”

● In the Georgian Parliament, the bill “On Transparency of Foreign Influence” has been officially initiated, commonly referred to as the “Russian Foreign Agents Law” in society. The ruling party openly acknowledges that the bill targets critical NGOs and media receiving grants from EU and US countries. The President of Georgia has denounced the initiation of the bill as “sabotage of European integration.” Read more here

● The US State Department responded, stating last year’s protests against similar laws showcased Georgia’s European aspirations. They affirmed support for Georgia’s EU negotiation process.

● “We will stand again where the country’s interests are threatened,” student organizations stated, expressing readiness to rally as they did last year when authorities attempted to pass the foreign agent law. Read more here

● Mamuka Mdinaradze, from the ruling party, accused major NGOs, branding opposition parties, NGOs, and independent media as “radical and dangerous propagandists.” He cited increased Western funding as elections approach. Read more

● The ruling party initiated another project in parliament, which also sparks considerable protests in society; it’s also dubbed “Russian” — amending the Constitution against “LGBT propaganda.” The project includes bans on adoption by same-sex couples and gender reassignment. Read more here

● Minister of Economy Levan Davitashvili claimed Georgia’s stable economy exhibits high growth rates compared to regional and European countries. He cited GDP per capita doubling in 2023 to 21,575 lari (approx. $8k).

● The UN Human Rights Council adopted the resolution “On the Prevention of Genocide” submitted by Armenia. The Armenian Foreign Ministry hailed the initiative as a significant contribution to bolstering the international agenda for preventing genocides and mass crimes.

● “There are contradictions and mutual claims, but the foundation of our relationship remains unchanged,” the Russian Embassy in Armenia made a statement marking the anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

● A protest rally against the felling of trees was held outside the Yerevan City Hall, with the Mayor personally engaging with activists. Protesters demanded expert examination of the trees before their removal. The Mayor assured them that all necessary studies had been conducted and their results published, while expressing openness to further assessments.

● According to Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova, the EU mission in Armenia is evolving into a de facto NATO mission.

● Sarkis Galstyan, who was evacuated from Karabakh with his wife on March 29 with assistance from the ICRC, has been arrested on charges of espionage.

● Two Ukrainian citizens have been arrested in Armenia for drug trafficking. The Investigative Committee reported that operatives discovered 38 bags of narcotic substances in their possession.

● Armenian-born Helen Asatryan has been elected mayor of Glendale, California.

● U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken made a call to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, addressing concerns over an upcoming meeting involving the U.S., EU, and Armenia. Blinken emphasized the meeting’s focus on economic development in Armenia, saying it was not targeted against Azerbaijan. Aliyev expressed discontent over the meeting proceeding despite Azerbaijani objections, warning against its potential to escalate tensions in the South Caucasus.

● The Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs criticized French Minister Stephane Sejourne’s “anti-Azerbaijani outburst.” Italy stressed the importance of responsible discourse, cautioning against statements from external actors that could inflame tensions in the region.

● The Embassy of Israel in Azerbaijan continues its operations as usual, according to the diplomatic mission. Earlier, Iranian media reported that Israel was evacuating its embassies in Baku and Abu Dhabi amid potential retaliation from Iran following an airstrike on the consulate in Damascus.

● Two individuals from Karabakh have been resettled in Armenia, according to Ilaha Guseynova, Head of Public Relations at the Azerbaijani Representation of the International Committee of the Red Cross. Guseynova noted the resettlement was initiated at the individuals’ request.

● Azerbaijan’s Pardon Commission will review over 700 petitions this year, including requests from incarcerated women, foreigners, military personnel, and those serving life sentences.

● Azerbaijan has been seeing a decline in measles cases in recent months, according to the Ministry of Health.

● Starting July 1, cars in Azerbaijan must not exceed 8 years of age to obtain a taxi permit, as announced by the Land Transport Agency. Those who apply before July 1 will not be subject to this requirement, nor to the color requirement. They will be eligible for a 3-year permit.

● Three shepherds were injured by a mine explosion in the Terter region. Polad Ismailov underwent amputation of both legs, while the other two victims are in moderate condition.

● An employee of the Azerbaijani Agency for Mine Action, Khayyam Aliyev, was wounded by a mine explosion in the Agdam region. His condition is reported as satisfactory.

● “Armenia’s mines continue to pose a threat to innocent civilians in Azerbaijan. Today, four Azerbaijanis were injured by mines in Terter and Agdam. Armenia’s refusal to provide accurate minefield maps hampers Karabakh’s restoration, the return of internally displaced persons, and undermines peace-building efforts in the region,” stated the Foreign Ministry.

● A minibus carrying workers overturned in the Khojavend region of Karabakh, injuring 9 people, according to the Azerbaijani Ministry of Internal Affairs.

● French citizen Clerk Tego Hugo, who illegally entered the Baku metro depot and vandalized several cars, has been detained for three months. Australian and New Zealand citizens Han Paul and Ismael De Saint-Quent are also involved in the case and are subject to preventive measures not involving arrest.

● The State Security Service detained Azerbaijani citizen Valida Yusifova on charges of treason. Details have not been disclosed, but the preliminary investigation has been completed, and the case materials have been submitted to the Ganja court for consideration.

● A monument to the renowned Azerbaijani composer Uzeyir Hajibeyov will be unveiled in St. Petersburg in 2025, as announced by City Governor Alexander Beglov during a meeting with Azerbaijani Minister of Economy Mikail Jabbarov in Baku.

● The Armenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs expresses serious concern about the attack on the Iranian embassy in Damascus.

● “The Armenian authorities are in vain comparing the ancient Armenian civilization with the European Union, whose affairs today are frankly bad,” said Russian Foreign Ministry representative Maria Zakharova on the Zvezda TV channel.

● “Armenia is not an aggressor and does not plan to attack Azerbaijan,” wrote Anne-Laurence Pettel, head of the France-Armenia parliamentary friendship group, in her X account.

● The President of Kazakhstan is set to visit Yerevan soon, as announced by the Armenian government following discussions at a meeting of the Armenian-Kazakh intergovernmental commission.

● The number of autism cases has increased in Armenia, according to the Ministry of Health. In 2022, there were 423 cases registered, in the previous year – 449, and in just 3 months of this year – 130.

● Starting September 21, visitors can view the bronze bust of the goddess Anahit from the British Museum’s collection at the Museum of History of Armenia.

● Henrikh Mkhitaryan, after Inter’s victorious match with Empoli, threw his T-shirt to fans with the Armenian flag.

● Georgian businessman Mikhail Lomtadze ranks 581st on the Forbes list of world billionaires, with his fortune increasing from $3.7 billion to $5.2 billion over the past year. Lomtadze is the chairman of the board of Kaspi, a Kazakh financial technology company, and one of the owners of Kaspi Bank.

● Founder and honorary chairman of the ruling Georgian Dream party, Bidzina Ivanishvili, holds the 624th spot on the same list, with a net worth of $4.9 billion.

● The majority of women parliamentarians, 14 out of 27, will support the opposition party Girchi’s initiative to abolish gender quotas for the electoral lists of political parties participating in parliamentary elections. However, this number does not include representatives of the opposition: 13 are from the ruling party, and one is a representative of the satellite party People’s Power.

● “The ruling team supported the initiative to abolish gender quotas because they want to remove women from politics and free up seats in parliament for their feudal lords,” stated Tina Bokuchava, a deputy from the ‘National Movement,’ considered the leader of the opposition.

●  Iago Khvichia, a leader of the Girchi party and proponent of abolishing gender quotas, asserted on Facebook that their efforts aim for genuine gender equality in Georgia, despite facing opposition. Read more here

● Deputy Speaker of Parliament and Chair of the women’s organization of the ruling party, Nino Tsilosani, made a statement on social media on behalf of the majority of female deputies. “The gender quota is temporary and far from the only means of empowering women. At this point, this measure has to some extent already achieved its main goal,” the statement said.

● The prosecutor’s office has requested the Dutch authorities to arrest and extradite former Minister of Justice Zurab Adeishvili to Georgia. He held this position during the presidency of Mikheil Saakashvili.

● A 29-year-old woman from the Imereti region faces up to 20 years or life imprisonment for the aggravated murder of her husband.

● Rescue 112 issued a warning about severe weather expected from the evening of April 3 in most regions of Georgia, including strong winds.

● The CSTO responded to Nikol Pashinyan’s remarks regarding the organization’s zone of responsibility in Armenia.

“In accordance with the 2010 agreement on interaction principles among member states, the Organization considers its zone of responsibility in Armenia to be its sovereign territory within the established state borders. The CSTO’s zone of responsibility ends where the state border is delineated bilaterally between Armenia and its neighbors.”

● The Armenian Defense Ministry reported that Azerbaijani Armed Forces units opened fire on Armenian positions on April 1 at 22:00 near Kut village and on April 2 at 00:40 near Tegh village.

● “All of Armenia’s economic achievements have occurred within the framework of EAEU membership,” stated Vagharshak Hakobyan, a ruling faction member of parliament.

●  Opposition parliamentary factions “Hayastan” and “I Have Honor” are demanding the urgent convening of a session of the Armenian National Assembly, with the delimitation and demarcation of the state border as the main topic.

● The Prosecutor’s Office of Armenia reported 54 servicemen deaths in 2023 (32 in 2022), categorized as follows:

Killed by the enemy: 19
Offenses related to handling ammunition and hazardous materials: 17
Driving to suicide: 7 (including 5 due to negligence)
Homicides: 3

● Mamuka Mdinaradze, a leader of the Georgian Dream party, stated, “We intend to appeal to the US Embassy to lift the sanctions imposed on judges – our demand is firm.” Last April, the US State Department imposed sanctions on four senior Georgian judges and their families, barring them from entering the US due to “significant corruption activities.” Read more here

● The ruling party has endorsed the opposition party “Girchi’s” initiative to eliminate gender quotas in the formation of parliamentary electoral lists. Parliament will review it expeditiously. Read more here

● Zurab Japaridze, leader of the “Girchi – More Freedom” party, remarked, “Gender quotas are unacceptable. It’s ironic that a law passed a year ago to applause is now being changed to more applause. It paints a picture suggesting that in Georgia, the opposition proposes initiatives, and the ruling party supports them.”

● The Ombudsman of Ukraine has formally requested the Georgian Parliament to grant him the right to act as legal counsel for the imprisoned former President Mikheil Saakashvili, a Ukrainian citizen.

● Shota Arveladze, a veteran football player, commented, “March 26, when the Georgian national team reached the final of Euro 2024, marks a turning point; a new generation is emerging in victorious Georgia.”

● According to the State Security Service, Alexy Adeishvili, a resident of the village of Akhmadzhi in the Georgian-Ossetian conflict zone, who was abducted by Russian military forces, has been released.

● Authorities in Achara continue to conduct rigorous inspections and levy fines on companies that neglect the Georgian language in advertising or services. Last week, six restaurants, including the Porta Batumi Tower construction group, were fined for displaying billboards only in Russian and English in Batumi. Batumelebi newspaper reports on this ongoing monitoring effort.

● President Ilham Aliyev met with Romanian Minister of Energy Sebastian Ioan Burduja to discuss gas export and green energy cooperation. Trade between the countries increased by nearly 30% in 2023, reaching $670 million.

● The Ministry of Defense reported that Armenia continues to concentrate troops and construct offensive strongholds on the border with Azerbaijan, and backed the statement with a two-minute video shared on social media.

● Khankendi, Agder, and Khojaly are establishing a service for housing restoration, construction, and management, with an initial capital of 500 thousand manats (about $300 thousand).

● Baku hosted discussions on international cooperation between Russian Ambassador-at-Large Pavel Knyazev and Azerbaijani officials, including Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov and Assistant to the President Hikmet Hajiyev.

● A third-year student at the Academy of Physical Education and Sports in Baku, Javid Suleymanli, succumbed to measles amid a concerning rise in measles cases and fatalities in the country.

● Construction is underway for two large drug treatment hospitals in Baku, with capacities of 350 and 150 beds, respectively.

● Inland water industrial fishing is prohibited in Azerbaijan during the fish spawning season until September 1.

● The Days of Belarusian Cinema commenced in Baku, featuring four new films and running until April 4.

● The Central Botanical Garden in Baku is undergoing renovation and construction, slated for completion by the end of 2024.

Photo: The Central Botanical Garden before renovation

● Yesterday, Azerbaijan marked the Day of Genocide of Azerbaijanis. According to official accounts, on March 31, 1918, Armenian armed forces massacred over 50,000 Azerbaijanis, including women, children, and elderly individuals.

● The Azerbaijani Ministry of Defense warned that any military provocation by Yerevan against Baku would be swiftly quelled. They reported concentration of personnel and military equipment along the Armenian-Azerbaijani border, a claim refuted by Yerevan and the EU monitoring mission in Armenia.

● The remains of seven victims of the 1992 massacre in Khojaly were laid to rest in the Alley of Martyrs. Additionally, two more sets of remains were discovered in a mass grave in Khojaly and will be sent to Baku for further examination.

● Excavations will take place in Garadaghly village of Khojavend this year to ascertain the fate of all missing persons, according to the State Commission for Prisoners and Missing Persons.

● Authorities in Azerbaijan have identified individuals responsible for spreading fake news about military operations on the border and are taking legal action. Citizens are urged to avoid spreading misinformation.

● Shots were fired on the Iran-Azerbaijan border as border guards confronted two men attempting to enter Azerbaijan from Iran. One was wounded and detained, while the other escaped.

● Turkish Minister of Defense Industry Haluk Görgün is scheduled to visit Baku today for discussions with Azerbaijani counterparts.

● A fire in a Baku high-rise building injured 15 people and led to the evacuation of 50 residents, including 15 children, according to the Ministry of Emergency Situations.

● Three foreigners, tourists from Australia, New Zealand, and France, illegally entered the Baku metro depot and caused damage estimated at 4,850 manats ($2,850). They will face trial for their actions.

● Yesterday, the Armenian Apostolic Church celebrated Easter.

● Yerevan refuted reports from Baku regarding the Armenian side’s alleged gathering of manpower and military equipment at the border. The EU monitoring mission in Armenia also confirmed no such accumulation of forces or equipment on the border with Azerbaijan. In a statement, the mission reported calm conditions along the border, with no unusual activities observed.

● Pope Francis, in his traditional Easter message, emphasized the importance of dialogue between Yerevan and Baku, supported by the international community. He urged both sides to assist displaced people, respect places of worship of various faiths, and work towards a peace agreement.

● In his Easter sermon, Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II expressed “concern over Azerbaijan’s ongoing encroachments,” which he sees as a threat to Armenia’s sovereignty.

● “Yerevan is advancing economic relations with Moscow, engaging in bilateral trade, and maintaining good security ties. However, the problems in relations with Russia cannot be concealed,” – Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan stated in an interview with Todos Noticias. Despite Armenia’s cooperation with NATO, he clarified that there are no current plans to join the organization, as it’s not a priority at the moment.

● After a four-day search, one person caught in an avalanche in Bakuriani on March 28 was found dead. Four others were rescued. Over 200 rescuers and an army detachment were involved in the operation.

● Judge Lasha Chkhikvadze, who presided over the case of journalist-turned-politician Nika Gvaramia, demands an apology from former US Ambassador Kelly Degnan. The judge claims unfair treatment and cites the European Court of Human Rights’ refusal to accept Gvaramia’s claim regarding his arrest as validation of the court’s decision. Gvaramia was arrested on May 16, 2022, on charges of causing major financial damage to the Rustavi 2 television channel during his tenure as its director. He was sentenced to 3 years and 6 months in prison, but was pardoned by the president in June 2023. Most in civil society and politicians considered Gvaramia’s arrest politically motivated. Read more here

● The chairman of the ruling Georgian Dream party, Irakli Garibashvili, firmly rejected recommendations from the Venice Commission to establish an independent committee, including international experts, to verify judges’ integrity in Georgia. Garibashvili emphasized that they “will not allow external scrutiny of their patriotic judges.”

● Former Prime Minister and current ruling party chairman Irakli Garibashvili addressed comments about his financial declaration, revealing that his retired parents supported his family with hundreds of thousands of dollars. Garibashvili noted his father’s multimillion-dollar business and property.

● Georgia celebrated the 33rd anniversary of the referendum on restoring state independence on March 31, 1991. Nearly 99% of voters supported the restoration based on the Act of Declaration of Independence adopted on May 26, 1918.

? Photo: Avalanche in Bakuriani.

Top stories in Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia from March 25-29, 2024