Top stories in Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Georgia from July 29-August 2, 2024

● Azerbaijani judoka Zelim Kotsoev won the Olympic gold medal in the under 100 kg weight category (pictured). In the final match, he defeated a Georgian athlete. This is Azerbaijan’s second gold medal at the ongoing Paris Olympics.

● The government announced that widows of fallen soldiers will no longer receive social benefits if they remarry.

● Due to the COP29 international forum, distance learning will be implemented in schools, colleges, and universities in Baku, Sumgait, and the Absheron region from November 12 to 22. During this period, secondary school students will be on holiday. For more details on COP29 preparations, read here

● Azerbaijan has begun gas deliveries to Slovenia. The volume of gas supplied has not been disclosed. Slovenia is the ninth country to receive Azerbaijani gas, following Turkey, Georgia, Italy, Greece, Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary, and Serbia.

● Notorious Ukrainian criminal figure “Oleg Bakinsky” has been arrested in Baku. Oleg Krapivin was detained in the Azerbaijani capital a few days ago. The court has ordered a three-month pre-trial detention for him.

● A U.S. State Department representative welcomed the meeting of special envoys from Armenia and Turkey at the border. In a comment to Turkey’s Anadolu news agency, the State Department stated that the United States views the normalization of relations between Yerevan and Ankara as a positive step toward regional stability. More details about the meeting here

● Andranik Kocharyan, head of the parliamentary defense committee, and several other deputies visited Davaro, a company that manufactures drones for the military. They discussed the possibility of increasing government orders and removing bureaucratic hurdles for the serial delivery of drones to the armed forces.

● An Armenian delegation participated in the annual conference in London focused on land warfare issues. The conference aimed to “explore threats in the land warfare sector, potential countermeasures, and introduce partner solutions in this area, as well as the latest military-political and industrial initiatives.”

● The project to implement mandatory health insurance has been submitted to the Ministry of Justice for review, the Minister of Health told reporters.

● EU Foreign Service spokesperson Peter Stano stated that the EU is considering suspending direct financial aid to the Georgian government due to the enactment of the “Foreign Influence” law. “This is a step backward on Georgia’s path to European integration,” Stano told the Spanish outlet Europa Press.

● U.S. Ambassador Robin Dunnigan confirmed that the Secretary of State decided to suspend $95 million in direct aid to the Georgian government “following the passage of laws based on the Russian model, other anti-democratic actions, and the spread of false narratives about the U.S. and the West in general.” The ambassador added that the U.S. will continue to support students, teachers, farmers, civil activists, and organizations, as well as provide assistance to the defense forces. Dunnigan expressed hope that the government would take significant steps to restore Georgian-American relations. “The U.S. is ready to rebuild relations and wants to continue working together to fulfill the people’s aspirations and make Georgia a member of the Western democracies,” the ambassador said.

● The political alliance “Strong Georgia,” which includes the party “Lelo for Georgia,” Anna Dolidze’s party, and the political movement “Liberty Square,” has officially launched its election campaign (as seen in the photo). The alliance’s main slogan is “A Real Alternative,” and their electoral number is 9.

● Another split in the opposition party “European Georgia” occurred as leaders Giga Bokeria and his wife Tamar Chergoleishvili left the party due to disagreements over candidate selection for the primaries and a “values conflict” with the party’s secretary-general.

● “Russia is ready for dialogue with Georgia and the restoration of diplomatic relations. The lack of contact with the Georgian parliament is Tbilisi’s fault,” said the chairwoman of Russia’s Federation Council, Valentina Matvienko, to reporters. She also stated that “the West is interfering in the process of preparing for the parliamentary elections in Georgia in October, while respect for the Georgian people in Russia remains unchanged. We’ll see how the election campaign ends.”

● The well-known Belgian company Jan De Nul has been selected through a tender to carry out the construction of the maritime infrastructure for the new port in Anaklia, including dredging. The project for the first deep-water port in the region has been surrounded by scandals for many years. The government’s decision to transfer 49% of the port’s shares to a Chinese-Singaporean consortium has raised significant concerns among local experts and Western partners. The Chinese company CCCC, part of the consortium, is under U.S. sanctions. A few years ago, a Georgian-American consortium was removed from the project due to alleged failure to meet obligations. Read more here

● Georgian judoka Ilia Sulamanidze (-100 kg) has advanced to the quarterfinals of the Olympics. In this weight category, Nikoloz Sherazadishvili, who represents Spain after moving from Georgia at age 15, is also competing. Georgian athletes have already achieved two significant victories at the Paris Olympics: Georgian judoka Lasha Bekauri (-90 kg) won his second Olympic gold, and judoka Tato Grigalashvili won silver.

● The billionaire and honorary chairman of the ruling party, Bidzina Ivanishvili, was diagnosed with COVID-19 two weeks ago. He is undergoing treatment, which delayed the publication of his congratulatory message to Georgian Olympic medalists, as reported by the press service of “Georgian Dream.” His condition is said to be satisfactory.

● Despite numerous international calls and warnings, the “foreign agents” law has come into effect today. Any NGO or media organization receiving more than 20% of its funding from foreign sources is now labeled as serving foreign interests and must register in a special registry. The ruling party claims the law is meant to ensure transparency. However, legal experts, international organizations, and Western governments argue that the law is actually a tool to suppress critical voices in the country and is similar to a Russian law. A similar law was enacted in Hungary but later repealed for not complying with EU legislation.

● Deputy State Department spokesperson Vedant Patel announced that the U.S. is suspending $95 million in direct aid to the Georgian government. This decision was made due to the Georgian government’s recent anti-democratic actions and false statements that contradict the democratic and European aspirations of Georgia.

● U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Senator Ben Cardin supported the decision to suspend direct aid to the Georgian government. “This is a response to the ongoing erosion of democratic institutions in the country. The suspension of aid demonstrates the U.S.’s firm commitment to the European aspirations expressed by the Georgian people,” said Cardin.

● Members of the U.S. Helsinki Commission have called for individual financial sanctions against Georgian oligarch and honorary chairman of the ruling party, Bidzina Ivanishvili, and his close associates. “He is a key node of corruption and malign influence. Such individuals should not be allowed to limit the will and freedom of the Georgian people,” they wrote in a letter to U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken. Read more here

● Georgian judoka Lasha Bekauri (up to 90 kg) became a two-time Olympic champion after defeating Japanese athlete Sanshiro Murao in the finals in Paris. The day before, Georgian judoka Tato Grigalashvili won a silver medal.

Photo: JAMnews/David Pipia. Sign reads: “Yes to Europe, No to the Russian law”

● Russian border guards have left Zvartnots Airport after decades of service. They have been guarding Armenia’s state border for 32 years but have only left the Yerevan airport for now.

● There are no ethnic Armenians among the victims of Israel’s missile strike on Beirut, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

● Yerevan spent $900,000 to landscape a 0.25-hectare area near the St. Gregory the Illuminator Church in the city center, but the thuja trees planted three months ago have already dried up. This caused a stir because local media reported that the saplings were purchased for 214,000 drams ($556) each. The Yerevan municipality stated that they are investigating the matter.

● An explosion occurred in a residential building in the village of Voskeask in the Shirak region, causing the structure to collapse and resulting in one fatality, according to the Ministry of Emergency Situations.

● Today, the OSCE mission will begin observing Azerbaijan’s upcoming parliamentary elections. Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov discussed election preparations with mission head Ditmir Bushati.

● Approximately 390 candidates have registered for the parliamentary elections in Azerbaijan on September 1.

● “Charles Michel is renewing efforts for lasting peace between Azerbaijan and Armenia,” reports Politico. The EU president wrote to both sides, urging them to return to the negotiating table, sign a peace agreement, and make progress on issues like border delimitation.

● President Ilham Aliyev invited his Iranian counterpart to COP29 in Baku, conveyed by Azerbaijani Prime Minister Ali Asadov. COP, the UN Climate Change Conference, will be held in Azerbaijan for the first time on the post-Soviet territory from November 11 to 22, 2024.

● Prime Minister Ali Asadov visited the Azerbaijani embassy in Tehran. The embassy resumed operations on July 15, 2024, after being suspended following an armed attack in January 2023.

● Four Azerbaijani soldiers tragically died in the Lachin district, reportedly from poisoning while bathing in hydrogen sulfide hot springs, according to the Ministry of Defense. The victims were identified as Asif Emnaliev, Farid Jebrailov, Tural Samedov, and Emin Shakhmarli.

● The Central Bank of Azerbaijan released an inflation forecast, expecting a rate of 5.4% in 2024 and 5.5% in 2025.

● Azerbaijani processing centers AzeriCard and MilliKart do not accept the Russian “Mir” card, said Central Bank head Taleh Kazymov. He noted that the regulator neither encouraged nor banned the acceptance of this card. Previously, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin announced that “Mir” cards had begun to be gradually accepted in Azerbaijan.

● The situation in Georgia was discussed during the recent U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearings on the future of Europe. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs James O’Brien highlighted three key issues: the October parliamentary elections, the “foreign agents” law, and the involvement of Chinese investors in the Anaklia deep-sea port project.

“The Georgian government should be aware that there is a way back. Free and fair elections must occur without violence against civil society. The law [on ‘foreign agents’] can be aligned with EU legislation, rather than Russian. And China should not be allowed to build a deep-sea port in Anaklia. These steps are crucial for Georgia today,” said James O’Brien. He mentioned that new sanctions against those responsible for these issues in Georgia are being considered.

● Speaking at the hearing, Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen stated that Georgian authorities “are undermining the country’s aspirations to join the EU, despite the strong European ambitions of its people. They must remember that both Democrats and Republicans in Washington condemn their recent actions.”

● Asunción Sánchez Ruiz, acting deputy head of the EU delegation in Georgia, commented on the closed meeting at the Georgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs with ambassadors and representatives of EU member states and other partner countries. “Government representatives stated their goal of having Georgia join the EU by 2030. However, EU representatives responded that Georgia’s accession process is currently stalled, as agreed by EU leaders on June 27. Specifically, the ‘Law on Transparency of Foreign Influence’ is an obstacle to Georgia’s European path. EU leaders are urging the government to withdraw this law,” she said.

● As of August 1, NGOs can begin registering in the registry according to the “foreign agents” law, announced Justice Minister Rati Bregadze at a briefing. When asked about the readiness of the technical infrastructure, the minister replied, “Everything is ready.”

● Denmark has suspended its four-year military aid program to Georgia and is undertaking a comprehensive review of bilateral relations in response to Georgia’s adoption of the “foreign agents” law, reported independent MP Teona Akubardia. This military aid program, amounting to 71.5 million Danish kroner (approximately $10 million), began in 2023.

● Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze and Minister of Economy Levan Davitashvili attended the inauguration of Iran’s new president, Masoud Pezeshkian.

● The police have located 23-year-old student Günel Hasanova, who was abducted in the Kakheti region, in the village of Kabali in eastern Georgia, reportedly with the intent of marriage. The kidnappers have not yet been found, and they face 8 to 12 years in prison.

● 47-year-old Georgian fighter Bondo Gagnidze was killed in battles in Ukraine during a Russian assault on the Luhansk region. He had been fighting in Ukraine since the early days of the Russian invasion. A total of 69 Georgian citizens or Georgians living in Ukraine have died in this war, fighting on the side of Ukraine.

● 24-year-old Georgian judoka (81 kg) Tato Grigalashvili won silver at the Paris Olympics, losing in the final to reigning Olympic champion Takanori Nagase of Japan. This is the first medal won by the Georgian Olympic team at the 2024 Olympic Games.

● “We have made significant progress toward a peace agreement with Armenia. We have never been this close,” stated Elchin Amirbekov, the President’s Special Representative for Special Assignments.

● Prime Minister Ali Asadov attended the inauguration ceremony of Iran’s newly elected president.

● Several restaurants and banquet halls in Baku have decided not to host wedding celebrations in November due to the upcoming 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29). The owners cited the expected influx of foreign visitors and the need to support efforts to reduce potential congestion and traffic in the city.

● Azerbaijani archer Yaylagul Ramazanova competed in the Paris Olympics while seven months pregnant (pictured). She was eliminated in the round of 32 after losing to German athlete Michelle Kroppen. “Despite being pregnant, I was able to prepare for the Olympics. My condition did not prevent me from training. I wanted to advance further, but it didn’t work out,” Ramazanova said.

● The football club “Qarabag” defeated Gibraltar’s “Lincoln” with a score of 5-0, advancing to the third qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League.

● Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan attended the inauguration of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. During their meeting, Pashinyan expressed a desire to “deepen multilateral cooperation with Iran, which is extremely important for Armenia.” The Iranian President emphasized that the centuries-old friendship between the two nations is a strong foundation for cooperation, and that “security and stability are of paramount importance to Tehran.”

● Pashinyan also met with Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Khamenei stated that the implementation of the so-called “Zangezur Corridor” (a road connecting Azerbaijan with its Nakhchivan exclave through Armenian territory) would harm Armenia. He stressed that “Armenia’s territorial integrity is important for Iran, and the Islamic Republic will continue to uphold this position.”

● The fifth round of meetings between Armenia and Turkey took place in the border region, with discussions held on the Armenian side in the morning and on the Turkish side in the afternoon. Armenia’s Foreign Ministry reported that the special representatives agreed to assess the technical needs for launching the Ahurik/Akyaka railway border crossing and mutually simplifying visa procedures for holders of diplomatic/official passports. Read more here

● Armenia will participate in the 11th Xiangshan Security Forum in China, announced Chief of the General Staff Edward Asryan.

● China is ready to deepen cooperation with Armenia, including in the field of security, stated China’s Acting Chargé d’Affaires in Armenia, Ming Chen.

● The number of Armenian labor migrants traveling to Russia has sharply decreased, said Central Bank Governor Martin Galstyan at a press conference. He attributed this to the significant reduction in the wage gap between the two countries.

● Armenia seeks to close the chapter on its conflict with Azerbaijan, according to Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan. However, he noted that Yerevan has not yet received a response from Baku regarding previous proposals for joint investigations of border incidents and mutual arms control. These offers remain on the table. Read more here

● Special representatives from Armenia and Turkey will meet today at the border. A meeting between Ruben Rubinyan and Serdar Kılıç was initially scheduled for July 3 but was postponed.

● The Prime Minister of Armenia will travel to Iran today to attend the inauguration ceremony of President Masoud Pezeshkian.

● Russian state-owned ‘Rosatom’ has begun assessing the condition of the metal in the reactor of the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant to explore the possibility of extending its operation for an additional 10 years, until 2036.

● A video circulating on social media has caused widespread public outrage in Armenia, showing a kindergarten teacher in Pokr Vedi hitting a child. The teacher was detained and later released from custody after the 72-hour detention period expired, as determined by an investigator’s decision.

● Journalist Armen Koloyan, who has long worked with Radio Liberty, has been elected as the new director of Public Radio of Armenia.

Photo: Lake Sevan in Armenia

● Azerbaijani judoka Hidayat Heydarov won the Olympic gold medal in the 73 kg weight category, defeating a French athlete in the final. This is Azerbaijan’s first medal at the ongoing Paris Olympics.

● “Azerbaijan did not invite the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) to observe the parliamentary elections scheduled for September 1,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated. Seven international organizations have been invited: OSCE, CIS, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, GUAM (comprising Georgia, Ukraine, Moldova, and Azerbaijan), the Youth Organization of the Non-Aligned Movement, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, and the Organization of Turkic States.

● Azerbaijani serviceman Arshad Gahramanov committed suicide in Kalbajar. A criminal case has been initiated.

● Vugar Bayramov, a member of the VI convocation of the Azerbaijani parliament (which has been dissolved, with early parliamentary elections set for September 1), criticized the country’s tourism sector policies. He stated that 82.5% of tourists visiting Azerbaijan choose to stay in Baku. “Unfortunately, the regions of Azerbaijan cannot utilize their potential to attract foreign tourists. Additionally, in several regions, the prices for tourist services are very high, while their quality is lower than in the capital,” Bayramov said.

● “Azerpost” issued stamps to commemorate the Summer Olympics in Paris. Special attention was given to the shades used in the design, matching the colors of the Azerbaijani athletes’ unified sports uniforms at the 2024 Olympics.

● The International Arbitration Court has dismissed a claim filed by the Georgian-American consortium over the development of the Anaklia deep-sea port in western Georgia. The claim was initiated in January 2020 after the Georgian government terminated the contract with the consortium, citing the latter’s failure to meet its obligations. Concurrently, criminal charges were brought against the consortium’s chairman, Mamuka Khazaradze—now an opposition leader—and his deputy, Badri Japaridze, for financial misconduct at their TBC Bank. In May 2024, the Georgian government announced that a Chinese-Singaporean consortium, including at least one company under international sanctions, would acquire 49% of the Anaklia port shares. Read more here

● Mamuka Khazaradze, a leader of the “Lelo” party, expressed disappointment with the arbitration court’s decision, noting the loss of tens of thousands of potential jobs for Georgians. He criticized the ruling “Georgian Dream” party for partnering with a Chinese company under Western sanctions, controlled by the Chinese Communist Party, and accused of corruption, environmental damage, incomplete projects, and labor exploitation. “Anaklia—a resort in Georgia held hostage by politics”—stories, photos, and videos here.

● Three cases filed against the controversial “foreign agents” law will be consolidated by Georgia’s Constitutional Court. The plaintiffs include the president, 38 opposition MPs, and over 120 NGOs. Court Chairman Merab Turava stated that preliminary review of the cases would take about a month, without providing a timeline for a final decision.

● In the Kakheti region, 23-year-old student Gyunel Hasanova was abducted in the village of Kabali. Her grandmother was beaten while trying to protect her, as four men forcibly took the young woman in a car. The incident was captured on security cameras. While the police have located the vehicle, Hasanova remains missing. The suspects face charges of “unlawful deprivation of liberty,” which could result in 8 to 12 years in prison.

● The number of Georgian citizens living on the brink of poverty has increased by 2.4% since the beginning of the year, now totaling around 450,000 out of a population of 3,694,600. “It can be stated that at least one in six Georgians lives in absolute poverty. However, the real figure is likely much higher, depending on the criteria used.” JAMnews has prepared a detailed analysis of poverty in Georgia and the wider region, available here

● Georgia currently has 1,701,776 registered vehicles for a population of 3,694,600. Most of these vehicles—1,451,302—are over ten years old. Only 23,795 vehicles are under two years old, according to the statistics committee.

Anaklia, photo JAMnews/David Pipia

● According to a large-scale survey conducted by Edison Research, the majority of the population in Georgia would vote for an opposition party rather than the ruling “Georgian Dream” party if elections were held tomorrow. Support for the ruling party was declared by 32.4% of respondents. The rest either named an opposition bloc or party or said they were undecided but knew they would not vote for the ruling party.

● In response to the question, “Which politician do you like the most?” the majority of respondents named politicians who oppose the current government. The top spots were held by the current and former presidents, Salome Zurabishvili and Giorgi Margvelashvili (63-63%). Former ombudsman Nino Lomjaria (48%) ranked third, followed by Tina Bokuchava and Giorgi Vashadze (leaders of the opposition bloc “Unity for Saving Georgia”) (41-41%). Detailed survey results are available today on JAMnews.

● Leaders of the opposition coalition “Strong Georgia” have begun meeting with voters in the Samegrelo region, preparing for the crucial parliamentary elections scheduled for October 26. In Tsalenjikha and Chkhorotsku, Ana Dolidze, Grigol Gegelia, and Giorgi Shaishmelashvili, along with local leaders Levan Belkania and Guga Darsalia, discussed the coalition’s goals and plans with local residents.

● The pro-government TV channel “Imedi” mistranslated part of the French president’s speech related to the Paris Olympics, connecting it to “LGBTQ Pride.” When Emmanuel Macron added the word “pride” to France’s national motto “Liberty, Equality, Fraternity,” “Imedi” put the word in quotes and directly associated it with support for the LGBTQ movement in their social media posts. Many readers commented, “Do they know any language other than Russian on this channel?” Later, “Imedi” deleted all posts with this translation.

● Prosecutors have charged a minor with premeditated murder in the Sachkhere district. During a dispute on a football field in the village of Gorisa, the accused killed an opponent by stabbing him in the chest.

● “On July 28, around 5:40 PM, a quadcopter belonging to the Armenian armed forces attempted to conduct reconnaissance flights over Azerbaijani army positions in the direction of the Lachin region. The attempts were thwarted by special technical means,” reported the Ministry of Defense.

● “Armenia is not adhering to confidence-building measures regarding the return of Azerbaijani soldiers who accidentally crossed the border,” stated Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov.

● “Paris Olympic propaganda undermines peace efforts between Baku and Yerevan,” said a letter from the Ministry of Youth and Sports and the National Olympic Committee of Azerbaijan to the International Olympic Committee. The protest was triggered by remarks made by France-2 commentators during the live broadcast of the Paris Olympics opening ceremony. The host called Armenia “a friend of France” and noted that this year the Armenian people remember “the loss of Nagorno-Karabakh” due to “an attack by the Azerbaijani army.” “Such propaganda violates the spirit of the games and the fundamental principles of the Olympic Charter,” the letter stated.

● The Azerbaijan U-18 basketball team became European champions in Division C by defeating Luxembourg in the final.

● Rescuers evacuated 55 people trapped in the children’s camp “Skazka” near the village of Haghartsin due to the overflow of the Aghstev River in the Tavush region (see photo). Among those evacuated from the flood zone were 46 children and 4 counselors.

● In the Tavush region, a bridge leading to the villages of Haghartsin and Lusovit was damaged by flooding. Traffic is halted, and vehicles are being redirected via an alternative dirt road.

● Over the past five years, 3,025 patients in Armenia received government financial support for hepatitis treatment, according to the Ministry of Health on World Hepatitis Day.

● Armenian mountaineer Hayk Hayrapetyan has conquered Khan Tengri, one of the peaks of the Tian Shan, as reported on the Federation of Mountaineering’s social media page (see photo). The peak’s height is 6,995 meters, with an elevation of 7,010 meters above sea level. Khan Tengri, one of the most beautiful peaks in the Tian Shan, is one of four peaks that earns climbers the title of “Snow Leopard” upon ascent.

Top stories in Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Georgia from July 22-26, 2024