Top stories in Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Georgia from 31 March-4 April, 2025

● The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights expressed concern over the repressive laws passed by the “Georgian Dream” parliament this week. “They exacerbate existing risks to freedom of speech and assembly, equality, and civic space, while also suppressing political pluralism. We urge Georgia to uphold its obligations under international human rights law,” the statement said.

● “Estonia has already imposed personal sanctions on dozens of high-ranking Georgian officials, including [oligarch] Bidzina Ivanishvili and the prime minister, and urges the EU to revoke Georgia’s visa-free regime,” said Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna in response to a question from Euroskop about Georgia.

● “The rollback of democracy in Georgia is very alarming. There has already been a joint statement from EU leaders Kaja Kallas and Marta Kos. The Netherlands, as an important member of the European Union, fully supports this statement. We see that many people are pro-European and fighting for a European future, and we want to encourage them to continue on this path,” said Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp to Euroskop before the EU ministerial meeting in Brussels. More details on the statement by Kaja Kallas and Marta Kos here.

● The Norwegian Foreign Ministry issued a statement condemning “the new repressive tools of the Georgian authorities, including the ‘foreign agents’ law and initiatives allowing the banning of opposition parties. This restricts Georgian democracy, undermining freedom of speech, destroying civic space, and political pluralism,” the statement said.

● Nona Kurdovanidze, chair of the Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association (GYLA), reported that under the new “foreign agents” law, a person registered under this status may be subject to monitoring of their electronic correspondence if the recipient includes more than two people. Kurdovanidze said this means that before sending an email, its draft must be submitted to the relevant authorities in two copies.

● Georgia’s 5th president, Salome Zourabichvili, summarized the first meeting of the Resistance Platform, which she initiated. She stated that the platform’s main goals remain unchanged—preparing for new parliamentary elections and securing the release of arrested participants in pro-European protests. Zourabichvili said that “new UK sanctions against officials, statements by EU leaders Kaja Kallas and Marta Kos, as well as the US State Department’s statement, are steps toward the victory of democratic forces in the country.”

● A split has occurred within the opposition party “Girchi – More Freedom.” Three well-known political activists announced their departure from the party, accusing it of inaction amid the repressions of “Georgian Dream.” The party members who left are Badri Grigalashvili, Tsotne Koberidze, and Boris Chele Kurua.

● A scandal continues in Georgia following an investigation by the Georgian service of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, which revealed that the country’s largest dairy farms were feeding cows with chicken manure, which is prohibited under EU standards. The company “Rural Nobati” announced that it will completely withdraw a batch of milk from sale in the coming hours. According to the National Food Agency, this batch contains excessive amounts of aflatoxin M1. The company stated that “the milk does not pose a threat to consumers but may not meet certain local requirements.” More details on the investigation here.

● In 2024, the number of children registered in Georgia’s unified database of socially vulnerable families increased by 6.51% compared to the previous year, the Public Defender’s office reported. “Poverty remains one of the most significant problems in the country,” the statement said.

● The “Georgian Dream” government has reduced the visa-free stay period for Ukrainian citizens in Georgia to one year. Previously, they were allowed to stay in the country visa-free for a full three years.

● Vasil Maglaperidze has been re-elected as chairman of the Public Broadcaster’s Board of Trustees for a six-year term. He was the sole candidate and has held this position since 2022. Protests have been ongoing for several months outside the Public Broadcaster’s building in Tbilisi, with demonstrators accusing the company of biased reporting and following the directives of Georgian Dream.

Many participants in the massive pro-European protests in Georgia hide their faces behind masks to avoid a huge fine of 5,000 lari (nearly $1,800) “for disturbing public order.” The “Georgian Dream” authorities have recently installed numerous surveillance cameras throughout downtown Tbilisi. Photo by David Pipia / JAMnews:

● The ombudsman’s office received information that masked individuals beat life-sentenced prisoners in “Nubarashen” prison. The bloodied inmates were not given any medical assistance. In response, the penitentiary service stated that “one of the prisoners violated order by attempting to establish dominance over others and encouraged them to do the same. He was transferred, and then measures were taken against his cellmates who rebelled because of this.” The service denied reports that two inmates had suffered fractures.

● Karabakh Armenians continue protests in Yerevan, demanding the continuation of benefits that were significantly reduced or canceled as of April 1. Protesters met with Deputy Prime Minister Tigran Khachatryan and stated they are “fighting for decent living conditions.” After the meeting, they told journalists that “the government made it clear—there will be no benefits.”

● Yerevan could replace Baku as a transit hub for Iranian exports to Russia and Black Sea countries, said FPS company CEO Mostafa Talepbur. “Iran exports dairy and agricultural products to Russia, with most shipments passing through Azerbaijan. However, Iranian trucks are periodically delayed at the border. Armenia could become a safe transit country for Iran,” Talepbur stated at the international conference “Hayk-Iran: A Millennia-Old Neighborhood” in Yerevan.

● “We see Armenia as a platform for accessing the multimillion-dollar EAEU market (an economic union led by Russia),” said Iran’s ambassador Mehdi Sobkhani.

● “Moscow hopes that Armenian society will be presented with an objective picture of the benefits of being in the EAEU and the scale of losses from breaking ties with the organization,” stated the Russian Foreign Ministry.

● The coats of arms of Armenia and its armed forces will now be permanently displayed in the center of the capital. They have been installed on two octagonal stained-glass panels on the facade of the Museum of History and the National Gallery building.

● The lawyer of opposition figure Tofiq Yaqublu, who was sentenced to nine years, reported after meeting with his client that Yaqublu is experiencing health problems. Today marks the fourth day of his hunger strike, which he declared in protest against the verdict that he and many human rights defenders consider political persecution. In two days of the hunger strike, he lost almost two kilograms, and his speech and movements have been affected, the lawyer said. More details about Tofiq Yaqublu’s case are available here.

● The pretrial detention of MeydanTV editor Aynur Gambarova (Elgunesh) and staff member Natig Javadli has been extended for another three months. The journalists reported mistreatment—they were taken to the courthouse at 8 a.m. and kept without food and water until the evening while remaining handcuffed. In March, the pretrial detention of three other MeydanTV employees—Aytaj Ahmadova (Tapdyg), Ramin Jabrayilzade (Deko), and Khayala Aghayeva—was also extended. Lawyers argue that there are no grounds for extending their detention. Journalists from MeydanTV, along with Ulvi Tahirow, deputy director of the Baku School of Journalism, have been under arrest since December 6. In February, three more journalists—Shamshad Agayev, Nurlan Gahramanli (Libre), and Fatima Movlamly—were arrested in connection with the case. They are all accused of smuggling, but they claim these are false charges aimed at punishing them for exposing government corruption. Read more here

● The pretrial detention of Azer Gasimli, director of the Institute for Political Management, has been extended by two months. He was arrested on December 8 on charges of extortion. Gasimli denies the accusations and links his arrest to his critical publications about the authorities. Read more here

● The Prosecutor General’s Office has summoned exiled blogger Orkhan Agayev for questioning on April 23. He is accused of inciting violent overthrow of the government in his social media videos. Agayev was arrested in absentia and put on a wanted list in September 2020. Here you can read Azerbaijani activists’ comments on criminal cases against exiled bloggers.

● The head of Azerbaijan’s interparliamentary relations working group with the UK sent a letter of protest to the UK parliamentary group on Armenia, which had urged its government to “put pressure on Azerbaijan to release Armenian detainees in Azerbaijan.” The letter states that this demand undermines accountability for war crimes, ethnic cleansing, and military aggression committed during Armenia’s 30-year occupation. It argues that calling these individuals “prisoners of war” and demanding their release ignores solid evidence of their crimes. “The judicial process is transparent, legal representation is provided, and no complaints of mistreatment have been received,” the letter says.

● The trial of 15 Armenian citizens, former leaders of the self-proclaimed Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR), continues. They are accused of war crimes, violent seizure of power, and other offenses. According to Azerbaijan’s state agency Azertag, those on trial include Araik Harutyunyan, Arkadi Ghukasyan, Bako Sahakyan, Davit Ishkhanyan, Davit Manukyan, Davit Babayan, Levon Mnatsakanyan, Vasily Beglaryan, Erik Gazaryan, Davit Allahverdyan, Gurgen Stepanyan, Levon Balayan, Madat Babayan, Garik Martirosyan, and Melikset Pashayan. A separate criminal case has been launched against the former state minister of NKR.

● Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry spokesperson Aykhan Hajizade demanded that Paris “stop actions that destabilize the region” in response to French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël’s statements in parliament about peace negotiations between Azerbaijan and Armenia and the trials of former NKR leaders in Baku. “Questioning the legitimate demand—under discussion for over two years—to amend Armenia’s Constitution, which still contains territorial claims against Azerbaijan, and presenting it as a new condition is unacceptable. If France truly supports a swift peace agreement, it should encourage Armenia to take appropriate steps. As for calls to release those accused of war crimes […]—holding them accountable is Azerbaijan’s sovereign right,” the statement reads.

● The 11th meeting of the Southern Gas Corridor Advisory Council, which facilitates gas transportation from the Caspian region to Europe, and the 3rd meeting of the Green Energy Advisory Council are simultaneously taking place in Baku. Representatives from 24 countries, including the European Union, seven international financial institutions, and 42 energy companies are participating.

● European Commissioner for Energy Kadri Simson, Moldova’s Minister of Energy Dorin Junguetu, and Hungary’s State Secretary of Foreign Affairs Boglarka Illes are arriving in Baku today to attend the meetings.

● Meetings will take place on energy cooperation among ministers from Azerbaijan, Turkey, Georgia, and Bulgaria, as well as an informal session of the Steering Committee of the Caspian-Black Sea-European Green Energy Corridor.

● Donald Trump’s decision to impose tariffs on all imports into the US will not significantly impact Azerbaijan, according to economists interviewed by Radio Liberty’s Azerbaijani service. Azerbaijan is subject to a minimal base tariff of 10%, effective April 5. Previously, tariffs ranged from 2.5% to 3.5%. In 2024, trade between the two countries nearly doubled to $1.75 billion, mostly driven by imports of American goods rather than Azerbaijani exports. Only $130 million came from Azerbaijan’s exports, half of which consisted of two Boeing aircraft made in the US. For some Azerbaijani exports, the new rate is even beneficial, as previous tariffs were higher. However, many economists predict that global economic growth will slow due to the tariff changes, leading to lower energy prices. This impact will be more significant for Azerbaijan than the 10% tariff itself. Here is an analysis of the risks associated with Azerbaijan’s heavy reliance on the “oil economy.”

● New civic movement for detained protesters. Parents and relatives of detained pro-European protesters have announced the creation of a new civic movement, For the Freedom of Political Prisoners. “We will defend our children, sisters, brothers, and all who fight for Georgia’s independence and freedom. We will not allow them to remain unjustly imprisoned,” they declared. The movement is calling for public protests and has announced a demonstration on the night of April 9, marking the 36th anniversary of the Soviet army’s violent crackdown on a peaceful rally in Tbilisi.

● First comment from the Trump administration on Georgia. The U.S. State Department, in a written response to Globalnews.ge, stated that Washington has outlined steps the Georgian government can take to improve bilateral relations. “As for Georgian Dream’s ongoing anti-democratic actions – Vice President Vance stated in Munich that a democratic mandate cannot be earned by suppressing the opposition or imprisoning it, just as it cannot be deserved by ignoring voters’ will on key societal issues, such as determining who is part of our society,” the U.S. State Department said in a written response to Globalnews.ge.

● UK sanctions Georgian judges. The UK Treasury has sanctioned judges Levan Murusidze and Mikheil Chinchaladze, members of the so-called “judicial clan.” The sanctions, imposed under the global anti-corruption program, freeze their assets, including financial accounts. According to opposition TV channel Pirveli, Murusidze’s salary card has already been blocked. Read more here

● Murusidze responds to sanctions. Levan Murusidze stated that the UK sanctions against him were “not unexpected.” He dismissed corruption allegations, claiming the sanctions are instead driven by “external forces” seeking to control Georgia’s judiciary. While he downplayed their financial impact, he admitted they are “unpleasant” for his reputation.

● Transparency International: over 200 Georgian Dream officials sanctioned. According to Transparency International – Georgia, Western countries have sanctioned more than 200 Georgian Dream representatives. The identities of 98 have been disclosed, while the rest face anonymous visa restrictions. A full list, including government members, law enforcement officials, judges, and business figures tied to the ruling party, will soon be published.

● U.S. Helsinki Commission warns against Anaklia port deal with China. The U.S. Helsinki Commission expressed concern over Georgian Dream’s decision to grant construction rights for the Anaklia deep-water port to a “Chinese consortium linked to the Chinese Communist Party and under U.S. sanctions.” The commission warned that companies involved in the project have previously used infrastructure deals to increase nations’ dependence on China, posing risks to regional security and free trade.

● U.S. lawmaker slams Anaklia deal. Congressman Joe Wilson, co-chair of the Helsinki Commission, criticized the move, stating: “The Ivanishvili regime is attempting to sell Georgia to the Chinese Communist Party through corrupt schemes. Georgian Dream is deeply anti-American and anti-Georgian. Free and fair elections are the only way forward!”

● EU criticizes Georgia’s new “foreign agent” law. Brussels has condemned Georgian Dream’s repressive legislation, including the “foreign agent” law, which authorities claim is modeled after the U.S. FARA act. In a joint statement, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas and Commissioner Marta Kos said the law “gives authorities additional tools to suppress dissent” and undermines democracy. “Such actions are incompatible with EU values on democracy, rule of law, and media pluralism, and fall short of the standards we expect from an EU candidate country,” the statement read. Read more here

● Lithuania ends student exchange programs with Georgia. Georgian students will no longer be eligible for Lithuanian exchange programs in 2025. The country has removed Georgia from its list of scholarship-eligible nations. This follows similar restrictions in February when Germany’s Ministry of Education suspended scientific cooperation with Georgia.

● Head of Georgia’s investigative service resigns. Soso Ramishvili, head of the investigative service at Georgia’s finance ministry since 2018, has resigned. No explanation has been provided.

● Belarusian company to renovate Tbilisi metro station. A Belarusian company will renovate Tbilisi’s Varketili metro station, according to Mayor Kakha Kaladze. He cited a lack of local expertise due to the metro’s Soviet-era construction. Varketili has undergone multiple failed renovations, including a 2017 ceiling collapse that injured 14 people.

📷 PHOTO: Rally in Tbilisi in support of detained protesters. Nutsa Bahutashvili, TV Formula:

● Trial begins for Toplum TV journalists after over a year in detention. The trial has begun for journalists from the well-known online outlet Toplum TV, who have been in detention for over a year. A total of 10 individuals face charges including smuggling, illegal business activities, and tax evasion, with potential sentences of up to 12 years. None of the accused have admitted guilt, claiming they are being prosecuted for their critical reporting on the authorities. Toplum TV founder Alesker Mammadli has requested house arrest due to health reasons, while lawyers for other journalists have also filed similar motions. The judge stated that these requests will be reviewed at the next hearing. Currently, Toplum TV employees Elmira Abbasova and Shahnaz Beylergyzy are under house arrest. Since November 2023, around 30 journalists and civil activists have been arrested in Azerbaijan on smuggling charges, none of whom have pleaded guilty, asserting that their prosecutions are politically motivated.

● German President Steinmeier concludes visit to Baku, peace deal with Armenia discussed. German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier has concluded his visit to Baku. In a joint press statement with President Ilham Aliyev, they emphasized the peace agreement with Armenia. Aliyev noted that the agreement’s 17-point text is fully agreed upon, but Azerbaijan has conditions for its signing, which are not new and have long been known to Armenia. First, the OSCE Minsk Group (a facilitator in Nagorno-Karabakh negotiations since the 1990s) must be disbanded. Second, Armenia must revise its constitution, which references an independence act containing a clause on unification with Nagorno-Karabakh, a part of Azerbaijan. “This is a clear territorial claim. Once these two conditions are met, there will be no obstacles to signing the peace treaty. As they say, the ball is in Armenia’s court,” Aliyev stated, stressing that there has been no serious response from Armenia on these issues.

● Steinmeier: ‘Decisive moment’ for peace, Germany ready to support. The German president emphasized the importance of the peace process between Armenia and Azerbaijan. “This is a decisive moment to reach an agreement. I hope this opportunity will be seized, leading to lasting peace in the region. Germany is ready to provide necessary support in this process,” Steinmeier said.

● Steinmeier thanks Azerbaijan for helping Germany’s gas supply. Steinmeier also thanked Azerbaijan for helping ensure Germany’s gas supply in 2022 when disruptions occurred due to halted Russian exports. He highlighted Azerbaijan’s role as a hub for key trade routes and its potential to enhance Germany’s transport connections with Central Asia, the Far East, and China. “In this context, the Middle Corridor is an important project for the German economy,” Steinmeier stated.

● Azerbaijan reports new border shelling from Armenia. The Azerbaijani Defense Ministry reported that “on April 2, Azerbaijani positions were once again shelled from the village of Istisu in Armenia’s Keshishkend district.”

● EU delegation observes demining operations in Aghdam. A European Union delegation observed demining operations in Aghdam, a region that returned to Azerbaijani control after the Second Karabakh War in fall 2020. The visit to Azerbaijan’s demining agency ANAMA’s mobile field camp included EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus Magdalena Grono, Deputy Secretary-General of the European External Action Service Simon Mordue, EU service head Dorota Dluchi, EU Ambassador to Azerbaijan Peter Michalko, and other officials.

● Aliyev to visit China in April. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev will visit China in April, according to Liu Jianchao, a member of the Chinese Communist Party’s Central Committee. Speaking at the Azerbaijan-China Strategic Partnership conference in Baku, Liu stated, “During this visit, we will make decisions on more specific projects. There is great potential to deepen our relations.”

● Trump announces new tariffs, South Caucasus included. U.S. President Donald Trump has announced unprecedented tariffs on imported goods, affecting 183 countries and the European Union. Among those listed are all three South Caucasus states—Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Georgia—which will now face a 10% tariff on exports to the U.S. In connection with the decision, Trump declared April 2 as America’s Liberation Day. “Our trading partners sell more to America than they buy from us, and their tariffs are higher than ours. They have been robbing our country for over 50 years. This will no longer continue,” Trump stated.

PHOTO: Detained Toplum TV journalists:

● Armenian MP: Captives should be released, but not as a precondition. “It would be illogical for Armenian citizens to remain in captivity after signing a peace treaty with Baku,” stated the head of the parliamentary commission on foreign relations, Sargis Khandanyan. “We expect the captives to be released as soon as possible because this is a humanitarian issue. However, making it a precondition for negotiations is unacceptable,” he told reporters.

● Political analyst: US-Iran war would threaten Armenia. “Armenia faces danger if the US attacks Iran, as the region would fall under western-Israeli hegemony. Iran’s defeat or a war with Iran would create a situation where our adversaries (Azerbaijan) could resort to force in Syunik (a city on the border with Azerbaijan),” said political analyst Artur Khachikyan at a conference in Yerevan titled “East-West confrontation, Ukraine dimension. Future scenarios.”

● Russian Ambassador: Ukraine shows the dangers of western influence. “Ukraine is a clear example of what happens to a country that, against its national interests, allows the West to use it as a tool for destructive geopolitical scenarios,” said Russia’s ambassador to Armenia, Sergey Kopyrkin.

● Trump imposes tariffs on Armenia and other countries. US President Donald Trump announced tariffs on imports from several countries, including Armenia. The minimum rate of 10% will also apply to Georgia, Azerbaijan, Ukraine, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, and several others.

● Armenian Defense Ministry denies Baku’s shelling claims. The Armenian defense ministry denied Baku’s latest claims about shelling from Armenia on April 2, calling them “false.”

● Public Radio director’s wife apologizes for her comment. “I regret that my comment hurt the people of Artsakh” – the wife of the public radio director apologized to Karabakh Armenians after calling them “God-forsaken miserable people who eat our bread.” Shushan Kazaryan wrote on social media that she had visited Karabakh “countless times” and “dedicated most of her life and professional career to it as a journalist.”

● New water purification plant to be built at Artsvanik tailings site. A new water purification station will be built at the tailings storage site in the village of Artsvanik, where hazardous waste from the Zangezur copper-molybdenum plant threatens land and water resources. The new facility will ensure maximum water purity, said the plant’s deputy director, Taron Navasardyan.

● European Parliament calls for protection of Armenian heritage. The European Parliament adopted EU foreign policy reports that mention Armenia. According to Armenpress, the documents praise Armenia’s efforts to finalize a peace treaty with Azerbaijan. “The reports call on Azerbaijan to protect Armenian cultural and religious heritage in Nagorno-Karabakh and release 23 Armenian captives. MEPs urge punishment for anyone threatening Armenia’s territorial integrity,” writes Armenpress.

● General Movses Hakobyan charged over defective Russian ammunition. General Movses Hakobyan has been charged in a criminal case involving the supply of defective ammunition from Russia worth 4.3 billion drams (about $12 million). According to Armenia’s edition of Radio Free Europe, the prosecutor’s office accuses Hakobyan of official negligence, resulting in significant financial damage or other serious consequences.

● The Georgian Dream-controlled parliament has approved several repressive initiatives in the third and final reading, including:

• The “foreign agents registration act” – a law inspired by the U.S. FARA. However, unlike the American version, which regulates lobbying organizations, the Georgian law targets independent civil society groups and media.
• Amendments to the broadcasting law – banning broadcasters from receiving foreign funding, increasing control over journalistic activities, and tightening penalties.
• Reintroducing the article on treason into the criminal code.
• Removing the term “gender” from 15 existing laws.
• Abolishing the mandatory participation of NGOs in the legislative process. Read more here

● Parliament has also decided to expand the scope and rename the temporary investigative commission initially created by Georgian Dream to examine the period of the previous government – Mikheil Saakashvili’s presidency. The new name: Temporary parliamentary investigative commission on the activities of the ruling regime from 2003 to 2012, actions of political office holders of that regime, and current and former officials linked to political parties from 2003 to the present.

● The prosecutor’s office has requested pretrial measures against opposition leader Mamuka Khazaradze, who refused to appear before the commission. The court hearing is set for today.

● “Arbitrariness and inhumane treatment of detainees by police have become common practice,” the Social Justice Center stated, commenting on the detention of activist Luka Kintsurashvili. According to the organization, Kintsurashvili told his lawyer that police officers strip-searched him twice during his detention. He was arrested in Tbilisi on March 31 after refusing to show his phone’s contents to officers who stopped him on the street.

● “Police brutality during protests was systematic and, in some cases, could be classified as torture,” according to a new report by Georgia’s ombudsman. Read more here

● A police officer shot a stray dog in Tbilisi, according to a Facebook post by the Animal Rights Protection Committee. Witnesses say the dog barked at a child, and the officer fired his service weapon at it.

● Cows were fed chicken manure at Kvarlis Baga, the largest dairy producer in Georgia, according to an investigation by the Georgian branch of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. Several popular local dairy brands used this milk in their production. Kvarlis Baga is owned by businessman Lasha Papashvili, who is reportedly close to the government. More details today on JAMnews.

● The wealth of Georgia’s informal ruler and honorary chairman of Georgian Dream, Bidzina Ivanishvili, has fallen from $4.9 billion last year to $2.7 billion, according to Forbes US. The publication does not specify the reasons for the decline. However, the Bloomberg Billionaires Index estimates Ivanishvili’s wealth at $7.35 billion, noting that it peaked at $7.8 billion in February 2025.

Photo by David Pipia / JAMnews: An impromptu exhibition near the Parliament in Tbilisi of soldiers who died in the August war with Russia in 2008. People are protesting against the statements made by “Georgian Dream” that Georgia, not Russia, was to blame for starting that war:

● “God-forsaken miserable people who eat our bread.” These words, directed at Karabakh Armenians by Shushan Kazaryan, the wife of the director of Public Radio, sparked a major outcry in Armenian society. In an interview with ABC Media, former National Assembly deputy David Galstyan stated that “this is yet another manifestation of hatred, drawing lines between Armenians.”

● 160 cases of illegal border crossings into Armenia were recorded in 2024, which is twice as many as in 2023, according to the prosecutor’s office report.

● “In the days leading up to the municipal elections in Gyumri and on election day itself, a large camp of [pro-Russian] opposition figures from across Armenia gathered in the city, posing as journalists and observers. Their sole aim was to create the illusion that the authorities were rigging the elections, but their efforts were in vain,” wrote prime minister’s press secretary Nazeli Baghdasaryan on Facebook. “It’s ironic that the majority of recorded violations were actually committed by the opposition itself, while the accusations against the government remained unfounded,” she added.

* On March 30, an early municipal election was held in Gyumri, Armenia’s second-largest city. While the ruling Civil Contract party won the most votes, it will not be able to form a city government on its own. Opinions on why prime minister Pashinyan’s party “failed” in the city where his “Velvet Revolution” began in 2008 here

● Armenian ruling party MP Vilen Gabrielyan resigned after a scandal involving a journalist. During the municipal elections in Gyumri, he was intoxicated and verbally abused a journalist. Gabrielyan himself called his behavior “unworthy” and stated that politics requires a “culture of responsibility.”

● Defending the MP, his colleagues argued that “journalists provoked him.” “What exactly did Vilen Gabrielyan do wrong? Is an official not allowed to drink alcohol? Yes, a person has the right to be intoxicated on a Sunday,” ruling party MP Armen Khachatryan told Factor TV.

● “My Azerbaijani colleague publicly rejected my offer to meet for an exchange of views on the draft peace agreement, calling me a populist,” wrote chairman of Armenia’s parliamentary standing committee on foreign relations Sargis Khandanyan on X. “If advocating for peace is populism, then I proudly accept this label. My offer remains on the table. I am ready to participate in confidence-building measures at the interparliamentary level, working for peace and stability in our region.” Earlier, Khandanyan had proposed a meeting to Samad Seyidov, chairman of the foreign relations committee of Azerbaijan’s Milli Majlis.

● Armenian social media is celebrating the announcement that singer Zemfira will perform in Yerevan on July 4. Tickets go on sale on April 8.

● The trial of the popular media outlet Abzas Media continued. Nearly the entire editorial team—seven people, including the editor-in-chief, the director, and several independent experts—remains under arrest. They are accused of smuggling and other crimes, facing up to 12 years in prison. The journalists claim they are being persecuted for their critical reporting. On April 1, Abzas Media journalists Nargiz Absalomova and Magomed Kekalov, as well as Hafiz Babaly, an economics editor at the Turan news agency who was also arrested in this case, were questioned. Absalomova (pictured) stated, “We can be accused of smuggling news, not money. Ilham Aliyev personally ordered our arrest for exposing the illegal actions committed by him and his government.”

● German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier arrived in Baku on the evening of April 1 after concluding his visit to Armenia. A meeting with President Ilham Aliyev is planned. The visit takes place amid controversy. Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry protested to the German ambassador over an Instagram post on Steinmeier’s official page, which included the flag of the separatist regime that had been established on Azerbaijan’s formerly occupied territories. The ministry called it a “blatant political provocation” and demanded a public apology. The post was quickly deleted. According to Azerbaijan’s state news agency AZERTAC, German State Secretary Dörte Dinger sent an official apology to Hikmet Hajiyev, the Azerbaijani president’s aide, and agreed to make the letter public. “The post was published due to a technical error. Germany’s well-known position is to support Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity,” the letter stated.

● Prominent opposition figure Tofig Yagublu, sentenced to nine years in prison, began a hunger strike “against the unfounded, illegal, and immoral verdict.” “I have been slandered and unjustly imprisoned on false charges. Everyone knows I was arrested for my political activities,” he stated. Yagublu was arrested on December 14, 2023, on charges of fraud involving large sums and the use of forged official documents. Over the course of his political career, he has been imprisoned multiple times. He is calling on the international community to pay attention to Azerbaijan through his hunger strike.

● A court ordered 30 days of pretrial detention for Zaur Rzali, a member of the opposition Popular Front Party and a volunteer driver for party leader Ali Karimli. He was found guilty of petty hooliganism and disobeying police orders. Karimli stated that the authorities “are targeting people in his circle with repression.” According to him, around 15 party members are currently imprisoned, including two of his bodyguards. The party claims all were arrested for political reasons.

● A court sentenced Haji Valiev, chairman of the Union of Young Veterans, to 22 days of pretrial detention. He is accused of hooliganism involving weapons and intentional destruction of property, charges that could result in a five-year prison sentence. Valiev denies the allegations. He is known for his critical statements on social media, and local media report that he has been detained before. According to a list compiled by local human rights organizations, over 350 political prisoners are currently held in Azerbaijani jails. Official authorities deny this, claiming these individuals were convicted for actual crimes.

● The criminal trial against Ruben Vardanyan, former state minister of the unrecognized Nagorno-Karabakh Republic and an Armenian citizen, continued. He faces charges of war crimes, torture, mercenary activities, terrorism, and other offenses. At the April 1 hearing, testimonies from victims were presented.

● Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov met with Simon Mordue, Deputy Secretary-General for Economic and Global Issues at the European External Action Service, and Magdalena Grono, the EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus. According to official reports, they discussed the state and prospects of Azerbaijan-EU relations, emphasizing the need for continued cooperation in traditional and alternative energy sectors.

● Mehdi Sanai, political advisor to the president of Iran, is on a visit to Baku, where he has already met with Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov.

● Azerbaijan took the initiative and became the main co-author of a special UN Human Rights Council resolution aimed at protecting the rights of landmine victims.

Journalist of Abzas Media, Nargiz Absalamova, at work before her arrest:

● The 5th president of Georgia, Salome Zourabichvili, addressed tens of thousands of participants at a pro-European rally near parliament in Tbilisi, announcing the creation of a nationwide Platform of Resistance. “The platform is open to all pro-European parties and groups that are ready to set aside political differences and fully share the two main goals of the protest: to call for new, fair parliamentary elections and to free political prisoners,” Zourabichvili stated.

● Famous opera singer Paata Burchuladze called Zourabichvili’s speech a “disappointment” and “diversion.” “Tens of thousands of people came, and they were told about some plan that no one knows when or how it will be implemented. We don’t have that much time to wait. We are losing the country; it is moving in a different direction. There are mothers here whose children are in prison. She talks about preparing for new elections – what elections can we even talk about when we are losing the whole country? I propose that on April 8, we start an indefinite protest and not disperse until we get a positive decision on the immediate holding of new elections and the release of political prisoners,” Burchuladze said on air for Palitra News.

● The Ministry of Internal Affairs issued a warning that an investigation has been launched regarding the use of pyrotechnics at the rally, which is prohibited under the new law.

● The Batumi city court has begun a substantive review of the criminal case against Mzia Amaglobeli, the founder of the well-known media outlets Netgazeti and Batumelebi. The latest session was held with her presence. Mzia faces up to 7 years in prison on charges of assaulting a police officer after slapping the Batumi police chief, who allegedly insulted her. Representatives from the embassies of the Czech Republic, Poland, Sweden, and the United Kingdom attended the session as observers. Solidarity protests in support of Mzia Amaglobeli are being held across Georgia daily. She was brought into the courtroom to chants of “freedom for Mzia!”

● Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze from Georgian Dream announced that “Georgia will establish its own government efficiency department, which will evaluate the work of the government both in past years and in the present.”

● The administration of Georgian Dream’s presidential representative, Mikheil Kavelashvili, denied rumors that he would attend the parade in Moscow on May 9, calling them “deliberate disinformation.”

● Transparency International – Georgia announced that it is working on an updated catalog of alleged corruption cases in the country’s top government circles, which will allow tracking of these violations and provide insight into the scale of corruption. The list already includes 224 high-level corruption cases involving at least 207 senior officials, including 16 judges, 37 members of parliament, 34 government officials, and 62 municipal employees, according to the statement.

● French photojournalist Jérôme Chobeaux was denied entry into Georgia. He had been actively posting reports on Instagram about the pro-European protests in Tbilisi, which have been ongoing for four months.

● British Airways has launched London-Tbilisi-London flights, with four weekly departures from Heathrow Airport.

At the mass protest rally near parliament on March 31 in honor of Georgia’s Independence Referendum Day. Photo by David Pipia / JAMnews:

● The German ambassador to Azerbaijan, Ralf Horlemann, was summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where he was given a “strong protest” regarding the placement of the separatist regime’s flag on the German president’s Instagram page during his visit to Armenia. The ministry called it an “unacceptable open political provocation.” The post has since been removed from the German president’s social media accounts. According to Azerbaijan’s APA news agency, the ambassador called the publication a “technical mistake” and issued a verbal apology. However, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that “Germany must publicly apologize for this violation.”

*Frank-Walter Steinmeier began his visit to the region on March 30 by traveling to Yerevan, where he stated that Germany and Europe are interested in stability in the South Caucasus. He called the progress in drafting a peace agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia “impressive” and said he would discuss the matter in Baku, where he will travel after Yerevan. His visit will continue until April 2, and he is scheduled to meet with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev.

● The well-known opposition figure Tofig Yagublu, who is currently under arrest, announced that he has begun a hunger strike on April 1 “against the unfounded, unlawful, and immoral sentence” of nine years in prison. “I was slandered and unjustly imprisoned on false charges. Everyone knows that I was arrested for my political activities.” Tofig Yagublu was arrested on December 14, 2023. He has been charged with fraud causing significant financial damage, including the use of forged official documents. Throughout his political career, Yagublu has been imprisoned multiple times. He has called on the international community to focus attention on Azerbaijan through his hunger strike, read more here

● Niyameddin Ahmedov, a member of the Popular Front Party and the bodyguard of party leader Ali Karimli, has ended his hunger strike after more than a month. It was reported that he made this decision for the sake of his mother, who had announced that she would also begin a hunger strike. Ahmedov’s hunger strike was in response to the decision to toughen his sentence and transfer him to a high-security facility for a year. In 2020, he was sentenced to 13 years in prison on charges of financing terrorism and inciting actions against the state. Ahmedov categorically denies these accusations, stating that he was arrested simply for serving as Karimli’s bodyguard on a voluntary basis.

● Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov posted on X in connection with the March 31 Day of Genocide of Azerbaijanis. “We honor and remember the tens of thousands of innocent Azerbaijanis who were brutally massacred by radical Armenian groups 107 years ago. The recurrence of such horrific acts by #Armenia against innocent Azerbaijanis – ranging from mass deportations, ethnic cleansing, and genocide, to war crimes – underscores the necessity for ending impunity of those responsible for these atrocities,” the statement reads.

● The Ministry of Defense stated that “Armenia is trying to create a false perception within the international community and hide its armed provocations by spreading misleading information.” “Armenia has been regularly shelling Azerbaijani army units in recent days, as well as attempting reconnaissance flights […], while simultaneously spreading disinformation to cover up its provocations. The claims that Azerbaijani forces allegedly shelled the Armenian settlement of Khanazakh are false. However, on March 31, Armenian forces once again fired on Azerbaijani positions near the settlement of Bazarchai in the Garakilsa region,” the ministry’s statement reads.

● The Presidents of Azerbaijan and Iran had a phone conversation, which experts describe as a noteworthy event amid the recent tensions between Iran and the United States. The press service of the Azerbaijani president reported that during the call, “satisfaction was expressed with the dynamics of high-level mutual visits between the two countries, and opinions were exchanged on the prospects of bilateral cooperation in various fields.” U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened Iran with new sanctions, tariffs, and military actions due to Tehran’s refusal to engage in direct negotiations with Washington regarding its rapidly expanding nuclear program.

● The Azerbaijan Press Council condemned a Deutsche Welle documentary on the Azerbaijani-Armenian conflict as a “violation of all journalistic principles.” “Only ethnic Armenians are featured as experts in the film, and several biased claims are made, including an attempt to frame the conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia in religious terms. The film was prepared by the Armenian lobby in France and later translated and distributed by Deutsche Welle. We urge Deutsche Welle to refrain from actions that could spark new conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia and to stop spreading absurd information,” the statement said.

● As a result of shelling from Azerbaijan, a residential house in Syunik was damaged, but there were no casualties, the Ministry of Defense reported. “The incident occurred at night, around 00:50, when the enemy opened fire in the direction of the village of Khnatsakh in the Syunik region,” the statement said.

● German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, currently visiting Yerevan, posted a photo featuring the flag of the former unrecognized Nagorno-Karabakh Republic on his social media. In the accompanying text, he wrote that “Nagorno-Karabakh was predominantly populated by Armenians.” At a briefing with his Armenian counterpart, Vahagn Khachaturyan, Steinmeier emphasized Germany’s interest in stability in the South Caucasus and stated that a peace agreement with Baku should pave the way toward it. He also highlighted Germany’s support for Armenia’s interest in the EU and Europe.

● The parents of 81 fallen soldiers refuse to recognize their remains, MP Gegham Nazaryan told journalists after a meeting between security officials and the relatives of missing soldiers. Nazaryan, who lost his own son in the 44-day war in autumn 2020, said he repeatedly asked investigators for his son’s personal belongings but never received them. It turned out that the belongings of fallen soldiers had been collected without proper identification. The investigative committee justified this by saying they were unprepared for such a workload, but the MP rejected this explanation.

● The meeting took place in a tense atmosphere. Nazaryan specifically asked what should be done if multiple DNA tests confirmed the identity of fallen soldiers, revealing that some of the missing were actually among them, yet the parents refused to accept the deaths of their sons. This wording angered the meeting participants, who stated that Nazaryan had no right to refer to their sons as deceased.

● Armenia has selected the company responsible for producing biometric passports and ID cards. According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the consortium DEMIA Identity Security France and A.C.I. Technology S.à.r.l. will take on the project. Production of the new cards will begin in the second half of 2026. According to the ministry’s plan, the private operator will not only print the documents but also handle their issuance.

● National Security Service chief Armen Abazyan announced the launch of a criminal case following a video posted by Turkish blogger Ogyun Ozdemir, in which he stands in the center of Yerevan and calls it “historical Azerbaijani land.”

● Discussions continue regarding the municipal elections in Gyumri, Armenia’s second-largest city. The ruling party received the highest number of votes but failed to secure the “50+1” majority needed to appoint its mayoral candidate. Opposition parties are working on forming a coalition to nominate their own candidate for mayor. Read more here

● A group of forcibly displaced Karabakh Armenians held another protest outside the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs, demanding the reinstatement of social assistance, which will be significantly reduced starting today. “We deserve a dignified life,” wrote Karabakh mothers on the ground at the entrance to the government building.

● At 8 PM today, large-scale rallies will take place across Georgia to mark the 34th anniversary of the March 31, 1991, referendum, where nearly 99% of voters supported restoring the country’s independence. Fifth president Salome Zourabichvili will address demonstrators in Tbilisi. The rallies are part of ongoing mass protests demanding the release of arrested demonstrators and new parliamentary elections.

● Protesters marching from Dmanisi (Kvemo Kartli) will join the Tbilisi rally after covering 100 km, stopping in four cities and 20 villages to hold demonstrations in solidarity with “prisoners of conscience” arrested during pro-European protests (pictured below).

● Opposition leaders and Salome Zourabichvili met to discuss freeing detained protesters, resisting Georgian Dream repression, and holding new elections to change power legally.

● Public outrage is growing over a parliamentary commission from Georgian Dream reviewing the presidency of Mikheil Saakashvili, including the 2008 Georgia-Russia war. Many active and former military personnel, police officers, and families of fallen soldiers oppose claims that Georgia started the war, stating, “Russia is the main aggressor, and the current government follows its orders.”

● The National Bank of Georgia and the People’s Bank of China signed a memorandum on bilateral cooperation.

● Irakli Bebua, a 33-year-old Georgian citizen who spent five years in an Abkhazian prison for publicly burning the Abkhaz flag, has been released and is now on government-controlled territory.

The sign on the poster in the photo reads: “We demand new elections!”

● Municipal elections were held on March 30 in Gyumri, Armenia’s second-largest city. According to unofficial preliminary results, the ruling Civil Contract party’s candidate, Sariq Minasyan, received the most votes with 36.22%. The Communist Party, represented by former mayor Vardan Ghukasyan, secured 20.48%. Other results: Our City with candidate Martun Grigoryan – 15.56%, producer Ruben Mkhitaryan’s party – 7.87%, and the Mother Armenia bloc led by Karen Simonyan – 6.11%.

●  Despite its lead, the ruling party likely did not secure the required ’50+1′ majority and may be unable to govern Gyumri alone.

●  The Mother Armenia bloc announced its readiness to support any opposition candidate with the highest vote count to prevent the ruling party from taking control. Other opposition groups have yet to make statements.

● The ombudsman’s office reported numerous violations and social tensions during municipal elections in Gyumri and Parakar, citing incidents of forced campaigning, breaches of ballot secrecy, and other irregularities. The findings will be compiled and sent to relevant authorities.

● Prime Minister’s spokesperson Nazeli Baghdasaryan stated that the elections were mostly peaceful and accused opposition media of intentionally spreading claims of violations.

● The opposition Our City bloc reported that its candidate for the Gyumri Council of Elders, Anahit Khalatyan, was kidnapped. Mayoral candidate Martun Grigoryan claimed she was secretly taken to Yerevan without notifying her lawyer. Human rights activist Arsen Babayan later confirmed her detention.

● “Voter turnout in Gyumri’s municipal elections compared to previous years is cautiously encouraging,” wrote former head of the State Revenue Committee Davit Ananyan on Facebook.

● The defense ministry denied Azerbaijan’s claims of weekend shelling from Armenia. “This information is false. The ministry is ready to investigate if evidence is provided to the Armenian side, in line with the prime minister’s office position. We remind that Armenia proposed a joint Armenia-Azerbaijan mechanism to investigate ceasefire violations, but Azerbaijan has yet to respond,” the statement said.

● German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier arrived in Armenia for an official visit. He is scheduled to meet with President Vahagn Khachaturyan and Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, visit the TUMO Center for Creative Technologies, and attend a cultural reception.

● A protest by displaced Karabakh women took place near government residences in Yerevan (pictured below). They opposed the April 1 cuts to financial assistance for Karabakh refugees. Their banners read: “Housing program failed, Artsakhis left homeless,” “Armenia is Artsakh’s security guarantor, not an observer,” and “Dignified living in our homeland.”

● Today, Azerbaijan marks the Day of the Genocide of Azerbaijanis. According to the official version, on March 31, 1918, around 12,000 Azerbaijanis were killed, and tens of thousands went missing in massacres carried out by Armenian armed groups. Expert Toghrul Mashalli examines different accounts of these events.

● On March 30, mosques across Azerbaijan held celebratory services marking the end of Ramadan.

● A court has ordered the one-month pretrial detention of Galib Mammadov, head of Melissa Group, after an excavator from his company began demolishing a residential building last week while residents were still inside. Mammadov has been charged under Article 186.2.2 of the Criminal Code, “intentional destruction or damage to property,” carrying a prison sentence of three to seven years. Excavator driver Einullayev Gala Seymur oglu has also been detained in connection with the case and faces the same charges. A court decision on his pretrial detention is pending. Here is a video report on the incident.

●  The Ministry of Defense reported that over the weekend, Armenian armed forces attempted three reconnaissance drone flights near Azerbaijani army positions in the Gerenzur area. There were also multiple instances of gunfire from the Armenian side toward Goris, Basarkechar, and Chambarak.

●  Starlink announced on X that its “high-speed, low-latency internet is now available in Azerbaijan.”

● In January-February, trade between Azerbaijan and China increased 1.5 times compared to the same period in 2024. According to the customs committee, Azerbaijani exports to China grew 5.3 times, reaching $10.9 million, while imports from China rose 1.5 times to $734.5 million. Here, an economist provides a critical analysis of the significant import-export gap and its impact on Azerbaijan’s economy.

● The Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed condolences over the devastating earthquake in Myanmar and Thailand.

PHOTO: Construction in Karabakh is advancing rapidly. In Shusha, Soviet-era apartment buildings have been demolished, and ten new structures—including a hotel, office spaces, restaurants, and the city’s state reserve administration building—are being built simultaneously. The project, which began two years ago, is set for completion by the end of this year, according to the pro-government outlet Report, which also published photos of the site:

Top stories in Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Georgia from 24-28 March, 2025