Top stories in Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Georgia from 7-11 July, 2025

●  A bilateral meeting between the President of Azerbaijan and the Prime Minister of Armenia was held in Abu Dhabi, organized for the first time without intermediaries. According to the press release published after the meeting, only general information was shared, including:

• Various aspects of normalizing interstate relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan were discussed;
• It was confirmed that bilateral talks are the most effective format;
• The sides agreed to continue this results-oriented dialogue;
• Progress in the border delimitation process was noted, and the respective state commissions were tasked with continuing practical work.

●  President Ilham Aliyev posted a video on X without comment, starting with his meeting with the President of the United Arab Emirates and then showing the beginning of talks with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. Armenia’s foreign ministry spokesperson called the meeting successful in an official Telegram post.

●  “The US supports the efforts of Azerbaijan and Armenia to advance peace. We back steps that promote peace and stability in the South Caucasus. Washington is following related media reports,” said US State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce in response to a question about the Aliyev-Pashinyan meeting in Abu Dhabi.

●  In Azerbaijan, close attention is being paid to an ongoing trial in Russia involving eight ethnic Azerbaijanis arrested during an FSB raid on June 27. Two were killed in the operation and several others injured. The deceased were brothers of well-known journalist Seyfaddin Huseynli. They were buried on July 1 in Aghjabedi, Azerbaijan. A court in Yekaterinburg, where the incident occurred, yesterday rejected the appeal of two detainees seeking a change in their pre-trial detention. Hearings for three others are scheduled for today; no dates have been set for the remaining cases.

Azerbaijan’s foreign ministry has issued several statements demanding a transparent investigation and accountability. The Azerbaijani General Prosecutor’s Office has opened a criminal case under seven articles, including murder with exceptional cruelty and abuse of official power leading to grave consequences. A special investigative team has been formed.

●  The sentence of Elvin Mustafayev, a member of the “Workers’ Table” trade union confederation, has been toughened — he will be transferred from a general-regime colony to a prison for six months. The prison administration claims the young activist “violates internal regulations, engages in opposition activity within the colony, files unfounded complaints, and attempts to harm himself and prison staff.” At a court hearing on July 10, Mustafayev called these accusations false and stated that he had been repeatedly beaten in the warden’s office and denied medical assistance afterward. He said the pressure against him was linked to his hunger strike in April, which he held in solidarity with political activist Tofig Yagublu’s own hunger strike.

●  The trial of former leaders of the unrecognized Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR) continues. They are accused of war crimes, terrorism, attempts to overthrow the government, and other serious offenses. According to state agency AZERTAC, victims testified at the hearing. Dozens of witnesses spoke of killings of Azerbaijani civilians and abuse of captives by Armenian forces, including survivors of the Khojaly massacre. The trial will continue on July 14.

●  The Ministry of Internal Affairs reported that 103 criminal groups involved in serious crimes were neutralized in the first half of the year.

●  Two ethnic Azerbaijanis who fought with Russia’s Wagner private military company have been sentenced to four months of pre-trial detention. Ramil Aliyev and Ismail Hasanov were reportedly detained abroad and brought to Baku through special operations by the State Security Service. They had been convicted of murder and other grave crimes in a foreign country and were personally selected by Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin while imprisoned. They were released and involved in various combat operations for money. According to court materials, the accused also incited other Azerbaijani citizens to engage in similar activities abroad.

●  Another landmine explosion occurred in areas regained during the second Karabakh war. A resident of the village of Shykhark in Aghdara district lost his left foot in the incident.

●  The major interagency emergency exercise “Baku 2025” concluded at the international seaport in Alat, Garadagh district. The drill aimed to practice joint response mechanisms during large-scale emergencies. The scenario simulated a “devastating earthquake,” resulting in damaged buildings, industrial facilities, disrupted infrastructure, and casualties. Around 1,250 personnel, 8 helicopters, 277 specialized vehicles, and 14 specially trained dogs took part. The exercise concluded with a helicopter parade carrying flags of Azerbaijan and the International Civil Defense Organization.

●  “The closure of Russian-language departments in Azerbaijani schools is not currently on the agenda. However, there is a shortage of Russian language teachers,” said Minister of Science and Education Emin Amrullayev.

●  A 3,800-year-old burial mound has been discovered in the “Kesikchidag” historical and cultural reserve. It dates to the Middle Bronze Age and contains the remains of a military commander. The 2×6 m, 3 m deep burial chamber is divided into three sections: one for the body and weapons, one for clay vessels, and an empty space. Report.az writes that the skeleton is over 2 meters tall, with a four-edged bronze spearhead in its hand. Bronze tools, 12 inlaid clay jugs, and a bull-shaped stone idol were also found. Locals call the site “Yovshanlydere.” The reserve is near the Georgian border, where the David Gareji monastic complex is located on the Georgian side.

●  Tourists from 15 countries are participating in a tour of Karabakh and East Zangezur, organized by the international travel club MTP (Most Traveled People). The group is led by MTP founder and American traveler Charles Veley. Over three days, participants will visit Fizuli, Khojavend, Shusha, Khankendi, Khojaly, Aghdam, Kalbajar, Lachin, Zangilan, and Jabrayil. The goal of the tour is to “become familiar with territories restored after Armenian occupation and ongoing large-scale reconstruction.” According to reports, international travelers have visited Karabakh and East Zangezur 13 times over the past four years with the support of major global travel clubs.

●  A meeting between the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan took place in Abu Dhabi. It lasted more than five hours and was held in several rounds — both in expanded format with delegations accompanying Pashinyan and Aliyev, and one-on-one. No details of the talks have been released. A short press release issued after the meeting stated only that both sides intend to continue bilateral negotiations without intermediaries. Read more here

●  In Armenian expert circles, the talks were linked to the “American plan” to unblock regional transport routes, as reported by the Carnegie Endowment citing diplomatic sources. According to the publication, the Trump administration proposed transferring control over the soon-to-be unblocked roads to a private American company. In response to an Armenpress inquiry about the initiative, the US State Department replied: “The United States supports efforts to strengthen peace and stability in the South Caucasus. We have no information to share regarding those media reports.”

●  Armenian media are discussing how the predictions of pro-Russian opposition forces in Armenia did not come true. Before and after the talks, they had claimed that the Armenian Prime Minister went to the UAE intending to make new concessions to Azerbaijan – specifically, to provide a “corridor” to Nakhchivan without Armenian oversight. However, no such outcome was announced. Deputy Foreign Minister Mnatsakan Safaryan dismissed these claims, stating that unblocking of routes must take place “within the framework of Armenia’s sovereignty, jurisdiction, and territorial integrity.”

●  Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan reported from Abu Dhabi that he discussed economic cooperation and potential investment opportunities with UAE Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed.

●  Armenia’s Investigative Committee reported that seven people have been detained in connection with a criminal case on suspected preparation of a terrorist attack. Extensive investigative measures, including searches at specific addresses, were conducted. Items seized included an electric detonator intended for remote activation, its components, a live grenade, gunpowder, communication devices, and other evidence of a planned crime. The Investigative Committee did not name the suspects, but the Dashnaktsutyun party stated that searches were conducted at homes of party members and claimed no illegal items were found. “The seized weapons are legal. Most of the items shown in the photos, including a launcher, are used for airsoft games. The grenade-like object contained peas for airsoft,” the party said. The Investigative Committee refuted this, stating that forensic analysis confirmed the grenade was a real F-1 explosive device and the two electric detonators were also live munitions.

Dashnaktsutyun is currently represented in parliament and is part of the “Hayastan” faction led by former president Robert Kocharyan.

●  Armenia’s Anti-Corruption Court is reviewing a new claim by the Prosecutor General’s Office to confiscate property of illegal origin. This time, the state is seeking to seize the assets of MP Artur Sargsyan. This week, parliament stripped him of his immunity, and the court placed him in pre-trial detention for two months. He is accused of plotting a terrorist attack and attempting to seize power. Sargsyan is also a member of the pro-Russian “Hayastan” faction.

●  Following the claim against Artur Sargsyan, the Anti-Corruption Court announced that another accused, Vage Ghulyanyan — former director of Sevan National Park — had fully reimbursed the state 27 million drams (around $70,000) in damages.

●  The State Property Management Committee has filed a lawsuit seeking to nationalize the Yerevan Circus building, currently owned by arrested Russian billionaire Samvel Karapetyan. Details of the case are posted on Armenia’s judicial database Datalex.

●  Defense Minister Suren Papikyan visited the “Soldier’s Home” rehabilitation center, which provides free care for wounded and disabled servicemen. He was shown the newly built operating room and canteen. A café also operates on the premises, with all proceeds going toward support for soldiers. Papikyan spoke with service members undergoing treatment at the center.

●  Russia has banned the import of flowers from Armenia, causing major losses for local businesses. Armenian entrepreneurs called the move a “political action against Armenia” and “economic terrorism.” Critics argue that the ban violates the rules of the Eurasian Economic Union’s Customs Code, of which Armenia is a member. A social media campaign has begun encouraging people to buy flowers directly from affected vendors.

●  The European Parliament has adopted a strongly critical resolution on Georgia based on the 2023–2024 reports. The resolution states that the situation in Georgia has significantly deteriorated since the European Commission’s October 30, 2024 report on the country. The resolution was supported by 490 MEPs, with 147 voting against it. Read more here

●  “In Brussels, their values have shifted — that’s all you need to know about the current situation in the EU,” said Shalva Papuashvili, speaker of parliament from Georgian Dream, in response to the resolution. “It’s enough to see that the European Parliament is demanding the release from lawful detention of dictator Mikheil Saakashvili (former president), who was exposed by the European Court of Human Rights for the systematic torture of prisoners,” Papuashvili stated.

●  The National Bank of Georgia expressed outrage over the European Parliament’s resolution calling on the EU to disconnect Georgian banks from the SWIFT system “to cut off sources of income for the ruling Georgian Dream party.” “There are no grounds for disconnecting Georgia’s financial system from SWIFT. The country’s banking and financial sector strictly complies with both Georgian legislation and international sanctions regimes. Monitoring is carried out on a continuous basis. Our foreign partners, including the Council of Europe’s expert committee MONEYVAL, have positively assessed the Georgian banking and financial sector’s full compliance with sanctions regimes,” the National Bank stated.

●  5th president Salome Zourabichvili: “Georgian Dream invited the opposition to participate in the municipal elections in October in order to divide it — and that goal has been achieved. We are in a theater of the absurd, and everyone is playing their part, right down to arguments, insults, and mockery between different parts of the opposition.” She is referring to the internal conflict among opposition forces. Eight parties that announced a boycott of the elections are sharply criticizing the “Lelo – Strong Georgia” alliance, which intends to take part.

“In reality, we should not be investing in either a campaign or a boycott. Both take up enormous financial and human resources that should instead be directed toward protests. The only way out of this situation is unity, and anything that fuels confrontation becomes a tool in Georgian Dream’s hands,” Zourabichvili said. She also stated she is confident that “the local elections will not take place — the people will not go to vote, they will not fall for this myth.”

●  Sanctions against Georgian judges are being discussed in Brussels, according to the TV channel Formula, citing its sources. The list is expected to include judges responsible for falsified trials and issuing unjust verdicts.

●  Activist Rosto Zarandia has been sentenced to 5 days of administrative detention for comments he posted on the Zugdidi city hall’s Facebook page following the dispersal of a protest on April 9. A lawsuit was filed against him by Magdalena Todua, a representative of the city hall’s press service, whom Zarandia called “stupid” in his posts. In court, Zarandia argued that his comment falls within the boundaries of freedom of expression, “especially since he has known Magdalena Todua for 14 years.” He was punished under amendments to the Code of Administrative Offenses introduced by Georgian Dream in February this year, which include a new article titled “verbal insults, profanity, and insults against state or public officials.” The penalty is a fine of 1,500 to 4,000 GEL (approximately \$500–\$1,700) or administrative detention for up to 45 days. Several dozen people have already been fined under this article.

●  The director of the Maritime Transport Agency, Aleksi Akhvlediani, has been dismissed from his position. He was detained on charges of negligent storage of a firearm but was later released on bail. The case relates to an incident that occurred on July 7 in Sagarejo. According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, former head of the Adjara regional government, Tornike Rizhvadze, attempted to take his own life at Akhvlediani’s house using his firearm. Rizhvadze is currently in serious condition in the hospital. Read more here

Tbilisi. Photo Mostafa Meraji

●  Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan is in Abu Dhabi. Yesterday evening, he met with the president of the UAE, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The Armenian prime minister’s office described the meeting as “productive.” Today, a meeting is expected between Pashinyan and the president of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev.

Armenian analysts suggest that the two leaders will discuss the possibility of signing a peace agreement, though no breakthroughs are expected. Talks are expected to cover all contentious issues, including border delimitation. However, the main focus is likely to be on unblocking regional communications — particularly the “American plan,” which has been widely discussed in recent days. Reports say the Trump administration proposed that Yerevan and Baku transfer control over communications to a private American company. This is seen as a US attempt to resolve the long-standing issue on which Armenia and Azerbaijan have been unable to agree.

Baku continues to demand that Armenia provide an extraterritorial corridor for land access to its Nakhchivan exclave. Armenian authorities say they are ready to open roads, but only based on the principles of sovereignty, jurisdiction, reciprocity, and equality. In other words, Yerevan refuses to give up control over its own territory. Armenian experts warn that if control over the road is handed to a private American company, Armenia could effectively face the logic of a corridor and a loss of control — something they see as unacceptable. More on this here

●  “Moscow views the entry ban imposed on Russian citizens by Armenia as an unfriendly act that contradicts the allied nature of our bilateral relations,” said Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova in response to the ban on entry for former senator Franz Klintsevich and political analyst Karen Igityan. According to Zakharova, the issue was also discussed during Foreign Minister Lavrov’s visit to Yerevan in May. “We have repeatedly called on our Armenian partners to end this harmful practice. Specific steps were proposed to the Armenian side. We await Yerevan’s response,” she said.

●  Representatives of the “Dashnaktsutyun” party, Armen Rustamyan and Ishkhan Saghatelyan, flew to Moscow and held meetings with members of Russia’s State Duma. This visit has raised questions in Armenian society, coming amid the foiling of a coup attempt in Armenia and an investigation into a possible “foreign trace” — allegedly Russian — in its organization.

●  A protest took place in Yerevan demanding that authorities stop the broadcast of Russian TV channels. Protesters carried signs reading “No to enemy channels” and “Turn off the voice of the enemy.” “Foreign TV channels aired via the public multiplex and funded by taxpayers insult Armenia on air. This has crossed all boundaries. The hate rhetoric spread by these media outlets is part of a hybrid war against Armenia,” said Arman Babajanyan, leader of the “For the Republic” party. Protesters brought TVs with images from Russian broadcasts taped on the screens. Chanting “No to Russian trash,” they crossed out the images and dumped the TVs in garbage bins. More on this here

●  Catholicos Aram I of the Great House of Cilicia has called for an end to the conflict between Armenia’s government and its highest clergy. He described the current atmosphere as “shameful, unhealthy, and anti-national.” He proposed traveling to Armenia to seek solutions together with Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin II, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, and other key figures. Pashinyan has made strong statements against the Catholicos, calling for Garegin II’s resignation over allegations of violating his vow of celibacy. A few days ago, the prime minister called for snap elections to choose a new Catholicos.

The Catholicosate of Cilicia is an administratively independent part of the Armenian Apostolic Church, recognizing the primacy of the Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians based in Etchmiadzin. Its headquarters is in Antelias, Lebanon, and it oversees dioceses in Lebanon, Syria, and Cyprus.

●  The plenary sessions of the anti-corruption network of the OECD have concluded in Paris. A report was approved documenting Armenia’s progress in the fight against corruption. The organization noted the country’s efforts to regulate conflicts of interest, promote business ethics, and strengthen the independence of the judiciary.

●  The sixth meeting of the Armenia–EU Partnership Committee has taken place. The committee was established under the Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement. The Armenian delegation reported that the EU expressed its “full support for Armenia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.”

●  Armenia is launching a Virtual Institute for Artificial Intelligence. The Ministry of High-Tech Industry described the initiative as a platform for open innovation. “We proudly announce that Amazon Web Services and Mistral AI have joined us,” the ministry said. The French company Mistral AI will provide expert knowledge and access to its cutting-edge open-source AI platform and models. Top mentors will be involved in supporting participants. Startups and researchers will gain access to the AI market as well as personalized support to enter both local and international markets.

●  Defense Minister Suren Papikyan held a phone call with his Iranian counterpart, Brigadier General Aziz Nasirzadeh. They discussed issues of international and regional security, as well as bilateral cooperation.

●  The investigation continues into the July 8 mortar explosion at a Defense Ministry training ground. “The lives of the injured are not in danger; they are under medical supervision and receiving necessary care,” the ministry said, without specifying the number of wounded. Local media report that eight people were injured.

● A bilateral meeting between the president of Azerbaijan and the prime minister of Armenia will take place today in Abu Dhabi. Ilham Aliyev and Nikol Pashinyan arrived in the United Arab Emirates yesterday. UAE president Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan held separate meetings with each leader. According to experts, the main topic of discussion may be the US initiative to launch the “Zangezur Corridor” — a transport route intended to connect mainland Azerbaijan with its Nakhchivan exclave via Armenian territory. The project remains a major point of contention between Baku and Yerevan. Preliminary reports say Washington is proposing to transfer the corridor’s administration to a private American logistics company, which would effectively sideline Russia, which seeks a role as mediator and security guarantor for the route.

● Azerbaijan and the UAE signed a bilateral agreement on comprehensive economic partnership during the visit.

● Elshan Ibragimov, head of the Azerbaijani diaspora in the areas around Moscow, has been deported from Russia to Azerbaijan. On July 4, he was stripped of his Russian citizenship. Speaking to journalists, Ibragimov said the deportation came as a surprise: “I honestly don’t know,” he said when asked why he was being expelled. Azerbaijan-Russia relations have entered a serious crisis after Russian special forces killed two Azerbaijani citizens and injured several others during an arrest operation in Yekaterinburg. In response, Azerbaijani authorities arrested a group of Russian citizens in Baku, accusing them of cybercrimes, including two editors from the Russian state media giant Sputnik.

● Russia has banned dairy imports from two Azerbaijani companies and demanded that other suppliers provide information on the origin of their raw materials by July 14.

●  The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry has condemned as “unacceptable political manipulation and hypocrisy” a statement by Iran’s ambassador to Armenia claiming that Iran had requested the inclusion of reservations in the final document of the recent Economic Cooperation Organization summit in Karabakh, arguing the document “violates Armenia’s territorial integrity and does not reflect Iran’s position.” Ministry spokesperson Aykhan Hajizade said: “The communiqué was issued as a summary by the summit chair and did not require approval from member states, as long-established practice confirms.” He also stated that all ECO member states, including Iran, expressed support for the right of the Western Azerbaijan community to return to their homeland. “All states, including Iran, signed the resolution titled ‘The right of return of Azerbaijanis forcibly and systematically expelled from the territory of modern-day Armenia,’ adopted during the June ECO Council of Ministers meeting in Istanbul. All member states, including Iran, also signed the resolution condemning Armenia’s denial of the community’s rights,” Hajizade added.

● Appeals by journalists arrested in connection with the “MeydanTV case” have been rejected. The journalists had contested a court decision extending their pre-trial detention by three more months. They are accused of smuggling, which they deny, claiming the charges are retaliation for their critical reporting on the authorities. Lawyers insist the journalists committed no crimes and that no convincing evidence has been presented so far.

Since November 2023, more than 30 journalists and civil society activists have been arrested in Azerbaijan on smuggling charges. They reject the accusations, linking them to their professional activities and politically motivated persecution. In many cases, charges were later expanded. Seven journalists from the “AbzasMedia case” have already been sentenced to between 7 and 9 years in prison.

● The European Court of Human Rights has ruled that Azerbaijani authorities must pay detained journalist Avaz Zeynalli and his lawyer Elchin Sadigov €1,200 each in compensation for violating their rights. The journalist and his lawyer were searched before and after every meeting and claimed they were under surveillance through hidden cameras and recording devices. The court found this violated Article 8 (right to respect for private and family life, home, and correspondence) of the European Convention on Human Rights. Zeynalli is accused of bribery, which he denies, saying he is being persecuted for his journalistic work.

● A memorandum of understanding has been signed between the state railway companies of Azerbaijan and China. It was reported that rail freight volume between the two countries increased by 47% in 2024. Last year, 287 container trains arrived from China; in the first half of this year alone, the number reached 199. Over 400 container trains are expected by the end of the year. Rovshan Rustamov, head of Azerbaijan Railways, is currently visiting China.

●  Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan have launched joint flight-tactical military exercises called “Tarlan-2025.” The drills focus on coordinated operations using unmanned aerial vehicles.

● Investments by local and foreign entrepreneurs in Khankendi, Aghdara, and Khojaly in Karabakh amount to approximately 45.5 million manats (around $30 million). Authorities say 474 facilities have been leased to businesses, around 2,000 residents have already been employed, and once all rented facilities begin operating, the number of jobs is expected to exceed 5,000.

● A short documentary titled The Word was screened in Baku. Produced by Baku TV, the film tells the story of company member and war participant Alekber Nasirov, who said his goal was to share with the world the emotions he experienced during the Second Karabakh War. The film is also available in Russian and English and has already won an award at the Accolade Global Film Competition in Los Angeles and was a finalist at the Roma Prisma Film Awards. Speaking after the screening, Baku TV director Ramin Jafarov said, “International recognition and the film’s success on the Karabakh theme are yet another opportunity to tell the world the truth about Karabakh.”

●  Another group of 30 children from Ukraine has arrived in Azerbaijan for rehabilitation. This is the sixth group hosted since the beginning of the war as part of a humanitarian initiative facilitated by Azerbaijan’s embassy in Ukraine. More than 300 children of Ukraine’s National Guard and National Police personnel have already received care and rest in Azerbaijan.

● “It is deeply regrettable, yet perhaps symbolic, that today we are discussing the situation in Georgia during the same session as Belarus,” said Member of the European Parliament Rasa Juknevičienė during a debate on Georgia in the European Parliament. “Who would have thought that Georgia — a country once considered a symbol of democracy not only in the region but also in the Eastern Partnership — would now show signs of authoritarianism in the style of Lukashenko? Who would have thought we would be talking not only about political prisoners in Belarus and Lukashenko’s regime, but also about Georgia and those detained by the regime of Bidzina Ivanishvili? Attacks by Georgian authorities on MEPs and EU ambassadors have only strengthened our unified position. We clearly understand that these statements do not reflect the views of the Georgian people. On the contrary, we see their fighting spirit, their clear desire to continue moving toward the European Union, and we recognize their choice.”

● Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze of Georgian Dream commented on the rather mysterious case of former Adjara region head Tornike Rizhvadze, who, according to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, attempted suicide and is in serious condition in the hospital. Pro-government media published a letter they claim was written by Rizhvadze, while independent outlets question its authenticity. “Naturally, both I and the investigation are interested in finding out what caused the incident. A criminal case has been launched, and every detail matters, including the circumstances around the letter’s appearance. The case is under close scrutiny, including from myself,” Kobakhidze stated. Read more here

● Tbilisi City Court set bail at 30,000 GEL (approximately \$12,000) for the head of the Maritime Transport Agency, Aleksi Akhvlediani, who had been arrested in connection with the Rizhvadze case. He was released from the courtroom. The prosecution had petitioned for bail as a preventive measure. Preliminary reports say Rizhvadze shot himself with a firearm registered to Akhvlediani.

● “Tornike Rizhvadze’s condition shows positive dynamics. There is no longer a risk of traumatic or hemorrhagic shock. Ventilation support has been reduced. He is responding adequately,” said Levan Ratiani, director of the First University Clinic, speaking to journalists.

●  Uzbekistan’s foreign minister Bakhtiyor Saidov is on an official visit to Tbilisi. Local media report that the main topic of discussion is Georgia’s active involvement in the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, also known as the Middle Corridor. Georgian Dream parliamentary speaker Shalva Papuashvili wrote on X about his meeting with Saidov: “We discussed the growing ties between Georgia and Uzbekistan, emphasizing the importance of cooperation in the transport sector to realize the potential of the Middle Corridor and improve connectivity with Central Asia.”

● The political group “European Sovereign Nations” (ESN), which supports Georgian Dream, proposed an amendment to the draft resolution of the European Parliament that, in their words, “opposes Georgia’s accession to the European Union.” “We categorically reject the committee reports on Georgia for 2023 and 2024. They not only clearly show political bias but also contain a number of provisions that are legally and institutionally unacceptable under EU law and international law,” the ESN group stated.

● Miller Lagazauri, who is under sanctions, will no longer serve as deputy head of the Special Tasks and Special Forces Department and has resigned, according to Tabula, citing the Ministry of Internal Affairs. So far, top security officials have either resigned or been dismissed: Interior Minister Vakhtang Gomelauri, Special Forces head Zviad Kharazishvili, and now his deputy, Miller Lagazauri.

●  “The United States hopes a peace agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia will be signed soon,” said US Secretary of State Marco Rubio during a meeting with President Donald Trump at the White House, according to Azerbaijani media.

● Casino operations have been legalized in Azerbaijan after a 27-year ban — but only on artificial islands built in the Caspian Sea. The Milli Majlis (parliament) passed a law under which the state will oversee casinos from the moment of license application throughout their operations. Only individuals over the age of 21 can gamble. All other land-based and online gambling remains banned. Independent media link the legalization to the ambitions of Emin Agalarov, former son-in-law of the Azerbaijani president, who publicly expressed a desire to open a casino in the Sea Breeze entertainment complex on artificial islands in Baku, read and watch more here 

● The State Security Service has reported the uncovering of a cybercriminal network that gained unauthorized remote access to surveillance cameras in residential and office spaces. The group blackmailed individuals by threatening to release video recordings of their private lives. In addition, user accounts granting real-time access to footage from cameras installed at various locations across Azerbaijan were being offered for sale.

● A new law “On Gas Supply” has been adopted. Experts note that the final version softens a controversial provision requiring consumers to pay a fixed fee for gas and electricity even if not used. The revised law now limits such payments to no more than 1 manat (just over \$1) per month if the resources are not used — a compromise following public backlash.

● The Paris Court of Appeals upheld the guilty verdict of Loris Tufanian, a member of the Armenian Charjoum movement, for attacking the Azerbaijani embassy in France in September 2022, causing damage to the building. He was sentenced to one year of suspended imprisonment and banned from owning or carrying weapons for five years. This is a tougher sentence than the initial six-month suspended sentence and fine issued in 2023.

● Baku hosted the 58th session of the Executive Council of the International Civil Defense Organization. Attendees included ministers for emergency situations and representatives from Russia, Jordan, Kuwait, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and Palestine.

● President Ilham Aliyev sent condolences to US President Donald Trump over the recent deadly floods in Texas.

● Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan are discussing an increase in freight traffic along the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, with a focus on digitization and automation, according to pro-government outlet Report.

● The trial of Ruben Vardanyan, the former state minister of the unrecognized Nagorno-Karabakh republic and Armenian citizen, continues in Baku. He faces charges including torture, mercenarism, war crimes, and terrorism. According to pro-government outlet AZERTAC, the court granted Vardanyan’s request to review records of preliminary hearings and rulings on his motions. Testimonies from victims and families of those allegedly killed during Armenia’s occupation of Azerbaijani territories were heard. The next hearing is set for July 15.

● Chickenpox cases are rising in Azerbaijan. According to the state statistics committee, 17,595 cases were recorded in the first five months of the year — 2,189 more than in the same period last year.

● An investigation has been launched against orthopedic trauma surgeon Agshin Mammadov, who livestreamed a surgery on TikTok from a private clinic, according to local media reports.

● “Armenia and the European Union are clearly strengthening their relationship. Both sides firmly support a strong partnership. This is a rare and vivid example of a diplomatic step driven by the will of the people,” said MEP Nathalie Loiseau. The Armenian parliament has reviewed and approved a bill to launch the process of joining the EU based on a civic initiative. To get it on the parliamentary agenda, the initiative group collected 60,000 signatures — 10,000 more than the required 50,000.

● Iran has sent an official letter to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) with its objections regarding recently adopted documents related to Armenia. This was announced by Iran’s ambassador to Armenia, Mehdi Sobhani. Following a ministerial conference, OIC member states adopted the “Istanbul Declaration” and several resolutions initiated by Azerbaijan. One such resolution concerns the “right of return for Azerbaijanis forcibly displaced from what is now Armenian territory.” The OIC countries “condemned Armenia’s denial of the rights of the Western Azerbaijan community.” The Iranian ambassador stated that some provisions in the adopted documents violate Armenia’s territorial integrity and do not reflect Iran’s position.

Earlier, Armenia’s Foreign Ministry had also strongly criticized the “distorted and extremely one-sided language” found in the “Istanbul Declaration” and the resolutions initiated by Azerbaijan. Read more here

On the same topic – an opinion from Baku titled “Azerbaijanis have the right to return to their native places in Armenia.”

● A search was conducted at the Electric Networks of Armenia (ENA), a company owned by Russian dollar billionaire Samvel Karapetyan, who is currently under arrest in Yerevan on charges of inciting the overthrow of the government. A raid also took place at the home of ENA’s board chairman Narek Karapetyan (Samvel Karapetyan’s nephew), who was subsequently detained. He stated that 37 working documents, a digital storage device, and cash were seized from his apartment. The search lasted over 5 hours. The Investigative Committee said “urgent investigative measures” were carried out as part of a criminal case.

● President Vahagn Khachaturyan has signed a law allowing the nationalization of the Electric Networks of Armenia. The Armenian parliament passed the law on July 3, providing the legal basis for such nationalization. The stated aim is to introduce “preventive legal mechanisms for state intervention in the energy sector.” Experts in Armenia generally support the government’s intention to return this strategic company to state ownership. Some view the move as an important step to prevent the “Russification” of Armenia. Read more here

● Arrested businessman Samvel Karapetyan has filed lawsuits against Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s spokesperson Nazeli Baghdasaryan, Deputy Chief of Staff Taron Chakhoyan, and political analyst Arutyun Mkrtchyan. Karapetyan is demanding public retraction of what he calls defamatory statements, as well as moral compensation of 9 million drams (around \$23,600) from each of them. The information is available on the Datalex judicial information portal. According to Karapetyan, Baghdasaryan publicly claimed that he was “acting on orders from another country” — presumably referring to Russia. He says Chakhoyan and Mkrtchyan referred to him on social media as “an agent deployed to Armenia” and blamed him for Armenia’s energy crisis.

● The Armenian parliament debated whether to strip opposition MP Artur Sargsyan of parliamentary immunity (pictured below). He is accused of plotting a terrorist act with others to overthrow the government. Sargsyan denied all accusations but refused to answer questions, saying he preferred to spend his last hours of freedom with his family rather than speak with ruling party MPs, who would vote to lift his immunity regardless. As he left the chamber, a ruling party MP, Vaghe Galumyan, attempted to block him, sparking a scuffle involving nearly all opposition and ruling party MPs. Security personnel had to break it up. In the end, the parliament voted to remove Sargsyan’s immunity. He voluntarily went to the Investigative Committee shortly after.

● “There is no place for terror, coups, or any illegal acts in our country,” said Deputy Speaker of Parliament Ruben Rubinyan during the Sargsyan debate. “If everyone starts thinking violence is justified by some higher cause, it will lead to total chaos. Imagine if everyone in the ruling Civil Contract party decided that for a noble goal we should eliminate you \[the opposition]. If you want the people’s votes, run in elections and engage in peaceful protest. What’s stopping you?”

● Human Rights Defender Anahit Manasyan condemned the latest scuffle involving MPs. “Parliament must be a platform for democratic debate, not a battleground,” she said.

● The Investigative Committee has completed interrogations of MPs Seyran Ohanyan and Artsvik Minasyan, both of whom served as ministers under the previous government. Ohanyan is a former defense minister, and Minasyan a former environment minister. Their cases are connected. The Prosecutor’s Office alleges that Ohanyan illegally built a private house in a protected natural area, and Minasyan, being aware of this, presented the property as an investment project of the Environment Ministry.

Seyran Ohanyan is charged with abuse of power, bribery, money laundering, and submitting false information in official declarations.

Artsvik Minasyan is charged with abuse of office. He considers the charges legally baseless and intends to appeal to international bodies.

● Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has posted another sharp critique of Armenia’s top clergy, promising to “lead a movement to free the House of Jesus Christ from the circle of antichrists, dogmatists, anti-national, and anti-state sinners.” He wrote: “Beyond all debates, the most important truth has emerged: Ktrich Nersisyan \[the secular name of Catholicos Garegin II], Vazgen Galstanyan \[Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan], and Gevorg Adjapakhyan \[Archbishop Mikael Adjapakhyan] — among others — have no connection to Jesus Christ or his teachings.”

Since late May, Pashinyan has been openly attacking the Catholicos and several archbishops, demanding Garegin II step down amid reports of breaking his vow of celibacy. A few days ago, Pashinyan also called for snap elections for a new Catholicos of All Armenians.

● The civil movement “Hayakve” has appealed to the Prosecutor General’s Office, demanding an investigation into the Prime Minister and his inner circle’s social media posts targeting the Armenian Apostolic Church. Movement leader Avetik Chalabyan said these posts amount to a campaign against the church and violate four articles of Armenia’s Criminal Code: incitement of hatred and discrimination, interference with a religious institution, invasion of privacy, and abuse of office. “This is an attempt to portray the church as a terrorist center. In their remarks, the authorities are also violating the presumption of innocence,” Chalabyan stated.

● Giorgi Ramishvili, head of the largest telecommunications company in Georgia, Silknet, paid bail of 70,000 lari (about $20,000) and was released from the courtroom. He had been detained at the airport when a firearm was discovered in his hand luggage. Ramishvili has a permit to own firearms but not to carry them. In court, he stated he had not noticed that the firearm was in his bag. Read more here

● The Ministry of Internal Affairs released new information about former Adjara regional government chairman Tornike Rizhvadze, who was hospitalized yesterday with a gunshot wound to the chest. An investigation has been launched under Article 115 of the Criminal Code, which relates to incitement to suicide. Rizhvadze sustained a lung injury and remains in serious but stable condition. Media reports say the director of the Georgian Maritime Transport Agency, Aleksi Akhvlediani, has been detained for negligent storage of the firearm that Rizhvadze used to shoot himself. Pro-government media published a letter allegedly written by Rizhvadze before the suicide attempt. Independent media have questioned the authenticity of the letter. More details and commentary here

● The OSCE released a statement criticizing the “Georgian Dream” government and its anti-Western policies. It expressed concern about increasing pressure on civil society and opposition politicians in the country.

● Mediachecker summarized the asset declaration of the chairman of the Communications Commission, Kakhaber Bekauri, and his family. Bekauri himself owns 14 land plots valued at over $1 million in Tbilisi, Akhmeta, and Kvareli, as well as two apartments worth $178,060 registered in his name in Borjomi and Dusheti districts. His wife, Ekaterine Bekauri, who serves as communications director of the state company Georgian Water and Power, owns 19 apartments worth up to $3 million in Tbilisi and Batumi.

● According to a new public opinion poll conducted by the Institute for Social Studies and Analysis (ISSA), 44% of Georgia’s population supports the continuation of protests against “Georgian Dream,” while 41% believe they should stop. EU membership is supported by 83% of respondents. The most popular political figure is Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze — but only with 28% support. More findings from the survey here

●  In Tbilisi City Court, during a hearing on the case of 11 people detained during the November 30 protests, special forces officer Nugzar Mirianashvili, who is listed as a victim in the case, was questioned. Mirianashvili said he does not know the defendants and has no complaints against them. However, he stated: “If their involvement in violent actions is proven, they must be punished.”

● The Armenian parliament has approved the launch of criminal proceedings against MPs Seyran Ohanyan and Artsvik Minasyan, both former ministers. Ohanyan is a former defense minister, and Minasyan previously led the Ministry of Environment. According to the preliminary investigation, Ohanyan illegally built a private home on protected natural territory, while Minasyan, knowing this, presented the private property as an investment project of the environment ministry. Read more here

● Public debate is ongoing over whether arrested archbishops Bagrat Galstanyan and Mikael Adjapahyan actually carried out the one-day hunger strike they announced on Constitution Day, July 5. The pro-government newspaper Haykakan Zhamanak, edited by the prime minister’s wife, claimed the hunger strike never happened. According to the outlet, a response from the penitentiary stated: “Galstanyan and Adjapahyan did not go on hunger strike and ate regularly.” Galstanyan’s lawyer rejected the claim, calling it “lies and manipulation,” and accused the paper of trying to discredit the clergy.

Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan of the Tavush Diocese is accused of planning “terrorist acts and seizure of power.” Archbishop Mikael Adjapahyan of the Shirak Diocese is accused of “public calls to seize power and violently overthrow the constitutional order.” The Investigative Committee links both cases to an alleged coup attempt in Armenia.

● When asked in parliament when Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan and his supporters allegedly planned the terrorist attack and seizure of power, Prosecutor General Anna Vardapetyan replied: “The timeline shifted periodically, but the events were scheduled for September 2025 and connected to a church holiday.” She added that certain steps, “prohibited by the Constitution,” were planned starting in November 2024 and continued until their arrest. Vardapetyan also said the investigation is studying Galstanyan’s communications with foreign security entities: “Phone transcripts contain indications of foreign influence or contact with individuals from other countries. These must be investigated.” She did not specify which country, but experts suspect Russia.

● Armenian Ambassador Gurgen Arsenyan was summoned to the Russian Foreign Ministry and met with Deputy Minister Mikhail Galuzin. Afterward, Moscow issued a vague statement that “the ambassador was informed of the need to maintain a constructive informational environment regarding Russia and bilateral ties.” This was likely a response to a proposal from Armenia’s television and radio commission to ban Russian TV channels in the country, citing offensive content toward Armenians and Armenian authorities, as well as interference in internal affairs. The Russian MFA is now proposing another round of consultations between relevant agencies from both countries.

● Public discussion also followed comments by Konstantin Zatulin, Deputy Chair of the Russian State Duma Committee on CIS Affairs, on the worsening of Russia-Azerbaijan relations. “We are no longer needed by Baku the way we were before the resolution of the Karabakh conflict,” Zatulin said in an interview with Moskovsky Komsomolets. When asked why ties with Azerbaijan are not improving despite Russia’s stance during the conflict, he answered: “There’s been another deterioration due to events in Yekaterinburg (where Russian special forces fatally shot two Azerbaijanis and seriously injured others – JAMnews). But that’s just a pretext; the real reason is that Baku no longer needs a special relationship with Russia. Instead, it needs close ties with Israel, Turkey, and the UK. […] Even as we speak, final consultations are underway on how Armenia under Pashinyan and Azerbaijan under Aliyev will sign a peace agreement – and it will definitely happen on a Western platform. Ideally in the US, so Trump can once again become a peacemaker and finally win the Nobel Peace Prize.”

●  In the first quarter of 2025, Armenia’s economic growth stood at 5.2%, according to a press release from the Eurasian Economic Union, led by Russia. Growth in other EAEU countries was as follows: Kyrgyzstan – 13.1%, Kazakhstan – 5.6%, Belarus – 3.1%, Russia – 1.4%.

● The annual Army Games between Armenian security agencies have concluded for the third year in a row under the patronage of the Prime Minister (pictured below). Teams from the Ministries of Defense, Internal Affairs, Justice, the National Security Service, the State Revenue Committee, the Investigative Committee, the Anti-Corruption Committee, the Prosecutor’s Office, and the State Protection Service all participated. Women were also part of the teams. Winners received certificates, medals, and cash prizes.

● Ringo Starr shared a video by the Armenian group “The Beatles Band” on his Facebook page. In the video, the band performs “With a Little Help from My Friends” at a pub in Yerevan, wearing outfits identical to those on the Beatles’ iconic 1967 album cover. The performance was a birthday tribute to Ringo Starr, who captioned the video: “Peace & Love from Yerevan, Armenia!”

● Presidential aide Hikmet Hajiyev spoke about Azerbaijan’s role in ensuring Europe’s energy security, the need for investment in gas transport infrastructure, and said that “green fanaticism should be set aside, as there is currently no alternative to gas.”
“Azerbaijan currently supplies gas directly to eight European countries. But overall, 12 European countries receive Azerbaijani gas. This cooperation has no political undertones — it’s purely commercial, pure business. And of course, the energy security of our partners is important to us,” Hajiyev said in an interview with Slovakia’s Hospodárske noviny.

He noted that energy security became particularly critical for Europe after the Russia-Ukraine war began. “European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen came to Azerbaijan in 2022, almost immediately after the war started. We provided Europe with the gas it needed. Brussels has stated its intent to completely cut off imports of Russian energy. We’re definitely ready to supply more volumes, but this requires a new level of cooperation with the EU — especially in terms of infrastructure. Azerbaijan has vast gas reserves in the Caspian Sea, but the capacity of the Trans-Adriatic Pipeline — the Southern Gas Corridor — is already fully used. We need to technically expand it. And Europe still needs gas. That’s why both sides must take a realistic approach. Long-term contracts and commitments from the EU are needed. We are waiting for its response,” Hajiyev said.

● In the same interview, Hikmet Hajiyev commented on Azerbaijan’s position regarding the war between Russia and Ukraine:
“Russia is our neighbor. Having good relations with all our neighbors is a priority not just for Azerbaijan, but for any country. The same goes for Ukraine. We have long-standing interpersonal ties with both countries. A cornerstone of our policy is the absolute inviolability of territorial integrity. Our country has suffered greatly from violations of this principle in the past. That’s why we unequivocally support the territorial integrity of other countries. At the same time, we maintain a distance from the military confrontation between Russians and Ukrainians. We stay away from supplying any military components. We provide only humanitarian aid to Ukraine, primarily for children, who suffer most in this conflict. We also supply essential equipment, such as electric generators. We in no way participate in military assistance and consider ourselves part of the so-called ‘non-aligned countries.’”

● On Armenia-Azerbaijan relations, Hikmet Hajiyev said: “First of all, I want to emphasize that peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan already exists. The war is over. There is calm and stability along the borders. A new status quo has emerged in the region — one based on legality and legitimacy. The previous state of affairs was based on the fact of Armenian military occupation of Azerbaijani territory. But that phase is now behind us. We’ve agreed on the text of a peace treaty. To finalize it, one last step remains: we expect Armenia to amend its constitution, which still contains territorial claims against Azerbaijan. In any case, what’s important is that we maintain a bilateral communication channel. The key factor is that military confrontation is now off the table. We’ve managed to transition from armed conflict to a political dispute. I think that’s a positive sign.”

● Border delimitation and demarcation plans between Azerbaijan and Armenia were discussed during a recent meeting in Baku of Azerbaijani ambassadors and consuls stationed abroad. Also on the agenda were the legal status of the Caspian Sea and development of bilateral and multilateral legal frameworks. Details were not disclosed.

● Russian Emergency Minister Aleksandr Kurenkov arrived in Baku. Officially, the visit was for participation in the Executive Council meeting of the International Civil Defense Organization, which includes over 60 countries. However, Russian pro-government Telegram channels claim the real purpose was informal talks aimed at easing tensions between Russia and Azerbaijan after Russian special forces killed two Azerbaijanis and seriously injured others during an arrest operation in Yekaterinburg.

● Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Culture denied reports that it had initiated bilateral cooperation in the cultural sphere with Russia.
“A fake document is circulating in some media outlets and social platforms, allegedly from the Ministry. It has nothing to do with the Azerbaijani Ministry of Culture,” the statement said.

● Another hearing was held in the criminal case against nine journalists from ToplumTV. One of the detained journalists, Farid Ismayilov, protested that investigative materials had been leaked to pro-government media, which are conducting a smear campaign against ToplumTV. This violates the presumption of innocence. Ismayilov also requested to sit next to his lawyer during court hearings to be able to consult. All journalists were kept in a glass cage. None of their motions were granted.

● The health of Haji Valiev, the imprisoned head of the “Young Veterans” public organization, is deteriorating. His family reported that he has been on a hunger strike for 16 days. The penitentiary service has not commented.

● The trial of former leaders of the unrecognized Nagorno-Karabakh Republic continues. They are accused of war crimes, terrorism, attempted overthrow of the state, and other serious crimes. According to state agency AZERTAC, dozens of witnesses testified, describing how their relatives and neighbors were killed during the occupation of Azerbaijani territories by Armenian forces, subjected to torture, taken hostage, and had their property seized. The trial will resume on July 10.

● An explosion occurred in an apartment on the 11th floor of a residential building in Absheron’s Youth Town near Baku. Three people were injured, and the building was damaged. An investigation has been launched.

● A large drug smuggling attempt from Iran to Azerbaijan was prevented — nearly 42 kg of narcotics were seized, the State Security Service reported.

Photo JAMnews

● At Tbilisi airport, well-known businessman Giorgi Ramishvili, owner of Silknet – one of the largest telecommunications companies—was detained. The Ministry of Internal Affairs reported that the arrest was made as part of an investigation into illegal possession and carrying of firearms. Ramishvili is the founder of the Silk Road group. He also serves as chairman of the supervisory board of Silknet, the founder of the TV company Euronews Georgia. Giorgi Ramishvili’s name is linked to various business projects of the previous government, the most notable being the construction of Trump Tower and the development of 16 hotels on the Black Sea coast. More details here.

● The fifth president of Georgia, Salome Zourabichvili, issued a statement regarding this arrest. “After activists, journalists, and political leaders, arrests are now targeting big business. Giorgi Ramishvili is the owner of one of the main internet networks, founder of Euronews Georgia, and a former business partner of Donald Trump,” Zourabichvili wrote on X.

● U.S. Ambassador Robin Dunnigan told the Georgian edition of Radio Liberty details about the relationship between Georgia’s current authorities and Donald Trump’s administration. “The leadership of Georgian Dream handed me a letter for the U.S. presidential administration. It was not a public letter, but full of threats, insults, and reckless statements. It was very poorly received in Washington,” the ambassador said. She also noted that “the U.S. demands that would restore relations with Georgia to a normal path are very simple. One of them is to stop the anti-American rhetoric. There are many things that Georgian Dream says about the U.S. that are not true. The claim that we tried to open a second front in Georgia is false; that my predecessor tried to provoke a revolution here is false; that our strategic partnership is only on paper is false; that my government recalled me from my ambassador post—also false. And that is only part of the list of lies,” Robin Dunnigan said.

● Georgia will be discussed at the EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting scheduled for July 15, 2025, in Brussels. However, according to the official agenda, the discussion will only take place in the format of an exchange of views. This means that at this stage no specific decisions or special measures regarding Georgia are planned. On the list of discussion topics, Georgia is listed third, after points on Russia’s aggression against Ukraine and the situation in the Middle East.

●  Unexpectedly, Mirza Kezevadze, deputy head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs’ Special Tasks Department, resigned. He is under sanctions by the United Kingdom. The United States also included him, along with former Interior Minister Vakhtang Gomelauri, on the Magnitsky list. In addition, Mirza Kezevadze is sanctioned by Germany, the Czech Republic, Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia. This is not the first high-profile resignation in the security forces. On June 10, Zviad Kharazishvili, the head of special forces with a notorious negative reputation, who is also under multiple international sanctions, was dismissed.

● A deep split has emerged within the opposition after the coalition “Lelo – Strong Georgia” announced it would participate in the municipal elections in October. “We will fight the de facto government on its de facto playing field,” said coalition leader Irakli Kupradze. Earlier, eight opposition parties declared a boycott of these elections, believing that Georgian Dream has already seized all the levers of power and that participation in the elections would not bring victory but only legitimize the current authorities. Now, the opposition has sharply criticized the “Lelo – Strong Georgia” coalition, even calling them traitors. More details here.

●  Student movements involved in the ongoing pro-European protests lasting more than seven months strongly condemned the decision of the “Lelo – Strong Georgia” coalition and promised to “begin exposing” its leaders.

Photo by David Pipia, JAMnews. At the pro-European protest in Tbilisi. The poster calls for the “resignation of the Russian government in Georgia” and features the words “Glory to Georgia!”

● The Ministry of Foreign Affairs published the communiqué adopted at the 17th summit of the Organization of Economic Cooperation of Central Asia and the Middle East (ECO), held in Khankendi, Karabakh. Key messages:

• • At the initiative of president Ilham Aliyev, several forums were held before the summit in Karabakh and nearby regions: the ECO Youth Forum in Aghdam, the ECO Women’s Forum in Lachin, and the 6th Business Forum in Shusha.
• • The large-scale reconstruction efforts in the Karabakh and Eastern Zangezur regions, liberated from Armenian occupation, were praised.
• • The right of Azerbaijanis expelled from Armenia to return to their native lands was reaffirmed.
• • Economic resilience and climate change adaptation were defined as key future priorities for ECO.
• • The “Zero Emissions” environmental initiative by Azerbaijan’s vice president Mehriban Aliyeva and Turkish First Lady Emine Erdoğan was highlighted.
• • The launch of the ECO Clean Energy Center and the expansion of the ECO Research Center were praised.
• • Support was expressed for strengthening the ECO Investment initiative, the Chamber of Commerce Council, the ECO Trade and Development Bank, and the creation of a shared information space.
• • The significance of the 2026 World Urban Forum (WUF13) in Baku was emphasized.

●  “The text of the peace agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia has been finalized. After 30 years of conflict, a historic opportunity has emerged for lasting peace in the South Caucasus,” said Elchin Amirbekov, special representative of the president of Azerbaijan, in an interview with Mundo Internacional during a visit to Mexico. He noted remaining obstacles, including Armenia’s constitution containing territorial claims and the need to abolish the OSCE Minsk Group, which he said has outlived its relevance.

● Speaker of Pakistan’s National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq is on an official visit to Azerbaijan.

● Russian rhetoric toward Azerbaijan is shifting — from sharp criticism to positive assessments. LDPR leader Leonid Slutsky said: “They tried to drive a wedge between us and Azerbaijan during the Karabakh conflict. But Azerbaijan is now a strategic partner that has never let us down. President Ilham Aliyev is one of our most reliable partners.”

● Pro-government outlet Report published dispatches from its correspondent in Berezyna, a village in Ukraine’s Zhytomyr region near the Belarusian border that was hit by explosions. Five people were reportedly killed and 30 injured. Report notes that two affected gas stations and adjacent stores belonged to SOCAR, Azerbaijan’s state oil company. It is assumed the attack may have been carried out by Russian sabotage groups.

● Azerbaijani media are quoting a statement from Ukraine’s Defence Intelligence, which says that “the Kremlin has accelerated the build-up of its military base in Gyumri, Armenia, with the goal of exerting military-political pressure on the South Caucasus countries.” “The personnel at the base is increasing, with recruits coming from Russian servicemen in the Rostov and Volgograd regions, as well as from occupied Crimea. In addition, Russia is actively recruiting volunteers in North Ossetia and Adygea,” the HUR statement says. “The deployment of Russian troops in Armenia is part of the Kremlin’s broader strategy aimed at destabilizing global security. Moscow is expanding its military presence in the Caucasus. The deterioration in relations between Azerbaijan and Russia was likely being prepared in advance,” said the agency’ representative Andriy Yusov.

● The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan expressed condolences to the United States over the deaths of more than 50 people in the flooding in Texas.

● One of Azerbaijan’s opposition leaders, Tofig Yagublu, who has been sentenced to nine years in prison, sent a letter from jail criticizing the government’s decision to keep the country’s land borders closed for over five years. “Now, sycophantic MPs and experts cite the war between Israel and Iran to portray the border closures as a far-sighted policy by Ilham Aliyev. But this decision has poisoned the lives of millions of our citizens, as well as our compatriots in neighboring countries,” Yagublu wrote. He says that similar propaganda was used after Russia launched its military aggression against Ukraine: “These same people claimed that, had the land borders been open, an army of Ukrainian refugees would have flooded into Azerbaijan, causing serious problems. These claims are absurd—because that would mean Ilham Aliyev knew long in advance that Russia would invade Ukraine and Israel would attack Iran.” Yagublu pointed to the examples of Georgia and Kazakhstan, arguing that “tens of thousands of wealthy Russians who fled there ended up helping to strengthen those countries’ economies.”

● The Azerbaijan International Development Agency (AIDA), operating under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has invested \$34,000 in a project to establish a Youth Leadership and Innovation Center in Kenya, according to the state agency APA.

●  In Khankendi, Karabakh, 250 people are now employed at a textile factory built through Azerbaijan-Uzbekistan cooperation. The number of employees is expected to reach 500.

● “Around 6,000 people will be resettled in the village of Khydyrly in Aghdam district, liberated from Armenian occupation after the Second Karabakh War. Construction of 1,498 individual houses and infrastructure is underway,” said Leila Syarabi, press secretary for the Aghdam-Fizuli-Khojavend administrative service, in a comment to Report.

● A five-level railway and bus terminal is being constructed in Khankendi on the right bank of the Karkar River (pictured below). According to local media, the 6.4-hectare complex will include riverfront promenades, bridges, an underpass, parking, EV charging stations, and a bike path. The terminals are expected to serve 800–1,200 passengers per day.

● Azerbaijan’s freestyle wrestling team won second place at the U20 European Championships with 133 points. Georgia placed first (164 points), and Ukraine third (81 points).

● Armenia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs sharply criticized a statement by Ukraine’s Defense Ministry Main Intelligence Directorate, which claimed that Russia is allegedly expanding its military presence in Armenia, specifically “accelerating the reinforcement of its Gyumri military base to exert military-political pressure on the South Caucasus countries.” MFA spokesperson Ani Badalyan responded: “In response to some fabricated news in the press, we reaffirm our principled position: Armenia’s territory cannot be used by third countries to conduct military actions against any neighboring state.”

● “Armenia needs a new constitution approved by a public referendum so that the people can truly feel it’s theirs,” Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan stated at an event commemorating the 30th anniversary of the constitution. “Serious experts drafted the constitution, but what should have happened through the freely expressed will of the people didn’t actually happen. That’s why people don’t feel part of the process,” he said.

● The MFA criticized Turkish President Erdoğan’s claim that “Armenia, which was initially opposed to the Zangezur Corridor, is now showing a more flexible approach to economic integration.” While Baku insists that the corridor should be fully extraterritorial, Armenia rejects any idea of losing control over its territory. Ani Badalyan emphasized: “Armenia remains interested in expanding regional connectivity and economic development. That is why Armenia launched the ‘Crossroads of Peace’ initiative and other constructive proposals. Armenia’s vision for opening regional transport infrastructure is based on the fundamental principles of sovereignty and national jurisdiction, without any alternative logic.”

● In Yerevan over the weekend, a march took place in support of Russian businessman Samvel Karapetyan, who was arrested on charges of publicly calling for the seizure of power (pictured below). More than 7,000 people participated in the event. However, before it started, media reported that people were being forcibly brought in by buses from the regions, and recordings circulated showing how participants were being “recruited.” While encouraging passersby to join the march, the organizers also distributed t-shirts and caps with the hashtag #merdzevov, which translates as “in our own way.” This refers to words from Karapetyan’s statement supporting the church, for which he was arrested: “If Armenia’s political forces fail to deal with this situation, we will have to intervene in the campaign against the church in our own way.” Among those who took part in the march supporting Karapetyan was the brother of the Catholicos of All Armenians, the head of the Russian and New Nakhichevan Diocese, Ezras Nersisyan.

● After two weeks in detention, dollar-billionaire Samvel Karapetyan released a statement through his lawyers, effectively repeating the remarks that led to his arrest: “Nikol Pashinyan and his government have nothing to do with Armenia and should have nothing to do with Armenia’s future.” He added that “it’s time to unite around a fundamentally new force and become a unified fist.” Ruling party “Civil Contract” members accused him of following a foreign agenda, presumably Russia. MP Vaagn Aleksanyan said: “I don’t know how many more times Russian stars like Philipp Kirkorov or Margarita Simonyan will speak up before it becomes clear: these are instructions coming from abroad.”

● Armenian media are discussing what “fundamentally new force” Karapetyan might be referring to, whether he plans to form a party for the next year’s parliamentary elections, and how he plans to bring about a change of power. Karapetyan himself is ineligible to run for prime minister because he also holds Russian citizenship.

● Two archbishops under arrest – Mikayel Ajapahyan (for publicly calling for a power grab) and Bagrat Galstanyan (accused of plotting terrorist acts and takeover of power) – declared a one-day hunger strike on Constitution Day. Ajapahyan says this is a protest against his “illegal and unconstitutional arrest.” Arthur Poghosyan, head of the Investigative Committee, earlier stated: “The prevention of an attempted coup in Armenia and the opening of criminal cases against two high-ranking clergymen should not be viewed separately – they are links in the same chain.” Read more here

● Prime Minister Pashinyan continued his social media posts on the participation of high-ranking clergy in Armenian politics. His latest comment: “I was asked what relationship clergy personal life has with the current operational situation in the country. Let’s set aside the fact that celibate clergymen cannot have personal lives. I will give just one example showing the link between personal life and the operational situation. In recent years, over two dozen cases have been revealed where foreign intelligence services recruited Armenian citizens by exploiting vulnerabilities in their personal and intimate lives. Many of these cases have criminal proceedings; some are in court, others already have convictions. There’s your link between ‘personal life’ and operational context.”

● Razmik Ovagimyan, CEO of Firebird AI and founder of several tech companies, received Armenian citizenship. In June, the government announced the establishment of an AI factory in Armenia in partnership with Firebird AI and NVIDIA. The project is valued at \$500 million. Read more here

● “The Ministry of High-Tech Industry of Armenia and French AI leader Mistral AI are joining forces to advance AI in Armenia,” wrote Minister Mkhitar Ayrapetyan on Facebook. He said the collaboration will strengthen Armenia’s AI ecosystem, enabling local researchers and startups to develop competitive tech solutions. “We are proud that Armenia is part of this global movement,” the minister stated.

● “The public multiplex should not serve foreign political agendas,” said members of the Armenian TV and Radio Commission.  This response comes after increasing broadcasts containing offensive content – against the Armenian people and national values, as well as authorities – with participants interfering in Armenia’s domestic political life. In an extraordinary meeting, they issued a statement: “We have received numerous complaints from residents urging us not to allow Armenia’s information space to become an environment of impunity, where insults, disinformation, vulgar language, justification of violence, and violations of fundamental human rights become the norm.”

Top stories in Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Georgia from 30 June-4 July, 2025