Top stories in Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Georgia from 13-17 January, 2025
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Friday, January 17, Georgia. Statements of outrage from Western leaders regarding the attack on Giorgi Gakharia
● US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller: “We strongly condemn the violence against Georgian civilians, protesters, journalists, and opposition figures, including former Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia. This is yet another example of the Georgian Dream’s repressive tactics, which will lead to the country’s isolation.” Giorgi Gakharia, one of the opposition leaders, was attacked by a Georgian Dream MP and a member of the Supreme Council of the Adjara region. During an argument in a hotel lobby in Batumi, Gakharia threw a paper cup at them. In response, they beat him so severely that he suffered facial fractures and a concussion. More details here.
● German Minister of Economic Cooperation and Development Svenja Schulze: “I am deeply shocked by the attack on former Prime Minister and opposition leader Giorgi Gakharia. I wish him a speedy recovery and all the best. This crime must be investigated. There is no place for political violence in democracies.”
● The Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed shock at the attack on the leader of the “For Georgia” party, Giorgi Gakharia, stating that “political violence in Georgia has reached a new level.” “We urge Georgian authorities to investigate this case and prevent further violence against political and civil opposition,” the statement said.
● Georgian Dream released a statement claiming that “if the UK imposes sanctions on Bidzina Ivanishvili, it would mean that the deep state has infiltrated there as well, bringing it down to the level of Ukraine, Lithuania, Estonia, and the European Parliament.” The political council expressed outrage that “the leader of the ruling party, which liberated Georgia from authoritarian rule and brought democratic reforms to the country, is being threatened with sanctions without any grounds.” The political council also stated it was “surprised how traditions established in England as far back as the 13th and 17th centuries have been completely forgotten and trampled by the British government in the 21st century.” The full statement, along with a list of sanctions already imposed on hundreds of individuals linked to Georgian Dream, including high-ranking officials and oligarch Ivanishvili, here.
● Georgia will not participate in the 2025 Davos Economic Forum or the Munich Security Conference in February for the first time. According to the Georgian Dream government press office, they did not receive invitations to either event, “but would not have attended even if invited.” The Davos forum will include 60 heads of state and government, including newly elected US President Donald Trump, the presidents of the European Parliament and European Commission, Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev, Armenia’s Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, and Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky.
● Human Rights Watch published a report stating that in 2024, the Georgian government led the country into a human rights crisis. “The government adopted new repressive laws and unleashed brutal police repression against civilians. Authorities are steadily leading the country into an era of repression unfamiliar to Georgia but well-known to authoritarian states,” said Hugh Williamson, HRW’s director for Europe and Central Asia.
● The Charter of Journalistic Ethics joined the Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association (GYLA) in calling for a proper investigation into the degrading treatment of Batumi residents and the founder and director of Batumelebi and Netgazeti, Mzia Amaglobeli. Both organizations also demanded the immediate suspension of Batumi police chief Irakli Dgebuadze, who, according to Amaglobeli, insulted her and spat in her face.
● Members of the European Parliament issued a statement supporting peaceful protesters in Georgia. They called on EU member states to refrain from legitimizing the self-proclaimed Georgian Dream government and to suspend the work of the EU-Georgia Association Council.
● US Congressman Joe Wilson welcomed a statement by European Parliament Foreign Affairs Committee Chair David McAllister, who said, “The European Parliament does not recognize either the current Georgian government or the president appointed by it.” “The Ivanishvili regime is illegitimate; Salome Zourabichvili is Georgia’s legitimate leader pending free and fair parliamentary elections,” Wilson wrote on X.
● On January 21, the European Parliament will hold debates on the political unrest in Georgia. However, according to Radio Free Europe’s European bureau editor Rikard Jozwiak, the vote on the resolution will only take place at the February session. The debate agenda includes discussions on political unrest in Georgia, ongoing repression in Belarus, and the impact of newly elected US President Donald Trump on EU-US relations.
● High-ranking officials from the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe visited well-known actor Andro Chichinadze, who was arrested during pro-European protests. After the meeting, his lawyer, Tornike Miginishvili, told journalists that issues related to other unlawfully detained individuals were also discussed. “The questions from European parliamentarians left me with the impression that these people correctly understand the complex processes taking place in Georgia,” said Miginishvili.
● Activist and flag bearer Temur Katamadze was arrested in Batumi. This information, along with a video of the arrest, was shared on social media by Batumi City Council MP Akaki Gvianidze.
● In Abu Dhabi, Georgian citizen Lasha Gabitashvili was acquitted and released after being attacked and beaten in a hotel restaurant by Georgian Dream MPs. “The UAE judicial system was fair, effective, and independent. I am glad this incident happened in a free and responsible country. I look forward to returning to Georgia, which deserves responsible leaders,” Gabitashvili said in a letter posted on his wife’s Facebook account. Georgian Dream MPs Irakli Zarkua and Viktor Sanikidze were released from custody but are prohibited from leaving the UAE until the investigation concludes. More details about their attack on Gabitashvili can be found here.
Photo from pro-European protests in Georgia. David Pipia / JAMnews
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Friday, January 17, Azerbaijan. The trial of former leaders of the unrecognized Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, detained in Karabakh and at the Armenian border, begins today in Baku
● The trial of former leaders of the unrecognized Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, detained in Karabakh and at the Armenian border, begins today in Baku.
● “The time has come to completely end USAID’s operations in Azerbaijan,” stated Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov. He emphasized that USAID’s activities “did not serve Azerbaijan’s interests but rather aimed to implement the U.S. agenda, attempting to dictate terms to Azerbaijan without considering our legitimate interests.”
● Baku and Yerevan have agreed to begin the delimitation of their border from the northernmost point where the borders of Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Georgia meet. The vice premiers of both countries, Shahin Mustafayev and Mher Grigoryan, concurred that the process will then proceed southward to the point where the borders of Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Iran converge.
● A trilateral meeting of the foreign ministers of Azerbaijan, Turkey, and Georgia is planned. Georgian Foreign Minister Maka Bochorishvili announced this during a press conference with her Azerbaijani counterpart, Jeyhun Bayramov.
● Georgia will construct a new embassy building in Baku. The Azerbaijani government has allocated a plot of land for this purpose.
● Joint Turkish-Azerbaijani military drills, “Winter Exercises 2025,” are set to begin in Kars, Turkey.
● A shipment of tomatoes imported into Azerbaijan from Turkmenistan was found to be infected with the “Tomato brown rugose fruit virus.” The contaminated produce has been destroyed, according to the Food Safety Agency.
Photo: Azerbaijani troops arrive in Turkey to participate in the “Winter Exercises 2025”
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Friday, January 17, Armenia. Yerevan and Baku have identified a new section for border delimitation
● Yerevan and Baku have identified a new section for border delimitation following the 11th meeting of the state commissions of the two countries. Mher Grigoryan and Shahin Mustafayev, leading the commissions on both sides, agreed that the work will begin in the northern section where the borders of Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia converge. The delimitation process will then move southward to the area where the borders of Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Iran meet.
● Former Prime Minister of the former unrecognized Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR), Ruben Vardanyan, has issued a statement from a pre-trial detention center in Baku, where he has been held for over 470 days (23 of those in solitary confinement). Today, January 17, marks the beginning of his trial. Vardanyan claims that he, his lawyer, and his interpreter were pressured to sign backdated documents, including falsified interrogation protocols. “All the protocols with my signature are fake,” he said. Vardanyan demands proper time for him and his legal team to prepare his defense, full access to case materials in Russian, and that the trial be made public.
● The father of Yerevan’s mayor is facing a lawsuit. Grigor Iskandaryan, a member of the city’s Council of Elders from the “Mother Armenia” faction, is demanding 500,000 drams ($1,250) in damages for offensive remarks. The lawsuit stems from the defendant’s comment that “every villager driving an Opel should pay 500,000 drams for parking in central Yerevan.” Iskandaryan is urging all Opel drivers to file similar lawsuits.
● “If necessary, Georgia will use its full potential to help achieve peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Relations with neighboring countries are of great importance to us. They are very significant. We have a strategic partnership with Armenia, which is also crucial,” said Georgia’s Foreign Minister Maka Bochorishvili during a press conference in Baku.
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Thursday, January 16, Georgia. The head of Batumi police insulted journalist Mzia Amaglobeli, tried to restrain her, and spat in her face
● British MP James McLeary welcomes the US sanctions against Bidzina Ivanishvili and calls on the UK to follow suit “to take a firm stand against the retreat from democracy.” He added that “the United Kingdom should review its strategic partnership with Georgia and coordinate more closely with EU partners to counter Russian interference and reaffirm support for the democratic aspirations of the Georgian people.”
● Mzia Amaglobeli, the co-founder and director of Netgazeti and Batumelebi, who is currently under arrest, has sent a letter from Rustavi prison, published by Netgazeti. She writes that the charges against her for allegedly assaulting a police officer are the result of repressive measures targeting individuals and freedom of expression. “These measures have developed over the past year and are becoming part of our daily lives, just like a dictatorship,” Amaglobeli wrote.
● Nona Kurdovanidze, chairperson of the Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association (GYLA), visited Mzia Amaglobeli in custody and attended her questioning regarding allegations of mistreatment. Amaglobeli provided investigators with details of abuse, including claims that Batumi Police Chief Irakli Dgebuadze insulted her, attempted to physically restrain her multiple times, and spat in her face following her arrest.
● The European Union Delegation to Georgia issued a statement highlighting that the detention of Batumelebi’s leader Mzia Amaglobeli and cameraman Guram Murvanidze is a violation of freedom of speech. The statement emphasized that all individuals illegally detained must be released.
● Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze of the ruling Georgian Dream party referred to Mzia Amaglobeli as a “so-called journalist and political activist.”
● Kobakhidze also indirectly supported MP Dito Samkharadze, who attacked opposition leader Giorgi Gakharia, breaking his nose. “When someone accuses you of being a spy, you should show patience. Gakharia couldn’t hold back and initiated physical confrontation, which didn’t go unanswered,” he said. In video footage of the incident, Gakharia and Samkharadze are seen arguing. Gakharia then throws a paper cup at Samkharadze, who responds by striking him in the face, knocking him to the ground. The Sheraton Batumi hotel, where the incident occurred, stated it is cooperating fully with investigators and has offered all video evidence.
● Mamuka Mdinaradze, MP from Georgian Dream, accused Giorgi Gakharia of attacking Samkharadze and warned that he could face the “harshest charges under the criminal code.”
● Anita Hipper, EU spokesperson for foreign affairs and security policy: “The reported involvement of Georgian Dream politicians in the brutal attack on former Georgian Prime Minister and opposition leader Gakharia Giorgi is shocking. There is no place for violence or impunity in any democracy – let alone in an EU candidate country.”
● Joe Wilson, chair of the US Helsinki Commission and Republican congressman, condemned the attacks on Giorgi Gakharia and media expert Zviad Koridze, who was also harassed in the same hotel by the same Georgian Dream MPs. “The regime is increasingly resorting to physical violence against those demanding free and fair elections. America sees this, and we will act. The Georgian people cannot be intimidated,” he wrote on X.
● The US Embassy in Georgia issued a statement condemning ongoing violence by Georgian Dream against citizens, including opposition leaders, journalists, and protesters. The embassy stated that such actions do not help Georgia return to its Euro-Atlantic path.
● A three-hour nationwide warning strike was held across Georgia on Wednesday. Companies, universities, cafes, restaurants, museums, and others joined the protest. Employees of companies whose owners did not sign the free business joint statement, demanding the release of detainees and new elections, also actively participated. Here are the photos, videos, and stories.
● The Georgian Embassy in the UAE informed Formula that an investigation is underway in Abu Dhabi concerning the assault on a Georgian citizen by Georgian Dream MPs. However, they could not confirm reports that Irakli Zarkua and Viktor Sanikidze would remain in pre-trial detention in Abu Dhabi for a month. Here’s more about how the MPs attacked a man after disliking his comment.
● The Social Justice Center reports that the Strasbourg court has prohibited the extradition of Azerbaijani journalist and Azel TV editor Afgan Sadygov from Georgia to Azerbaijan. On 15 January, the Tbilisi Court of Appeals rejected Sadygov’s protest against the extradition decision. Sadygov arrived in Georgia with his family in December 2023 and requested political asylum, which was denied. He faces extortion charges in Baku, which he claims are politically motivated.
Video collage: This is how the nationwide strike took place in Tbilisi and other cities across Georgia.
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Thursday, January 16, Armenia.
● The Russian ambassador was summoned to Armenia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding “narratives against Armenia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity” aired on the Russian TV program Vesti Nedeli. The program expressed support for Azerbaijan and its “Zangezur Corridor” project. This project involves constructing a route connecting Azerbaijan to its Nakhchivan autonomy through Armenian territory, excluding Armenian security forces’ control over the road segment within Armenia. Ambassador Sergey Kopyrkin was handed a protest note.
● Armenia remains interested in maintaining high-level cooperation with Russia, stated the Minister of Defense. When asked whether Armenia will stay in the CSTO (the Russia-led military alliance), Suren Papikyan gave an ambiguous response: “As long as our CSTO partners do not change their stance, our position remains legitimate and stems from Armenia’s interests.”
● Former commander of the “Artsakh Defense Army” (of the former unrecognized Nagorno-Karabakh Republic) Jalal Harutyunyan has been found guilty of negligence under martial law conditions. He faces a sentence of 5 to 10 years, with the exact term to be determined in a future court session.
● “The pogroms of Armenians in January 1990 in Baku had a clear objective: the deportation of the city’s 250,000-strong Armenian community,” stated Armenia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the anniversary of the tragedy.
● Former Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian described Armenia’s recent agreement with the United States as lacking substance. “The document does not address the challenges facing Armenia; it’s a collection of good intentions. Its signing, in the final days of Biden’s presidency, seems rushed,” Oskanian commented.
● A signature-gathering campaign against the rising cost of public transport fares is underway in central Yerevan. It was organized by former city mayor Hayk Marutyan.
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Thursday, January 16, Azerbaijan.
● Thirty-two families (153 people) of internally displaced persons are returning today to the city of Jabrayil, liberated during the Second Karabakh War. Currently, 358 families (1,487 people) are settled in the city.
● “The Armenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs is spreading fabricated statements,” responded official Baku to Yerevan’s claims regarding “the January 1990 pogrom of Armenians in Baku.” “This demonstrates that Armenia’s systematic policy of ethnic hatred and intolerance toward Azerbaijan persists. By disseminating such propagandistic disinformation, the Armenian MFA seeks to conceal the genocide and ethnic cleansing policies it has historically carried out against Azerbaijan’s peaceful population. Armenia’s mass distortion of history does not serve peace and is dangerous,” the Azerbaijani MFA statement reads.
● Moldova has extradited to Azerbaijan a man who was internationally wanted for robbery. Azerbaijani citizen Emin Hasanov faces charges under Article 177.2.3 (theft involving unlawful entry into a residence).
● The Food Safety Agency conducted inspections of honey sold in the country’s retail chains. Products from nine manufacturers were found to violate quality and safety standards. As a result, 1,560 kilograms of honey deemed unsuitable for consumption were disposed of.
● Azerbaijani taekwondo athlete Hashim Magomedov will return his Olympic silver medal to the organizing committee of the 2024 Paris Games due to poor medal quality, with visible signs of wear on its surface. The committee has pledged to replace the defective awards. The National Olympic Committee of Azerbaijan announced that the medals of other Azerbaijani athletes from the 2024 Games will also be inspected, and any defects will be addressed. Defects have already been identified in the bronze medal of wrestler Hasrat Jafarov. So far, over 100 athletes have returned defective medals to the 2024 Olympics organizing committee. In response, three employees of the Paris Mint have been dismissed.
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Wednesday, January 15, Georgia. The leader of the "For Georgia" party, Giorgi Gakharia, was severely beaten and hospitalized with a concussion and a broken nose
● Last night in Batumi, the leader of the “For Georgia” party, Giorgi Gakharia, was severely beaten and hospitalized with a concussion and a broken nose. The attack occurred at the Sheraton Hotel. Online publication “Mtis Ambebi” editor Gela Mtivlishvili reported that MPs from the “Georgian Dream” party, Dito Samkharadze and Giorgi Manvelidze, were involved in the assault.
● At the same hotel, half an hour before the attack on Gakharia, prominent media expert Zviad Koridze was also assaulted by the same MPs.
● Detained Georgian publisher Mzia Amaglobeli, director of “Batumelebi” and “Netgazeti,” will remain in custody during the investigation. Her detention was justified by the alleged “risk of reoffending or fleeing.” Amaglobeli was arrested on January 12 during a protest in Batumi after slapping local police chief Irakli Dgebuadze, who had repeatedly insulted her. She faces up to seven years in prison. Read more here.
● Defamation against “Batumelebi” editor Eter Turadze by Adjara Public Broadcaster host Ketevan Bolkvadze was confirmed through an accidental recording. During a live broadcast discussing Mzia Amaglobeli’s arrest, Bolkvadze repeatedly accused Turadze of “disrupting the broadcast.” However, after the program ended, the microphones were left on, capturing Bolkvadze admitting to a man that Turadze hadn’t interfered but was “stressful and intimidating.” Bolkvadze also made homophobic remarks about Gigi Gelkhvidze.
● French Ambassador Sheraz Gasri: “Freedom of the press is the backbone of democracy in Georgia and everywhere. Media professionals must be protected, not targeted.” She also shared an article by “Reporters Without Borders” on X, condemning attacks on journalists during protests in Georgia and urging the EU to address the impunity of Georgian law enforcement, which threatens democracy. Read more here
● The largest faction in the European Parliament, the European People’s Party (EPP), adopted an urgent resolution on the “political crisis in Georgia.” The resolution calls on the EU and its member states to impose immediate sanctions against “Georgian Dream” leaders, including its founder Bidzina Ivanishvili, Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze, former Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili, and Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili. The resolution also urges members of the EPP to “refrain from recognizing the self-declared ‘Georgian Dream’ regime as Georgia’s legitimate government and to cancel invitations for official visits in international formats.” It further calls for the revocation of “Georgian Dream’s” mandate in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) to deny it legitimacy.
● Nobel laureate journalist Maria Ressa responded to the trial of Mzia Amaglobeli, founder and director of “Netgazeti” and “Batumelebi.” She shared a post on X with photos of Amaglobeli in court, holding Ressa’s book How to Stand Up to a Dictator. “After 47 days of protests… this is incredible. #FreedomGeorgia,” wrote Ressa.
● Activists detained during a large-scale protest outside the Babilo restaurant in Tbilisi, where judges with questionable reputations were holding a corporate dinner, were sentenced to five days in administrative detention.
● Georgian Dream MPs Irakli Zarkua and Viktor Sanikidze, who assaulted Georgian citizen Lasha Gabitashvili in Abu Dhabi, are banned from leaving the UAE. According to “Formula” TV sources, a court decision on their punishment is expected today. Read more here
● Former Prime Minister and businessman Nika Gilauri called the inclusion of his brother, Georgian Capital CEO Irakli Gilauri, on a list of 25 Georgian nationals proposed for U.S. sanctions a “deliberate operation to discredit democratic processes in Georgia.” He stated, “This clearly has the hallmarks of so-called ‘KGB tactics.’ I am confident this mistake will be corrected, and those truly responsible for creating this regime in Georgia will face justice.”
Video: Last night, theater professionals in Tbilisi joined massive pro-European protests ongoing across Georgia since November 28, when “Georgian Dream” halted EU accession talks. Protesters demand new parliamentary elections to lawfully change the government.
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Wednesday, January 15, Azerbaijan. "Why criticize penalties in Azerbaijan when the U.S. punishes tax fraud more harshly?" - MFA
● Today, six more families (25 people) are returning to Khojaly (Karabakh), and 18 Azerbaijani families (92 people) are moving back to the village of Ballija in the Khojaly district. These families were forced to leave their homes during the First Karabakh War in the early 1990s. This brings the total to 52 families (204 people) now residing in Khojaly and 66 families (363 people) in Ballija.
● Civil activist and head of the independent trade union “Workers’ Desk,” Afiaddin Mammadov, has been sentenced to eight years in prison. The court found him guilty of stabbing a person. The activist denies the charges, claiming he is being punished for his human rights advocacy. Read more here
● “The U.S. is deeply disappointed by the 10-year sentence handed down to human rights activist Bakhtiyar Hajiyev. We continue to urge Azerbaijan to uphold its international obligations and release those unjustly detained,” said the U.S. Embassy in Baku. In response, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Aykhan Hajizade stated: “The court’s decision is based on substantial evidence, and external interference in judicial proceedings is unacceptable. It’s interesting that in the U.S., similar tax evasion and financial crimes carry much harsher penalties, with sentences reaching up to 30 years. Why is this country dissatisfied with similar punishments in other countries?” More about Hajiyev’s case here.
● The search continues for two fishermen, aged 41 and 57, who went missing on January 13 in the Caspian Sea near the village of Siyavar in the Lankaran district. The Ministry of Emergency Situations has deployed a helicopter for the search.
Photo: Evening in Central Park, Baku.
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Wednesday, January 15, Armenia. The document on strategic partnership between Armenia and the USA has been signed
● Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken signed a document on Armenia-U.S. strategic partnership in Washington (pictured). The agreement focuses on modernizing Armenia’s defense system and providing tools to safeguard its sovereignty. It also establishes a joint commission, under which a team for customs and border control will soon arrive in Armenia to “strengthen border security.”
● Yerevan is joining the global coalition to fight ISIS and is preparing to sign another agreement with the U.S. on peaceful nuclear energy, with negotiations already underway.
● “The Armenia-U.S. partnership should not threaten the security of other countries,” stated Imangali Tasmagambetov, Secretary-General of the CSTO (a Russian-led military alliance of which Armenia is a member).
● “Armenia is not participating in CSTO activities, but Yerevan is not blocking decision-making; the organization continues to function,” said Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
● “Developing a strategic partnership between Armenia and the U.S. is Yerevan’s sovereign right. Russia will continue building its relations with Armenia,” stated Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov.
● “A new draft of Armenia’s Constitution should be ready before the parliamentary elections in 2026,” announced Justice Minister Srbuhi Galyan.
● The Ministry of Social Affairs is proposing to increase housing assistance for displaced persons from Karabakh. The ministry plans to extend credit usage deadlines for certain groups, expand the list of villages covered by the support program, and raise payments for some categories.
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Tuesday, January 14, Georgia. A decision will be made today on whether Mzia Amaglobeli will be released before the trial
● Today at 11 a.m., the court will decide on pre-trial measures for Mzia Amaglobeli, founder of the prominent media outlets Batumelebi and NetGazeti. Prosecutors are seeking to keep her in custody. A rally in her support is scheduled outside the courthouse. Here is an open letter from the JAMnews editorial team in support of Mzia Amaglobeli.
● In Batumi, Nodar Prangishvili, Otar Katamadze, and Mate Centeradze were sentenced to five days of administrative detention for participating in the January 11 protests.
● Speaker of Parliament from Georgian Dream Shalva Papuashvili commented on Amaglobeli’s arrest, stating that “foreign-funded Georgian media have transitioned from journalism to political activism.”
● US Congressman Joe Wilson, head of the Helsinki Commission, called for the immediate release of Mzia Amaglobeli and all political prisoners under the Ivanishvili regime, adding that Georgia must hold free and fair elections.
● Wilson also stated that he had briefed President-elect Donald Trump on the regime’s actions against press freedom and its alleged ties to China’s Communist Party and Iran.
● EU representative Anita Hipper condemned the recent repression of peaceful protesters in Batumi and Tbilisi, including the arrests of journalists and activists. She called for the release of those unfairly detained and for accountability for officials involved in unlawful actions.
● A coalition of NGOs reported that following the disputed parliamentary elections on October 26, 2024, authorities detained over 480 people on administrative charges and 43 on criminal charges. Read more here
● In Zugdidi, activist Mariam Sichinava was arrested for setting off fireworks during a rally, which was recently banned under new legislation by Georgian Dream. Opposition leader Elene Khoshtaria criticized the arrest, calling the situation absurd and asserting that their fight will continue.
● A group of students from Tbilisi State University has announced an indefinite sit-in protest inside the university building. They are demanding that the university administration join the broader resistance movement in Georgia, calling for new parliamentary elections to facilitate a lawful change of government in the country. The students have declared that they will remain in the university as long as necessary and are urging students from other universities to adopt similar forms of protest.
● Michael Roth, chairman of the Bundestag Foreign Affairs Committee, visited Georgia and met with opposition leaders. Roth described the crisis as a conflict between autocracy and liberal democracy and called for new, transparent parliamentary elections as the only solution.
● The management of TBC Bank, one of Georgia’s leading banks, issued a statement supporting the freedom of speech of its employees and their right to participate in a three-hour nationwide protest strike scheduled to begin tomorrow, December 15, at 3 p.m. The bank released the statement following a meeting with protest participants, including the mother of renowned actor Andro Chichinadze, who was arrested during the demonstrations. He faces charges of participating in group violence and is at risk of a lengthy prison sentence. Human rights advocates and lawyers consider him a political prisoner.
● The NGO coalition “My Voice” accused the government of targeting public servants with politically motivated dismissals for expressing opinions. The group cited the dismissals’ timing, scale, and circumstances as indicative of punitive measures.
● Maka Bochorishvili, Foreign Minister from Georgian Dream: “Our traditional European partners, allies, and friends have become the first critics and, one might say, flagbearers of interference in Georgia’s internal affairs and the application of pressure. No one is satisfied with the current state of relations between Georgia and the European Union. When offensive statements are made, followed by resolutions, it becomes very difficult to bring these matters back to the negotiation table for serious discussion. Nevertheless, we are doing so. We firmly believe that the situation could soon change, creating entirely new opportunities. Communication with European partners continues through diplomatic channels.”
Video: Mariam Sichinava detained in Zugdidi for setting off fireworks on the street
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Tuesday, January 14, Armenia. Employees of the "Golden Market" are protesting against the doubling of taxes
● The mayor of Yerevan returned $20,000 to the city’s budget, which was spent on a flight to the United States. This was reported by his press secretary, Aik Kostanyan, who promised to publish a document confirming the refund in the comments. On December 18, during a debate between the former and current mayors of Yerevan, it was revealed that Avinyan’s ticket to Los Angeles cost around $20,000. The mayor later expressed his shock at this amount and promised to reimburse it.
● The Minister of Finance announced a 40.4% decrease in transfers to the country. This was mainly due to a 57% drop in non-commercial transfers from Russia, according to Vahagn Khachaturyan in the parliament.
● Armenian parliament deputy from the “Ayastan” faction, Mger Saakyan, died in a car accident. The 36-year-old deputy’s car fell into a ravine near the village of Tigranashen in the Ararat region. He leaves behind three children.
● Employees of the “Golden Market” held a protest outside the Armenian government building (pictured). They are protesting the twofold increase in taxation on goods and are demanding an explanation of how to meet the required documentation standards set by the State Revenue Committee (for purchases and other paperwork).
● The government has no plans to exit the EAEU, said Economy Minister Gevork Papoyan at a press conference.
● Two individuals have been arrested in connection with the theft of flowers from the Yerablur Military Pantheon. The Armenian Investigative Committee reports that the stolen flowers were sold on Northern Avenue in Yerevan for between 500 and 1,000 drams ($1.27–3) each.
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Tuesday, January 14, Azerbaijan. The well-known activist Bakhtiyar Gadzhiev has been sentenced to 10 years in prison
● The criminal trial of prominent public activist Bakhtiyar Gadzhiyev has concluded. The activist, accused of several economic crimes and hooliganism, has been sentenced to 10 years in prison. Read more here
● President Ilham Aliyev is on a working visit to the UAE at the invitation of the country’s president, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
● The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs called the letter allegedly from Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to his Azerbaijani counterpart, Jeyhun Bayramov, a “cynical and crude fake” that appeared on social media. The letter claimed that “Russia cannot guarantee the safe use of Russian airspace.” The Russian Ministry emphasized that the forged letter was poorly executed and lacked official attributes, sent from a common mail domain and a standard email address. The Ministry stressed that the disinformation was politically motivated, attempting to exploit the crash of an AZAL aircraft.
● Due to heavy fog in Baku, flights from Istanbul, Moscow, Tel Aviv, and Novosibirsk were diverted to the reserve airport in Ganja last night.
● There are no Azerbaijani citizens among those affected by the wildfires in California, stated the Azerbaijani Consulate General in Los Angeles.
Photo: Baku in the fog
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Monday, January 13, Georgia. Protests: Prominent journalist Mzia Amaglobeli, several politicians, and dozens of citizens arrested
● Notable journalist Mzia Amaglobeli, founder and director of the publishing group that owns two popular outlets, «Batumelebi» and «NetGazeti», was arrested by police in Batumi on the evening of January 12 during a protest outside the police department building. She faces charges under Article 353 of the criminal code, “assault on a police officer,” which she strongly denies. The article carries a prison sentence of 4 to 7 years. Read more here.
● Another journalist from «Batumelebi», operator and photographer Guram Murvanidze, was arrested near the Constitutional Court in Batumi. According to the newspaper, he was detained while covering the rally and filming a report.
● The arrests of journalists led to thousands taking to the streets of Batumi, resulting in clashes with police. Police Chief of the Adjara region, Irakli Dghebuadze, reported that eight people were arrested at the Batumi protest, all for administrative violations. Watch video coverage here.
● Thousands of journalists and citizens participated in a rally outside the government building in Tbilisi, protesting the arrest of Mzia Amaglobeli. Protesters claimed that the detention and prosecution of the journalist was a premeditated provocation. The first time she was arrested was for attaching a placard calling for a nationwide strike on January 15. In Tbilisi, participants attempted to stick dozens of such placards to the government building. Police resisted, leading to clashes. Here is the video report.
● A large-scale protest took place on the evening of January 12 outside the restaurant «Bibilo» on the outskirts of Tbilisi. In this restaurant on Beliashvili Street, judges gathered for a corporate dinner, and thousands arrived to protest the detention of over 30 participants of ongoing pro-European protests in Georgia. Judges were escorted out of the restaurant by special forces. Read and watch more here.
● U.S. Congressman Republican, head of the Helsinki Commission Joe Wilson reacted to the violent arrests of peaceful protesters in Batumi and Tbilisi. “Videos emerging of brutal arbitrary arrests, including of opposition leaders, being made by the desperate Ivanishvili regime. This tyrannical and illegitimate regime cannot silence its people. There will be devastating consequences for these criminals,” Wilson wrote on X.
● The investigative portal VSquare writes that Arpad Habon, adviser to Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and official campaign strategist, frequently visits Georgia, particularly Tbilisi, where he acts as an advisor to the Georgian Dream government. The portal reports that Habon attempted to establish personal relations between oligarch Bidzina Ivanishvili, often referred to as the shadow ruler of Georgia, and U.S. President Donald Trump. However, the project failed after the U.S. imposed sanctions on Antal Rogan, a high-ranking Hungarian official and minister in Orban’s government, and included him on the Magnitsky list for corruption and human rights violations.
● A video from Abu Dhabi is widely circulating on social media. While there, Georgian citizens spotted several representatives of the Georgian Dream party—MPs Irakli Zarkua, Viktor Sanikidze, Gocha Enukidze, party member Gela Samkharadze, and former Minister of Education Giorgi Amilakhvari—at a local café. They called them “traitors and betrayers of the homeland.” “How can you sit here when journalists were arrested and protesters beaten in Georgia yesterday?” the video recorder asks. Irakli Zarkua responds with insults. See video below
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Monday, January 13, Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan will host the 2026 World Sumo Championship
● This morning, 39 Azerbaijani families (165 people), who were previously displaced, returned to their hometown of Jabrayil (which came under Azerbaijani control after the second Nagorno-Karabakh war in the fall of 2020). Currently, 1,334 people (326 families) are living in Jabrayil.
● Azerbaijan ranks 60th in the world for military strength in the annual ranking by the military-focused Global Firepower portal. The list includes 145 countries, with the USA, Russia, and China taking the top three spots. Armenia is ranked 91st, and Georgia 94th.
● Azerbaijan will host the 2026 World Sumo Championship.
● The Baku Zoo now has its own Simba. A five-year-old lion was brought to Baku as part of an international exchange with the Almaty Zoo.
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Monday, January 13, Armenia. Armenia is considering appealing to the OSCE regarding the dissolution of the Minsk Group
● Armenia is considering appealing to the OSCE regarding the dissolution of the Minsk Group, said the press secretary of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. Nazeli Baghdasaryan announced this on social media, adding that Armenia recognizes Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity and expects the same in return.
● The European Commission intends to study the legislative initiative by pro-Western forces in Armenia to start the process of the country’s accession to the European Union and plans to discuss it with Yerevan, said the spokesperson for the European External Action Service, Anitta Hipper.
● More than 1,400 citizens in Armenia have been affected by cybercriminal activities, and a criminal case has been opened, according to the Prosecutor General’s Office. The damage to affected citizens amounted to about $2.1 million. The state suffered from tax evasion amounting to over $320,000 in dram equivalents. Armenian citizens and foreigners called people abroad, offering them “profitable investments.” Many unsuspecting internet users were also drawn in by advertisements for fake websites.
● Armenia’s futsal national team goalkeeper and Spanish club Palma’s Luan Müller has won the title of Best Goalkeeper of the World for 2024 at the prestigious Futsalplanet Awards ceremony (pictured).
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Top stories in Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Georgia from 31 December 2024 - 10 January, 2025