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

● Guram Kashia, the captain of the Georgian national football team, has publicly thanked billionaire and informal national leader Bidzina Ivanishvili for a generous 30 million lari bonus. “This is crucial for our country and the future of our beloved sport,” Kashia says in statement disseminated by the Georgian Football Federation. Several other players also expressed their gratitude. Previously, Ivanishvili’s “Kartu” Foundation promised the national team’s players and coaches 30 million lari if they advanced from the group stage in their debut European Championship.

●  British investors have suspended several significant deals in Georgia due to the political instability sparked by the adoption of the “foreign agents” law. British Ambassador to Georgia Mark Clayton revealed this in an interview with BMG. “British investors are closely watching the media, and ‘today, Georgia doesn’t look good in the international press,'” he noted.

●  The ruling party plans to recruit 300-500 “musclemen” affiliated with Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov for the October 26 elections, according to former opposition “United National Movement” chairman Levan Khabeishvili. Khabeishvili claims these individuals will be stationed at polling sites to physically confront government opponents. He speculated that this topic was likely discussed during a recent meeting in Germany between Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze, and UFC champion Khabib Nurmagomedov, a known associate of Kadyrov. Photos of the meeting surfaced online recently.

●  A tragic parasailing accident in Batumi resulted in the death of a tourist. Strong winds caused the parachute to crash into the sea. The woman was flying with her husband, who sustained multiple injuries and was hospitalized. An investigation has been launched under Article 275 of the Georgian Criminal Code, which covers violations of safety regulations for railway, water, air, or cable transport.

● The informal summit of the Organization of Turkic States kicks off today in Shusha, with presidents from member countries expected to arrive in Azerbaijan.

●  This morning, before heading to Shusha, President Aliyev visited Khojaly Airport, the former base of the Russian peacekeeping contingent in Karabakh.

●  “SCO participants highly value Azerbaijan’s contribution as a partner state,” stated Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev at the “SCO Plus” meeting in Astana. “We place significant importance on Azerbaijan’s efforts to strengthen ties with the Shanghai Organization,” he added.

●  “Azerbaijan places special importance on its relationship with the United States,” President Ilham Aliyev wrote in a congratulatory letter to US President Joe Biden on the occasion of US Independence Day.

●  The peace process with Armenia, aimed at signing a peace treaty, is supported by approximately 84% of Azerbaijani citizens, according to a survey by the Azerbaijan Center for Social Studies.

●  The Azerbaijani General Prosecutor’s Office has conducted an operation at the Baku Philharmonic. The main anti-corruption department carried out the operation based on information about legal violations, according to Qafqazinfo. Several officials are under investigation. Official confirmation of this information is still pending.

● The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Abkhazia has called on Armenia to “adjust” its position on the “Georgian” issue. The Abkhazian ministry referred to the recent statements made by the Armenian Minister of Foreign Affairs during a meeting with his Georgian counterpart in Tbilisi as “contrary to objective reality.” It urged Armenian diplomats to “avoid using stereotypical phrases about the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Georgia” and condemned the fact that Yerevan voted in favor of the annual UN General Assembly resolution “On the Status of Internally Displaced Persons and Refugees from Abkhazia and South Ossetia.”

● A third leader of the group involved in the sexual exploitation of women in the UAE has been arrested. The Investigative Committee reports that the woman, temporarily residing in the Emirates, deceived Armenian citizens through acquaintances, transported them to the UAE, and forced them into prostitution.

● From now on, all information about meat sold in Armenia will be available via a QR code. The code will reveal whether the meat is imported or local, the slaughter date, and other details. The decision was made by the government.

● Individuals caught operating watercraft on Lake Sevan while intoxicated will face hefty fines. Penalties amounting to 30 times the minimum wage will also be imposed on those without the necessary licenses, as well as on operators of unregistered, defective vessels, or those lacking a visible side number.

● “The United States wants nothing more than peace, prosperity, and independence for Georgia. We will continue to work with all Georgians to support a Georgia that is open, prosperous, and able to defend itself. We will support Georgia’s education system and economic growth. We will support Georgia’s rich cultural heritage and vibrant civil society,” US Ambassador to Georgia Robin Dunnigan said in her US Independence Day speech. “Our strategic partnership over the past 32 years has been an incredible success story for both of our nations, benefitting Americans and Georgians. And because of Georgia’s progress through decades of hard work and partnership with the United States and our European partners and Allies, the people of Georgia have earned the opportunity to one day join the European Union. I hope Georgia seizes this opportunity”.

● Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze surprised everyone by congratulating the U.S. on Independence Day. “This day is especially important for us because we have a strategic partnership with the U.S. I would like to reiterate that we wish to reset our relations. There were years that harmed the relationship between our countries, but I am optimistic. We are in a waiting mode, expecting the next steps,” said Kobakhidze, who recently accused the U.S. of financing “attempts at revolutions” in Georgia. “I don’t want to go into details, but I believe that in the coming year, we may see reciprocal steps from our partners that will qualitatively improve the relations that both countries need. This is necessary for both the United States of America and Georgia equally.”

●  The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly expressed concern over the adoption of the so-called “foreign agents” law in Georgia. The declaration, adopted at the 31st annual session of the Assembly, condemns “Kremlin-supported and coordinated efforts to undermine Georgia’s fragile democracy and the Euro-Atlantic choice of the Georgian people” and calls on Georgian authorities “to cease attacks on civil society, independent media, activists, and legitimate protesters, which have all the characteristics of an expanded Russian hybrid operation, and to seek closer ties with Georgian civil society to reduce polarization in the country.”

●  The declaration was called “regrettable” by the ruling party. “It contains a number of incomprehensible statements, which is very sad. But this is the reality, and I don’t want to go into details,” said Prime Minister Kobakhidze.

Photo by Diana Petriashvili

● The first “SCO Plus” format meeting will take place today on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Astana. Participants will discuss the prospects for international cooperation within the SCO. President Ilham Aliyev has also been invited to the meeting.

Azerbaijan holds observer status in the organization.

● The Presidents of Azerbaijan, Turkey, and Pakistan discussed defense cooperation in Astana. The parties exchanged views on creating joint production in the defense industry and agreed to conduct regular joint exercises.

●  “China supports the enhancement of Azerbaijan’s legal status in the SCO,” said Chinese President Xi Jinping during a meeting with President Aliyev.

●  During his meeting with Aliyev, Putin stated that he is always ready to support the normalization of relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan and the advancement of the peace agenda.

●  Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev thanked Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev for his assistance in negotiations between Baku and Yerevan on ways to achieve a peace agreement.

●  Azerbaijani servicemen participated in the military parade in Minsk in honor of Independence Day and the 80th anniversary of Belarus’ liberation from Nazi invaders.

“About 10,000 Azerbaijanis participated in the liberation of Belarus,” noted the commentator during the passage of Azerbaijani troops in front of the grandstand.

●  The Khatai District Court in Baku denied the motion by lawyers to change the measure of restraint to house arrest for journalists Sevinc Vagifgizi, Elnara Gasimova, and Ulvi Hasanli, as well as economist Farid Mehralyzade, who were arrested in connection with the “Abzas Media” case.

●  “A healthy dialogue has developed between the countries,” said Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan regarding Armenian-Turkish relations.

●   Establishing stable and long-term peace in the region is a priority for the Armenian government, stated Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigoryan. “In this context, we highly appreciate the consistent steps taken by the United States to implement the peace agenda,” Grigoryan added.

●   The Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Georgia met in Tbilisi. “Georgia welcomes the historic decision by Yerevan and Baku to begin the process of delimiting the state border and hopes the peace process between the republics will maintain its positive momentum,” said Georgian Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili.

●   “Belarus invited Armenia to participate in the parade in Minsk, but for contrived, subjective reasons, Armenia’s parade units did not arrive,” said Alexander Volfovich, State Secretary of the Belarusian Security Council. “Armenian ancestors participated in the liberation of Belarus, the Soviet Union, and in the Great Patriotic War,” he noted.

●   At a meeting with the President of Azerbaijan, Vladimir Putin expressed his readiness to support the normalization of relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan and to advance the peace agenda.

●   Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan expressed satisfaction with the development of relations between Armenia and the USA during a meeting with an American delegation led by Senator Roger Wicker.

●   Negotiations with the USA on the construction of a new nuclear power plant in Armenia have entered a substantive phase, according to Secretary of the Security Council Armen Grigoryan

● Tbilisi gave a warm and emotional welcome to the national soccer team returning from the European Championship. In the evening, an open-top bus carrying the players traveled through the central streets of the capital, accompanied by thousands of fans. Later, they were greeted one by one on a specially constructed stage at Freedom Square. Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, who was booed by the crowd, delivered a speech, and President Salome Zurabishvili, amid enthusiastic applause, awarded the players the Order of Honor for their contribution to the development of soccer.

● The murderer of 14-year-old Aytaj Shakhmarova has been sentenced to life imprisonment by the Telavi District Court.

The girl was shot by her “husband” while trying to escape on October 6, 2023, in the village of Lambalo in the Kvemo Kartli region. She had been abducted “for the purpose of marriage” a few months before the murder.

●  A pilot was killed when a military aircraft crashed near the village of Disveli in Bolnisi Municipality.

The Georgian Ministry of Defense reported that the SU-25 was engaged in planned military exercises at the time of the incident.

●Ilham Aliyev and Vladimir Putin are meeting today on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Astana.

●  President Aliyev participated in the commissioning ceremony of the tanker “Zangilan.” The vessel was built at the Baku Shipbuilding Plant.

● Defense Minister Zakir Hasanov is on a visit to Minsk. Today, he is to participate in the meeting of the CIS Defense Ministers Council and the military parade in honor of Belarus Independence Day.

● The state procurement price for wheat in Azerbaijan has been set at 400 manats (approximately $235) per ton for this year, 11.1% lower than in 2023.

●  Azerbaijan will build a factory for the production of electric buses next year. A framework agreement has been signed with the Chinese company BYD Company Limited. Baku will purchase 160 electric buses from BYD, with plans to deploy them on the capital’s routes by October 31.

●  Azerbaijan has started exporting frozen chicken meat to Russia this year. Between January and April, 20 tons of the product were supplied.

●  Azerbaijan has signed a memorandum with China to increase cargo transportation through the Middle Corridor. The first block train from Jiangsu Province departed for Azerbaijan on June 20 and will arrive in Baku in the coming days.

? View of Baku Boulevard from a Maiden Tower window.

● The remains of two soldiers killed in September 2022, handed over by Azerbaijan to Armenia, have been identified, according to the Armenian Investigative Committee.

● “Stay engaged and do not ignore our region,” Sarkis Khandanyan, head of the Armenian National Assembly delegation, addressed the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly session in Bucharest. “When you ignore our region, other actors, less interested in peace and stability, increase their influence, worsening the security situation and posing a serious threat to the democratic aspirations, independence, and sovereignty of my country,” he said.

● An archaeological expedition has discovered new artifacts in Armenia’s Syunik region, including a cave in the village of Alidzor (pictured).

● A 36-year-old man has been detained for making a false bomb threat at Gyumri airport, the Armenian Ministry of Internal Affairs reported.

● Three years later, a deputy from the ruling Civil Contract party has publicly apologized to independent deputy Taguhi Tovmasyan by court order. Lena Nazaryan, then Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, insulted Tovmasyan from the parliamentary tribune, calling her an “idiot” in June 2021. The court ordered her to apologize and pay approximately $750 in moral damages.

● Today, Georgia welcomes its national football team returning from the European Championship.

At Tbilisi Airport, fans gathered since dawn, singing as they waited for their heroes (video).

At 10:00 PM, a rally in support of the Georgian national team is scheduled to take place at Freedom Square in Tbilisi. The players will arrive at the event on an open-top bus, traveling through the city’s central avenues from the Meskhi Stadium.

●  “It’s important that also we continue to engage with appropriate officials [in Georgia]. It is a country we continue to have a range of issues that we want to prioritize in the context of that bilateral relationship with them”, said Vedant Patel, Deputy Press Secretary of the White House, commenting on reports that Georgian officials continue to visit Washington despite U.S. visa restrictions imposed in response to the Georgian government’s passage of the controversial “foreign agents” law.

●  Former Georgian Prime Minister and leader of the opposition party “Gakharia for Georgia,” Giorgi Gakharia, earlier reported a secret visit to Washington by a high-ranking Georgian official. According to him, the founder of the ruling party and oligarch Bidzina Ivanishvili sent an envoy to the U.S. to “find out something.”

Gakharia did not name the “personal courier” but mentioned that this person was a high-ranking security official.

● “Ivanishvili will try to mend relations [with the U.S.], but I think he has already crossed all the red lines,” said Giorgi Vashadze, leader of the opposition party “Strategy Agmashenebeli.”

According to the MP, the only thing that can save Bidzina Ivanishvili is “a peaceful exit from power.”

● ODIHR/OSCE has negatively assessed the abolition of gender quotas in Georgia, considering it inconsistent with international human rights standards.

According to the previous version of the Electoral Code, every fourth candidate on party lists had to be a woman.

President Salome Zourabichvili vetoed this amendment, but the parliament overruled her veto. More details here: https://jam-news.net/abolition-of-gender-quotas-in-georgia/

●  “Baku and Yerevan could finalize the text of the peace treaty, at least the main principles, within a few months,” said President Ilham Aliyev. “The parties could initially agree on the main principles, initial them, and then continue working on the text of the peace treaty,” he said while receiving the credentials of the new Canadian Ambassador to Baku, Kevin Hamilton. Aliyev emphasized that a peace treaty is “possible only after the Armenian constitution, which contains territorial claims against Azerbaijan, is amended.” He also added that “the issue of the rights of Armenians to return to Karabakh should be mutually ensured and extend to representatives of the Western Azerbaijani community.”

●  “Azerbaijan and Armenia are finalizing the draft Regulations on the joint activities of the State Commission for the Delimitation of the State Border. Negotiations are progressing constructively, and the process is expected to be completed soon,” reported the office of Azerbaijani Deputy Prime Minister Shahin Mustafayev.

●  The U.S. Secretary of State spoke about the opportunity for Baku and Yerevan to reach peaceful agreements. “This will create enormous economic opportunities and connections in the region, linking countries east and west, north and south. Azerbaijan must play a crucial role in this,” Blinken stated.

● The foreign ministers of Azerbaijan and Israel discussed the prospects for cooperation. Jeyhun Bayramov and Israel Katz talked about the situation around Gaza, as well as international and regional issues. The Azerbaijani minister emphasized the importance of achieving a ceasefire in Gaza, preventing civilian casualties on both sides, and resolving the conflict peacefully.

● An informal summit of the Organization of Turkic States with the participation of leaders from Turkic countries will be held in Shusha on July 5-6. Presidents from Turkey, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan will participate, along with leaders from observer countries and the organization’s secretary general.

● Bulgaria will participate in the development of the “green” energy corridor Azerbaijan – Georgia – Black Sea – EU. Bulgarian Minister of Energy Vladimir Malinov announced this at the sixth meeting of the Intergovernmental Commission on Economic Cooperation in Baku.

●  The U.S. Secretary of State has announced a “unique opportunity” to achieve peaceful agreements between Azerbaijan and Armenia. Antony Blinken stated that normalization would create significant opportunities in the region in terms of economic connections and growth, highlighting Azerbaijan’s “critical role” in this process.

●  The opening of transport links in the South Caucasus will promote peace and stability, said the Armenian Foreign Minister at a meeting with the BSEC Secretary General in Yerevan.

●  Ukraine is considering sanctions against Armenian and Georgian winemakers, according to Ukrainian media Економiчна правда. It reports that the corporation “Ukrvinprom,” which unites Ukrainian wine producers, has submitted a request to the Security Service of Ukraine to impose sanctions on 17 enterprises, including the producers of the well-known brandies Ararat and Sarajishvili. The reason cited is that their products are sold in both Ukrainian and Russian markets. The proposal includes a 10-year ban on trade operations, license revocation, and asset freezing.

●  At the European U16 Boxing Championship in Sarajevo, the Armenian national team ranked second in the overall standings, winning 3 gold, 6 silver, and 1 bronze medal.

● In Azerbaijan, the prices of diesel fuel (by 25%) and 92-octane gasoline (by 10%) have increased. Now, 1 liter of diesel costs 1 manat (about $0.59), and 92-octane gasoline costs 1 manat 10 qapiks (about $0.65). Following this, the cost of public transportation has also risen. A single trip on the Baku metro and buses now costs 50 qapiks (about $0.29), a 25% increase. Additionally, prices for household waste collection services have increased for both residents and businesses.

● For the first time in its history, Azerbaijan’s state airline AZAL is launching regular flights to Karabakh. Starting July 13, flights will operate from Baku to Fuzuli and back on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

● Russian warships have left the Baku port. The small artillery ship “Volgodonsk” and the combat hydrographic ship “Anatoly Guivin” were in Azerbaijan on a friendly visit.

● Azerbaijan’s Minister of Energy Parviz Shahbazov is visiting Italy. Today, a congress and exhibition on the green energy transition begins there.

● Azerbaijan and Russia have discussed the joint operation of the Samur hydropower plant. The discussions took place at the 26th meeting of the Joint Commission on the division of water resources of the transboundary Samur River.

● During All Saints’ Week, Bishop Alexy of Baku and Azerbaijan performed the Divine Liturgy at the Cathedral of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

? Indian filmmakers are shooting a Bollywood-style film in the center of Baku.

● Samvel Siramarkyan became the European champion at the U16 Youth Boxing Championship in Sarajevo, defeating Russia’s Arseny Stolnikov.

● Leader of the opposition movement “Tavush for the Motherland,” Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan, met with Goris Mayor Arush Arushanyan during a visit to Syunik. Arushanyan was arrested in 2021 for abuse of power, fraud, and other charges. While in custody, he was re-elected as the mayor of the community and was released in 2022.

● The security factor in the border areas of Syunik remains dominant, wrote Tigran Abrahamyan, secretary of the “I Have Honor” faction, on social media.

● In Yerevan, the “Hoha” center has been revived to support children of fallen soldiers. Originally established in the former unrecognized Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, the center now employs mothers of those who were killed or wounded in the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflicts as counselors.

● Strong winds damaged roofs and uprooted trees in several districts of Yerevan, as well as in the cities of Vagharshapat and Vanadzor.

● Many in Armenia are displeased with the decision to invite American actor Kevin Spacey as an honorary guest at the “Golden Apricot” international film festival in Yerevan. The controversy stems from accusations of harassment against the actor. Although he was not found guilty in court, many believe that inviting him prioritizes his talent over empathy for the victims of violence.

● The Georgian national football team has concluded its participation in the European Championship. On June 30, the Round of 16 match against Spain at the RheinEnergieStadion in Cologne, Germany, ended with a 4-1 victory for their opponents.

● Giorgi Kochorashvili, midfielder (pictured): “What a tournament we played in! We got this far thanks to hard work, dedication, and talent. We must continue to progress and strengthen; the kids are watching us. We will definitely keep moving forward.”

● President Salome Zourabichvili: “Sometimes a defeat is a victory! Thank you to our guys!”

● Thirty-six countries have jointly called on the Georgian government to repeal the “foreign agents” law and cease the campaign of intimidation against opponents. The statement was made public at a session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva.

● The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly has adopted a resolution recognizing Russia’s aggression in Ukraine as genocide, according to the official channel of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine.

● The Georgian Super Cup final will take place on July 3, featuring a match between Dinamo Tbilisi and Torpedo Kutaisi.

Top stories in Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia from June 24-28, 2024