Top stories in Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Georgia from 10-14 November, 2025

● Journalist Sevinj Osmangizi and activists Beydulla Manafov and Abid Gafarov, who reside abroad, have been summoned to the General Prosecutor’s Office of Azerbaijan on charges of calling for the violent seizure of power and disobeying the lawful demands of the authorities. It is reported that these statements were made on YouTube and the online platforms AzerFreedom TV, TV Qarabagh, and Sevinc Osmangizi TV. Manafov has been arrested in absentia and placed on an international wanted list.

● The trial continued against a group of former leaders of the former unrecognized “Nagorno-Karabakh Republic.” They are accused of war crimes, terrorism, attempts to overthrow the state, and other serious offenses. According to the state agency AZERTAC, prosecutors stated that Azerbaijan’s sovereign territories had been occupied by Armenia, which waged an aggressive war and targeted major cities and regions such as Ganja, Barda, Agjabadi, Yevlakh, Mingachevir, Zardab, Kurdamir, Gabala, and others. At the hearing, prosecutors presented their sentencing proposals. In total, 15 individuals are on trial.

Several defendants have been proposed for life imprisonment: former “NKR President” Araik Harutyunyan, former “Karabakh army commander” Levon Mnatsakanyan, former “NKR deputy army commander” Davit Manukyan, former “NKR parliament speaker” Davit Ishkhanyan, and former “NKR foreign minister” Davit Babayan. For the remaining defendants, prosecutors requested sentences ranging from 16 to 20 years, starting from the moment of their detention. It was stated at the hearing that the charges brought against them had been proven during nearly a year of judicial investigation through factual evidence, witness and victim testimony, and expert conclusions.

Prosecutors said they are not seeking life sentences for Ghukasyan, Sahakyan, and Babayan because they are over 65. Under Azerbaijani law, minors, women, and men over 65 cannot be sentenced to life imprisonment. Some of the defendants previously pleaded partially guilty, while others declared complete innocence and rejected the charges.

The trial will continue on November 27. Defense lawyers will deliver their closing statements, followed by the defendants’ final words.

● The Russian service of the German media group Deutsche Welle may find itself at the center of a scandal similar to the one surrounding the BBC. This was written on X by Farid Shafiev, chairman of the Center for Analysis of International Relations. He wrote: “What is the point for this outlet to portray the Armenian revanchist paramilitary structure VOMA as a ‘defensive organization’? It seems that some DW Russian journalists cannot accept peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan and are preparing extremely biased reports, highlighting only a few marginal voices in the South Caucasus.”

● President Ilham Aliyev said: “The opening of the Zangezur Corridor will benefit all Central Asian countries. Azerbaijan has created a powerful modern transport infrastructure, including a merchant fleet, the international commercial port of Alat — whose capacity will reach 25 million tons in the coming years — the Baku–Tbilisi–Kars railway, as well as nine international airports. Within the framework of the ‘Middle Corridor’ international transport route, Azerbaijan serves as an important transit country for Uzbekistan and the Central Asian states.”

● Uzbekistan has invested 21.8 million dollars in Azerbaijan’s economy, while Azerbaijan has invested 183.5 million dollars in Uzbekistan’s economy. President Ilham Aliyev reported this in an interview with Uzbekistan’s National Information Agency. He noted that Uzbekistan was the first country — and President Shavkat Mirziyoyev the first leader in the world — to initiate assistance for the reconstruction of the Karabakh region. A joint venture, a textile factory in Khankendi in Karabakh, is particularly noteworthy, Aliyev said.

● Belgian Ambassador Julien de Frepon welcomed the agreement on normalizing relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia. He said: “The projects aimed at restoring communications and the recent confidence-building measures lay the foundation for long-term and sustainable peace in the region,” speaking at a reception held on the occasion of King’s Day.

● The new EU Ambassador, Marijana Kujundžić, met with Vugar Suleymanov, head of the demining agency ANAMA, and received detailed information about the extent of the landmine problem in Karabakh and East Zangezur. The discussion covered further EU support for the demining process and other issues of mutual interest.

● South Korea has donated 350,000 dollars worth of medical equipment to the city hospital in Ganja. It is noted that the hospital serves 17 surrounding municipalities. This is the third such donation as part of the bilateral grant assistance framework. Last year, with Korean support, a children’s medical examination project was carried out in Ganja, and 18 types of modern equipment for diagnosing and treating cardiovascular diseases were delivered.

● The bodies of 20 Turkish servicemen who died in the crash of a C-130 military transport aircraft in Georgia near the Azerbaijani border have been delivered to Ankara. It is expected that examinations will be completed today, followed by farewell and burial ceremonies. In Georgia, a criminal case has been opened over possible violations of aviation safety. The investigation is being conducted in coordination with Turkey and Azerbaijan.

● From November 23 to 26, Baku will host the first ever Solidarity Forum of NGOs from member states of the Organization of Turkic States. About 300 representatives of NGOs from Azerbaijan, Turkey, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Hungary, and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus are expected to participate.

● An official representation of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the Mormon Church) has opened in Baku (pictured below). President Ilham Aliyev received a church delegation that arrived from the United States for the opening ceremony. During the meeting, Aliyev said: “After Donald Trump was re-elected president, Azerbaijani–American relations entered a new stage.”

● Two men have been detained for distributing and selling child pornography on Telegram. Bank cards issued in the names of various individuals were used to receive payments.

● Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan stated in parliament that Armenia will not carry out a military operation to regain the village of Artsvashen, an enclave on Azerbaijani territory, or any other territories. He said: “Peace has been established in the region, and it simply needs to be preserved. Today’s Armenia is experiencing its best period in the last 500 years.” Earlier, he had said that as a result of border demarcation Armenia would regain Artsvashen and other occupied sovereign territories.

● Nikol Pashinyan called the opposition an “agent of influence of a foreign state.” He did not directly name Russia as this “foreign state,” but it is widely assumed he meant Moscow, given the Armenian opposition’s reputation for being pro-Russian. He said: “They want to instill disgust, contempt, and disrespect toward modern Armenia. In 2018 (when the Velvet Revolution took place and Pashinyan came to power – JAMnews), Armenia was in the ‘pocket’ of that country whose agents of influence are the current opposition forces. The country ended up there because of the Karabakh situation. The mindset of the Armenian army was also the mindset of an agent of influence. Our army did not have a center of sovereign will. Now Armenia has been freed from that trap. Today Armenia is an independent state with a center of sovereign will. It is capable of making decisions on its own.”

● The National Assembly acknowledged the draft state budget for 2026. According to the draft, Armenia’s GDP in 2026 is projected at 11 trillion 933 billion drams. Economic growth is expected to be 5.4%. State budget revenues are projected at 3 trillion 91 billion drams, of which tax revenues will total 2 trillion 972 billion drams.

● The authors of the podcast “Imnemnim,” Narek Samsonyan and Vazgen Sagatelyan, were arrested for two months following a complaint by the Speaker of Parliament Alen Simonyan. According to the charges, offensive expressions and threats toward the speaker were made during the bloggers’ interview with former president Serzh Sargsyan (considered a pro-Russian politician).

● Laboratory tests have been carried out on batches of wheat imported from Russia and Kazakhstan to check for toxic elements, pesticides, mycotoxins, and radioactivity. No deviations from the permissible limits were found.

● Eight cases of coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) were registered in Armenia last week, according to the Ministry of Health.

● Lawyers for Archbishop Mikael Adjapakhyan, who was sentenced to two years in prison on charges of calling for the overthrow of the state, have filed an appeal. The lawyers request that the court ruling be overturned and that the archbishop be declared not guilty.

● Armenia and the United States are strengthening cooperation in combating illegal drug trafficking. This was discussed at a meeting between the head of Armenia’s criminal police department, Vardan Vardanyan, and officials from regional divisions of the US Department of Justice’s Drug Enforcement Administration.

● Opposition MP Anna Grigoryan from the “Armenia” bloc (who has a pro-Russian reputation) said to Armenia’s leadership: “Your ship will definitely sink, and I will do everything to make the ship of those who destroyed Artsakh go to the bottom.”

● The dialogue with the European Union on visa liberalization is ongoing, and a concrete action plan was officially submitted on November 5, said Interior Minister Arpine Sargsyan. “The most important thing is passport security. The biometric system is being implemented with significant progress,” Sargsyan said.

● A representative of the Dutch Foreign Ministry visited the EU Mission office in Ijevan, Tavush Province. The Netherlands is one of the mission’s largest contributors, with about 14 members.

● A ceremony was held in Yerevan to issue a commemorative postal stamp marking the 100th anniversary of Ofelia Ambartsumyan, a People’s Artist of the Armenian SSR.

● Former Prime Minister and current opposition leader Giorgi Gakharia has been sentenced in absentia to pre-trial detention on a second charge as well — the case involving violence during the dispersal of the protest rally on June 20, 2019. At that time, Gakharia was the Minister of Internal Affairs. Dozens of protesters were injured, and two lost an eye. Earlier, the court issued the same ruling for another episode of the criminal case against Gakharia — the installation of a checkpoint near the village of Chorchana in the Georgian–Ossetian conflict zone in August 2019. The Prosecutor’s Office claims that Gakharia made that decision without coordinating with the Security Council and the Prime Minister, which led to the loss of about 100 hectares of territory controlled by Tbilisi. Gakharia, the leader of the opposition party “For Georgia,” is currently in Germany. He faces up to 13 years in prison. More details here.

● The head of the UK delegation to the OSCE, Neil Holland, spoke about human rights violations during his address and mentioned only three countries in this context: Russia, Belarus, and Georgia. More details here.

● Maka Bochorishvili, the Foreign Affairs Committee Chair from Georgian Dream, stated that if Brussels decides to suspend the visa-free regime for Georgian citizens, responsibility will lie with the EU. “This would be a punishment of the Georgian people for their pursuit of genuine democracy. In recent years, European integration has turned into a political tool being used to change public sentiment or attempt to provoke a revolution,” Bochorishvili said.

● Maka Bochorishvili: “Claims that Ukraine and Moldova have allegedly overtaken Georgia in terms of European integration are incorrect. Georgia is significantly ahead of Ukraine and Moldova in development indicators. Georgia was long considered the leading partner within the Association Agreement framework, but then a negative campaign was launched against the country.”

● In Geneva, Russia’s permanent representative to the UN, Gennady Gatilov, repeated the content of the Russian Foreign Ministry’s statement following the Geneva International Discussions. “The official recognition by Georgian Dream of former President Mikheil Saakashvili’s responsibility for starting the war against South Ossetia gives hope for Tbilisi to conclude a non-use-of-force pact with Abkhazia and South Ossetia and to begin border delimitation and demarcation,” Gatilov said. Georgia considers Abkhazia and South Ossetia its territories occupied by Russia — a position supported by most of the international community.

● The Prosecutor’s Office has expanded the list of charges against activist Nana Sander, who was detained on October 4 during the pro-European protest that has continued in Tbilisi for more than a year. She is now charged not only with organizing group violence but also with publicly calling for the overthrow of the government. According to the Prosecutor’s Office, the charges against another 63 people arrested in the same case, related to the attempted seizure of the presidential administration, were adjusted only in wording and in the description of the offense, while the legal classification remained unchanged.

● Transparency International Georgia stated that over the past several months the organization submitted materials on 65 corruption cases to the Anti-Corruption Bureau, but the bureau did not respond to any of the submissions. According to Transparency International, in the past five years alone the organization registered 250 cases of elite corruption involving 221 high-ranking officials, including 38 ministers and deputy ministers, 40 members of parliament, 17 judges, and 67 municipal employees.

● According to Interior Minister Geki Geladze, all technical devices needed to investigate the crash of the Turkish military aircraft in the Sighnaghi municipality have been found, and expert analysis is underway. Geladze stated that there was one black box on board, and it has been recovered.

● Georgia’s third president, Mikheil Saakashvili, appealed to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, asking to be included — as a Ukrainian citizen, former governor of the Odesa region, and head of the Reform Council — on the list of civilian prisoners of war.

● The Prosecutor’s Office reported that a man accused of sexually assaulting a 12-year-old girl has been sentenced to life imprisonment. The decision was made by the Poti City Court.

● Construction of the “Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity” (“Trump Route”) will begin in the second half of 2026, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan announced. According to him, the parties are expected to discuss all project details by the end of this year, approve the final plan in the first half of 2026, and begin construction in the second half. “I didn’t want to speak about this earlier, because such plans often deviate from the schedule,” Pashinyan added, noting that delays may also occur due to the busy schedule of Donald Trump’s team.

● During his visit to Denmark, Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan visited the Danish Institute for Parties and Democracy (DIPD), where he discussed cooperation opportunities with representatives of civil society. “Armenia is a young democracy, but firmly committed to advancing democratic values and protecting human rights. We are interested in partnership with like-minded countries,” Mirzoyan said.

● Armenian Defense Minister Suren Papikyan told parliament that since 2023, defense spending has significantly increased. “These are unprecedented investments that have seriously strengthened our capabilities — both in terms of army supply and improving conditions for servicemen. Funds have been allocated for modernization of weapons, equipment, and engineering works,” he noted.

● The delimitation of certain sections of the Armenia–Azerbaijan border, including enclaves and exclaves, will be carried out according to the officially approved regulations of bilateral commissions, the office of Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigoryan told News.am. “The regulations define the procedure for the entry into force of all commission decisions. No other decision-making procedures exist or are planned,” the deputy prime minister’s office emphasized.

● Bagrat Mikoyan, head of the office of Armenia’s second president Robert Kocharyan, mocked Prime Minister Pashinyan’s proposal to hold debates with former heads of state. “I thought his obsession with debates had already passed. Sometimes it seems he needs a psychologist, but then I realize — a psychiatrist. Humanity has invented a convenient thing: medicines are put in boxes of different colors so they’re not confused. Perhaps it’s worth using this approach in this case too,” Mikoyan told News.5tv.am.

● In Armenia, crime boss Robson (Ruben Tatulyan) has been detained, Izvestia reported. According to the outlet, he was arrested on November 7, but soon released. Tatulyan holds Armenian citizenship, but in Russia he is wanted for murder, fraud, and organizing a criminal group. A Russian court has issued an arrest warrant for him in absentia.

● Armenia does not intend to abandon Russian wheat imports in favor of Ukrainian ones, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan stated. “That’s absurd,” he said, commenting on a report by Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service. Read more here

● In the morning in Yerevan, security forces conducted searches in the homes of the hosts of the podcast “Imnemnimi.” Last week, their guest was Armenia’s third president, Serzh Sargsyan. Hosts Narek Samsonyan and Vazgen Sagatelyan were detained and taken to the Investigative Committee. According to lawyer Ruben Melikyan, a criminal case was launched following a complaint by Parliament Speaker Alen Simonyan. “After the interview with Sargsyan, Alen Simonyan called the bloggers ‘sons of dogs.’ In their next episode of Imnemnimi, they responded to the insult — but without using profanity. After that, Simonyan filed a complaint, and masked security officers came for the bloggers early in the morning,” Melikyan said.

● Former Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia has been charged with “abuse of power” and “causing serious bodily harm.” The Prosecutor General’s Office has opened a criminal case against the politician, now leader of the opposition party For Georgia. He faces up to 13 years in prison.

The investigation links the charges to two episodes:

• The dispersal of the June 20, 2019 protest, when police, on Gakharia’s orders, used special means. Dozens of protesters were injured, and two lost their eyes.

• The installation of a checkpoint near the village of Chorchana in the Georgia–Ossetia conflict zone in August 2019. The prosecution claims that Gakharia, then interior minister, made the decision without coordinating with the Security Council or the prime minister. This reportedly led to the loss of about 100 hectares of territory previously controlled by Tbilisi. Read more here

● Former President Mikheil Saakashvili, sentenced to nine years in prison, has been returned from a clinic to prison. Reports say the decision was based on his doctor’s conclusion. Saakashvili was placed in Tbilisi’s Vivamedi Clinic in May 2022 after his condition worsened due to a prolonged hunger strike. His family and lawyers said neither they nor Saakashvili himself were notified in advance of the transfer.

● EU ambassadors have approved a reform that will allow the faster suspension of visa-free travel for certain categories of citizens. Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty journalist Rikard Jozwiak reports that the new rules could apply to some Georgian citizens. EU ministers are expected to approve the mechanism on November 17, sign it on November 26, and it will take effect in December.

● EU Ambassador to Georgia Pawel Herczynski confirmed that final decisions on visa-free travel will be made in December. He noted that the Georgian government’s responses to the European Commission’s inquiries were unsatisfactory.

● The ambassador also commented on the sharp cooling of relations between Brussels and Tbilisi. According to him, the EU had repeatedly warned Georgia’s authorities about the consequences of adopting the “foreign agents” law. After its passage in summer 2024, the diplomat said, Georgia’s European integration was effectively suspended. Herczynski added that the European Commission’s recent critical report on Georgia was a “serious signal” and urged the government to “change course” if it truly seeks EU membership. Read more here

● Foreign Minister from the Georgian Dream party, Maka Bochorishvili said: “Georgia does not deserve criticism and negative attitudes from the EU, especially in the context of its progress toward European integration. Despite external pressure, the Georgian government continues to pursue a course aimed at the country’s development, a stable future, and security. I am deeply convinced this is also important for overall European security.”

● Russia has again called on Georgia to sign an agreement on the non-use of force with Abkhazia and South Ossetia. The Russian Foreign Ministry said such a document would be a “practical step toward implementing the rhetoric of reconciliation” that, according to Moscow, the ruling Georgian Dream party proclaims. Georgia regards Abkhazia and South Ossetia as its territories occupied by Russia – a position supported by most of the international community.

● Moscow has simplified the issuance of passports to residents of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. They can now obtain or renew Russian passports without traveling to Russia. Applications will be processed by temporary groups of Russian Interior Ministry officials working locally.

● Near the town of Anaklia (Western Georgia), activists created a giant inscription “Megobari Act” — a message to the United States. Each letter is about 50 meters high, and the entire geoglyph stretches 380 meters. It took about two weeks to complete. “Our goal was to show that the genuine sentiments of the people are not lost amid this dirty information campaign dominated by anti-Western rhetoric,” said artist and activist Rosto Zarandia.

The Megobari Act bill, passed by the U.S. House of Representatives in May, provides for support of Georgia’s democratic institutions and civil society, and allows for sanctions against individuals obstructing the country’s Euro-Atlantic course. The document must still be approved by the Senate and signed by the U.S. president.

● One of the authors of the Megobari Act, Republican Congressman Joe Wilson, wrote on X: “Georgia is occupied by two forces — Russia and the Russo-Chinese puppet ‘Georgian Dream.’ The friendship between the peoples of the U.S. and Georgia, bound by a love of freedom, is unbreakable. Passing the Megobari Act (‘Megobari’ means ‘friend’ in Georgian) will prove this truth!”

● Search operations in Georgia at the site of the Turkish plane crash have been completed. Rescuers found the bodies of all 20 victims. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said the black box was found and promised a full investigation. The Lockheed C-130 Hercules aircraft, flying from Azerbaijan to Turkey, was carrying spare parts for F-16 fighter jets that participated in a parade in Baku on November 8. The plane crashed near the Azerbaijani border.

● In Russia, another Georgian volunteer who fought for Ukraine has been sentenced in absentia to 28 years in prison. Georgian citizen Guram Beruashvili was found guilty of “participation in terrorist activities and illegal border crossing.” According to investigators, in August 2024 he and a group of fighters crossed the border in Russia’s Kursk region and engaged in combat with Russian forces. Beruashvili has been placed on an international wanted list.

● Fragments of the Turkish military transport aircraft Lockheed C-130 Hercules, which crashed in Georgia, will be delivered to a military base in Turkey’s Kayseri province, Yeni Şafak reported. The Turkish Ministry of Defense confirmed the deaths of all 20 servicemen on board. The black box of the military aircraft has been found and delivered to Turkey; its decoding has already begun.

● President Ilham Aliyev made a series of threatening statements aimed at “certain officials who prioritize illegal enrichment.” He placed special emphasis on “illegal orders from greedy and insatiable officials sitting in the center.” “On arable lands, some officials illegally built palaces for themselves. There were many cases of irrational use of land, its seizure, and changes in its category […] As a result of personnel reforms, the situation has significantly improved. Officials who gave such orders, making illegal enrichment their main goal, are now facing trial,” Aliyev said at a meeting with the new presidential representative in Nakhchivan and newly appointed district executive heads.

● The Prosecutor General’s Office announced the initiation of a criminal case over illegal cosmetic surgeries conducted at the UGUR 777 Center for Aesthetic Medicine. The statement said there are reasonable suspicions of illegal activities and serious harm caused to the health of several individuals. The investigation revealed that people posing as cosmetologists had neither higher nor specialized medical education.

● The U.S. Department of Energy left unchanged its forecast for oil and other liquid hydrocarbon production in Azerbaijan for 2026 — around 540,000 barrels per day. In 2024, production of liquid hydrocarbons in Azerbaijan was 600,000 barrels per day, according to the agency.

● First Deputy Finance Minister Anar Kerimov met with the World Bank’s Agriculture and Food mission visiting Baku. They discussed prospects for launching the “Competitive, Resilient Agricultural and Irrigation Services” (CRAIS) project. Kerimov noted that modernization of the agricultural sector, introduction of climate-adapted agricultural technologies, and strengthening food security are key government priorities.

● A bilateral military cooperation plan was signed during the official visit of Azerbaijani Defense Minister Zakir Hasanov to Bosnia and Herzegovina.

● Forest fire extinguishing efforts have continued for the fourth day in the border villages of Isaly, Dordlar, and Mormor in Azerbaijan’s Gadabay district. The Ministry of Emergency Situations reported that due to difficult terrain, it is impossible to deploy special equipment to the site.

● Search and rescue operations continue at the crash site of a Turkish C-130 military transport aircraft in Georgia’s Sighnaghi municipality, near the border with Azerbaijan. The plane was en route from Ganja, Azerbaijan, to Turkey, carrying 20 servicemen on board. All are believed to have been killed.

● The head of the ruling Georgian Dream government, Irakli Kobakhidze, called Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to express condolences over the crash of the Turkish military aircraft in Georgia. “In this difficult moment, we express full solidarity with our Turkish friends. Our thoughts are with the victims, their families, and all those affected,” Kobakhidze wrote on X.

● Parliament, controlled by the Georgian Dream party, has approved at third reading amendments to the Law on Combating Corruption. Eighty-five ruling party MPs voted in favor. According to the bill’s author, Archil Gorduladze, the changes strengthen mechanisms for preventing corruption-related crimes. Former officials convicted of financial or official misconduct will now be required to submit financial declarations for 30 years after their convictions take effect.

● The Prosecutor’s Office reported the arrest of businessman and former Georgian Dream MP Levan Gamrekeli in the Khashuri municipality, along with two alleged accomplices. Investigators claim that Gamrekeli, together with Paata Nozadze and Roman Metivishvili, unlawfully appropriated state-owned pipelines in the Shida Kartli region worth about 5 million lari (1.8 million USD). They face up to 10 years in prison.

● Georgia was not invited to the EU Enlargement Forum. European Commission representative Guillaume Mercier stated that the country will not participate in the event on November 18 in Brussels, citing an EC report which says Georgia is “noticeably distancing itself from the EU” and showing an “unprecedented democratic backslide for a candidate country.”

● PACE co-rapporteurs on Georgia, Edith Estrella and Sabina Čudić, held a closed meeting with parliament speaker Shalva Papuashvili. Shortly afterward, Papuashvili published a lengthy statement on social media accusing PACE of bias. He claimed that the Assembly “spreads unfounded accusations” and unjustly calls for early parliamentary elections. “So far, no evidence has been presented of the alleged fraud in the 2024 parliamentary elections. It is unclear on what basis PACE draws such conclusions,” Papuashvili wrote. According to him, the PACE representatives were interested in laws adopted by Georgian Dream restricting the activities of media and NGOs, as well as its initiative to ban the country’s three main opposition parties. The speaker said he provided “detailed answers” and assured that Tbilisi will continue to fulfill its commitments under the Association Agreement — despite the European Commission’s conclusions suggesting otherwise. He also emphasized that Georgia’s membership in the Council of Europe is not under threat.

●  Moscow again accused the West of conducting “hybrid wars,” citing Georgia as an example. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova claimed that the concept of “hybrid wars” was invented by the United States and that “its methods are best seen in Georgia,” where the West allegedly “blatantly interferes” in domestic politics and “fuels Maidan sentiments.” Zakharova’s statements closely mirror the rhetoric of the ruling Georgian Dream party, which regularly accuses the EU and the US of exerting pressure.

● In Kutaisi, the Constitutional Court held its first hearing in the case of journalist Mzia Amaglobili. Her lawyers are seeking to overturn a two-year prison sentence handed down in August for slapping a police officer who insulted her.

● The 349th day of the continuous pro-European protest in Tbilisi was marked by another act of civil disobedience. For several days, police have prevented participants from blocking the road in front of parliament, which has been the main protest site. Activists are now adopting new forms of demonstration: every day they march without announcing their route in advance, aiming to confuse and exhaust the large police presence that follows them to ensure protesters stay on the sidewalks and off the roadway.

In the video, Azerbaijani journalist and protest participant Afgan Sadygov burns portraits of Vladimir Putin and Bidzina Ivanishvili (the oligarch and founder of the Georgian Dream party) in front of the parliament building. Sadygov was released a week ago after serving 14 days of administrative detention. Before his arrest, he had been fined by the Georgian authorities an enormous amount for blocking roads. He was fined 54 times, each for 5,000 lari (about $1,800), totaling 270,000 lari (around $90,000).

● A Turkish military transport plane, a Lockheed C-130 Hercules, crashed in Georgia near the border with Azerbaijan. The aircraft had taken off from the Azerbaijani city of Ganja with 20 servicemen on board, according to Turkey’s Ministry of Defense. Preliminary reports indicate that all were killed. Georgia has opened a criminal investigation into the crash, secured the site, and is conducting a joint investigation with Turkey.

One possible cause of the crash may have been the detachment of a propeller, said Özgür Feyiz, news director of the Turkish TV channel Haber Global. The aircraft had been in service for a long time and last underwent major repairs in 2020. Structural failure due to corrosion is being considered, as a similar crash involving this aircraft type previously occurred in the United States. Another theory mentioned in the media is improper cargo securing — a load may have shifted, damaging internal structures and compromising the plane’s integrity. Turkey has deployed an Akıncı combat drone to the crash site; one of its tasks is to locate the black box.

● Shortly after the tragedy, President Ilham Aliyev called the President of Turkey to express condolences and offered any necessary assistance.

● Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan spoke by phone with Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze to discuss the progress of search and rescue operations at the crash site. Kobakhidze expressed condolences to Erdoğan over the incident.

● NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte also offered condolences to Turkey.

● The Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed condolences to Pakistan following recent terrorist attacks in Islamabad and Wana that resulted in numerous casualties. “Azerbaijan stands in full solidarity with Pakistan in combating terrorism in all its forms and manifestations,” the statement said.

● Azerbaijan today marks the state holiday — Constitution Day. Thirty years ago, on November 12, 1995, the current Constitution, the first after the country regained independence, was adopted by referendum.

● The Ministry of Internal Affairs issued a statement warning the public about widespread fake messages on social media promising “bonuses,” “lotteries,” and “prizes,” aimed at gaining access to bank cards. The ministry advises against clicking on suspicious links or believing messages such as “money transfer,” “your account is frozen,” or “your card is blocked.” “If you encounter such a situation, immediately report it to the 102 call center and your bank,” the statement said.

● Between January and September this year, the number of tourists from Western Europe visiting Azerbaijan dropped by 21.8% compared with the same period last year. The top three countries of origin were the United Kingdom, Germany, and Italy. The number of travelers from Eastern Europe also decreased significantly — by 21.5% year-on-year. Ukraine remains the leading source of visitors, followed by Belarus, Poland, and Moldova.

Video from the Georgian television channel Imedi shows footage from the site of the Turkish military transport plane crash.

● Under Armenian law, any territorial exchange with Azerbaijan is impossible without a referendum. This was reiterated by ruling party MP Sarkis Khandanyan in a conversation with journalists. The discussion concerned the enclaves claimed by Azerbaijan as well as the Armenian enclave of Artsvashen. According to the MP, the issue should be addressed within the framework of border delimitation and will be decided at a later stage. “If the sides decide to exchange territories, under Armenian law it is impossible without a referendum,” Khandanyan emphasized. More on this topic here

● “Artsvashen is our territory, and I am constitutionally obliged to speak about the need for its return,” said Deputy Speaker of Parliament Ruben Rubinyan (Civil Contract party). According to him, this concerns not only Artsvashen but also other areas — in Jermuk, Syunik, and Tavush.

● The Prime Minister discussed with EU ambassadors accredited in Yerevan the TRIPP (Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity) project. The initiative was proposed at the summit of Armenian and Azerbaijani leaders in Washington on August 8, with the participation of Donald Trump, and aims to develop regional transport and trade corridors under U.S. auspices. The project is intended to strengthen peace and promote economic cooperation in the South Caucasus.

The meeting also addressed current relations between Armenia and the European Union, progress achieved, and prospects for future cooperation. Participants discussed the regional situation following the August 8 summit, steps to unblock communications, and other initiatives, including Armenia’s “Crossroads of Peace” project, which promotes the idea of regional connectivity.

● Secretary of the Security Council Armen Grigoryan also met with EU ambassadors. He spoke about the agreements reached with Azerbaijan in Washington, noting that as a result of these understandings, peace has been established in the region. Grigoryan also discussed Armenia’s cooperation with the EU and the process of visa liberalization, answering questions from diplomats.

● Armenia’s Television and Radio Commission fined the radio station “KISSEF FM” 500,000 drams ($1,300) and suspended its license for 20 days. The penalty was imposed for failing to broadcast for 24 hours on three frequencies in the Ararat region. The company attributed the issue to a technical failure, but the commission found the explanation insufficient.

● “The Russian third-grade wheat that one citizen wrote about has already become flour, then bread — and as you can see, no one was poisoned,” wrote Armenian Minister of Economy Gevorg Papoyan on Facebook. The minister was responding to a user’s question about whether the wheat imported via Azerbaijan was safe. “I will be the first to eat bread made from this wheat,” Papoyan assured.

● The first train carrying Kazakh wheat has arrived in Armenia. The 15-car train, transporting about 1,000 tons of grain, successfully passed along a new route through Russia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia. There are plans to potentially make this corridor a permanent channel for supplying Kazakh grain and other goods to Yerevan. Tobylbek Omarov, Managing Director of “Prodcorporation,” called the shipment an example of “food diplomacy.” According to him, Kazakhstan is ready to supply Armenia with 15–20 thousand tons of food-grade wheat every month.

● The Armenian opposition has questioned the quality of the delivered wheat. Artur Khachatryan, a deputy from the “Armenia” bloc, stated that the shipment consists of fourth-grade wheat, usually used for animal feed. “So don’t complain if tomorrow’s bread isn’t that tasty. High-quality wheat is expensive, and adding transport costs will significantly increase bread prices,” he said.

● The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the delivery of wheat to Armenia via the newly opened railway route through Azerbaijan and Georgia “was largely made possible thanks to earlier efforts within the framework of the Trilateral Working Group on unblocking regional communications and agreements reached by the leaders of Russia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan between 2020 and 2022.”

● Iran announced a new phase of tourism cooperation with Armenia. Iran’s Minister of Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts, Reza Salehi Amiri, and Armenia’s Minister of Economy and Tourism, Gevorg Papoyan, agreed on joint programs: increasing tourist exchanges, sharing experiences between companies, holding exhibitions in Tehran and Yerevan, and developing Islamic and halal tourism.

● According to the IMF, Armenia’s GDP per capita is about $8,970 per year. In the South Caucasus, Georgia leads with around $10,130, while Azerbaijan is lower at approximately $7,370.

● Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and the United States have announced intentions to strengthen interconnectivity and resilience of supply chains under the C5+1 framework. Plans include the development of the Trans-Caspian route and linking it with the “Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity” (TRIPP). According to Kazakhstan’s Foreign Ministry, the goal is to ensure the safe movement of goods, energy, and information in the interests of regional countries and global trade.

● Workers at the Razdan Cement Plant are demanding overdue salaries. “We haven’t been working since April 2024, and the last time we were paid was in August. Only security staff are receiving money; the rest are not,” Manvel Ovannisyan told NEWS.am.

● Vitaly Balasanyan, former Secretary of the Security Council of the unrecognized Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, stated that he “hopes for the possibility of residents of Artsakh returning home.” Asked about the safety of returning, Balasanyan replied that absolute safety “does not exist anywhere,” but with guarantees, he is personally ready to return.

● The National Center for Disease Control and Prevention reported that, in week 45 of the 2025–2026 season, the circulating flu virus subtype A (H3N2) was confirmed in laboratories.

● The Yerevan court authorized the exhumation of Poghos Pogosyan’s remains, who was killed 24 years ago in the “Aragast” café. The need arose after new testimony from witness Stephen Newton, given on May 16 of this year. The prosecution believes the new circumstances may indicate premeditated murder.

In 2001, Robert Kocharyan’s presidential bodyguard, Agamal Arutyunyan, was found guilty in connection with Pogosyan’s death. Officially, the conflict began after Pogosyan addressed Kocharyan with the words “Hi, Rob.” During the ensuing scuffle, he fell, hit his head, and died from severe traumatic brain injury. The new evidence may call the previous conclusions into question.

● A lynx cub found in Shirak province died an hour after being delivered to the Yerevan Zoo. It was brought late at night in extremely poor condition — malnourished, dehydrated, and highly stressed. Experts estimate it was 5–6 months old, an age when lynx cubs cannot survive without their mother. An autopsy revealed acute kidney failure and signs of heart failure caused by starvation.

● The United National Movement (UNM) has announced the launch of a multi-stage constitutional process against the ruling party. Levan Bezhashvili, one of the party’s leaders, said the first step is to challenge in the Constitutional Court the report of what he calls the “treason commission” — a parliamentary body created by Georgian Dream to investigate the actions of the previous government led by UNM founder Mikheil Saakashvili. Bezhashvili stressed that this process is important for potential future proceedings at the European Court of Human Rights.

● The ruling party, meanwhile, is escalating its criticism of the European Union. Georgian Dream’s secretary general, Kakha Kaladze, called European bureaucrats “faceless” and accused them of spreading disinformation, encouraging violence, and attempting to stage a revolution in Georgia. Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili accused Brussels of abandoning “European values” and offered advice on how relations with Georgia should be restored. On his Facebook page he wrote: “The path is clear. If Brussels wants to restore relations with the Georgian people, it must return to European values. The first step is recognising and respecting democracy.”

● The Anti-Corruption Bureau has opened proceedings against the media outlet Indigo under the Law on Grants, which regulates the receipt and use of donor funding. The bureau has demanded that Indigo provide information on all grant agreements in force since spring 2025. Since early October, several other newsrooms — including Mtis Ambebi, Realpolitika, Ai, Fakti and others — have received similar requests. Earlier, around thirty NGOs reported receiving the same type of letters. Civil society groups view the wave of inquiries as another stage of pressure on independent media and human-rights organizations. Indigo stated it will continue its work despite the pressure and expressed confidence that justice will prevail.

● Court bailiffs (known as mandaturi) will be allowed to confiscate from visitors any devices capable of taking photos, recording video, or capturing audio. A new law adopted in fast-track procedure means even mobile phones — currently the only tools journalists can use to produce live text updates from courtrooms — may fall under the ban. Courts have already purchased storage lockers with hundreds of compartments for confiscated devices.

In recent months, parliament has passed a series of measures that significantly narrow freedom of expression. Despite an existing ban on filming inside court buildings and on court premises, citizens and journalists have still managed to document instances of misconduct by bailiffs, which has further irritated the authorities.

● Non-governmental organizations are condemning what they call “attempts to pressure opposition parties.” At a joint briefing, lawyer Aleksandre Baramidze said Georgian Dream’s constitutional complaint seeking the ban of three major opposition parties — the United National Movement, Ahali, and Lelo — is based on the findings of a parliamentary commission created in violation of legal procedure and has no legitimate force.

● The United Kingdom thanked Azerbaijan for its contribution to uniting the global community in the fight against climate change, according to a post by the British Embassy on X. Today, the 30th session of the UN Climate Change Conference (COP30) opens in Belém, Brazil. The previous conference, COP29, was held last year in Azerbaijan. “From Baku to Belém and beyond, London continues to drive global ambition to keep global warming within 1.5°C,” the embassy’s statement said.

● Kazakhstan is ready to supply Armenia with at least 15–20 thousand tons of grain per month through Azerbaijan by the end of the year, Kazakh media report. Last week, for the first time, a train of 15 wagons carrying 1,000 tons of wheat arrived in Armenia after passing through Russia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia. Kazakhstan’s national grain operator is reportedly negotiating with Armenian partners interested in stable wheat supplies.

● Donald Trump called Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan “a great leader with a very strong army who has significant influence on events in Syria.” Trump made this statement while commenting to journalists on his historic meeting at the White House with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, attended by Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan. Following this meeting, Syria signed a declaration on political cooperation with the international Western coalition to combat the terrorist organization ISIS.

● An Azerbaijan–Australia Friendship Group has been established in the Australian Parliament. Members include Senate President Sue Lines and Speaker of the House of Representatives Milton Dick.

● Relatives of Samir Ashurov, who was arrested and sentenced to six and a half years after being deported from Germany, say he is seriously ill but not receiving proper medical care. His wife, Nura Ashurova, told journalists she had appealed to the penitentiary service and received confirmation that her complaint was registered, but no action followed. Ashurov is accused of stabbing another person, but he insists the charges are fabricated. Human rights activists have recognized him as a political prisoner.

According to Radio Liberty’s Azerbaijani service, at least five people deported from European countries to Azerbaijan over the past three years have been arrested on charges related to drugs and other crimes. They claim their arrests are linked to their participation in anti-Azerbaijani protests while in exile.

● Relatives of Afiyaddin Mammadov, chairman of the “Workers’ Table” trade union confederation, who is under arrest, report that he has been banned from phone calls as punishment for an interview published in several independent media outlets. In the interview, he described the dire conditions of political prisoners. The interview was conducted by journalist Ulviya Ali, who is herself under arrest in connection with the “MeydanTV case.” Afiyaddin, Ulviya, and 10 other journalists arrested in this case are accused of smuggling and other serious crimes, which they and rights groups say were fabricated to punish them for publishing materials exposing government corruption.

Prison phone privileges vary by sentence: those serving fixed terms may call twice a week, while those serving life sentences are allowed one 15-minute call per week. According to local human rights defenders, there are currently more than 390 political prisoners in Azerbaijani prisons, a claim denied by officials.

● The first Baku International Art Festival (BIAF) will continue until November 16. Among the participants are world-renowned directors, artists, and performers. Svetlana Dvoretskaya, a member of the BIAF advisory committee, told Euronews that the festival aims to join the ranks of major international art events such as the Salzburg and Avignon festivals. BIAF is organized with the support of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and the Ministry of Culture of Azerbaijan.

● For the first time in history, an Azerbaijani futsal referee has been appointed to the final stage of the European Championship. Hikmet Gafarli will be one of 32 referees officiating at Euro 2026, which will be jointly hosted by Latvia, Lithuania, and Slovenia from January 21 to February 7, 2026. Gafarli will referee matches in Latvia and Lithuania.

● A bicycle rally dedicated to State Flag Day was held in Baku (pictured). More than 300 participants, including para-cyclists, rode along the Seaside Boulevard toward Victory Park, accompanied by motorcyclists carrying Azerbaijani flags. Minister of Youth and Sports Farid Gayibov also took part. The rally finished at the Triumphal Arch.

● On November 9, Azerbaijan solemnly celebrated the State Flag Day. “In this proud day, we pay tribute to the memory of our compatriots who gave their lives so that our flag would fly across the entire country, including the liberated territories,” read a statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs dedicated to the holiday. The holiday was established by presidential decree in November 2009.

● A military parade was held in Baku’s Azadlig Square to mark the fifth anniversary of the victory in the Second Karabakh War, known in Azerbaijan as the Patriotic War.

● Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan once again welcomed the agreements reached between Azerbaijan and Armenia in Washington on August 8, with the participation of Donald Trump. “Five years ago, we demonstrated our utmost support for Azerbaijan (during the Second Karabakh War – JAMnews). After that glorious victory, together with President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan, we attended the military parade at Azadlig Square on December 10, 2020. Our relations, which reached the level of alliance with the signing of the Shusha Declaration in 2021, are being strengthened through concrete projects in all spheres,” Erdoğan told journalists upon returning from his trip to Baku, where he took part in the Flag Day celebrations.

● Recep Tayyip Erdoğan: “We are continuing the normalization process with Armenia in coordination with Azerbaijan. During this process, we will not allow any violation of Azerbaijan’s rights. Under the leadership of my brother Ilham Aliyev, major development is taking place in Karabakh. Roads, tunnels, and housing projects are being built, and agricultural initiatives are underway. We are also contributing to this process as needed for Azerbaijan.”

● New York City has signed a declaration recognizing November 8 as Azerbaijan Victory Day. According to the pro-government outlet Report, the city’s mayor Eric Adams presented the document to the Azerbaijan-American Youth Federation (AAYF) and congratulated the Azerbaijani people on this historic day.

● Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov stated that signing a peace treaty with Armenia is possible in 2026, noting, however, that “no one can give a 100-percent guarantee.” He emphasized that this view is supported by ongoing public discussion in Armenia about the importance of normalizing relations with neighbors. “In 2020–2023, Armenia did not take any sincere steps, while we, step by step, restored our sovereignty and fully completed this process in 2023. Realizing these new realities, Armenia has begun taking genuine steps toward a peace agreement,” Bayramov said in an interview with Public Television. He stressed that the progress leading to the Washington agreements was achieved only in the past two years. “It is extremely rare to see normalization between a victorious state and the defeated side proceed so quickly in such a short period,” Bayramov added.

● A teenager died after being trapped under rubble in Terjola municipality (Kakheti). The collapse occurred on 8 November in an abandoned garage. The case is being investigated under Article 116 of Georgia’s Criminal Code — involuntary manslaughter, which carries a penalty ranging from house arrest to two–four years in prison.

● Former President Mikheil Saakashvili wrote on Facebook that former Georgian Dream prime minister Irakli Garibashvili and former security chief Grigol Liluashvili, both accused of laundering illicit income, are unlikely to face prison. He said they possess “highly sensitive information,” including details of what he described as cooperation with Russian security services and involvement in laundering Russian money after 2022. Saakashvili claimed that instead of jail, they “might suffer an accident or a sudden illness.”

● Prosecutors have charged Crystal Group owner Vladimir Stepanyan. Investigators say the holding’s subsidiary, Bakuriani Business Group, repeatedly violated construction rules in Bakuriani by building hotel-residential complexes without complying with permit conditions. Stepanyan is accused of illegal entrepreneurial activity and money laundering. Prosecutors claim he routed part of the proceeds through company accounts, moved another part to his personal accounts, and used the money to buy real estate and other assets. He faces up to 12 years in prison.

● A major pro-EU rally is planned in Tbilisi on 28 November under the slogan “same day, same place, a stronger society.” The date marks one year since Georgian Dream’s PM Irakli Kobakhidze announced a “freeze” on Georgia’s EU integration process until 2028, sparking continuous protests that have continued ever since.

● The insulin brand NovoRapid has disappeared from pharmacies and state stocks in Georgia. Diabetes patients say the medication is no longer available anywhere. Parents of diabetic children warn that without it, patients face severe complications and potentially fatal outcomes. The Health Ministry is offering an alternative, Apidra, but doctors and parents say it is unsuitable for children and can trigger dangerous hypoglycemic episodes. Medical staff accuse the authorities of negligence and failing to warn the public before supplies ran out.

● Archimandrite Dorote Kurasvhili said that Father Andria Jagmaidze, a senior Patriarchate official close to Locum Tenens Bishop Shio, “acts in Russia’s interests” and should be placed under U.S. sanctions, along with billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili and other Georgian Dream-linked figures. Kurasvhili and another priest, Archimandrite Ilia Toloraya, say they are being targeted inside the Church for participating in protests and criticizing the authorities. Kurasvhili has been removed from his parish in Zemo Betlemi, while Toloraya has been stripped of the right to conduct liturgy.

●  November 9 marked five years since the end of the 44-day war. On this day in 2020, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan announced that he had signed a trilateral statement with Russia and Azerbaijan, establishing a ceasefire from 1:00 a.m. He described the document as “indescribably painful” for himself and for the nation. Throughout the day, people visited the Yerablur military pantheon to lay flowers at the graves of fallen soldiers.

●  Armenia and Azerbaijan may hold another meeting at the Antalya Diplomacy Forum in April 2026. The comment came from Turkey’s representative to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, in an interview with Turkey’s APA. Turkey’s transport minister, Abdulkadir Uraloğlu, also said a trilateral meeting of transport ministers from Turkey, Azerbaijan and Armenia could take place soon, possibly to discuss future regional connectivity.

●  Armenia created the conditions for the withdrawal of Russian peacekeepers from Karabakh. Former president Robert Kocharyan said this in an interview with Armenia’s Fifth Channel. He argued that Vladimir Putin’s signature on the November 9 statement made Russia a security guarantor, but Yerevan “unilaterally withdrew from the process” by recognizing Karabakh as part of Azerbaijan under the 2022 Prague statement. “After that, the question arose of what role Moscow was supposed to play in its relations with Baku. Armenia’s decision effectively nullified Russia’s mediating role,” Kocharyan said. He added that the best format for security guarantees would have involved Russia, the United States and China.

●  Armenia faced a coordinated hybrid attack, according to the prime minister’s spokesperson Nazeli Baghdasaryan, who commented on recent remarks made by former president Serzh Sargsyan. She said his statements “were not political analysis but a repetition of the same old script,” filled with distortions and manipulations. Sargsyan earlier argued that the 2020 war had been inevitable, but that its outcome could not have been predicted before 2018. He listed three reasons for Armenia’s defeat: abandoning negotiations, “actions by the new authorities that allowed Baku to justify the use of force,” and a decline in military readiness.

●  Armenia and Azerbaijan still have substantial work ahead to make the normalization process irreversible, according to a statement from the Russian Foreign Ministry. Moscow cited several priorities: signing a peace treaty, reopening transport and economic links, carrying out fair border delimitation and demarcation, and expanding contacts between civil societies. Russia said it is ready to assist both countries bilaterally and within the “3+3” regional platform (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia + Russia, Iran, Turkey).

●  Anna Hakobyan expressed support for the wife and daughter of Samvel Karapetyan. In a Facebook post she wrote, “When a husband ends up in prison and carries the laurels of heroism, his wife suffers and endures a thousand times more. And fathers know very well how deeply daughters love.” Samvel Karapetyan, a Russian billionaire of Armenian origin and owner of the Tashir Group, has been in custody since June. He is accused of publicly calling for the seizure of power and of large-scale money laundering using official or influential positions.

●  Armenian boxer Samvel Siramargyan (75 kg) has become a three-time European junior champion. The tournament was held in Yerevan.

Top stories in Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Georgia from 3-7 November, 2025