Latest news in Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, summary. Live

📍 Today marks the 84th day of large-scale pro-European protests in Georgia. In the evening, thousands of people once again gathered in front of the parliament in Tbilisi, demanding new parliamentary elections, a lawful change of power, and the release of arrested protesters. Several performances took place on Rustaveli Avenue, as it was the birthday of oligarch Bidzina Ivanishvili, the honorary chairman of “Georgian Dream,” who is considered the country’s shadow ruler. While party representatives warmly congratulated their leader on his 69th birthday, thousands on Rustaveli Avenue chanted “Oligarchy to the fire!”, released black balloons, and burned effigies of Ivanishvili and the head of the special forces unit “Kareba” (photos and videos below).

📍 Mzia Amaglobeli, founder and director of the popular independent outlets Netgazeti and Batumelebi, has decided to resume eating on the 38th day of her hunger strike. She informed her colleagues in a letter, which Batumelebi’s editor-in-chief Eteri Turadze read aloud in the courtyard of the “Vivamed” clinic in Tbilisi, where Mzia is hospitalized. “I feel a special responsibility towards my colleagues, partners, friends, and family. I do not want my hunger strike to weaken you. You must fight instead of me,” the letter says. Read more here

📍 Police have effectively abducted Pirveli TV cameraman Lasha Jioshvili. The incident occurred in Tbilisi, near Elbakidze Street. He was reportedly returning from the rally when, according to witnesses, unknown individuals forced him into an unmarked car near the Radisson Hotel. After several hours of searching, his lawyer found him in a detention facility in the suburban Zages district.

📍 The leader of the “For Georgia” party, Giorgi Gakharia, stated that he will not give up his parliamentary mandates to maintain the party’s political independence. “It is important for us to receive part of our funding as the money of citizens who supported us in the elections and not to depend on financial groups and bankers,” Gakharia said. Three other opposition groups that entered parliament in last October’s elections have renounced their mandates and, accordingly, state funding. Gakharia, like the rest of the opposition, considers the elections rigged, and deputies from his party are boycotting parliamentary work.

📍 Two residents of the Kareli district, who were illegally detained by Russian occupation forces near the village of Dirbi in the Georgian-Ossetian conflict zone, have been released, according to the State Security Service. “Kakha Tshelidze and Giorgi Chitadze are now in territory controlled by the central government. The EU Monitoring Mission’s ‘hotline’ mechanism was actively used in their release. The government continues its active work to free all Georgian citizens illegally detained in the occupied territories,” the statement reads.

📍 The 5th president, Salome Zourabichvili, announced that she has filed a complaint over an attack at the airport, where unknown individuals pelted her with eggs. Zourabichvili called the incident “violence incited by Georgian Dream supporters” and demanded an investigation.

📍 Courts continue to issue sentences against protesters detained for administrative offenses. Actress Ana Tkebuchava was found guilty and fined 5,000 lari (approximately $1,800).

More photos and videos from Rustaveli Avenue in #Tbilisi, where thousands of pro-European protesters “marked” the birthday of oligarch Bidzina Ivanishvili, including by burning effigies of him and the head of the special forces unit nicknamed Khareba. #GeorgiaProtests pic.twitter.com/FgkueypZFA

— JAMnews (@JAMnewsCaucasus) February 18, 2025

● Today, 212 internally displaced persons (37 families) are returning to Jabrayil, a city liberated during the Second Karabakh War in the fall of 2020. This brings the total number of resettled residents in Jabrayil to 2,110 people (479 families).

● President Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva visited the city of Aghdam in Karabakh yesterday, where they attended the opening of the regional digital management center and the “Azerishyg” training and education complex. They also reviewed infrastructure construction projects and the conceptual design of the Askeran Fortress complex.

● The material damage suffered by Azerbaijan in the First and Second Karabakh Wars exceeds 100 billion manats (over $60 billion), according to the indictment in the ongoing trial in Baku against 15 former officials of the unrecognized NKR.

● Passenger rail services between Azerbaijan and Georgia may resume on May 1. This was discussed in Tbilisi between Azerbaijan’s Minister of Transport, Rashad Nabiyev, and Georgia’s Minister of Economy, Levan Davitashvili. Train services between the two countries had been suspended since March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

● Azerbaijan recorded 1.86 million tourist visits last year, the highest figure in the past five years. More than half (53.9%) of all visitors came from Russia, India, and Turkey.

● Baku has announced the completion of the reading of the indictment against the former leaders of the unrecognized Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, who are currently under arrest there. They are accused of “war crimes against Azerbaijan, crimes against peace and humanity, violations of the laws and customs of war, and terrorism.”

● In Armenia, social media posts from Abkhazia with anti-Armenian rhetoric have sparked controversy. These posts were fueled by claims that almost the entire Armenian population allegedly voted for Badra Gunba in last weekend’s presidential elections—Gunba is openly supported by Russia. An audio recording surfaced in which a supporter of opposition candidate Enver Bganba called for action against Armenians during the second round of elections. The Armenian diaspora has appealed to the authorities for protection. Bganba later apologized to the Armenian community. Read more here

● A new type of fraud is spreading in Armenia, this time under the guise of mandatory car insurance. Scammers pose as employees of insurance companies and offer to arrange policies remotely. They issue fake contracts or ones with shorter validity than promised. The Central Bank has warned citizens against dubious deals, urging them to trust only licensed insurance companies and agents.

● “At any moment, Mzia Amaglobeli could face organ failure due to the prolonged hunger strike (37 days). I urge her family, friends, and lawyers to convince her to stop and follow doctors’ recommendations to avoid a fatal outcome,” said Zurab Chkhaidze, director of Vivamedi clinic, commenting on the health condition of the imprisoned founder of Netgazeti and Batumelebi. She was arrested during a protest after slapping the head of Batumi police, who had insulted her. Local and international human rights organizations consider her a political prisoner.

● EU Ambassador Paweł Herczyński: “Mzia has been on a hunger strike for 37 consecutive days – an act of extraordinary bravery and determination. She has become a symbol of journalistic courage, and of the relentless fight for justice. She embodies the spirit of all those unjustly detained. We are all extremely worried for her health, and I assure you – we will continue to plea for her immediate release. ”

● Paweł Herczyński: “The circumstances in Georgia today are extremely dire for journalists. Journalists are being intimidated, beaten, and imprisoned. And for what crime? For sharing the truth. For being the voice of those who have been silenced. For exposing human rights violations. For acting as one of the pillars of democracy. This is unacceptable. This cannot be happening in a country that aspires to join the European Union.”

● Georgia’s criminal code has been amended to include a new article on treason, announced Georgian Dream parliamentary leader Mamuka Mdinaradze. Analysts believe this will be used to target the opposition, particularly the United National Movement, which was the ruling party under Mikheil Saakashvili.

● Mdinaradze also announced plans to introduce a media law this week, banning any foreign funding of journalism. Analysts warn this could amount to outright censorship. He also signaled plans to incorporate the U.S. Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) into Georgian legislation.

● Transparency International Georgia issued a statement in support of Giorgi Bachiashvili, former head of the Co-Investment Fund and once a close associate of oligarch Bidzina Ivanishvili. Now one of Ivanishvili’s most outspoken critics, Bachiashvili faces money laundering charges and accusations of embezzling the oligarch’s bitcoins. Transparency International Georgia stated: “These charges have no legal or factual basis. The case lacks convincing and consistent evidence.”

● A new leftist political movement, The People’s Party for Social Democracy, has been established. It claims to unite citizens from various professions and backgrounds, drawing from European left-wing traditions. The movement currently has around 100 members. Read more here

● Georgian Dream parliamentary speaker Shalva Papuashvili: “The war in Ukraine creates a moral dilemma for some Europeans. Calling for the war to continue without taking responsibility or action is unethical.”

● A massive forest fire has broken out near Akhalgori in the Georgian-Ossetian conflict zone. The State Security Service has informed the EU Monitoring Mission and activated a hotline.

● Remittances to Georgia in January totaled $242.44 million, down 8.5% from the same period last year. The largest share—19.52%—came from the U.S., followed by Italy and Russia.

Freedom for Mzia Amaglobeli!

● Former Armenian President Robert Kocharyan held a major press conference, focusing largely on Russia. He explained why Russia did not help Armenia during the 2022 Karabakh war, saying: “Many are upset that Russia didn’t fulfill its obligations. But let’s see it from Russia’s perspective. It could only stop the war through military intervention. But for whom? For Armenia, which essentially betrayed it and joined the enemy’s camp? Would any of you do that? I don’t think so.” Read more here

● His remarks were seen in pro-government circles as “essentially a speech by Russia’s ambassador Kopirkin.” Kocharyan responded: “Then shouldn’t they be called ambassadors of Brussels and Washington?”

● 41 cybercriminals were arrested in Yerevan in a joint operation by Armenian and Kazakh security forces. The suspects include citizens of Armenia, Georgia, Iran, Syria, and Lebanon. Authorities seized electronics, gold, cars, and various currencies. The scammers lured victims into fake investment schemes. The investigation is ongoing.

● In Baku, another court hearing took place for Ruben Vardanyan, former PM of the unrecognized Nagorno-Karabakh Republic. His request to disqualify the judges was denied. “No surprise,” Armenian media commentators noted. Here is the list of charges brought against Vardanyan in the Azerbaijani court.

● John van’t Schip has been appointed as the new head coach of Armenia’s national football team. The 61-year-old Dutchman, who previously coached Greece and Ajax, will start on March 1.

● Representatives of the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem were among those welcoming new US Secretary of State Marco Rubio at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, according to the Armenian Apostolic Patriarchate of Jerusalem.

● Azerbaijani Prime Minister Ali Asadov is on a working visit to Iran, where he will attend the 3rd Caspian Economic Forum.

● Azerbaijan has reopened its embassy in Damascus after a 13-year hiatus. The chargé d’affaires has already begun work, according to the Foreign Ministry.

● Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will visit Azerbaijan on February 24. Local media report that investment agreements worth $2 billion will be signed.

● Azerbaijani weapons are showcased at the IDEX-2025 international defense exhibition in Abu Dhabi, featuring around 100 types, including firearms, mortars, ammunition, and drones.

● At a court hearing, former state minister of the unrecognized Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, Ruben Vardanyan, and his lawyer requested the judges’ recusal, but the motion was rejected due to a lack of specific justification. Vardanyan faces a long list of serious charges. The indictment states that “these crimes were committed under the direct leadership and participation of Armenia, its state bodies, officials, armed forces, and illegal armed groups.” Read more here

● In Azerbaijan, pharmacy sellers will face a 200-manat ($120) fine if they fail to provide customers with information about medicines and prices.

● In 2024, Azerbaijan exported 1,200 kg of sturgeon caviar worth $1.24 million. Compared to 2023, exports increased by 85% (550 kg), and total revenue grew 2.1 times. The average export price of black caviar reached 1,760 manats ($1,035) per kg, a 15% rise from last year, according to the State Statistics Committee.

● The ombudsman urged relevant authorities to ensure a swift and objective investigation into the Batumi tragedy, where two young children died after falling into an unprotected water-filled pit at a construction site. Levan Ioseliani also called for effective safety standards in public spaces and construction sites. The tragedy occurred in an impoverished Batumi district, ironically called the “City of Dreams.” Read and watch our report on living conditions there.

●  Less than a month ago, a similar tragedy happened in Tbilisi. A teenager fell into a water-filled trench near Rike Park. No one was held accountable for his death.

● Thousands of pro-European protesters, demonstrating for over two and a half months, lit candles in front of parliament to honor the two children who died in Batumi. On the 81st day of protests, demonstrators blocked Rustaveli Avenue, demanding new parliamentary elections and the release of all detained protesters.

● The Charter of Journalistic Ethics called on Ajara’s authorities and the Ministry of Internal Affairs to ensure journalist safety and urged the investigative service to probe cases of police mistreatment of reporters covering the Batumi tragedy. The charter expressed deep condolences to the victims’ families.

● The Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association (GYLA) stated that the Batumi incident was not an accident but a result of state negligence. The site lacked proper fencing or warning signs. GYLA also accused authorities of restricting journalists from the area, limiting public access to information.

● GYLA condemned the Kutaisi Appeals Court’s refusal to lift pretrial detention for Mzia Amaglobeli, founder of Netgazeti and Batumelebi, who has been on a hunger strike for nearly a month. Local and international rights groups consider her a political prisoner and demand her release.

● Two Georgian citizens were detained by Russian forces near Dirbi village in the Kareli district, within the Georgian-Ossetian conflict zone. Georgia’s State Security Service activated the EU monitoring mission’s hotline and informed international partners, stating that occupation forces are responsible for destabilizing actions in and around occupied territories.

● The European External Action Service (EEAS) declared that the EU does not recognize the so-called presidential elections held on February 15, 2025, in the Russian-occupied region of Abkhazia. The EU reaffirmed its support for Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, rejecting the legitimacy of the election process. More on the elections here.

● 205 displaced persons (42 families) are returning to Jabrayil today, liberated in the Second Karabakh War in fall 2020. So far, 1,898 people (442 families) have been resettled in the district.

● Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić awarded Azerbaijani FM Jeyhun Bayramov the Order of the Serbian Flag (1st class) for contributions to bilateral cooperation and friendly relations.

● Azerbaijan does not recognize the “so-called presidential elections in Georgia’s Abkhazia region,” reaffirming its support for Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. Baku calls for a peaceful resolution in line with international law.

● A major accident in Ujar district involved 13 vehicles, leaving two dead and 22 injured.

● Azerbaijan will have 12 consecutive public holidays for Novruz and Ramadan, with March 27–28 swapped with March 10 and April 1.

● Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz discussed regional stability, security, and Armenia-Azerbaijan talks over coffee in Munich during the security conference opening (pictured).

●  In Munich, Pashinyan met OSCE’s new Secretary-General Feridun Sinirlioğlu to discuss the Armenia-Azerbaijan peace process. Sinirlioğlu reaffirmed OSCE’s readiness to support peace efforts.

● Yerevan will challenge Azerbaijan’s international lawsuit under the Bern Convention, accusing Armenia of environmental destruction in Karabakh. Armenia argues that independent analysis shows Azerbaijan is responsible for recent environmental damage.

● An explosion occurred at the parish house of the Holy Mother of God Church in Martuni, Gegharkunik. The church’s priest, Hakob Barseghyan, was injured and transferred to a burn unit. The cause is still unknown.

● Armenian runner Ervand Mkrtchyan won the Balkan Athletics Championship in the 1500m race, finishing in 3:49.82 ahead of Slovenia’s Anže Požga and Turkey’s İbrahim Erat.

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