Top stories in Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Georgia from 27-31 January, 2025

● 🆘 Mzia Amaglobeli, founder and director of the popular publications Batumelebi and Netgazeti (pictured), has been on a hunger strike in pretrial detention for 20 days. The Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association (GYLA), which is defending her, warns that she is struggling to walk, while authorities refuse to provide medical records. Amaglobeli faces 4 to 7 years in prison for slapping the Batumi police chief, who had allegedly insulted her. Here is the latest update on her condition.

● Batumelebi editor Eter Turadze requested a meeting with prime minister Irakli Kobakhidze from Georgian Dream to discuss Amaglobeli’s pretrial release. He responded that he expects her to “repent” as a precondition. “If someone wants to talk, repent, and express regret for inciting violence—this also applies to the opposition—then I can say that I am ready to meet. The main thing is that the meeting should be businesslike, and I will talk about the details,” Kobakhidze said.

● Embassies of 14 Western countries in the Media Freedom Coalition issued a joint statement expressing concern over Amaglobeli’s health on the 19th day of her hunger strike. They highlighted growing pressure on journalists in Georgia and restrictions on media and free speech. The statement also questioned why “not a single police officer has been suspended or charged despite systematic violence against protesters.” The signatories include the embassies of Austria, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, the UK, and Ukraine.

● Georgian prime minister Irakli Kobakhidze and foreign minister Maka Bochorishvili traveled to Yerevan for an intergovernmental commission meeting on economic cooperation between Armenia and Georgia. At a joint press conference, Armenian prime minister Nikol Pashinyan called Kobakhidze “a friend” and emphasized last year’s strategic partnership declaration between the two countries. He informed Kobakhidze about Armenia-Azerbaijan normalization and border delimitation, with the next stage set for the Armenia-Georgia-Azerbaijan border junction. Both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to each other’s territorial integrity. Kobakhidze reiterated Georgia’s readiness to facilitate dialogue between Armenia and Azerbaijan and invited Pashinyan for an official visit to Georgia.

● In Georgia, special attention was given to foreign minister Maka Bochorishvili’s statement in Yerevan, where she welcomed Armenia’s deepening ties with the EU and the US. Georgian media noted that Bochorishvili simultaneously supports Georgian Dream’s decision to halt Georgia’s EU integration. Her tenure has seen key developments: the US ended its strategic partnership with Georgia, the country exited PACE, and—for the first time—US and EU sanctions were imposed on government officials, judges, and Georgian Dream’s founder and informal ruler Bidzina Ivanishvili for undermining democratic institutions and human rights.

● US Helsinki Commission chairman, Republican congressman Joe Wilson, and UK MP James McCleary urged the UK foreign secretary to impose sanctions on Bidzina Ivanishvili. Wilson shared their joint letter on X: “Despite being on opposite sides of the Atlantic and the political spectrum, the challenge posed by Georgian oligarch Bidzina Ivanishvili requires a united, transatlantic, and bipartisan response.”

● EU ambassador Paweł Herczyński met with the families of detainees arrested during Georgia’s ongoing pro-European protests, which have lasted over two months.

● Georgian Dream president Mikheil Kavelashvili awarded interior minister Vakhtang Gomelauri and senior police officials the Order of Honor “for their exceptional contribution to strengthening law and order.” Gomelauri and several other high-ranking security officials in Georgia have been sanctioned by multiple Western countries for violence against protesters and gross human rights violations.

● Public outrage erupted over reports of suspected torture at Gldani Prison No. 8. A 46-year-old inmate, Ioseb Gorgadze, was transferred to a hospital in critical condition. His lawyer, Mukhran Gurdzkaia, stated that Gorgadze was tortured and brutally beaten, suffering multiple fractures, including facial bones. The lawyer does not know whether the perpetrators were inmates or prison guards.

● Ilham Aliyev expressed condolences to Donald Trump over the plane crash in Washington, where, according to preliminary reports, 60 people died after a collision between an American passenger plane and a military helicopter near Ronald Reagan Airport.

● A 22-year-old Azerbaijani citizen infected with the monkeypox virus has been discharged for outpatient treatment at home. No other cases of the disease have been recorded in the country.

● A jubilee match was held in honor of the 100th anniversary of renowned Azerbaijani football referee Tofiq Bahramov. The game, featuring veteran footballers and sports journalists, took place at the Tofiq Bahramov Republican Stadium in Baku.

📹 Video: Scottish traveler and travel blogger Ross Jennings played the famous Azerbaijani children’s song Jujalarim on the bagpipes in Baku 

● During the official visit of Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze to Armenia, he met with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. “We discussed advancing the demarcation process of the Armenia-Georgia border and agreed to make efforts in this direction,” Pashinyan stated.

● Georgian Foreign Minister Maka Bochorishvili, also in Yerevan, said during a briefing with her Armenian counterpart that Georgia “truly wants to be a facilitator between Yerevan and Baku to strengthen peace and stability in the region” and support a peace treaty that “takes into account the interests of both sides.”

● In parliament, a meeting was held with relatives of those missing since the Second Karabakh War in the fall of 2020. Head of the Defense and Security Commission Andranik Kocharyan stated that many issues were discussed during the five-hour closed session. This was the first meeting, with a second scheduled in a month.

● A clash between police and protesters took place outside the Government House in Yerevan. Demonstrators opposed the increase in trade turnover tax and announced plans to hold a large rally on February 5 and start a boycott in Yerevan markets. Three detainees are accused of violating an administrative code article for disobeying police orders.

● A video surfaced online showing a group of Iranian Azerbaijanis singing the song “Karabakh” in Azerbaijani at Republic Square in Yerevan (watch below). Orientalist Artem Tonoyan commented: “The song is widely known in Iran’s Tabriz, where every street musician plays it. But the question is, why did they choose to sing it in the Armenian capital?”

● Armenian authorities seized a large batch of drugs from Iran, totaling 18 kg, according to the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Some were intended for distribution in Armenia, while the rest was meant to be smuggled into Georgia. A criminal case has been launched, and 13 people have been arrested.

● “Deeply saddened by the tragic plane crash near Washington that claimed many lives”: Armenia’s Foreign Ministry expressed condolences over the air disaster in the U.S.

● For the first time since the Soviet Union’s collapse, Armenia will open daycare centers for infants under one year old. Four will be in Yerevan, two each in Vanadzor and Gyumri, and one in Razdan. The government has approved the decision.

● Following the vote on Georgia, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) has restricted the powers of the delegation from Georgian Dream but has so far maintained its mandate on the condition that “by April 2025, political prisoners will be released, and new parliamentary elections will be scheduled.” The resolution was supported by 114 MEPs, with 13 voting against it. The resolution states that the decision was made as a sign of condemnation of the brutality of law enforcement agencies and various human rights violations that the Georgian Dream government failed to address. There have only been two previous precedents when PACE suspended the mandates of delegations—those of Russia and Azerbaijan.

● The head of the Georgian Dream delegation in PACE, Tea Tsulukiani, announced the immediate cessation of their participation in the Parliamentary Assembly in response to its “unfair and unjustified resolution.” “The conditions under which the delegation’s powers were recognized are unacceptable to us, as they infringe on Georgia’s sovereignty and ignore the will and facts established by more than 1,120,000 voters. Accepting these conditions would amount to betraying our voters and, therefore, the overwhelming majority of our society. The blackmail against Georgia’s democratically elected government continues, and the discussions are biased and marked by offensive attitudes toward our people. Georgia, of course, remains a member of the Council of Europe as a state. However, our delegation will resume participation in PACE only when the unjust attitude toward the Georgian state and people changes, and those behind the blackmail are held accountable,” said Tea Tsulukiani.

● The Czech Republic has imposed sanctions on three high-ranking officials of Georgia’s Ministry of Internal Affairs. Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský wrote on X that the decision was made at his initiative. “The reason is their direct responsibility for the brutal suppression of protests in Georgia last year. In layman’s terms – threshers. And we don’t want them in the Czech Republic,” Lipavský wrote. Czech media reported that the sanctioned individuals include the head of the special forces, Zviad Kharazishvili (Kareba), his deputy Mirza Kezevadze, and the head of the patrol police, Vaja Siradze.

● Another massive protest took place in Tbilisi, demanding the immediate release of Mzia Amaglobeli, the director of the popular media outlets Batumelebi and Netgazeti. She was arrested for slapping the chief of Batumi police, who had insulted her. She faces a prison sentence of 4 to 7 years and has been on a hunger strike for the 19th consecutive day in protest. Protesters initially gathered outside the Public Broadcaster building, accusing its leadership of bias and spreading disinformation in favor of Georgian Dream. They then marched through the city center and joined thousands of demonstrators outside the parliament. Massive pro-European protests have been ongoing in Georgia for over two months, with two main demands: the holding of new parliamentary elections and the release of arrested protesters.

● The Prime Minister from Georgian Dream, Irakli Kobakhidze, stated: “The connection between Mzia Amaglobeli’s arrest and media activities is absolute speculation. She acted not as a journalist but as a political activist.”

● “Mzia Amaglobeli’s health condition is satisfactory and stable, and her life is not in danger,” said Malkhaz Urtkmelidze, head of the medical department of the special penitentiary service. According to him, she will undergo a medical examination today and “will continue to receive all necessary medical care, as she has been.” “She has been repeatedly visited by her lawyer and a representative of the Public Defender’s Office, who can, with her consent, obtain information about her health condition,” Urtkmelidze stated.

● The Tbilisi City Hall has denied allegations of its involvement in the death of a 16-year-old student, calling them disinformation and slander. Local media and social networks reported that the teenager died after falling into an unfenced deep ditch in Rike Park. “The incident occurred on private property, and an investigation has been launched. It is unfortunate that journalists are using such a tragedy to discredit City Hall. We urge media representatives to respect their profession and provide the public with verified information. Tbilisi City Hall expresses deep sorrow over the teenager’s death and extends condolences to his family,” the statement reads.

● The “New Theatre” named after Vaso Abashidze has announced the launch of mass demonstrations across Georgia starting February 1. The theater’s staff has declared a strike and is holding protests demanding the release of their colleague, actor Andro Chichinadze, along with more than 50 other participants of the mass pro-European protests who are facing severe prison sentences.

The video shows a performance at a protest in Tbilisi. The poster features Bidzina Ivanishvili, the founder and honorary chairman of “Georgian Dream,” who is considered the “shadow ruler” of Georgia. Participants of the massive pro-European protests, which have been ongoing for over two months, accuse him of shifting the country’s course away from European integration and steering Georgia toward an alliance with Russia. Video by Yulia Kalaban/JAMnews.

● EU ambassadors in Brussels have approved the decision to extend the EU’s civilian mission in Armenia (EUMA) for another two years—until February 19, 2027. The decision must be approved by the foreign ministers of EU member states, which is expected soon.

● The speaker of the parliament intends to file two lawsuits against media outlets over alleged Russophobic statements attributed to him. The first is against the newspaper Zhoghovurd, which claimed that Alen Simonyan said, “Russia must be defeated so that prospects open up for us and for you.” Another lawsuit is being prepared against the Mediahub portal, which reported that Pashinyan allegedly “dumped a bucket of dirt on Simonyan” after these anti-Russian remarks, and that Armenia’s ambassador to Russia, Gurgen Arsenyan, was outraged.

● Georgian Foreign Minister Maka Bochorishvili arrived in Yerevan on an official visit on the night of January 30. She was met at the airport by Armenia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Paruyr Hovhannisyan (pictured).

● Money transfers to Armenia decreased by 21.7% at the end of 2024 compared to November 2023, according to a World Bank report. The decline was recorded in transfers from both Russia and the United States. The total inflow of remittances amounted to approximately $447 million.

● A total of 51 police officers and two rescue workers have been dismissed following inspections by the Ministry of Internal Affairs. The ministry announced the opening of 46 criminal cases related to bribery, document forgery, aiding illegal border crossings, and other offenses.

● As of November 24, 2024, 2,808 Armenian citizens were on deportation lists in the United States, according to American media citing immigration authorities. In total, nearly 1.5 million people are subject to deportation, though orders have not yet been carried out.

● According to preliminary data from Azerbaijan’s Central Election Commission, voter turnout in yesterday’s municipal elections was 31.45%. Read more here

● The next summit of the Organization of Turkic States will be held in Azerbaijan. This was announced by Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan at a press conference following the second meeting of the trilateral mechanism between Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Uzbekistan in Ankara. An informal meeting of the organization will be held in Hungary, he added.

● Information on the results of the investigation into the AZAL airline plane crash will be made public soon, said Hikmet Hajiyev, assistant to the president of Azerbaijan.

Photo saraa.snaps

● On the 62nd day of mass pro-European protests in Tbilisi, artists staged an exhibition dedicated to the movement in front of parliament. A massive black-and-white mural depicting security forces beating peaceful protesters was displayed. Thousands of demonstrators were given paint and used their hands as brushes to color the mural. Photos and videos below.

● It is the 18th day of the hunger strike by Mzia Amaglobeli, the jailed director of Batumelebi and Netgazeti. She was arrested in Batumi during a protest after slapping a police chief who had repeatedly insulted her with obscenities. Dozens of journalists hold daily solidarity rallies outside the Special Investigation Service. Ambassadors accredited in Georgia have called for her release, while the EU delegation in Georgia expressed solidarity and urged her immediate release.

● “All unlawfully detained protesters in Georgia must be freed, and police use of force during demonstrations must be investigated,” stated the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. The report, prepared by independent human rights experts, details “deliberate physical violence, threats, intimidation, and retaliation by law enforcement officers and unidentified individuals against peaceful demonstrators, human rights defenders, and journalists in Georgia.”

● EU foreign ministers have approved the suspension of visa-free travel for Georgian diplomatic passport holders, set to take effect in the coming days. Hungary’s Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó, however, stated that Hungary will not revoke visa-free entry for Georgian diplomatic and service passports.

● In Batumi, three students and the dean of the University of Arts were released on bail, while one student remains in custody. Professor Mamuka Jorbenadze and students—22-year-old Giorgi Davitadze, 20-year-old Andro Kakabadze, 21-year-old Davit Gianidze, and 20-year-old Guram Mikeladze—were accused of assaulting another professor. According to the investigation, the students attempted to place a protest poster near the rector’s office. A faculty member intervened, leading to a verbal altercation. She called her husband, and when he arrived with a friend, a physical confrontation ensued. Andro Kakabadze, a talented pianist and multiple competition winner, remains in custody. Thousands of artists and tens of thousands of pro-European protesters continue to demand his release.

● A massive fire broke out at Georgia’s largest marketplace, Lilo Mall. No casualties were reported, but the fire spread across more than 5,000 square meters, destroying numerous shops.

● Municipal elections are being held in Azerbaijan today. A total of 8,071 deputies will be elected in 685 municipalities across 118 districts.

● “We have not forgotten Zangezur and never will. Once again, we have no territorial claims against Armenia. However, Armenia must fulfill its obligations and ensure unrestricted passage from Azerbaijan to Azerbaijan,” said President Ilham Aliyev. He referred to a route that would connect mainland Azerbaijan to its Nakhchivan exclave via Armenian territory. Aliyev insisted on “comfortable and free passage without any inspections or obstacles,” while Armenia insists on maintaining full control over the section passing through its territory.

● Russia’s ambassador to Baku, Mikhail Yevdokimov, was summoned to Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry over two issues. The first concerns the crash of an Azerbaijani passenger plane, reportedly struck by Russian air defenses. “Our expectations regarding the crash have been clearly communicated to the Russian side,” the ministry stated.

The second issue relates to Moscow’s protest over negative Azerbaijani media coverage of the “Russian House” in Baku, which was labeled a “spy organization.” The ministry clarified that these reports do not reflect Azerbaijan’s official position, emphasizing that such institutions operate based on reciprocity and must comply with national laws. More on the “Russian House” controversy here

● Fake reports about the plane crash circulated on social media, falsely attributed to Foreign Ministry spokesperson Aykhan Hajizada. The messages claimed preliminary investigations confirmed a bird strike as the cause and that Azerbaijan had apologized to Russia for misinformation. Hajizada issued an official statement refuting these claims as false.

● Azerbaijan’s State Oil Fund reported that as of December 31, 2024, its assets had increased by 7.1% since the beginning of the year, reaching $60.031 billion.

● “External support for Armenia’s authorities is one of the main reasons the opposition has failed to overthrow them,” said former deputy defense minister and opposition Republican Party member Artak Zakaryan.

● “Peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan is unrealistic,” said Seiran Ohanyan, head of the opposition parliamentary faction “Armenia.” He argued that while everyone desires peace, the current peace agenda deceives the Armenian people, as the conflict has deepened, Nagorno-Karabakh has been depopulated, and its Armenian population has suffered genocide. According to him, Azerbaijan’s leadership seeks pressure, not peace.

● A military parade took place at the defense ministry’s square for Army Day, featuring various armed forces units accompanied by a military orchestra (pictured).

● Yerevan’s city hall has reversed its decision on public transport fares. Starting February 1, the fare will be 150 drams (about 40 cents) instead of the previously announced 300 drams. Mayor Tigran Avinyan made the announcement despite insisting just a day earlier that a 150-dram fare was “impossible.”

● The 62nd day of large-scale, ongoing pro-European protests in Georgia has begun. Daily marches are held in Tbilisi and other cities, with thousands gathering in front of the parliament. The main demands are to hold new parliamentary elections to lawfully change the government and to release arrested protest participants.

● Over 300 journalists, editors, and media managers issued a joint statement demanding the immediate release of Mzia Amaglobeli, co-founder and director of Batumelebi and Netgazeti, who has been on a hunger strike for 16 days in detention, consuming only water. The prominent Georgian journalist is in pre-trial detention, charged with slapping Batumi police chief Irakli Dgebuadze after he insulted her during a protest. She faces 4 to 7 years in prison.

● “Mzia Amaglobeli’s life is in danger. Immediate action is needed,” stated the Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association (GYLA).

● Steve Cohen, OSCE Parliamentary Assembly’s Special Representative on Political Prisoners: “I’m closely following the case of Mzia Amaghlobeli in the Republic of Georgia. Mzia is a journalist who the de facto Georgian Dream government has arrested on trumped-up charges. She is not doing well in prison, the government needs to release her NOW.”

● The Council of Europe has suspended the visa-free regime for Georgian diplomats and officials, requiring them to apply for visas to travel to EU member states.

● The European People’s Party has called on the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) to suspend the Georgian delegation’s credentials. “Georgia’s parliament is one-party, with the opposition refusing to work there, and it consists solely of Georgian Dream, which represents [oligarch] Ivanishvili’s regime and is destroying democracy in the country,” stated Boriana Åberg of the European People’s Party. PACE is preparing a draft resolution on this matter, expected to be voted on tomorrow, January 29. Previously, four opposition parties in Georgia, which won seats in the October 26 elections but declared them rigged, sent a joint letter to PACE calling for Georgian Dream’s mandates not to be recognized.

● Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán met in Budapest with Georgian Dream Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili and later posted on X: “Brussels bureaucrats and Soros networks must stop attacking the Georgian government. I expressed my support to Papuashvili in their fight for Georgia’s sovereignty.” In response, U.S. Senator Joe Wilson, Chair of the Helsinki Commission, posted on X a photo of Georgian Dream leader Bidzina Ivanishvili with George Soros and commented: “Sadly, Prime Minister Orbán is misguided here. CCP & Iranian regime crony Bidzina Ivanishvili is actually intimately acquainted with Soros.”

● Students from the University of Georgia issued a solidarity statement for activist Luka Djabua, a fellow student arrested alongside dozens of other activists. “We demand the immediate release of prisoners of conscience and declare disobedience to Ivanishvili’s regime until the main demands of society are met. This is our country, and it is part of Europe,” their statement reads.

● Students of the Georgian National University continue a round-the-clock protest, demanding the release of Irakli Miminashvili, a fellow student also arrested during the pro-European protests. They are camping outside the university building (pictured) and attempted to set up tents yesterday, but police arrived and prevented them.

● Armenia celebrates Army Day today. On the 33rd anniversary of the Armed Forces, the Yerablur military pantheon has been cordoned off by police since early morning as the country’s leadership, led by the Prime Minister, arrived to pay their respects.

● The situation on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border remains relatively calm, according to Chief of the General Staff Edward Asryan.

● A court in Baku denied the request to place the military-political leadership of Nagorno-Karabakh under house arrest, Azerbaijani media report.

● Armenia is ready to assist Syria in humanitarian efforts and implementing various reforms, Deputy Foreign Minister Vahan Kostanyan said during a meeting with Syrian Minister Assad Al-Shaibani in Damascus.

● Fitch has lowered Armenia’s GDP growth forecast for 2025 to 4.8% from 5.5%. Other Fitch projections:

• Economic growth is expected to slow to 4.5% in 2026.
• Inflation is projected to remain at 3.3% over the next two years.
• Public debt is forecasted to rise to 55% of GDP (up from the current 49.7%).

Photo by David Akopyan. Army Day is being commemorated at the Yerablur military pantheon:

● Azerbaijan’s ambassador to Russia, Rakhman Mustafayev, was summoned to the Russian Foreign Ministry, where officials expressed “concern over a series of recent anti-Russian publications in Azerbaijani media, as well as a disinformation campaign against the Russian House in Baku. The accusations were deemed completely baseless.” Recently, Azerbaijani channel BakuTV aired a report calling the Russian House in Baku a “Russian intelligence house.” More details on JAMnews today.

● A Baku court rejected the requests of several detained former Armenian leaders of the unrecognized Nagorno-Karabakh Republic to be placed under house arrest and partially dismiss certain charges. A new document submitted by former Nagorno-Karabakh leader Arayik Harutyunyan has been added to the case, but its content remains undisclosed. The next hearing is scheduled for February 6. Read more here

● A separate hearing took place in Baku regarding former state minister of the Karabakh separatist regime, Ruben Vardanyan (pictured). His lawyer requested an additional 30 days to review case materials, but the court denied the motion. The next hearing is also set for February 6. At the first session on January 17, the court granted a 10-day extension for case review at the defense’s request.

● Former Russian judge Elena Khakhaleva was detained in Baku while attempting to fly to Dubai. She is wanted in Russia on charges of fraud and forgery. Authorities in Baku are now awaiting documents from Moscow to decide on her extradition. Khakhaleva, a former judge from Krasnodar, gained notoriety for organizing a $2 million wedding for her daughter and was previously accused of lacking a law degree. However, Tbilisi State University later confirmed the authenticity of her diploma.

● The first shipment of oil from Kazakhstan’s Kashagan oil field has been sent to Baku. A Kazakh tanker departed from the port of Aktau, and the oil will be transported via the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline to the Mediterranean Sea.

● Today marks the third month of daily large-scale pro-European protests in Georgia. This phase began after the Georgian government announced a suspension of EU accession talks until 2028. Thousands of people march daily in Tbilisi and other cities, gathering in the evenings outside parliament to demand new, fair parliamentary elections to legally change the government. Another constant demand is the release of detained protesters.

● “Three months against stolen elections” was the slogan of Sunday evening’s march organized by those who monitored the October 26 parliamentary elections. Due to numerous violations and fraud, the results have been rejected by the opposition, the 5th president, Salome Zourabichvili, and a significant part of civil society.

● Journalists and activists in Kutaisi held a protest outside the home of Appeals Court Judge Malkhaz Okropiridze, demanding the immediate release of Mzia Amaglobeli, director of the popular outlets Batumelebi and Netgazeti. Okropiridze rejected the motion to release the journalist on bail pending trial. Amaglobeli is accused of slapping the Batumi police chief after he repeatedly insulted her during a protest. She has been on a hunger strike for 16 days.

● Today, the EU Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels will discuss recent developments in Georgia. Experts suggest that ministers may address the suspension of visa privileges for Georgian diplomatic passports. Representatives of Georgian opposition and civil society will participate, presenting evidence exposing unprecedented human rights violations by the “Georgian Dream” regime.

● The Georgian Dream parliamentary speaker, Shalva Papuashvili, is on an official visit to Hungary.

● The Georgian Dream prime minister, Irakli Kobakhidze, is on an official visit to the United Arab Emirates.

●  “Oligarch Bidzina Ivanishvili [honorary chairman of the ruling Georgian Dream] is aware of most officials’ involvement in corruption schemes but turns a blind eye,” said businessman Giorgi Bachiashvili, formerly part of Ivanishvili’s inner circle and head of his Co-Investment Fund. “Ivanishvili only uses these cases against them when it suits him or when certain individuals plan to ‘exit the game.’ Cases are even fabricated against those not involved in corruption when necessary,” Bachiashvili stated. He himself faces charges of embezzling cryptocurrency worth $39.2 million. Bachiashvili claims he is “just as much a victim of the regime’s arbitrariness” as dozens of arrested participants in pro-European protests.

● Activists and opposition members accuse Public Defender Levan Ioseliani of revealing the confidential location of a crisis center during a January 26 Public Television interview, endangering victims of human trafficking and violence seeking refuge there. Read more here

● Activist Vaho Pitskhelauri, a regular participant in pro-European protests, was robbed and brutally beaten. His wife told Formula TV that he was heading to a store when unknown individuals dragged him into a van, assaulted him, and stole his wallet and mobile phone.

Photo David Pipia / JAMnews

● The trial of Ruben Vardanyan, the state minister of the former separatist regime in Karabakh, will resume today in Baku. Vardanyan was detained in September 2023 in the Lachin region near the Armenian border. Reports confirm that Vardanyan has his chosen defense lawyer and a Russian-language translator present. The hearing was postponed for 10 days at Vardanyan’s request to allow more time to review case materials. More details about the trial here

● Azerbaijan’s foreign ministry called Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s claim that “banned psychotropic substances are being administered to detained former Karabakh leaders in Baku to extract testimonies against Armenia” “absurd and baseless.” The ministry stated that the rights and responsibilities of the accused are fully ensured, and the judicial process is recorded. “Claims of mistreatment of detainees in Azerbaijan have been independently investigated, including by the International Committee of the Red Cross, and deemed false,” the ministry added.

● The foreign ministry also responded to remarks by French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot, who accused Azerbaijan of interfering in the affairs of France’s overseas territories. “This is an open attempt to conceal France’s inaction in the face of demands from the indigenous people of New Caledonia. France has always meddled in regional issues and sought to disrupt the peace and stability process advanced by Azerbaijan,” the ministry stated.

● EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas is set to visit Azerbaijan as part of her regional trip.

● The ministry of defense denied reports of a drone appearing in the sky over the Armenian border.

● “”I am accused of supporting Azerbaijan [during the second Karabakh war]. But I have always supported common sense, I have always advocated for us not to fight each other […] Putin and I were shocked when Nikol Pashinyan announced the recognition of Nagorno-Karabakh as part of Azerbaijan. I called Putin and said, ‘Did you hear that? Did you push him to do it?’ Putin replied, ‘No, I didn’t interfere at all,'” said Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko.

● On the occasion of Army Day, a national prayer service was held today in Etchmiadzin by His Holiness Karekin II, the Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians (pictured).

Top stories in Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Georgia from 20-24 January, 2025