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

● Baku Energy Week is taking place from June 1–3. Participation has been confirmed by 274 companies from 44 countries. The event is traditionally organized by Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Energy and the state oil company SOCAR and includes three main events:

• • Caspian Oil & Gas – the 31st International Caspian Oil and Gas Exhibition;
• • Caspian Power – the 14th Caspian International Clean Energy Exhibition;
• • The 31st Baku Energy Forum.

● The first U.S.–Azerbaijan Economic Dialogue will be held tomorrow in Baku as part of Baku Energy Week. According to the U.S. Embassy, the event is being organized by Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Economy and the U.S. State Department under the Strategic Partnership Charter. A special session is planned for the business communities of both countries, and cooperation agreements and commercial contracts are expected to be signed.

● British Minister of State for Defence Procurement and Industry, Vernon Coaker, said: “Azerbaijan is an important partner of the United Kingdom in security and diplomacy. Britain welcomes and highly values the continued efforts of President Ilham Aliyev aimed at achieving lasting peace in the region.” Speaking at an official reception in London marking the 108th anniversary of Azerbaijan’s independence, Coaker also recalled his visit to Azerbaijan in December last year and said that meetings with President Ilham Aliyev and other officials had given fresh momentum to bilateral relations, including cooperation in the field of defence.

● Azerbaijan’s 2026–2030 state program for the development of agricultural, fisheries and aquaculture production and processing is aimed at creating a unified value chain in the agricultural sector. Production, storage, sorting, packaging, processing, logistics and certification are expected to operate as a single system, making it possible to clearly identify the added value generated at each stage. The program seeks to increase both the volume and quality of output through more efficient use of land and water resources and higher productivity. Key priorities include the development of large-scale farms, expansion of irrigation capacity, adoption of new technologies and digitalization, which is expected to increase from the current 55% to 100%.

● Azerbaijani football clubs finished the UEFA season with a combined coefficient of 22.937, ahead of Armenia and Georgia. England topped the ranking with a coefficient of 119.519.

● The “Cultural Map of Karabakh” festival has opened in Baku’s historic Inner City, Icherisheher. The festival features an exhibition, concerts, presentations of national cuisine and master classes.

Photo by Daniel Silva

● Pro-Russian activist Gulbaat Rtskhiladze and well-known journalist Irakli Chikhladze, arrested on espionage charges, deny any wrongdoing. Their lawyers have described the developments as absurd and say the two cases are unrelated. More details here.

● Irakli Chikhladze’s daughter, Ana Chikhladze, has called the charges fabricated. According to his lawyer, the case materials contain no factual evidence of actions against Georgia’s interests, and the documents “do not even mention Georgia by name.”

● Gulbaat Rtskhiladze links his arrest to his public activities and the creation of the “Council for Monitoring Russophobia in Georgia.” His lawyer says it is possible that Rtskhiladze is accused of spying for Russia.

● The U.S. Embassy has released a statement by U.S. State Department representatives Charles Yockey and Peter Andreoli following their visit to Georgia and meeting with the Catholicos-Patriarch on May 27. The meeting was also attended by accompanying officials and U.S. Chargé d’Affaires in Georgia Alan Purcell. According to the statement, the discussion focused on compassion and mercy as Christian virtues and emphasized the Church’s historic mission to serve as a voice of reconciliation for the people. The delegation expressed hope that the Church would continue this mission of strengthening national unity with renewed spirit.

● Midfielder Khvicha Kvaratskhelia of Paris Saint-Germain and the Georgia national team has been named UEFA Champions League Player of the Season. On May 30, he won the Champions League with PSG for the second consecutive time. Over 16 matches in the tournament, Kvaratskhelia scored 10 goals and provided seven assists. The 25-year-old has played for PSG since 2025.

● New military and official ranks and awards have been announced. Interior Minister Sulkhan Tamazashvili has been awarded the highest special rank of Police Major General. Prosecutor General Giorgi Gvarakidze has been granted the highest special rank of State Counsellor of Justice. The head of the Border Police has received the highest special rank of Border Police Major General, while the director of the Tbilisi Police Department has been awarded the rank of Major General.

● Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze thanked police officers for their service and said the Interior Ministry had prevented several coup attempts in recent years.

● By decision of the organization “Together Against Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy,” patients dependent on artificial ventilation or suffering from severe accompanying genetic disorders will receive a one-time payment of 10,000 lari (about $3,000) by June 10.

Top stories in Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Georgia from 25-29 May, 2026