Top stories in Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Georgia from 16-20 March, 2026

● Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan met in Yerevan with a delegation led by EU Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos. It was noted that the EU will continue to support Armenia in bilateral cooperation, particularly in reform programs, Armenian civil society, and the media. Opportunities to expand economic and investment programs were discussed, as well as issues related to the visa liberalization process.

● Marta Kos also met with Interior Minister Arpine Sargsyan. It was noted that this is already the Commissioner’s second visit to Armenia this month, demonstrating active and effective cooperation. Speaking about the EU visa liberalization process, Minister Sargsyan said that Armenia expects the final progress assessment report in May and expressed confidence in achieving satisfactory results on both sides.

● “This year is important for Armenian democracy,” Marta Kos said in a joint statement in Yerevan with Armenia’s Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigoryan. “In June, during the parliamentary elections in Armenia, citizens of the country will go to the polls, including across Europe. We see how malicious actors are trying daily to undermine democratic processes through cyberattacks, disinformation, and other forms of interference. Europe is here with you to help. We will support Armenia in countering hybrid threats and disinformation so that people can vote freely and fairly and determine the future of their country themselves,” Kos stated.

● Nikol Pashinyan expressed condolences by phone to Prime Minister of Georgia Irakli Kobakhidze over the death of Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia Ilia II.

● Georgia has sent an invitation to the Catholicos of All Armenians to attend the funeral of Ilia II on March 22. However, the head of the Armenian Church, Garegin II, is banned from leaving the country. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said that the format of participation of Armenia’s government delegation in the funeral ceremony is under discussion.

● In Brussels, another meeting of the cooperation format between the parliaments of Armenia and the European Parliament has concluded. On one proposal—to call on the authorities of Azerbaijan to refrain from statements concerning Armenia’s internal affairs—members of the ruling Civil Contract faction abstained from voting. This was stated by Hayk Mamijanyan, head of the opposition faction I Have Honor. The opposition in Armenia is largely regarded as pro-Russian.

● Nikol Pashinyan: “Journalists under a different government in Armenia risk being left without jobs if they choose to exercise freedom of speech as they do now. I am confident that the majority of voters in the June parliamentary elections will vote for the current government.”

● Pashinyan: Armenia is ready to provide humanitarian assistance to Iran if necessary.

● As a result of criminal proceedings, property and funds worth a total of about 291 billion 726 million drams (approximately $773 million) have been returned to the state and communities, Prosecutor General Anna Vardapetyan reported.

● Minister of Science: Armenia will soon face a shortage of Russian language teachers.

● Parliament is discussing the ratification of an international agreement on the protection of big cats and the prevention of population decline. Armenia signed this agreement in 2025. “The Caucasian leopard (Panthera pardus ciscaucasica) holds a special place in Armenia. Its conservation is not only about protecting one species but also maintaining ecological balance. Other feline species found in the country include the lynx, the European wildcat, and the Pallas’s cat,” said Environment Minister Hambardzum Matevosyan while presenting the agreement to lawmakers.

● A woman holding a protest outside the government building fell ill, and an ambulance team arrived at the scene. Earlier, she told journalists that she had been living in an abandoned building for five years. After learning about a program to legalize unauthorized constructions, she applied to the municipality and invited a specialist to conduct measurements for registration. However, the building was later demolished. Since then, the woman has effectively been left without shelter.

Cascade Complex in Yerevan. Photo by Irina Op 

● Tens of thousands of people are coming to the Holy Trinity Cathedral of Tbilisi in Tbilisi to pay their respects to Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia Ilia II. A period of mourning has been declared in the country following the Patriarch’s death.

● On Sunday, the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I will arrive in Tbilisi to attend the funeral of Ilia II. However, according to the Patriarchate, he will not lead the liturgy but will only take part in the ceremony. Earlier reports had suggested that he would preside over the funeral.

● Ilia II will be buried on March 22 in the Sioni Cathedral, not in the courtyard but inside the cathedral. This was announced by the Holy Synod. Specialists are already preparing a suitable place, as the historic architecture requires special work.

● The Patriarch’s godchildren honored the memory of Ilia II with a procession. Tens of thousands of godchildren and their family members gathered at Avlabari Metro Station and marched to the Holy Trinity Cathedral. At Ilia II’s initiative, a special baptism program began in 2008: the Patriarch becomes the godfather of third and subsequent children in families of Christian background. Tens of thousands of children were baptized under this program, giving the Patriarch a unique personal connection with thousands of families.

● The Ministry of Foreign Affairs published a statement saying that the new rule requiring a deposit for obtaining a U.S. visa is linked to Georgian citizens violating visa requirements. Starting April 2, 2026, citizens of Georgia may be required to pay a deposit ranging from $5,000 to $15,000 when applying for B1/B2 visas.

● Former president Mikheil Saakashvili, who has been sentenced to nine years in prison, is requesting permission to attend the Patriarch’s funeral “as a former president and a friend of Ilia II.” He said he has submitted the relevant request.

● In 2025, Georgia’s freedom rating fell by 4 points, marking the largest decline in the Eurasian region, according to a report by Freedom House. In terms of political rights and civil liberties, only Guinea-Bissau (8 points), Tanzania (7 points), Burkina Faso (5 points), El Salvador (5 points), and Madagascar (5 points) recorded worse declines than Georgia. “Large-scale protests against the government in Georgia, which began in 2024, continued in 2025, despite demonstrators facing the use of disproportionate force and improper treatment by police. Opponents of the ruling party Georgian Dream were subjected to physical attacks, harassment, and new legislative restrictions aimed at hindering the participation of opposition parties and civil society in public affairs,” the report states.

● In January–February of this year, China was the largest exporter to Georgia, followed by Kyrgyzstan and Azerbaijan in second and third place. The share of Georgia’s top ten trading partner countries accounted for 72.1%. Passenger cars ranked first, making up 21.1% of total exports. Ores and concentrates of precious metals came second, followed by oil in third place. Georgia itself mainly exports passenger cars as well as oil, petroleum products, and natural gas. Among the top three destinations for Georgian exports are Turkey, Russia, and China.

● Today and tomorrow, the Ramadan holiday is being celebrated in Azerbaijan. This year, the first day of Ramadan fell on February 19. Festive prayers were held in mosques starting from 8 a.m. Due to the Novruz and Ramadan holidays, the period from March 20 to 30 has been declared non-working days.

● Prime Minister Ali Asadov expressed condolences on the passing of Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia Ilia II.

● The peace process between Azerbaijan and Armenia has contributed to increased regional stability, according to a new report by the U.S. Office of the Director of National Intelligence (DNI). “The results of the U.S.-supported peace summit on August 8, 2025, between Armenia and Azerbaijan included a preliminary agreement on the terms of a peace treaty and plans to create the U.S.-managed ‘Trump Route’ (TRIPP), which will connect Azerbaijan with its exclave Nakhchivan through southern Armenia, opening trade flows for both countries and the region,” the document states. It is noted that both sides “appear ready to maintain the momentum achieved at the peace summit.” The report emphasizes that ceasefire violations along the border between the two countries are now nearly absent, and restrictions on cargo transit through Azerbaijan to Armenia have been lifted. “Obstacles to signing a peace agreement remain. President Ilham Aliyev continues to insist that Armenia amend its constitution to remove (…) claims to Karabakh, which would require a constitutional referendum in Armenia, the outcome of which is not guaranteed,” the report says.

● Presidential aide Hikmet Hajiyev held a meeting in Baku with representatives of the foreign ministries of the Nordic and Baltic countries (Nordic-Baltic Eight, NB8). “This is already the second such visit by NB8 representatives to Azerbaijan, and we are pleased that this political dialogue and consultations continue to develop,” Hajiyev wrote on X.

● Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán stated: “Energy supplies from Azerbaijan are of great importance for Hungary amid disruptions in oil deliveries via the ‘Druzhba’ pipeline and the overall instability of the global energy market.” Hungary receives oil and gas from Azerbaijan, while Hungarian companies MOL Group and MVM Group hold shares in the Azeri-Chirag-Gunashli oil block and the Shah Deniz gas-condensate field in the Caspian Sea.

● Azerbaijan’s representative to NATO, Jafar Huseynzade, held a meeting with the Alliance’s new Special Representative for the South Caucasus and Central Asia, Kevin Hamilton. According to the press release, Azerbaijan’s key role in the safe evacuation from Iran of citizens and diplomatic personnel of NATO allied and partner countries was highlighted.

● A state agency for medical insurance and expertise has been established in Azerbaijan, to be managed by a board consisting of a chairman and four deputies. Its functions include the implementation of mandatory health insurance and the medical examination of conscripts.

● A group of cyber fraudsters has been detained. They reportedly created fake phishing websites visually similar to official webpages of various banks and credit organizations. They then promoted these sites on social media, offering loans at low interest rates. Citizens entered their bank card details, including expiration dates, CVV codes, and OTP security codes. According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, funds were stolen from the bank cards of around 300 people.

● During the month of Ramadan, Azerbaijan organized humanitarian campaigns in seven countries. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, iftar meals and food aid were provided in Syria, Afghanistan, Indonesia, Pakistan, Ethiopia, Gambia, and Guinea-Bissau. The events were aimed at supporting low-income populations, mainly in Muslim countries and communities with Muslim-majority populations.

Photo: A concert program dedicated to the Novruz and Ramadan holidays was held in Shusha, Karabakh.

● Armenia’s Prime Minister and President have sent condolences to Georgian President Mikheil Kavelashvili over the passing of Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia Ilia II. “Ilia II was a unique symbol of the strength of faith, unity, and cohesion of his people,” said President Vahagn Khachaturyan. The Catholicos of All Armenians and the Armenian Diocese of Georgia also expressed their condolences on the Patriarch’s death.

● Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova criticized Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s speech at the European Parliament and mocked some of his wording. In his remarks, Pashinyan spoke about attempts by “third countries” to interfere in Armenia’s pre-election process and mentioned that some members of the Armenian clergy were former Soviet KGB officers. “I don’t understand what ‘third country’ he is referring to, and I don’t understand whom Nikol Pashinyan is hinting at when he speaks about KGB officers. Who does he mean? Heydar Aliyev? Ah, no – he means Armenian clergy,” Zakharova said.

● An official ceremony marking the opening of the Embassy of Armenia in Oman was held in Muscat, with the participation of the foreign ministers of both countries.

● A criminal case has been launched against the son of former Armenian police chief Vladimir Gasparyan on charges of evading mandatory military service, the Prosecutor General’s Office reported.

● Central Election Commission Secretary Armen Sumbatyan presented a provision of the Electoral Code that has entered into force, according to which, for upcoming regular parliamentary elections, parties or blocs must approve the first 30 candidates on their electoral lists by a decision of a party congress.

● Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan stated that the Armenian authorities “maintain constant contact in various formats with our sisters and brothers displaced from Nagorno-Karabakh. This issue has been a priority on the government’s agenda since 2023.” The problems faced by displaced persons from Nagorno-Karabakh and steps to address them were discussed at the conference “Inclusive Development: Achievements and Action Plans.”

● A total of 34,576 people displaced from Nagorno-Karabakh have already received Armenian citizenship, while about 1,000 more applications are currently under review by the presidential office, Interior Minister Arpine Sargsyan said at the conference.

● Economy Minister Gevorg Papoyan commented on claims that Azerbaijani gasoline imported into Armenia is of poor quality and damages equipment. “We have not received such complaints, but in any case, all gasoline entering Armenia undergoes full inspection. The quality of Azerbaijani gasoline has been confirmed as high. At the same time, we identified a company that claimed it was selling European gasoline, while in reality it was Azerbaijani fuel. We have made it very clear: either the company openly declares the origin of the gasoline, or it will not be allowed to sell it. It is unacceptable to mislead people while pretending to be patriotic. I will not allow this,” he said.

● A woman has been detained in Yerevan on suspicion of attempting to murder a one-year-old boy, her stepson. The child was hospitalized with a diagnosis of clinical death. Interior Minister Arpine Sargsyan stated that this was not an accident but the result of deliberate actions. According to her, the child had been subjected to regular abuse for about a month and a half, and on March 15 there was an intentional attempt to take his life. A motion has been filed in court to place the 38-year-old woman in pre-trial detention.

● Camera traps in the Khosrov Forest have recorded a Caucasian leopard. This species is listed in Armenia’s Red Book and the Red List of the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

● Azerbaijan’s Foreign Minister took part in a consultative meeting of foreign ministers and representatives from 12 countries in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, including Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Turkey, and the UAE. Participants strongly condemned Iran’s attacks on countries in the region and viewed their cessation as a first step toward ending escalation and advancing diplomacy as a path to resolving the crisis.

● Today marks 32 years since the terrorist attack at the “20 January” metro station in Baku. The investigation established that the March 19, 1994 attack was organized by Armenian special services and carried out by members of the separatist Lezgin organization “Sadval.” A homemade time bomb exploded in the lead carriage of a train as it stopped at the station. Fourteen people were killed and 49 were injured. The perpetrator, Ogtay Gurbanov, died in the explosion. Two members of “Sadval” were sentenced to death, and nine others received various prison terms.

● Presidential aide Hikmet Hajiyev met in Paris with Emmanuel Bonne, advisor to the President of France, where bilateral relations and the regional situation were discussed. In a post on X, he noted the importance of the meeting “following the phone conversation between President Ilham Aliyev and President Emmanuel Macron.”

● Switzerland increased its direct investment in Azerbaijan fivefold in 2025, reaching $326.378 million, or 4.9% of the total foreign investment in the country.

● Estonia’s direct investment in Azerbaijan’s economy grew more than 120-fold in 2025, totaling $14.985 million, which accounts for 0.2% of total foreign investment.

● In 2025, foreign direct investment in Azerbaijan’s economy amounted to $6.595 billion (a 6.4% decrease year-on-year), while Azerbaijan’s investments abroad reached $2.528 billion (a 43.4% increase).

● President Ilham Aliyev stated that since 2021 he has visited Karabakh every year on the eve of Novruz and lit the праздничный bonfire together with local residents. This year, the president and the First Lady visited the village of Khanoba in the Khojavend district. “This village was liberated from Armenian occupation in September 2023, after which reconstruction began. […] Armenia devastated these territories, destroying everything—villages, settlements, and cities. Agdam, Fuzuli, Zangilan, Jabrayil, and Gubadli were reduced to ruins. In Lachin and Kalbajar, Armenians from abroad were illegally resettled. We are restoring everything. In just 5–6 years, more than 80,000 people are already living, working, and studying in Karabakh and Eastern Zangezur. Almost every month, if not every week, former internally displaced persons are returning to their native lands under the ‘Great Return’ program,” the president said.

● Tens of thousands of people are coming to the Holy Trinity Cathedral (Sameba) in Tbilisi to pay their respects to Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia Ilia II. The Patriarch will be buried at Sioni Cathedral on March 22, in accordance with his will. A period of mourning has been declared in the country following his death. Representatives of the government, opposition politicians, as well as the country’s informal leader Bidzina Ivanishvili and his spouse attended the civil funeral ceremony.

● Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew will attend the funeral of Ilia II. Other international religious and official figures are also expected to be present at the ceremony.

● Russia has stated it is ready to restore relations with Georgia. Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said that in recent years certain economic and humanitarian ties between the two countries have been restored, and Moscow is ready to continue this process, although, according to her, the decision ultimately rests with Georgia.

● Public transport will be free on the days of the Patriarch’s funeral. By decision of a state commission, municipal transport in Tbilisi will serve passengers free of charge on March 21–22. Additional routes from the regions will also be arranged, and Georgian Railways will operate free services to facilitate citizens’ attendance at the funeral.

● A deposit requirement has been introduced for Georgian citizens applying for U.S. visas. Under a decision by the U.S. State Department, Georgia has been added to a list of countries whose citizens may be required to pay a deposit ranging from $5,000 to $15,000 when applying for certain short-term visas (B1/B2). The amount is determined individually during the consular interview and does not guarantee visa approval. The program aims to reduce visa overstays and unlawful residence in the United States. The new rules will come into effect on April 2, and Georgia is now among about 50 “high-risk” countries subject to this requirement.

Photo: Interpressnews

● The State Security Service said it had uncovered and arrested the organizer of a blackmail campaign targeting the family of Ilham Aliyev. Public Television aired a report stating that a person abroad attempted to contact senior Azerbaijani officials using various foreign phone numbers and email addresses. He allegedly demanded €5 million from the family in exchange for not releasing “intimate videos” of Alena Aliyeva, the wife of the president’s son, Heydar Aliyev.

In this context, the authors accused well-known Azerbaijani bloggers living abroad—Mehman and Emin Huseynov, and Gabil Mammadov—of spreading defamatory information about Alena Aliyeva on various online platforms. All three bloggers actively criticize the Azerbaijani authorities in their publications.

“The images found on the phone of the person who blackmailed the president’s family were taken from 18+ websites. The woman appearing in the footage is known on such sites under the pseudonym Amber Lulu. Investigators have identified her real name and address. The entire campaign conducted against Alena Aliyeva is built on a major lie,” the report says. The authors emphasize that it remains to be established who provided these videos to certain bloggers who then distributed them online. In particular, the report includes an audio recording in which a blogger named Zaki Salimov, who published the videos, speaks about an “upcoming change of power in Azerbaijan, for which a button has been pressed from above,” and about his potential role in this “big politics.”

“Who is this—some individual or force based abroad—making decisions about a change of power in Azerbaijan? Why does this force oppose the authority of a strong and victorious Azerbaijan? This is a subject for a completely different investigation,” the TV report states.

● The foreign ministers of Azerbaijan and Iran discussed the regional situation and bilateral relations by phone. Abbas Araghchi noted that attacks by the United States and Israel contradict international law, while Iran’s defensive measures are directed exclusively against aggressors and against bases and facilities used for attacks. Jeyhun Bayramov emphasized the importance of a fair investigation by the Iranian side into the March 5 drone strike on Azerbaijan’s Nakhchivan exclave, launched from Iranian territory.

● In the first two months of the year, Azerbaijan exported petroleum products to Armenia worth more than $4.2 million, accounting for 0.12% of total exports during this period. No exports from Armenia to Azerbaijan were recorded.

● In January–February 2026, Azerbaijan exported 3,600,307.4 tons of oil to more than 10 countries. The top three destinations were Italy, Romania, and Portugal.

● Money transfers to Azerbaijan in 2025 totaled $1.177 billion, an increase of 8.7% compared to the previous year. The largest share came from Russia ($479.3 million). Significantly smaller amounts were received from Turkey ($193.2 million), the United States ($100.7 million), Georgia ($43.6 million), and the United Kingdom ($42.4 million).

● In the “Old City” Icherisheher in Baku, the 15th-century Bukhara caravanserai was ceremonially reopened after major restoration. An art space called “BukharaArt” was also presented on its premises. Uzbekistan’s ambassador to Azerbaijan, Bakhrom Ashrafkhanov, noted that the history of the Bukhara caravanserai is directly connected to the centuries-old ties between the peoples of the two countries.

Photo by İltun Huseynli. Palace of the Shirvanshahs in Baku

● The Investigative Committee has summoned Armine Oganian, editor-in-chief of the newspaper Hraparak. The outlet заявило о a “regime attempt to silence the free press ahead of the June parliamentary elections.” The reason for summoning Oganian for questioning is an editorial published in December 2024 which, according to investigators, contains public calls for a violent change of power. “Article 422 of the Criminal Code has become the authorities’ main tool of political persecution. Charges under it have already been brought against detained Russian-dollar billionaire Samvel Karapetyan and Archbishop Mikael Ajapahyan,” the editorial team said.

● The sister of a погибшего serviceman from Karabakh was detained in her apartment in Dilijan and taken to an investigative department. The reason was a Facebook post calling for violence against Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. Her lawyer stressed that the arrest took place in front of her five children, three of whom are minors. “The woman is being subjected to political repression for her views. People from Artsakh are especially being targeted,” the lawyer said.

● The foreign ministers of Armenia and Oman signed a memorandum of understanding following political consultations during Ararat Mirzoyan’s visit to Oman. He became the first Armenian foreign minister to visit the country.

● An EU rapid response team to counter external interference in Armenia’s June 7 parliamentary elections will arrive in Yerevan in early April, according to the Armenian service of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, citing a document in its possession. The group will consist of 9–14 experts and stay in Armenia for 10–15 days. It will assist the prime minister’s office and the Security Council in developing plans and procedures for handling crises such as cyberattacks and foreign information manipulation. The Central Election Commission, Interior Ministry, and tax authorities will also benefit from this support.

● “We are here to support Armenia in holding free and fair parliamentary elections on June 7,” EU Ambassador to Armenia Vassilis Maragos told NEWS.am, commenting on the upcoming visit of the EU rapid response team. He did not provide details about its composition or participating countries.

● A court has lifted house arrest for the nephew of Catholicos Garegin II, Bishop Mkrtich Proshyan, head of the Aragatsotn Diocese. He has been placed under administrative supervision and a travel ban. According to the ruling, he is prohibited from visiting the diocese and contacting witnesses. Proshyan is accused of obstructing electoral rights through abuse of office and coercing participation in meetings. The alleged victims are Aramais Takhmazyan and Stepan Asatryan, both dismissed former priests.

● A Security Council meeting was held under the chairmanship of the prime minister, attended by the president, the speaker of parliament, and other officials. The current regional situation was discussed. Local media note this was the fifth such meeting since early March.

● A carved wooden church door dating back to 1188, purchased by the government at an auction in London, along with graphic works by Arshile Gorky, will soon be displayed at the History Museum of Armenia and the National Gallery. According to Education, Science, Culture and Sports Minister Zhanna Andreasyan, more than 300 million drams (about $800,000) were allocated last year for the program to repatriate Armenian cultural heritage.

● The Iranian Embassy said the Iranian Red Crescent Society is ready to urgently receive aid in the form of medicines and medical supplies from individuals, humanitarian organizations, companies, and rescue services. The embassy noted it had received numerous appeals from compatriots living in Armenia and Armenian citizens offering financial and humanitarian assistance.

● The number of foreign applicants to Armenian universities increased by 67% in 2025 compared to 2021, said Minister Zhanna Andreasyan.

Photo by Kseniia Zapiatkina

● Ilia II, Catholicos-Patriarch of Georgia, has died at the age of 93. A period of mourning has been declared in Georgia. Today, his body will be transferred to the Holy Trinity Cathedral (Sameba) in Tbilisi. The new Patriarch will be elected by the Holy Synod and the Expanded Council of the Georgian Church—after 40 days, but no later than two months. More information about the late Patriarch is available here.

● Parliament has approved in the first reading amendments to the law on “foreign influence.” Oversight functions will be transferred to the State Audit Office (currently handled by the Public Registry). Organizations receiving foreign funding will be required to apply for registration with this body.

● A large-scale special operation by the Interior Ministry and the State Security Service took place in the Adjara region. Seventy-two people linked to the criminal underworld were detained. All are Georgian citizens, including three women. According to the investigation, they organized the “resolution of disputes between citizens according to criminal underworld rules” and then coerced people into paying them money.

● Parliament also supported in the first reading an increase in excise tax on imported cars. Fees for importing vehicles older than six years will rise significantly, while a unified rate will be introduced for cars aged 0 to 6 years. According to the инициators, the goal is to renew the vehicle fleet, protect the environment, and improve road safety.

● Penalties for traffic violations have been significantly tightened. In particular, the fine for speeding has doubled—from 50 to 100 lari (now about $35). The fine for parking on sidewalks or pedestrian crossings has also been set at 100 lari.

● Bulgaria is in a significantly more favorable position in terms of energy among European Union countries thanks to long-term gas supply contracts with Azerbaijan, – said acting Foreign Minister Nadezhda Neynsky. “In the context of the crisis caused by the sharp rise in oil prices, Bulgaria has not even had to use its gas reserves so far. Energy resources are supplied mainly via the Black Sea, and therefore the closure of the Strait of Hormuz does not have a negative impact on the country’s energy supply,” Neynsky said.

● The intensification of cooperation between Azerbaijan and the European Union in the field of green energy was discussed at a meeting in Brussels by the director of the Clean Energy Center of the Economic Cooperation Organization, a representative of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization to the EU, the Ambassador of Azerbaijan to Belgium, and the head of its mission to the EU.

● Czech Republic is very interested in implementing a project to create green energy corridors that would connect Central Asia through the South Caucasus and Turkey with the EU electricity market, Petr Binhak, a representative of the Czech Ministry of Industry, said in an interview.

● Sweden has evacuated its diplomats from Iran to Azerbaijan, and the diplomatic mission continues to operate in Baku, Sweden’s foreign minister wrote on X (Twitter).

● A court in Azerbaijan sentenced French businessman Martin Ryan to 10 years in prison on espionage charges. The second defendant, Azerbaijani citizen Azad Mammadli, received 12 years for treason. According to the indictment, Ryan, CEO of Mercorama, received assignments from French intelligence to collect information, including on weapons and ammunition production in Azerbaijan and army mobilization during the 44-day Nagorno-Karabakh war 2020. The case materials also mention attempts to obtain information about foreign citizens and legal entities operating in Azerbaijan, as well as details of Azerbaijan’s military cooperation and relations with a number of countries, including United Kingdom, Algeria, Turkey, Pakistan, Iran, China, Somalia and Central Asian states. Investigators say Ryan acted on instructions from officers of France’s DGSE, who had previously been declared persona non grata and expelled from Baku. Ryan and Mammadli denied the charges. In his final statement, Ryan said he came to Azerbaijan in 2015 for business and had never engaged in espionage.

● Detained on fraud charges, human rights defender and lawyer Rufat Safarov, head of the organization Defense Line, is demanding a swift conclusion to the trial. He says the criminal case was initiated for political reasons. “The court will follow the authorities’ instructions anyway — why drag out the process and cause additional suffering?” Safarov said at a hearing. According to the case, he allegedly received 60,000 manats (about $35,000) from a local resident, promising to sell him land, but failed to deliver and did not return the money. Investigators also claim he assaulted the man when he demanded a refund. Safarov denies this, saying he has never seen the person and that the case was fabricated. “Let this spectacle come to an end. I am more concerned about opposition figure Tofig Yagublu, who has been on a hunger strike for several days. I saw him in the corridor – he could barely stand,” Safarov said. The trial will continue on April 6.

● Public activist Ahmad Mammadli has been sentenced to six years in prison. He was charged with intentionally causing serious bodily harm and hooliganism. According to the обвинение, he stabbed a local resident in the stomach. Mammadli категорically denies this, saying the incident was staged to arrest him for his political, civic, and later journalistic activities criticizing the president.

● According to local human rights defenders, there are currently 340 political prisoners in Azerbaijan. Government officials deny these claims, stating that those detained are prosecuted for specific crimes.

● In the territories liberated from Armenian occupation as a result of the 2020 war — Karabakh and East Zangezur — 41 settlements have already been built or restored. This was announced by Samir Nuriyev at a meeting in Khojavend. According to him, more than 80,000 people now live, study, and work in these areas.

● Trial proceedings have begun in the criminal case against four local residents accused of attempting to organize a march with flags of the former Soviet Union. They were detained in November 2025. According to investigators, they rented an office with funding from another state and engaged in radical propaganda of communist ideology. The defendants do not admit guilt. The next hearing is scheduled for April 6.

● The special quarantine regime in Azerbaijan has been extended — all land borders will remain closed until July 1, 2026. This regime has been in place since March 2020, officially due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

● The Electronic Security Service of Azerbaijan has issued a warning about fake courses allegedly conducted on its behalf by some private training centers. “They misuse the agency’s status and offer various paid services to citizens. In fact, the service is not cooperating with any private educational centers or courses,” it said, urging people to report such cases via its hotline.

● Four law enforcement officers have been detained in an operation against illegal online casinos. The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Azerbaijan said they cooperated with gambling websites operated from abroad, created virtual cash systems, and attracted users through social media pages Milan, Sevinc, Rahat, and Texas 777.

● Azerbaijan ranked 80th out of 153 countries in average fixed internet speed (91.27 Mbps) in February. Compared to February last year, the figure increased by 32%. Among regional and Eastern European countries, Azerbaijan outperformed Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Armenia, Turkey, Georgia, Tajikistan and Iran.

● Today, Azerbaijan marks the last pre-holiday Tuesday of Novruz — “Torpaq chərşənbəsi” (Earth Tuesday). Each of the four Tuesdays before Novruz symbolizes one of the natural elements: “Su chərşənbəsi” (water), “Od chərşənbəsi” (fire), “Yel chərşənbəsi” (wind), and “Torpaq chərşənbəsi” (earth). The final Tuesday is traditionally celebrated most solemnly. Various rituals take place during the day, and festive gatherings are held in the evening. Bonfires are lit, and people jump over them. The fire must not be extinguished — it should burn out on its own. Afterwards, young people collect the ashes and take them outside the yard, as it is believed that all misfortunes leave the household with them. Only kind words are spoken on this evening. Spring in Azerbaijan will begin on March 20 at 18:45 Baku time, and the country will celebrate Novruz on March 20–21.

● At Armenia’s request, the EU will deploy a rapid response team to counter threats ahead of the parliamentary elections scheduled for June 7, said Kaja Kallas, the EU’s top diplomat. “Supporting democratic resilience in our region remains extremely important. We will not leave Armenia alone in the face of foreign interference. Democracies under pressure can count on Europe,” she said.

● The opposition “Armenia” bloc has nominated Robert Kocharyan, the country’s second president, as its candidate for prime minister in the event of a parliamentary election victory. The campaign will run under the slogan “Together we can!”

● The office of Armenia’s first president accused the authorities of deliberately cutting off electricity to the home and office of Levon Ter-Petrosyan, while surrounding buildings remained unaffected. “The power outage was clearly carried out on orders from the highest levels of government,” the office said. The company Electric Networks of Armenia explained that a nearby construction firm building a Juventus football academy demolished structures without coordination, damaging the walls and roof of a transformer substation, which led to a large local outage.

● The opposition Reformist Party and the National Revival Party have signed a declaration to jointly participate in the June 7 parliamentary elections. One of the alliance’s leaders, Vagharshak Harutyunyan, is a former Armenian ambassador to Russia, former CSTO secretary general, and ex-defense minister. Much of Armenia’s opposition is perceived as pro-Russian.

● Ruben Vardanyan, former state minister of the former unrecognized Nagorno-Karabakh republic and a Russian billionaire sentenced in Azerbaijan to 20 years on war crimes charges, says he is unable to contact human rights defenders. “During a phone call with his family, he tried to pass on a public appeal to Azerbaijan’s ombudsperson Sabina Aliyeva, but the call was forcibly cut off,” his family said. In an audio recording they released, he can be heard being interrupted. The family also expressed concern that, a month after the verdict, they have not received its text in any language, which rights advocates say could hinder an appeal. Read more here

● In Feodosia (in Russian-occupied Crimea), part of the Armenian Church of the Archangels Michael and Gabriel has collapsed, according to local media. Earlier this year, the bell tower fell, and now a corner of the building has also collapsed. A criminal case has reportedly been opened. The church, built in 1408, is a cultural heritage site, last restored in 1968.

● Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan shared a video of himself eating nettle soup. “Spring is running late, but nettle soup is not,” he captioned it. This is not his first such video. On weekends, he posts clips on social media with Speaker Alen Simonyan, where they are seen eating pastries, corn, churchkhela sweets, and lavash bread.

● A nine-party opposition alliance has taken responsibility for ensuring that the Georgian authorities implement the recommendations of the OSCE Moscow Mechanism report. Alliance representative Giga Lemoniava said the group will cooperate with the United Nations, the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, and investigative bodies in individual countries to practically carry out the tasks and initiate possible legal proceedings. The document covers the period from spring 2024 to the present and describes systemic violations: violence, damage to freedom of assembly and expression, a crisis in civil society, problems with judicial independence, and threats to political pluralism. The report widely refers to instruments of international law typically considered only in especially serious cases — from universal jurisdiction to the Hague Court. More details here.

● “We will not be intimidated by any ‘mechanism’ — not Moscow, Brussels, Prague, or Rostov. We are not even interested in the Hague mechanism,” said Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, commenting on the OSCE report. He stated that the report under the OSCE Moscow Mechanism on Georgia was written “by one person in 14 days and spreads falsehoods about the country.”

● Former Deputy Economy Minister Romeo Mikautadze has been sentenced to 10 years in prison. According to the investigation, during his time in office from 2017 to 2024, he granted certain businessmen незаконные advantages in the energy sector in exchange for shares in energy companies and facilities, which were formally registered under proxies. Authorities confiscated his houses in Georgia and Spain, three cars belonging to him and his wife, valuables, and a 15% stake in the company “Nakhidur HPP.”

● Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili will present the parliament’s annual activity report today, after which the session will continue in a Q&A format.

● The Council of the European Union on Foreign Affairs will discuss Georgia today at a meeting in Brussels, based on information provided by Germany and France.

● Former president Mikheil Saakashvili, who is serving a 9-year sentence, is calling on the opposition to reject any compromises with the ruling party Georgian Dream. He criticized the initiative by the opposition party Lelo – Strong Georgia to start dialogue with the authorities, which has also been encouraged by Western actors, including a recent mission to Georgia by the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly. Saakashvili said that “victory can only be achieved through relentless struggle.”

● A large-scale operation by the Interior Ministry and the State Security Service took place in the Adjara region; according to local media, up to 80 people were detained on charges of links to the criminal underworld. The Interior Ministry is expected to issue an official statement today.

● The head of the Georgian Orthodox Church, Ilia II, has been hospitalized in serious condition in intensive care with gastric bleeding, the Patriarchate said. Local media report that Health Minister Mikheil Sarjveladze and other senior officials have arrived at the hospital.

● The mountain road to Kazbegi has been temporarily closed due to an avalanche. Risk assessments and road clearance are underway.

● Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan has proposed holding a public display of the country’s weapons. He announced this during a meeting with voters in Kapan near the border with Azerbaijan. “I have already invited people and organized such demonstrations for those who were interested. But there are many people who want to see what we have achieved in this area, so we will present a report to the public. It will probably take place in May. We will show only the weapons purchased during our time in office, mostly after 2022. At the same time, we are doing this with an emphasis on peace and in the context of peace. We have no tensions with our neighbors and hope they will not see this as a sign of aggression,” Pashinyan said.

● The opposition criticized Pashinyan’s statement that Armenian Declaration of Independence (1990) is essentially a declaration of conflict. The document refers to a Soviet-era joint resolution of the Supreme Council of the Armenian SSR and the National Council of the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast of Azerbaijan titled “On the reunification of the Armenian SSR and Nagorno-Karabakh.” In Baku this is seen as a direct territorial claim against Azerbaijan. Pashinyan says this reference should be removed from the Constitution, arguing that “there is no scenario in which repeating these phrases at some point will not lead to conflict.”

“Essentially, the leader of Armenia is testifying against the country’s statehood, claiming that it was his country that provoked the conflict,” said political analyst Edmon Marukyan. Former president Robert Kocharyan stated that Pashinyan “is doing everything to ensure that peace is not guaranteed but instead depends on the mood of Ilham Aliyev, the president of Azerbaijan.” Most of Armenia’s opposition is known for its pro-Russian orientation.

● Levon Kocharyan, a member of the opposition parliamentary faction “Armenia,” said that today the bloc will announce the format of its participation in the upcoming parliamentary elections scheduled for June 7, as well as the party’s candidate for prime minister.

● House arrest has been extended for another month for Russian dollar billionaire Samvel Karapetyan, who is accused of calling for the overthrow of state power in Armenia. Karapetyan has been named the prime ministerial candidate of his party “Strong Armenia” in case it wins the June parliamentary elections. His lawyer argues that “extending the arrest is a direct interference in the electoral process and violates the conditions of fair political competition.”

● Residents of Kentron District, Yerevan held a protest demanding repairs on Verin Antarain Street. One participant told journalists that three years ago residents paved the street themselves at their own expense, but it has now fallen into poor condition again.

● A scandal has erupted around the Armenian music award Khazer Music Awards. Several nominated artists publicly refused to participate without explaining their reasons. Singer Brunette said her name appeared on the nominees’ list without her permission. Singer Iveta Mukuchyan stated that she had informed the organizers last year that she did not intend to take part and had forbidden the use of her name in any campaigns.

● The court proceedings in the MeydanTV case continue, in which 12 journalists have been arrested. At the latest hearing, editor-in-chief Aynur Elgunesh again said the charges of money laundering, illegal entrepreneurship, smuggling, and tax evasion are absurd. She stressed that all the arrested journalists are being punished for critical reporting about the authorities.

One of the defendants, Ulvi Tahirov, deputy director of the Baku School of Journalism, protested against journalists being described as an “organized group.” He said the school under his leadership worked to improve journalists’ professional qualifications.

The defendants submitted several motions. Journalist Nurlan Libre said he has been on a hunger strike for 56 days, has developed health problems, and asked to be transferred to a medical unit. The court partially granted the request, deciding to send a letter to the detention facility to conduct a medical examination and, if necessary, transfer him to a penitentiary medical institution.

Shamshad Agha, editor-in-chief of the website argument.az, requested that his testimony be broadcast live on Public Television of Azerbaijan during questioning. He said he wanted to respond to what he described as a smear campaign against him. The court rejected the motion.

The next hearing in the MeydanTV case is scheduled for April 3.

● The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan posted a statement on X (Twitter) marking the International Day to Combat Islamophobia on March 15. “Discrimination and hatred against people because of their faith undermine the fundamental principles of human dignity. Such prejudice has no place in our societies. […] Islam is based on the values of peace, compassion, justice, and solidarity. Distorting the image of Islam or stigmatizing it is unacceptable,” the statement said.

● The foreign ministers of Azerbaijan and Saudi Arabia discussed the security situation in the Middle East in a phone call. They emphasized the need to respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of countries in the region and the inadmissibility of strikes against neighboring states.

● Azerbaijani Greco-Roman wrestler Elmin Aliyev (82 kg) won a gold medal at the European U-23 Wrestling Championships in Zrenjanin, Serbia. In the final he defeated Tornike Mikeladze of Georgia 3:2. It is the third gold medal for the Azerbaijani team. Earlier titles were won by Ali Tsokaev (92 kg) and Gunay Gurbanova (59 kg).

● The opposition party Lelo – Strong Georgia has called on the government and the opposition to begin negotiations. One of the party’s leaders, Irakli Kupradze, said the current political crisis should be resolved through responsible political talks and an agreement on new, free and fair parliamentary elections.

● Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze said the main condition for dialogue with the opposition is recognition of the legitimacy of the Georgian Dream government and its jurisdiction across the country. “They have not recognized the authorities elected by the people since 2020; this is a systemic problem,” Kobakhidze said. He added that he sees no possibility of dialogue with the new alliance of nine opposition parties because “their founding manifesto explicitly spoke about overthrowing the allegedly illegitimate regime.”

Most of the Georgian opposition and many people in society do not recognize the results of the 2024 parliamentary elections, calling them falsified. Accordingly, they refuse to recognize as legitimate the institutions and decisions of the victorious Georgian Dream. After its recent visit to Georgia, a delegation of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly said the lack of political dialogue is one of the main obstacles to resolving the country’s problems. The president of the Assembly urged the authorities and the opposition to engage in “direct communication and constructive interaction.”

● The Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association (GYLA) has presented a detailed analysis of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Moscow Mechanism report on the critical state of human rights in Georgia. The document covers the period from spring 2024 to the present and describes systemic violations: violence, damage to freedom of assembly and expression, a crisis in civil society, problems with judicial independence, and threats to political pluralism. The report also widely references international legal tools typically considered only in the most serious cases — from universal jurisdiction to the Hague court. Read more here.

● Foreign Minister of Georgia Maka Bochorishvili said on the pro-government channel Imedi TV — which is under United Kingdom sanctions — that the report prepared under the OSCE Moscow Mechanism had been written in advance. According to Bochorishvili, the Polish expert who authored the report ignored the government’s arguments, even though he was received at the highest level and held all the meetings he had requested with representatives of the Georgian government. “He prepared a 90-page report in just two days, which itself raises doubts — whether it is physically possible to process such a large amount of material in that time. Of course, this created suspicions that the report had been prepared in advance,” Bochorishvili said.

● The Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association announced it is switching to a crisis mode of operation amid the severe human rights situation and recent legislative changes. The organization will temporarily continue working only on strategic litigation and will have to limit several programs, including free legal aid.

● The release of arrested participants of pro-European protests has become the main slogan of the ongoing protest movement. During another large march on Saturday, many participants held portraits of more than 50 arrested and convicted activists.

Top stories in Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Georgia from 9-13 March, 2026