Top stories in Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Georgia from 18-22 August, 2025

● Azerbaijan’s leading company Delta Telekom suffered a massive DDoS attack. The Ministry of Digital Development and Transport said the issues were minimized by rerouting internet traffic to the Azertelecom and Aztelecom networks. Local experts believe the attack may have originated from Russia.

● President Ilham Aliyev: “The initialing of the peace treaty with Armenia effectively puts an end to the confrontation between Azerbaijan and Armenia. The signed documents fully secure our interests. Land connectivity with our historical land of Nakhchivan has also been ensured.”

● President Ilham Aliyev: “We are fully modernizing the railway in the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic. Railway construction is also planned on Armenian territory. That means Armenia has also taken on this obligation, and this is another of our historic achievements.”

● President Ilham Aliyev: “We have achieved our goal — the hated OSCE Minsk Group (on the Karabakh settlement) is living its last days. In fact, it was inactive and could not act. Still, it existed legally, and now its end is near.”

● “The European Union pays great attention to transport routes that can strengthen regional integration. The EU is still awaiting clarification of the details of the ‘Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity’ (TRIPP) project,” EU spokesperson for foreign affairs and security policy Anita Hipper said in an interview with the pro-government outlet Report. “EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas, in her talks with the foreign ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan after the Washington summit, offered the EU’s support and expertise for the practical implementation of the agreements reached, including on transport connectivity,” she added.

● New small hydropower plants — “Ashagy Veng,” “Nadirkhanly,” and “Chaykend” — were launched in the Kalbajar district, liberated from Armenian occupation during the Second Karabakh War in autumn 2020. President Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva attended the opening ceremony. The green energy generated here will supply about 25,000 people. It is reported that 12.5 million cubic meters of natural gas will be saved, preventing 23,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions per year. In Karabakh and East Zangezur as a whole, 38 small hydropower plants are operating, according to the state company AzerEnergy.

● Ilham and Mehriban Aliyev met with residents of the villages of Vengli and Kelatag in the Agdere district, on the slopes of the Karabakh ridge, where they reviewed the reconstruction of private houses and infrastructure. According to the press service, the villages were occupied by Armenian armed forces from 1992 until September 2023, when they were liberated during the anti-terrorist operation. Most houses had been either destroyed or left partially habitable. In August, the first 22 families of former internally displaced persons returned to Vengli; by the end of August, another 38 families are expected to return. In Kelatag, 26 families returned in August. A new gas pipeline and parks have been built in the villages.

● President Ilham Aliyev personally handed over the keys to new apartments to former internally displaced persons in a new residential complex in Kalbajar. “The occupation of Shusha and Lachin in May 1992 created the road that was then called the ‘Lachin Corridor.’ And the occupation of Kalbajar provided geographic continuity between Armenia and the former ‘Nagorno-Karabakh’ over a vast area, opening the way for the occupation of our other lands,” the president said.

● In his speech, Ilham Aliyev called the country’s leaders during the First Karabakh War, who are now active in the opposition, “traitors.” “The occupation of Shusha and Lachin by Armenians in May 1992 became possible due to the betrayal of the tandem of the Azerbaijani Popular Front–Musavat, who at the time sought power. They came to power without being able or willing to defend our homeland,” the president said.

● Ilham Aliyev also accused international facilitators involved in the Karabakh settlement for decades: “Armenia had no intention of returning a single inch of land and took part in negotiations only for show. The three countries supposed to handle this issue — France, Russia, and the United States — worked to freeze the conflict and practically broke their backs trying to legitimize Armenian occupation. If at that time serious sanctions had been imposed on Armenia, if the major powers had punished the occupying state, then Armenia would certainly have returned our lands peacefully. But instead, some countries provided it with billions of dollars’ worth of free weapons […] But in just 44 days we forced Armenia to sign the act of capitulation […] and return our regions.”

● Ilham Aliyev on the country’s military power: “The most advanced drones have been delivered, new artillery systems. Contracts have been signed for new fighter jets, and the existing ones have been fully modernized. We must always be ready for war, because the course of world events is such that no one can predict what tomorrow will bring. The guarantee of our security is ourselves — our state, our people, and our armed forces. If some sick mind dares to provoke Azerbaijan, I think they will regret it once again.”

● Ilham Aliyev on Armenia: “All our towns and villages were destroyed, mosques ruined and desecrated, people killed and burned. After the Second Karabakh War, through mediators, they asked us for time to take their belongings. We gave them time. And what did they do? They burned and cut down trees. This was done not only by separatist leaders but on a mass scale […] As a victorious nation we declare: we will not forget this evil, this barbarism. But we do not intend to fight anyone in the future. Yet if we are threatened, everyone will once again see our iron fist. They destroyed these places, and we rebuilt them.”

● The trial continued against former leaders of the self-proclaimed Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR). They are accused of war crimes, terrorism, attempts to overthrow state power, and other serious crimes. According to the state agency AZERTAC, victims of attacks by Armenian armed forces and people tortured in captivity testified at the hearing. Dozens of people who suffered violence and whose relatives were killed or tortured during the First Karabakh War in the early 1990s gave their accounts. The trial will continue on August 22.

● Deputy foreign ministers of Georgia and Armenia, Lasha Darsalia and Vaan Kostanyan, met in Yerevan to discuss the Washington agreements between Baku and Yerevan. Darsalia stated Georgia’s readiness to contribute to strengthening lasting peace and cooperation in the region.

● Azerbaijan is alarmed by the rapid shallowing of the Caspian Sea, which is severely affecting port infrastructure and oil transportation, and threatens catastrophic damage to sturgeon and seal populations. Deputy Ecology Minister Rauf Hajiyev told Reuters that ships are already facing growing difficulties entering and maneuvering in the Baku port. This reduces cargo capacity and raises logistics costs. Ecologically, “a 5-meter drop in sea level will cause seals to lose more than 81% of their breeding grounds, and a 10-meter drop will leave them almost completely without suitable habitats,” Hajiyev said.

● The State Oil Company of Azerbaijan (SOCAR) and China National Chemical Engineering & Construction Corporation Seven (CC7) discussed cooperation opportunities in the oil and petrochemical industries in Baku.

● Opportunities are being explored for Syrian students to study at Azerbaijani universities under the Heydar Aliyev International Education Grant program. The first online meeting of the relevant Syrian-Azerbaijani working group was held yesterday.

● The trial began of Namig Mirzoyev, former head of the Defense Ministry’s financial service. He is accused of embezzling funds allocated to servicemen and military units by falsifying financial documents. At trial, Mirzoyev partially admitted guilt. The total embezzlement amount in the indictment exceeds 6 million manats (about $3.5 million). Previously, he had been a witness in a case against several other defense officials arrested for misappropriating state funds.

● A scientific expedition to digitize the ancient Jewish cemetery began in the village of Krasnaya Sloboda in Guba, northern Azerbaijan (pictured below). The project is led by the Sefer Center for Judaic Studies with support from the Mountain Jews religious community and the STMEGI international charitable foundation. Fifteen specialists from different countries are participating. The project includes mapping the cemetery, photographing and measuring tombstones, deciphering Hebrew inscriptions, and creating a unified electronic database. The cemetery covers about 15 hectares with over 3,000 tombstones. The final result will be an electronic catalog. According to Sefer, the project is significant not only for preserving Jewish heritage in Azerbaijan but across the Caucasus region.

● A large forest fire in Agdere, Karabakh, spread to the village of Papravend in the Agdam district due to strong winds.

● “Armenia has entered a new stage of development,” said Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan at a regular government meeting. Summing up the results of his meeting with Presidents Donald Trump and Ilham Aliyev on August 8 in Washington, he congratulated cabinet members on the establishment of peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan. “Beforehand we held discussions with government members, the expanded Security Council, the president, our parliamentary colleagues, as well as with the [ruling] Civil Contract faction. I invited them for consultations and analysis of the texts before my departure to Washington. And we concluded that this step had to be taken,” Pashinyan said. Thanking his team for their work, he stressed that “this is not the end, but the beginning of a new path.”

● “Even the greatest achievements are problematic if their genesis is unclear to society,” Pashinyan noted. Immediately after the cabinet meeting, he held a briefing in which he once again explained to journalists the essence of the documents signed in Washington. Main points of his briefing:

• Armenia and Azerbaijan recognized each other’s territorial integrity based on the 1991 Alma-Ata Declaration, according to which Armenia’s territory fully corresponds to the Armenian SSR, and Azerbaijan’s to the Azerbaijani SSR.

• The Washington Declaration clearly outlines five principles for unblocking regional communications: territorial integrity, sovereignty, jurisdiction, inviolability of borders, and reciprocity.

• An Armenian-American company will be created under the “Trump Route” project to connect Azerbaijan with Nakhchivan. It will not control the road itself, but will manage business operations.

• Armenia will simplify checkpoint operations not only on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border, but on all border crossings.

• The principles of the Washington Declaration are equal and reciprocal for both Armenia and Azerbaijan. Both countries will receive the same benefits and advantages, both for connections with their own territories via the neighboring country and for international connections with third countries.

• The issue of 200 sq. km of Armenian territory occupied by Azerbaijan will be resolved through the joint work of Armenian-Azerbaijani delimitation commissions, based on the Alma-Ata Declaration.

• If the issue of exchanging certain territories with Azerbaijan arises, Armenia will hold a nationwide referendum on it.

• Issues of enclaves and exclaves of Armenia and Azerbaijan must be resolved on political and legal grounds.

• At the upcoming 2026 elections, the people will face a choice between peace and its absence.

• Since August 8, Armenia’s investment and economic rating has been rising every hour.

• At some point, the Armenia-Turkey border will also open.

• Armenia does not plan to increase defense spending in the 2026 state budget.

● Armenia’s Security Council Secretary Armen Grigoryan and his Russian counterpart Sergey Shoigu discussed by phone the agreements reached by Pashinyan and Aliyev in Washington. Grigoryan said that as a result, peace has already been established in the region, which meets the interests of all neighboring countries. He also presented details of the project to unblock regional communications and explained the economic opportunities it creates.

● The French President shared details on X about his phone call with the Turkish President. Alongside the Russia-Ukraine conflict and the Middle East situation, Macron and Erdoğan discussed the Washington meeting between the Armenian and Azerbaijani leaders. “We spoke of the hope generated by the meeting mediated by President Trump on August 8. It is important that progress continues, as this will allow all borders to open and strengthen regional cooperation,” Macron said.

● As part of the fight against corruption, Prime Minister Pashinyan periodically posts on social media about the return to the state of properties, land plots, and other assets that had illegally fallen into the hands of officials. He tags them with the hashtag “piece by piece.” In one post, he assured that “the return of illegally acquired property is not an event, but a process that has begun and will be completed.” In the latest post, the prime minister reported: “By court decision, Armenia’s ownership rights have been restored to a 23,200 sq. m land plot in Tsaghkadzor, Kotayk region, designated as a specially protected area. Its approximate market cadastral value is 375,297,000 drams [$985,000].”

● Yerevan’s Court of General Jurisdiction extended by three months the detention of Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan, accused of attempting to seize power by unconstitutional means. The judge explained that he granted the extension because “the risk of the archbishop committing a crime remains high.” The clergyman led the opposition movement “Sacred Struggle.” On June 25, the Investigative Committee announced it had foiled a coup planned by the movement’s leaders. Law enforcement authorities said that Galstanyan “in collusion with several members of the movement, acquired the necessary means and tools to carry out terrorist acts and seize power.” At that time, the court granted investigators’ request to detain him for two months. Along with him, 17 others were arrested. More details about the prevention of the coup here

● Armenia’s Ministry of High-Tech Industry is launching cooperation with the American tech company Supermicro. Its developments are used in artificial intelligence, metadata processing, cloud computing, and digital infrastructure. Minister Mkhitar Hayrapetyan hosted the delegation led by the company’s vice president, Clay Chen. They discussed prospects for developing Armenia’s digital infrastructure.

● A mass march in support of the media was held in Tbilisi under the slogan “The light must not go out” (pictured). Participants carrying lit flashlights walked from Republic Square along Rustaveli Avenue and joined the rally in front of parliament, where thousands have been holding a pro-European protest for 267 days. “Freedom for Mzia, freedom for the prisoners of the regime!” chanted the demonstrators. The march was also joined by Georgia’s fifth president, Salome Zurabishvili.

● The New York Times sent a response to the Formula TV station regarding accusations from Gori city administration head Davit Razmadze, who claimed he was misquoted in the paper. The NYT article stated that Razmadze had praised Russian soldiers who occupied the city during the 2008 Russo-Georgian war and called Georgian soldiers “Saakashvili’s thugs.” “We accurately and fully quoted Mr. Razmadze’s words from a 90-minute interview conducted in the Gori city council building. His accusations against our journalist are a deliberate attack on independent journalism, aimed at distracting from the truth and weakening free media,” NYT said in its statement.

Earlier, in an interview with Pirveli TV, Razmadze denied the quotes, calling them “slander and lies from beginning to end.” “I said nothing positive about Russia. How can I blame Saakashvili for starting the war? The war was started by the Russians,” Razmadze said. Opposition United National Movement members in the city council have initiated impeachment proceedings against him. Read more here

● Deputy Director of the Penitentiary Department Giga Kemoklidze and Head of Prison No. 8 Davit Gogoberishvili were dismissed following the beating in a cell of businessman Giorgi Bachiashvili. Bachiashvili, former CEO of the Co-Investment Fund established by oligarch Bidzina Ivanishvili (considered Georgia’s shadow ruler), was sentenced to 11 years for embezzling Ivanishvili’s cryptocurrency. More details here. The penitentiary service said the investigation raised suspicions that staff, prisoners under their influence, and Bachiashvili himself may have acted in collusion. In particular, questions were raised about the sudden placement of inmate Kakha Metreveli in the same cell as Bachiashvili, where the fight occurred. Read more here

● NGO ISFED stated that the possibility of holding municipal elections on October 4 in a free, fair, and competitive environment is seriously limited.

● Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze said that “the Georgian government will not allow a coup in the country, which certain externally controlled groups are trying to organize.” Kaladze was commenting on a possible suspension of EU visa liberalization for Georgia and the potential for mass protests in response.

● Mzia Amagloberi, director of the popular outlets Batumelebi and Netgazeti, who was sentenced to two years in prison, has been included in a new initiative by the U.S.-based McCain Institute to protect political prisoners and hostages worldwide. Also prioritized by the program are Venezuelan opposition leader Jesús Armas, Belarusian activist Maria Kolesnikova, and Israeli-American hostages in Gaza. On August 6, Mzia was sentenced for slapping a policeman who had insulted her.

● The Armenia-U.S. joint military exercise Eagle Partner 2025 has concluded. Held annually since 2023, the drills traditionally involve Armenia’s peacekeeping brigade, U.S. Army Europe and Africa, and the Kansas National Guard. The exercises focus on preparing Armenian and American troops for peacekeeping missions. This year, special attention was given to medical evacuation. On the final day, Deputy Defense Minister Edward Asryan, U.S. Ambassador to Armenia Kristina Kvien, Kansas National Guard Commander Karlin Williams, and foreign military attachés accredited in Armenia observed the training.

● The Fact-Checking Platform (FIP.am) labeled as disinformation a new scandal circulating on social media concerning the family of Armenia’s Prime Minister. This time, Anna Hakobyan, wife of Nikol Pashinyan, was at the center. The site EUleaks.eu claimed she was involved in a corruption scandal, allegedly misappropriating $3.4 million from the City of Smile foundation, intended to help children with cancer. Hakobyan chaired the foundation’s board from 2018 to 2020. FIP.am journalists stressed that the publication contained no evidence, only fabricated quotes from individuals denying they ever made such statements. The supposed author, “James Cridon,” was listed as a France 24 anchor but has no connection to the site; France 24 confirmed this. Moreover, the fake site was created just two days before posting the article. FIP.am monitoring showed the story was spread in a coordinated manner through foreign-language accounts on X, Facebook, and Instagram, mostly engaged in distributing pro-Russian propaganda.

● “Visa liberalization with the EU for Armenia is realistic — the country has done enough to achieve this goal,” said EU Ambassador to Armenia Vassilis Maragos. “Starting a visa liberalization dialogue with Armenia last year was an exceptional political step. In the past five years, we haven’t launched such a dialogue with any other partner.”

● One of Armenia’s oldest parties, Ramkavar Azatakan (the Liberal Democratic Party), welcomed the outcome of the Armenia-Azerbaijan-U.S. trilateral summit in Washington, calling it “historic.” The party praised PM Nikol Pashinyan’s strategy to ensure the direct mediation and involvement of U.S. President Donald Trump in the process. The party’s statement expressed hope that the memorandum of understanding signed in Washington would guarantee vital security for Armenians and significantly improve their economic situation.

● Azerbaijani human rights activist Arif Yunus confirmed reports from Azerbaijani media that the “Western Azerbaijan Project” has been suspended following an instruction from the presidential administration in Baku. The project refers to almost all of Armenia’s territory where Azerbaijanis once lived. For the past two years, Baku had actively promoted the idea of “returning Azerbaijanis to their historical homeland,” which Armenia called a threat to its sovereignty. Analysts in Yerevan note that the Washington peace agreement, which states that neither side has territorial claims against the other, may force Azerbaijan to drop this narrative.

● Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan met Russian Deputy PM Alexei Overchuk in Yerevan. According to the PM’s office, they discussed bilateral issues and cooperation within the Russia-led Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU). Before his visit, Overchuk said he would raise “certain nuances” about reopening regional transport routes and an Armenian government act that contradicts EAEU law. He hinted at the road through Armenia that would connect Azerbaijan to Nakhchivan, to be implemented with U.S. company involvement — a plan agreed upon by Armenia and Azerbaijan in Washington with U.S. mediation. The road has already been nicknamed the Trump Route. It is unclear whether this issue was raised during the Pashinyan-Overchuk meeting.

● “The risks of renewed conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan have decreased, and the peace agreement signed with Azerbaijan will improve Armenia’s creditworthiness,” says a new report on Armenia by Fitch Ratings. Economy Minister Vahé Hovhannisyan noted that “these positive developments open new opportunities to attract international investment and strengthen trust in Armenia.”

● Azerbaijan seeks to strengthen cooperation with the United States in security and technology following the agreements reached with Armenia at the Washington trilateral summit on August 8, Azerbaijan’s ambassador to the U.S., Khazar Ibrahim, told Axios. “We are opening a new page. We will work together not only on Armenia-Azerbaijan issues but also on developing relations between Azerbaijan and the U.S.,” Ibrahim said. He expressed gratitude to U.S. President Donald Trump for advancing the peace process, stressing that Trump “101% deserves the Nobel Peace Prize, as in about six months he achieved what others could not for more than 30 years.” The ambassador also highlighted the role of White House special envoy Steve Witkoff, who visited Azerbaijan in March.

● Tomorrow, in the city of Iğdır, Turkey, a groundbreaking ceremony will be held for the Kars–Iğdır–Aralık–Dilucu railway line, part of the transit route that will connect Azerbaijan with its Nakhchivan exclave through Armenia and ensure uninterrupted rail transport between Turkey and Azerbaijan. In Azerbaijan, this route is referred to as the Zangezur Corridor. Turkish Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Abdulkadir Uraloğlu told Anadolu Agency: “A double-track railway line, 224 kilometers long, will be built. Its capacity will be 5.5 million passengers and 15 million tons of cargo per year. The project includes 24 tunnels, 10 bridges, 144 underpasses, 27 overpasses, and 480 culverts. With the launch of the Zangezur Corridor, the east-west line stretching from Beijing to London will operate more efficiently, and freight traffic along the Middle Corridor will grow significantly. The road will expand Turkey’s logistics capacity and strengthen its geostrategic position as an ‘island of security’ on trade routes to Asia.” According to the minister, external financing of €2.4 billion has been secured for the project.

● Azerbaijan has increased oil exports to Germany by 25%. A contract with the German company SEFE (Securing Energy for Europe) has been signed for 10 years, with a gradual increase in annual supply volume to 1.5 billion m³. Long-term agreements have also been signed with Italy, Greece, and Bulgaria, though the fixed supply volumes have not been disclosed.

● Russian Deputy Prime Minister Aleksey Overchuk visited Armenia. The main topic of discussion was the unblocking of regional communications. According to the Armenian government’s press service, the emphasis was on the full observance of the principles of territorial integrity and jurisdiction of the countries.

●  Fazil Gasimov, an Azerbaijani PhD student at Istanbul University sentenced to nine years in prison, has filed an appeal, arguing that the panel of judges rejected all his motions to question additional witnesses and exclude certain documents from the list of evidence. Gasimov was accused of handing counterfeit U.S. dollars to economist Gubad Ibadoglu during a meeting in Istanbul in 2023. It is alleged that Ibadoglu brought the money to Baku and was soon arrested. He was released under house arrest in April last year. Gasimov continues to insist that he committed no crime and demands that Ibadoglu be questioned publicly. More details on Fazil Gasimov’s arrest and its potential link to the “FETÖ case” here.

● President Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva visited Goygol District to inspect construction work on two major projects – the Ganja Memorial and the new large-scale tourist complex “Hajikand” (pictured).

• The memorial is being built in memory of local civilians killed by Armenian rocket attacks during the Second Karabakh War in autumn 2020, on the site of destroyed residential buildings and a park. At its center is a 13-meter spiral-shaped crater symbolizing the impact of a missile launched by the Armenian army. 27 civilians were killed and more than 120 injured in the shelling of the city. Here is a video story “Ganja, one year after the war” 

• The modern “Hajikand” tourist complex will be located near Ganja, covering the villages of Hajikand and Banovshali, with a total area of about 23 hectares. It will accommodate up to 452 guests in cottages at the foothills of the Caucasus Mountains amid dense forests. The complex will include several restaurants and cafes, a swimming pool, spa, fitness center, karaoke, children’s playgrounds, football and basketball courts, a conference hall, and hiking trails. About 300 new jobs are expected once the complex opens.

● Ilham and Mehriban Aliyeva also inspected construction at the Ganja City Stadium. Built in 1964, it had fallen into disrepair. On April 9 last year, the president personally laid the foundation for the new stadium. Construction is nearing completion, and from September 28 to October 8 this year, Azerbaijan will host a major sporting event there – the 3rd CIS Games. The new stadium is being built to UEFA Category 4 standards and will seat 15,343 spectators.

● The government has initiated procedures to join the Crypto-Asset Reporting Framework (CARF), developed by the OECD. The goal is to enhance information exchange on cryptocurrency transactions and combat tax evasion.

● Over the next two days, strong winds of up to 20 m/s are expected in Baku and across Azerbaijan’s regions.

● 51 members of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe issued a written warning: if Georgia does not change course, they will challenge the credentials of the Georgian delegation. The MPs also called for initiating Georgia’s expulsion from the Council of Europe, citing the worsening political situation: opposition leaders have been arrested, and civil society activists and media representatives face criminal prosecution. “This is no longer a series of isolated incidents, but a long-term campaign aimed at destroying the democratic opposition, restricting freedom of expression, and suppressing civil society,” the letter says. Read more here

● Davit Razmadze (pictured below), chairman of the Gori city council from the ruling “Georgian Dream” party, expressed gratitude to Russian soldiers for entering Gori during the 2008 war. “They came here as peacekeepers, and thank God they did, because Saakashvili’s thugs (then-president of Georgia) were looting the city. They even stole a priest’s car. If the Russians hadn’t come, who knows how much more destruction they would have caused,” Razmadze told The New York Times.

The newspaper published a long article titled “How Georgia Went From the Vanguard of Democracy to the Frontline of Autocracy.” Razmadze was among those interviewed, blaming Mikheil Saakashvili for the 2008 war. “It’s all his fault. He deliberately provoked it,” he said. The New York Times wrote that during the 90-minute interview Razmadze managed to blame Saakashvili for everything — from declining church attendance to overspending on municipal fountains.

● Georgian citizens will no longer be eligible for simplified employment in Poland, as the country has been removed from the corresponding list of the Polish Ministry of Family, Labor, and Social Policy. This means Georgians will now have to undergo the full procedure for obtaining work permits. The explanatory note states that the reasons for the amendment include the current political situation in Georgia and possible restrictions on its visa-free regime with the EU. The changes will take effect in September–October 2025.

● For the first time in 17 years since the 2008 war, the United States did not join the UN statement in support of Georgia. The document, prepared by the UN Security Council, was signed by EU member states and the United Kingdom. The statement reaffirms Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and says that Russia’s 2008 invasion of Georgia marked the start of Moscow’s increasingly aggressive policy toward its neighbors, which continues today with Ukraine. Georgia’s Foreign Ministry has not commented.

● Activist Tamar Kuratashvili was fined 2,000 lari (about $700) for writing “Down with the regime!” on the gates of the police headquarters in Adjara on August 6, the same day media director Mzia Amaglobili (of Batumelebi and Netgazeti) was sentenced to two years in prison.

● Independent Dusheti mayoral candidate Gogita Taniashvili was physically attacked. Locals reported that he was threatened and pressured to withdraw his candidacy. After refusing, he was taken to a cemetery in Zhinvali and brutally beaten. The opposition claims the attack was organized by the ruling “Georgian Dream” candidate Kakhaber Chitauri and campaign chief Mamuka Shermadini.

● Georgian businessman and politician Levan Gachechiladze has died at the age of 61, according to the Georgian Public Broadcaster. He served as a member of parliament in the 5th, 6th, and 7th convocations and was the opposition’s presidential candidate in 2008.

● Four people were killed and three injured in a car accident on the Kobuleti bypass road. According to the Interior Ministry, two cars collided.

● Two earthquakes struck Georgia within 24 hours. According to the Seismic Monitoring Center, both had epicenters in Senaki. The first, with a magnitude of 3.8, occurred near the village of Gakhomela; the second, magnitude 3.5, near the village of Sagunio.

● Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan addressed the nation. The speech was unexpected, and before it began, rumors spread on social media that he might announce snap elections. However, at the appointed time, the prime minister opened with the words: “The summit organized by U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House on August 8, 2025, was a turning point,” and went on to explain why he considers the meeting with U.S. and Azerbaijani leaders in Washington a new starting point for Armenia. “Peace has been established between Armenia and Azerbaijan; since August 8, we have been living in an entirely new reality. This is a new South Caucasus, this is a new Armenia,” he said, stressing the “invaluable role” of the U.S. president.

The prime minister added that after the publication of the initialed peace agreement with Azerbaijan, “conspiracy theories surrounding it collapsed like a house of cards.” He listed the main results of the Washington agreements for Armenia:

• After more than 30 years of isolation, the country is being unblocked,
• All communications between Armenia and Azerbaijan will open within the framework of territorial integrity, sovereignty, jurisdiction, and inviolability of borders,
• Armenia will truly become a crossroads of peace, implementing the “Crossroads of Peace” project and receiving major investments.

● Pashinyan also addressed the most common question of the last 10 days: if Armenia and Azerbaijan recognize each other’s territorial integrity, what will happen to more than 200 sq. km of Armenian territory under Azerbaijani control? “Both sides recognized the inviolability of borders and territorial integrity on the basis of the 1991 Alma-Ata Declaration. This means that the territories of Armenia and Azerbaijan are defined by the borders of the former union republics. These issues must be resolved in the process of demarcation and delimitation. And here a new logic of peace applies: when we speak of Armenian territories under Azerbaijani control, we must acknowledge that Azerbaijani territories are under Armenian control as well. A solution is possible only through a mutual approach,” said Pashinyan.

● Pashinyan also touched upon the issue of repatriating Armenians imprisoned in Baku, noting that this topic was deliberately excluded from the peace treaty so as not to delay it with lengthy negotiations. At the same time, he assured that persistent diplomatic efforts are being made for their speedy return.

● Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian arrived in Yerevan on August 18 with an official visit. On the first day, no meetings with Armenian leadership were announced. Before departing from Tehran, he told journalists at the airport that “the visit to Armenia is a continuation of priority trips to neighboring countries.” He emphasized that Iran has strong, strategic relations with Armenia and all the necessary conditions for this have been created: “Communication between Iran and Armenia is maximally facilitated. Therefore, during this visit we will discuss ways to strengthen our agreements and ties, including communication and cultural routes, particularly the North–South Corridor.”

The Iranian president also raised concerns about the presence of American companies on the soon-to-be-reopened road linking Azerbaijan with its exclave Nakhichevan through Armenian territory. “They now represent the interests of this company, but in the future may engage in other activities as well. We will discuss these issues with Armenian officials. On other matters, including technical, engineering, construction, mining, artistic, social, and tourism, excellent documents have been prepared. Their signing is planned,” Pezeshkian said.

● The possibility of increasing U.S. investment in Armenia and expanding Armenian-American economic cooperation was discussed by U.S. Ambassador Kristina Kvien and Goar Abajyan, CEO of Enterprise Armenia, the national investment promotion agency established by the Armenian government and overseen by the prime minister. “We are pleased to continue our partnership aimed at promoting economic prosperity both in the United States and in Armenia,” the U.S. Embassy said in a statement.

● “Exports of processed food products from Armenia to the EU increased by 56%, alcoholic beverages by 20%, and aluminum products by 35%,” said Minister of Economy Gevorg Papoyan, comparing data from January–July 2024 to the same period in 2025. He explained that the growth was made possible by a government support program: “The state compensates customs duties on finished products exported to the EU,” the minister wrote on Facebook.

● In Etchmiadzin, immediate release was demanded for Archbishop Mikael Ajapahyan and Russian businessman Samvel Karapetyan. “By extending the arrest of Archbishop Mikael Ajapahyan and philanthropist Samvel Karapetyan, the court once again violated the principle of justice, demonstrating complete dependence on the ruling political force,” the statement read.

Criminal proceedings against Ajapahyan were initiated for “public calls to seize power and violently overthrow the constitutional order.” Russian billionaire Samvel Karapetyan was arrested under the same charge a week earlier. Initially, the court ordered two months’ detention for both, which has now been extended for another two months. Armenian experts see a connection between these arrests and the attempted coup recently foiled by Armenia’s security services, suggesting a “Russian trace” behind it, read more here

● 100 children from families resettled from Nagorno-Karabakh to Armenia returned from a week-long trip to Hungary. Reports say they participated in various intellectual and sports competitions, educational and recreational activities. They were accompanied by social workers, psychologists, and teachers. The program is jointly implemented by the governments of Armenia and Hungary.

● Another arrest of ethnic Azerbaijanis in Russia – in Voronezh, the head of the local Azerbaijani diaspora and co-owner of the city’s largest market, Yusif Khalilov, has been detained. Russian media report that he is accused of giving a large bribe to a doctor. Khalilov has refused to testify and does not admit guilt. He faces 7 to 12 years in prison and deportation.

Earlier in Russia, the leader of the Azerbaijani diaspora in the Urals, Shakhin Shykhlinski, and his son Mutvaly were arrested. Relations between Azerbaijan and Russia deteriorated after Russian air defense forces shot down an Azerbaijani passenger plane last December. Tensions escalated again in June, when Russian special forces killed two Azerbaijanis and injured several others during an operation. Baku opened a criminal case against Moscow, read more here

● “Russia deliberately attacked an Azerbaijani energy facility in Odesa. This was a blow both to Ukraine’s energy independence and to relations (with Azerbaijan),” wrote Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on social media. As a result of two Russian missile strikes, an oil depot owned by the Azerbaijani state company SOCAR and a compressor station transporting Azerbaijani gas to Ukraine were damaged. Experts in Baku say this was a warning to Azerbaijan, read more here

● Member of Parliament Rasim Musabekov told the Azerbaijani service of Radio Liberty that “the Azerbaijani government’s response to Russia’s attack on SOCAR facilities in Ukraine could be supplying weapons to Kyiv.”

● “Ukraine considers the signing of the Joint Declaration between Azerbaijan and Armenia in Washington on August 8 an important step toward lasting peace in the South Caucasus,” wrote Ukrainian Parliament Speaker Ruslan Stefanchuk following a phone call with Azerbaijani Parliament Speaker Sahiba Gafarova. Stefanchuk invited his Azerbaijani colleague to visit Ukraine and to participate in the 4th Parliamentary Summit of the Crimea Platform in Stockholm.

●  “The Washington agreements are an unconditional success for Armenia, Azerbaijan, and the United States,” Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said in his address to the nation. “They make our state reliable, stable, and enduring, strengthen our independence and sovereignty, and make our prosperity and happiness realistic – this is the strategy of all our strategies.”

● Nikol Pashinyan: “Armenia and Azerbaijan recognized each other’s inviolable borders and territorial integrity back in the Alma-Ata Declaration of 1991. This means that both sides proceed from the fact that the territories of the two countries are legally identical to those of the former union republics of the Armenian SSR and the Azerbaijani SSR. This reality must be resolved in the process of border demarcation.”

●  Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has arrived in Armenia on his first official visit. From Yerevan, he will travel to Belarus. In April, Pezeshkian paid an official visit to Azerbaijan.

●  The OSCE Chairmanship, currently held by Finland, has begun necessary steps in response to the joint request by Azerbaijan and Armenia to dissolve the Minsk Group, which was established in the early 1990s to facilitate negotiations on the Karabakh conflict. This was announced by OSCE representative, Finnish diplomat Toni Sandell.

● Over the past week, 30 anti-tank mines, 153 anti-personnel mines, and 673 unexploded ordnances have been discovered and neutralized in territories liberated from Armenian occupation. An area of 362.7 hectares has been cleared, the Azerbaijani state demining agency ANAMA reported. According to the agency, “more than one million hectares remain mined in the territories of Azerbaijan liberated after the Second Karabakh War. Since the end of hostilities in autumn 2020, 243 mine explosions have been recorded in these areas, killing 70 people and injuring 330.”

● The trial of former leaders of the self-proclaimed Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR) continues. They are accused of war crimes, terrorism, attempts to overthrow state power, and other serious offenses. The lawyer of Bako Sahakyan (NKR “president” from 2007 to 2020) requested a confidential meeting with his client. According to the state agency AZERTAC, the lawyer of Araik Harutyunyan (NKR “president” in 2020–2023 and “prime minister” in 2007–2017) asked for a phone call with his client directly in the courtroom. The judge granted both requests, declaring a recess. Afterward, testimonies were heard from victims of Armenian armed forces attacks and from people who were tortured in captivity. Dozens of individuals shared accounts of violence and the killing or torture of relatives during the First Karabakh War in the early 1990s and the Second Karabakh War in 2020. The trial will resume on August 21.

● Three foreign tourists have been arrested for three months after filming inappropriate videos at the Alley of Martyrs and posting them on social media. A criminal case has been opened under Article 245 of the Criminal Code: “desecration of a grave.”

● August has been declared “Arabic Language Month” in Azerbaijan at the initiative of the International Arabic Language Academy in Saudi Arabia. An official opening ceremony was held at Baku State University with the participation of the Academy’s Director-General, Professor Abdullah Al-Washmi, and his delegation. The university is hosting poetry, recitation, and essay competitions in Arabic.

●  The average fixed broadband internet speed in Azerbaijan has doubled compared to last year, reaching 82.58 Mbps. The country ranked 81st out of 153 countries in this indicator. Singapore tops the list with 386.96 Mbps, while Syria is last with 3.29 Mbps. (Data: Speedtest Global Index)

Heydar Aliyev Center in Baku, photo by İltun Huseynli

●  Activists Tornike Toshkhua and Mindia Shervashidze (pictured below), detained on charges of group violence during a protest at parliament, remain under arrest pending investigation. They face up to two years in prison. The court did not consider the defense’s arguments for their release on bail. The lawyer accused the prosecution of falsifying evidence, claiming that a knife, with which the alleged victim Beka Gotsiridze attacked the activists, was concealed from the case. He stated that he obtained video footage showing Gotsiridze attacking the defendants with a knife, police seizing the weapon, and forcing a witness to sign documents. According to the defense, the alleged victim is a supporter of the ruling party who had threatened the defendants for months, and the prosecution is protecting him for political reasons. The prosecutor, however, dismissed the lawyer’s accusations as unfounded, saying the seized videos show the opposite: the defendants attacking the victim, who did not have a knife.

●  The Netherlands is suspending the MATRA program supporting the rule of law in Georgia. A statement from the Dutch Embassy said the reason is the “deteriorating situation in the country and the steps taken by the government.” “Over the years, about two hundred Georgian officials and public servants took part in training within the MATRA ‘Rule of Law’ program, which made a significant contribution to strengthening Georgia’s state institutions. Program alumni make up a significant part of our embassy’s contacts. We hope that in the future, as the situation in the country improves, we can once again welcome Georgian participants,” the statement read.

●  Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze: “It is completely unclear what the new laws ‘On Foreign Influence’ and ‘On Grants’ have to do with the visa-free regime with the EU. The threats to cancel this regime are simply an attempt to punish the Georgian people. Don’t think they have any good intentions. Their claims that they care about the Georgian people are a very big lie, a lie. If they were truly real friends, they wouldn’t call on us to join sanctions [against Russia], there wouldn’t be blackmail in the offices of ministers, the prime minister, and the party chairman to open a second front. These are big countries with their own interests, but we have brains, don’t we? We must not allow anyone to use our small country in the interests of some big state. What is happening in Ukraine is a complete disaster, which is why the pragmatic policy of ‘Georgian Dream’ must continue.”

●  The opposition coalition Lelo – Strong Georgia and the party Gakharia for Georgia have nominated Irakli Kupradze as their joint candidate for Tbilisi mayor in the municipal elections on October 4. Tata Khvedeliani and Aleko Elisashvili have been nominated as deputy mayor candidates, while Giorgi Sharashidze will run for chair of the Tbilisi City Council. The two political groups signed a memorandum of cooperation on July 14 to coordinate for the October 4, 2025, local elections.

●  Russia’s FSB stated that Ukraine planned a terrorist attack on the Crimean Bridge, and that the bomb was brought in through Georgia. “A car containing a powerful improvised explosive device arrived in Russia from Ukraine, transiting through several countries. It crossed the Russian-Georgian border in the Republic of North Ossetia via the international checkpoint ‘Zemo Larsi’ and was to proceed to the Krasnodar region on a private car transporter,” the statement said. According to the FSB, the vehicle was intended to be handed over to a person who would cross the Crimean Bridge and become an “unwitting suicide bomber.” More details here

● The official publication of the U.S. federal government, the Federal Register, has published a memorandum on the suspension of Amendment 907 to the “Freedom Support Act.” It was signed by Donald Trump on August 8 during the historic summit in Washington with the President of Azerbaijan and the Prime Minister of Armenia. The memorandum states that this decision was necessary:

• • To support U.S. and coalition partners’ efforts in combating international terrorism,
• • Important for the security of Azerbaijan’s borders,
• • Will not hinder negotiations for a peaceful settlement between Armenia and Azerbaijan,
• • Will not be used for offensive purposes against Armenia.

Amendment 907 was adopted in 1992 and significantly restricted military and economic ties between the U.S. and Azerbaijan. It came during the first Karabakh war and was introduced as a reaction to Azerbaijan’s blockade of Armenia. For many years, U.S. presidents temporarily suspended this amendment. It was reinstated by the administration of former President Joe Biden.

● “The historic declaration of intent for peace between the leaders of Azerbaijan and Armenia could only have been signed under Donald Trump’s administration, because only he acts as a peacemaker and negotiator without pursuing ideological goals,” said Azerbaijan’s Ambassador to the UK, Elin Suleymanov, in an interview with GB News. According to him, “All former White House leaders who tried to mediate in resolving the South Caucasus situation never had ending the conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia as their main goal. Unlike them, Trump’s team is focused on real results.”

● Blogger Ilhami Nasibov, who posed as the administrator of the Kanal-21 social media page and as a journalist, has been arrested for extorting money from people by threatening to spread damaging information about them. He was placed in pre-trial detention for four months.

● Since the beginning of this year, Azerbaijan’s population has increased by 16,833 people, or 0.2%, reaching 10,241,722 as of July 1. According to the State Statistics Committee, 54.4% of the population lives in cities, with men and women making up 49.8% and 50.2% of the population respectively.

● “In the territories of Azerbaijan liberated from Armenian occupation—in Karabakh and Eastern Zangezur—more than 50,000 people now live, including former internally displaced persons as well as those working on regional development projects. A total of 5,420 resettled persons have been provided with jobs, of whom 422 became farmers. Another 249 have received training in professions that meet labor market demands. Currently, work is underway to employ another 621 resettled persons,” officials from the State Employment Agency told journalists during a media tour of small farming enterprises established in Lachin District under the self-employment program.

● The national festival of nomadic culture “Yaylag” has concluded in the Goygol District. Various folklore groups performed concerts of national music and dance for two days. Thousands of families from Turkic-speaking countries, along with Azerbaijani residents, attended as spectators and participants, according to local media. Below is a photo report from Report.

● Today, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian begins a two-day visit to Armenia. Reports from Tehran say the purpose of the visit is to strengthen bilateral relations and sign a number of documents. As part of the visit, an Armenia-Iran business forum will also take place.

● On the eve of Pezeshkian’s visit, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi wrote an article about the historical ties between the two countries, calling them “natural allies.” In the article, he stressed that the geopolitical outlook of the region gives strategic importance to relations between Tehran and Yerevan. “Iran considers it its duty to support the establishment of peace and stability in the region. The implementation of any projects in the region is only possible with respect for territorial integrity, the legitimate rights and mutual interests of all countries, as well as by preventing interference by third countries and external forces under any pretext,” Araghchi wrote.

The issue of “non-interference by third countries” was actively discussed last week by the authorities of Iran and Armenia. Concerns in Tehran arose following the August 8 decision in Washington by the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan to unblock a road near Iran’s border with U.S. involvement. This route, through Armenian territory, is meant to connect Azerbaijan with its Nakhichevan exclave. It has already been dubbed the “Trump Route” (Trump route for international peace and prosperity — TRIPP), named after the mediator. Armenia’s prime minister and foreign minister managed to convince their Iranian counterparts that the implementation of this project “does not mean a U.S. security presence in the region.”

In his article, Iran’s foreign minister proposed that Armenia increase trade through the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC). “This important international corridor, involving thirteen countries, links Iran’s southern ports with Central Asia, the Caucasus, Afghanistan, and Eastern European countries, cutting transportation costs by 30% and halving delivery times,” Araghchi wrote. This proposal aligns with the Armenian government’s “Crossroads of Peace” initiative, which seeks to expand transport links with neighboring countries while maintaining jurisdiction over its own roads. According to Armenia’s prime minister, this very principle forms the basis of the “Trump Route.”

● The agreements reached between the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan under U.S. mediation provoked a mixed reaction in Russia. After a long pause, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova stated that “the current stage of Armenian-Azerbaijani normalization began with Russia’s direct assistance and central role.”

● A similar position was voiced by Viktor Vodolatsky, First Deputy Chairman of the Russian State Duma Committee on CIS Affairs, who declared that the initialing of the peace agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan was a “shared victory” in which Russia played a key role.

“The most important thing is to make sure the Anglo-Saxons cannot create a flashpoint in the South Caucasus, which is what they are aiming for. They have always wanted to pit the Caucasus against Russia. God forbid they start implementing their cunning plan through influencing the peace process now unfolding between Armenia and Azerbaijan, creating a source of conflict or tension there. That’s why Russia is monitoring this, and naturally, the sovereignty and security of our state is our president’s priority. When it comes to the South Caucasus republics, we need to act more firmly and decisively,” Vodolatsky told TASS.

● Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuk is expected to visit Yerevan this week. He said he would like to discuss with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan “some nuances regarding the opening of communications in the Caucasus […] to protect Russia’s interests in the region.” In particular, he noted “a regulatory act by the Armenian government that contradicts the principles of the EAEU” (the Russian-led economic union). “Moscow supports Armenia’s plans to create a transport link with Azerbaijan under the name ‘Trump Route,’ if Yerevan believes that signing the relevant declaration in Washington provides greater security guarantees. We support peace processes in the South Caucasus,” Overchuk said.

● Political analyst Robert Gevondyan commented: “I hope Pashinyan will not receive Overchuk, since the Russian deputy prime minister is not of a sufficient rank to discuss such issues. In terms of international etiquette, it would be more appropriate if the president of Russia, or at least the prime minister, came to discuss these matters with Armenia’s prime minister.” If Pashinyan does meet with Overchuk, Gevondyan hopes he will not allow the Russian deputy PM to dictate terms about Armenian government decisions. “If any vital issue in Armenia contradicts EAEU law, then it would be better to prepare to send the EAEU to hell. Especially since this structure has brought nothing good to our country,” Gevondyan wrote.

● On August 23, a protest will take place in Gyumri, Armenia’s second-largest city, demanding the withdrawal of the Russian military base stationed there. The action was announced by “For the Republic” party leader Arman Babajanyan on his Facebook page. “Armenia’s security cannot be built on the basis of a foreign state. An important step in our agenda is bidding farewell to Russia’s military presence. The 102nd military base represents a threat to Armenia’s independence and security. True security for the country comes from its own armed forces,” Babajanyan wrote.

● “The EU Monitoring Mission in Armenia (EUMA) will continue its work, with possible changes to its mandate to be discussed between Yerevan and Brussels. The mission’s mandate is to monitor and report on the situation on the Armenian side of the Armenia-Azerbaijan border,” said EU foreign affairs and security spokesperson Anita Hipper.

● Armenia’s Minister of High-Tech Industry Mkhitar Hayrapetyan stated that Armenia is becoming a strategic partner of the United States in the semiconductor industry. This became possible thanks to a memorandum on innovation partnership in artificial intelligence signed between the governments of Armenia and the U.S. in Washington. According to Hayrapetyan, in this field Armenia will gain exceptional opportunities, including simplified and accelerated mechanisms for exporting its products and access to the latest technologies, despite being a member of the EAEU.

● Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan issued an apology on social media for using inappropriate language toward the church and clergy. “The Anti-Corruption Commission recorded a violation of rules of conduct in my speech. Although I do not fully agree with some of the assessments, I apologize to all of you. In the agenda of spiritual renewal, I must acknowledge my own shortcomings and better manage my emotions,” Pashinyan wrote.

The Anti-Corruption Commission opened a case after Pashinyan’s controversial Facebook posts. Many initially thought the prime minister’s page had been hacked, as the tone and language of the posts were unusually harsh. The most discussed post, published on May 30, read: “Your Excellency, keep f***ing your uncle’s wife. What business do you have with me?” It remains unclear which clergyman Pashinyan was addressing. On August 14, the commission ruled that although the post was published as a response to criticism, the prime minister used language that had a “crude and obscene undertone.”

The conflict between the prime minister and the church escalated this summer, after Pashinyan accused Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II of breaking his vow of celibacy and demanded his resignation.

Photo: The 102nd Russian military base in Gyumri

● The Prosecutor’s Office has charged two detained activists, Tornike Toshkhua and Mindia Shervashidze, with participating in group violence during the July 31 rally. Witnesses claim the clash occurred after former Georgian national football player Beka Gotsiridze, a supporter of the ruling Georgian Dream party, appeared on Rustaveli Avenue and insulted protesters, which sparked the conflict. The Droa party stated that this was a “provocation orchestrated by the regime as an act of political revenge against participants of the pro-European protests” (pictured).

● More than 30 human rights and media organizations have expressed solidarity with Georgian NGOs accused by Georgia’s Anti-Corruption Bureau of violating the “foreign agents” law. In a joint written statement they said: “You are independent Georgian organizations serving only the Georgian people. Your mission—to protect the rights of women, children, workers, people with disabilities, internally displaced persons, and all the oppressed—is vital for the existence of a democratic society. Attacks on independent NGOs and media are attacks on the foundations of democracy in the country. Your work is crucial to protecting Georgia’s free, democratic, and European future.”

● “The meeting of the U.S. and Russian presidents in Alaska showed that the war in Ukraine is in fact a war between Russia and the West, and external forces tried to draw Georgia into this confrontation,” wrote Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on social media. “If the U.S. president has the ability to influence the achievement of peace, it directly confirms that the conflict has escalated into a war between Russia and the West. This also explains why in 2022, unlike Ukraine, war did not start in Georgia—because patriots were in power in the country, not puppets as in 2008 (when the Georgia-Russia war over South Ossetia broke out),” Papuashvili wrote.

● In the village of Boni on the outskirts of Batumi, a teenager was hit by a train. Preliminary reports say the teenager sustained a severe leg injury requiring amputation.

● The Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2025 will be held in Tbilisi on December 13. For this purpose, 8,164,280 lari (about $2.8 million) will be allocated from the government’s reserve fund.

Top stories in Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Georgia from 11-15 August, 2025