Top stories in Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Georgia from 23-27 March, 2026

● The U.S. Helsinki Commission states that the ruling Georgian Dream party is using the judiciary as a political tool. According to the commission, opposition leaders, including Elene Khoshtaria, have been charged with more serious offenses and face prison sentences ranging from 7 to 15 years.

● Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili said that the case of the “mother of four children” (Elene Khoshtaria) is solely the result of her personal choice, and shifting responsibility onto anyone else is “irresponsible.” He also pointed to the influence of external actors and the possible reaction of Western diplomats. More details on Khoshtaria’s sentence here.

● European Commission spokesperson Anita Hipper described the 1.5-year prison sentence for Khoshtaria as “disproportionate” and noted that it is a continuation of repression. Brussels is calling for the release of all “unjustly detained” individuals.

● At the Tbilisi City Court, one participant in the pro-European protests was sentenced to administrative detention “for blocking the road,” while two others received oral reprimands.

● In a report by the NATO Secretary General, the South Caucasus was once again described as a strategically important region. Regarding Georgia, it was stated that due to problems with democracy, the alliance has revised some components of cooperation, although military cooperation continues. Mark Rutte called on the Georgian authorities to “return to a pro-European and future-oriented path.” More details here.

● Peter Andreoli, a representative of the U.S. State Department’s Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs, who is on a visit to Georgia, visited the construction site of the Anaklia deep-sea port, where work is being carried out by the Belgian company Jan De Nul. He was accompanied by Deputy Economy Minister Tamar Ioseliani and U.S. Chargé d’Affaires in Georgia Alan Purcell. The port’s master plan and infrastructure development, particularly the railway component, were discussed. Political cooperation between Georgia and the United States is effectively suspended. However, for the second time this year, a State Department representative has visited Tbilisi. Experts believe this is primarily linked to the продвижение транзитного проекта “Trump Route,” or TRIPP (between Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Turkey), and more broadly to the creation of a new transit corridor between the Caspian and Black Seas.

● Peter Andreoli also met with opposition leaders in Tbilisi. According to the opposition, “issues discussed at the meeting included the release of political prisoners and the country’s departure from its democratic course.”

● The Investigative Service of the Ministry of Finance detained 30 people in seven cases. These include illegal extraction of natural resources, causing damage of about 21.8 million lari (over $7 million), and fraudulent appropriation of state-owned land, causing damage of around 2.1 million lari (over $900,000).

● Former Defense Minister Juansher Burchuladze, who was arrested on charges of abuse of office and legalization of illegal доходов, stated that he intends to conclude a plea agreement. The defense said it would be able to complete the examination of evidence within a single court hearing. The charges against Burchuladze предусматривают imprisonment for a term of 9 to 12 years.

● The Georgian national football team played its first match of the year in Tbilisi against Israel, ending in a 2:2 draw. Before the match, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia was awarded as the best player of 2025. In memory of the late Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia Ilia II, the match began with a minute of silence. On March 29, the Georgian team will play against Lithuania in Kaunas.

What did Georgia lose by halting Anaklia port project? Analysis

● The first-ever Armenia–EU summit will take place on May 4–5 in Yerevan, European Council President António Costa wrote on X. “I look forward to meeting with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. Armenia is a close EU partner, and we look forward to deepening this relationship. We are united by shared values and a commitment to international law and the rules-based international order,” Costa wrote.

● The European Union will provide Armenia with a €143 million grant. The Armenian government approved the relevant document titled the “Multi-Sector Budget Support Agreement.” The funds will be allocated for the country’s development from 2026 to 2028. The financing will be provided exclusively in the form of grants, and the main areas of support include public finance management, export diversification, dialogue on visa liberalization, the rule of law, as well as employment and social integration.

● On May 28 — the Day of the First Republic of Armenia — a military parade will take place in Republic Square in Yerevan, Nikol Pashinyan stated.

● Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan told journalists that he is dissatisfied with the results of the fight against corruption. “We often do not show sufficient determination. We must be resolute and consistent,” the prime minister said.

● “If I am not prime minister, you will not have jobs in four hours — at least appreciate that,” Nikol Pashinyan said to opposition journalists. “Those who fund you need you to stand here and make statements bordering on insult so that they can call me weak because I did not hit you for it. But my strength is not in that, it is in legitimacy,” Pashinyan emphasized.

● By court decision, searches were conducted at 20 addresses in Yerevan. A drug production facility, various types and quantities of narcotics, as well as illegally stored weapons and ammunition were discovered. Ten people were detained.

● Defense Minister Suren Papikyan, during an official visit to France, met with the military adviser to the President of France and head of the special military staff, Vincent Girault. The discussions focused on bilateral cooperation in the defense sector and issues of international security. Papikyan also met with representatives of French defense companies.

● National Assembly Speaker Alen Simonyan has once again found himself at the center of a scandal. He approached relatives of missing servicemen who were holding a protest outside the parliament building. The conversation escalated into a dispute, during which a citizen used offensive language toward the speaker. Simonyan responded in kind and ordered that the individual be detained. Later, Simonyan stated that he had not used offensive language, and that the citizen was detained for disobeying security officers and engaging in provocation.

● Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigoryan took part in a meeting of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council (led by Russia), held in a narrow format in Shymkent, Kazakhstan. The discussions focused on the development of trade and economic relations, as well as cooperation in digital technologies and artificial intelligence.

● Since February 28, 10 Armenian citizens have contacted the Armenian embassy in Israel requesting assistance in returning to Yerevan, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Ani Badalyan said. According to her, bus transport was arranged for eight citizens to the Egyptian city of Sharm el-Sheikh, from where they flew to Yerevan on a direct flight. Two others will be assisted in returning to Armenia after completing their contractual obligations.

● Members of the Youth Union of the opposition Armenian Revolutionary Federation (Dashnaktsutyun, which has a pro-Russian reputation) held a protest in front of the government building. They carried posters with photos of current government representatives taken during their past visits to Karabakh. “The authorities are trying to edit or possibly erase our memory, as they do with their various posts and statements, but they demonstrate short-sightedness. They are betraying those who voted for them, and many of these people shed their blood for the homeland that you surrendered,” one participant said.

● NATO welcomes significant progress on the path to peace between Azerbaijan and Armenia, according to the 2025 report by Secretary General Mark Rutte. It emphasizes that the initialing of a peace agreement in August became an important step toward normalizing relations and strengthening regional security. In this context, the alliance is ready to deepen dialogue and cooperation with both countries. “The South Caucasus is important for NATO’s security, especially given that the region continues to feel the effects of Russia’s aggressive war against Ukraine,” the document states.

● The report also notes that “within the framework of the Partnership for Peace program, NATO cooperates with 16 countries,” including Azerbaijan. Special attention is given to NATO Centers of Excellence — organizations established at national and multinational levels to provide expertise and support the alliance’s capabilities. Currently, 30 such centers are accredited by NATO, with five more at various stages of evaluation.

● Presidential aide Hikmet Hajiyev held a meeting with the chief national security adviser to the Prime Minister of Hungary, Marcel Bíró. It is noted that the meeting took place at Hungary’s initiative on the sidelines of a gathering of aides to the leaders of member and observer states of the Organization of Turkic States. The main topic was the successful development of the strategic partnership between Azerbaijan and Hungary.

● A cargo train carrying Russian humanitarian aid for Iran has been sent in transit through Azerbaijan. Thirty-one wagons, with a total cargo weight of over 300 tons, are transporting medicines, medical supplies, and food. This is already the second Russian train with humanitarian aid to Iran that has passed through Azerbaijan.

● A resident of the village of Yusifjanly in the Aghdam district (Karabakh) was injured by a landmine explosion and is currently in intensive care.

● Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan: “In 2020 (when the war with Azerbaijan took place – JAMnews), the guarantor of Armenia’s security was the CSTO (a military alliance led by Russia – JAMnews). It was this very organization that led us into that slaughter. If you do not believe it, listen to the statement by Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko during his state visit to Baku. Now that we are on the path of getting out of this trap, some ask us: where are you going?”

● Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan: “Life has shown that we have peace with Azerbaijan, and in light of regional upheavals it has proven its viability and resilience. I am confident that this will continue in the future. Our task is to strengthen mutually beneficial mechanisms of connectivity and cooperation, in which maintaining peace will be beneficial for both Armenia and Azerbaijan. There is already an established dialogue between the civil societies of the two countries, as well as transit cargo transportation to Armenia through the territory of Azerbaijan.”

● Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan: “Some opposition forces speak about the need to have a guarantor country for peace. But this would only give that so-called guarantor country additional levers of pressure, allowing it to continue its presence not only in Armenia but also on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border. And the entire cycle we have already experienced would continue. Thanks to our so-called opposition, we will once again be pushed up against the wall. The ruling Civil Contract party proposes that the people of Armenia move from an agenda of survival to an agenda of development.”

● Former ruling party MP Vladimir Vardanyan has been elected as a judge of the Constitutional Court. Independent lawyers warn of risks to his impartiality. More details here.

● Parliament has adopted in its final reading an amendment to the Land Code stripping the Armenian Apostolic Church of the right to receive land plots free of charge into ownership.

● Civil Contract MP Marina Kazaryan is representing the country in Ashgabat on March 26–27 at an interparliamentary dialogue. She was supposed to travel via Russia, but a Russian airline canceled her tickets. Kazaryan appealed to the foreign minister, demanding action in connection with the incident. Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan stated that he would request explanations from Moscow through official diplomatic channels. “Unfortunately, this is not the first case where Russian officials block the entry of Armenian officials. When we say that certain hybrid actions are coming from Russia against Armenia, they look at us with confusion and ask: how can you say such a thing? But when we speak of hybrid actions, these are not necessarily actions coordinated by the country’s top leadership,” the minister said.

● The defense minister acknowledged that he dismissed employees whose children did not have Armenian citizenship and had not served in the army. “My attitude toward desertion as a phenomenon, regardless of the reasons, remains negative. But there were also those who understood and admitted their mistake. Their children are now citizens of Armenia and have either already been drafted into the army or will be drafted soon,” Suren Papikyan said.

● Armenia’s special envoy for negotiations with Turkey, Ruben Rubinyan, responding to journalists’ questions, said he has no news regarding Armenian-Turkish relations. Asked whether it could be said that the negotiation process has stalled, Rubinyan replied: “No, it has not stalled. But I have nothing new to say.” He also noted that he spoke with Turkey’s special envoy Serdar Kılıç two days ago.

● A father who killed his three-year-old son in the village of Tsapatagh has been sentenced to life imprisonment. On November 2 last year, the body of three-year-old Tigran Hovhannisyan was found in a field near the village. The child had been missing since October 27. Signs of violence were found on the body, including injuries to the head. It was established that the child was killed by his father by strangulation.

● Last night, the “Kanaz” House of Culture in Yerevan was almost completely destroyed by fire. According to preliminary data, there were no casualties. Residents of two nearby buildings were evacuated.

● Three participants in the pro-European protests, which have been ongoing for more than a year and a half in Tbilisi, have been sentenced to administrative detention, while another received an oral warning from the court. The charge was “blocking the road and sidewalk during a rally near parliament.” Lasha Katsia and Amiran Urushadze were sentenced to 4 days of administrative detention, and Sesili Butkhuzi to 3 days. The court also found Levan Khmiadashvili guilty of the same offense but issued him an oral warning. Earlier, lawyers from Transparency International Georgia stated that punishing protesters for standing on the sidewalk violates both the Constitution of Georgia and international human rights standards to which the country is a signatory. More details here.

● Sweden’s Ambassador to Georgia, Anna Lyberg, stated that the criminal sentence of one and a half years in prison for one of the opposition leaders, Elene Khoshtaria, over an inscription on a mayoral campaign poster “raises questions about the rule of law, proportionality, and freedom of expression in the country.”

● Norway’s Ambassador, Bergljot Hovland, stated that the sentence against Elene Khoshtaria is disproportionate, puts pressure on the opposition, and increases skepticism toward democratic institutions in Georgia.

● The Social Justice Center stated that the case of Elene Khoshtaria confirms that justice has been used for political purposes. Khoshtaria’s actions do not provide legal grounds for criminal prosecution, the center said. Read more here

● UN Special Rapporteur Mary Lawlor stated that there is a risk of intimidation of former Public Defender of Georgia Ucha Nanuashvili, who was summoned for questioning by the State Security Service and asked about his cooperation with the OSCE mission in the preparation of a critical report under the “Moscow Mechanism.” More details here.

● Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze responded to calls from various public figures and organizations to declare an amnesty for political prisoners as a tribute to the late Catholicos-Patriarch Ilia II. Kobakhidze stated that amnesty and pardons for conscientious objectors could only be discussed if they acknowledged guilt and repented of the committed offense. “The preventive effect of punishment is important,” Kobakhidze said.

● Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Affairs Nikoloz Samkharadze stated that the current level of relations between Georgia and the United States does not satisfy the government. “The ruling party Georgian Dream is committed to a mutually beneficial strategic partnership; this message was conveyed to high-ranking American representatives during meetings in Washington,” Samkharadze said.

● Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova stated that “Moscow is ready for constructive relations with Georgia. Despite the absence of official diplomatic relations, it is possible to deepen people-to-people ties,” Zakharova said.

● Archpriest Andria Jagmaidze stated that the media, especially television channels, are “openly interfering in processes related to the selection of a new Patriarch, which is not their business.”

● Forbes Georgia calculated that the combined wealth of 100 Georgian businessmen exceeds 60 billion lari—about 60% of Georgia’s GDP. This is roughly three times the revenue of the Georgian state budget. Twelve individuals on the list are closely linked to politics. The largest shares of these businessmen’s assets are concentrated in the following sectors: finance, trade, telecommunications, healthcare, and real estate.

● Tbilisi Deputy Mayor Giorgi Tkemaladze stated that renovation works on Rustaveli Avenue will begin in mid-May.

● In Baku, the opening of the “Absheron” battery energy storage center took place, with President Ilham Aliyev attending the ceremony. It was stated that with the launch of the center, Azerbaijan is entering a new stage of development in the energy sector. The SCADA system enables real-time monitoring of the entire national energy system, while the 50 battery units installed at the facility supply energy for use during peak hours as well as during interruptions in solar and wind energy generation, including at sunset.

Taking into account the state plan to significantly increase solar and wind energy production, such storage systems are becoming a key part of the future energy model. In particular, it is reported that in the near future large volumes of renewable energy will be integrated into the country’s energy system, new power transmission lines will be laid, and by 2028 the grid will already include more than 2,100 MW of green energy. Currently, the “green energy” transmission infrastructure extends to 4,700 km and covers more than 550 solar and wind power plants.

The main goal of the program is to export green energy to European markets via the Black Sea cable, regional energy corridors, and other projects.

● Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić stated that the agreement reached with Azerbaijan to increase daily natural gas supplies from 1.3 million cubic meters to 2 million cubic meters is of great importance for his country.

● Another batch of Russian wheat has been sent to Armenia in transit through Azerbaijan — a train of five wagons with a total weight of 350 tons. Previously, more than 23,000 tons of Russian wheat, 1,000 tons of fertilizers, and 68 tons of buckwheat had been delivered to Armenia via Azerbaijan.

● The European Court of Human Rights has ruled that the government of Azerbaijan must pay more than €130,000 in compensation for a demolished house in Baku. The applicants in the case are a mother and child living in the Sabail district of the capital. Their house was in аварийное состояние (unsafe condition), and in 2016 a decision was made to demolish it and construct a multi-story residential building in its place. The plaintiffs demanded financial compensation. However, instead of money, they were provided with a more spacious, newly renovated apartment, and until it was ready they were supposed to receive rent payments. The applicants continued to seek financial compensation through the courts, but all their claims were rejected. The European Court stated that Azerbaijani courts did not provide specific legal grounds for ignoring the applicants’ demands. The reaction of the Azerbaijani authorities to this ruling is not yet known.

Photo by Charlie Harland 

● “The adoption of a new Constitution is driven исключительно by Armenia’s own interests and is not being carried out at Azerbaijan’s request,” National Assembly Speaker Alen Simonyan told journalists. “All of this is necessary for our existence, for Armenia’s future. Armenia’s interest is to have a Constitution that gives no one grounds to see us as a threat in the region. We should never have territorial claims against our neighbors. We must build relations in the region in such a way that no country even considers attacking another. We must do everything to ensure peace in our region and prevent war,” the speaker emphasized.

Background: Armenia’s Constitution refers to a joint resolution adopted during the Soviet period by the Supreme Council of the Armenian SSR and the National Council of the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Region of Azerbaijan titled “On the reunification of the Armenian SSR and Nagorno-Karabakh.” Baku considers this a direct territorial claim against Azerbaijan. Earlier, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said this reference should be removed from the Constitution, as “there is no scenario in which using such wording would not eventually lead to conflict.”

● A regular meeting of the Anti-Corruption Policy Council was held under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. Participants discussed unified approaches to handling violations in asset, income, profit, and expense declarations, as well as measures to prevent corruption risks in the electoral process.

● The National Security Service (NSS) confirmed that since the beginning of the year, only Armenian border guards have been serving at the “Akhurik” checkpoint on the Armenian-Turkish border. Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty’s Armenian service noted that “Akhurik” is not an operational checkpoint, and the NSS statement does not specify what kind of service Armenian border guards are carrying out there or whether Russian border guards had previously been stationed there.

Background: In 1992, Moscow and Yerevan signed an agreement on the deployment of Russian border guards along Armenia’s borders with Turkey and Iran. At the end of 2024, the “Agarak” checkpoint on the border with Iran came fully under Armenia’s control. At the same time, Russian border guards ceased their service at Yerevan airport.

● Narek Karapetyan, a representative of the opposition party “Strong Armenia,” said that according to his information, the authorities are planning to detain some party members, including himself, to prevent them from participating in the parliamentary elections on June 7. “We may come under pressure, many local opposition community leaders may be imprisoned. But if we come to power, we will not resort to revenge,” Karapetyan said. Much of Armenia’s opposition is generally seen as pro-Russian.

● Gyumri Mayor Vardan Ghukasyan, who is under arrest on bribery charges, called during a court hearing on voters to vote against the ruling party. He was commenting on Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s statement that the opposition has territorial claims toward neighbors and that if it wins the June parliamentary elections, a war will begin by September. “And where will Nikol Pashinyan’s peace come from? His words alone cannot be a guarantee. The Young Turks also initially spoke about principles of peace, and then organized the Armenian Genocide,” Ghukasyan said.

● A protest was held outside the parliament building, where participants demanded the publication of the report by the investigative commission examining the circumstances of the 44-day war with Azerbaijan in the fall of 2020. The commission completed its work last September and submitted the report to the Speaker of the National Assembly. However, the report was not published on the announced date of September 30 and was not presented at a plenary session. At the time, the speaker said he saw no legal grounds to include the report on the plenary agenda.

● In Tbilisi, opposition politician Elene Khoshtaria (pictured) was sentenced to 1 year and 6 months in prison for writing the phrase “Russian Dream” on an election campaign poster of the capital’s mayor, Kakha Kaladze. The phrase plays on the name of the ruling party, “Georgian Dream.” The judge stated that Khoshtaria’s actions were confirmed by video footage shown on television, as well as testimony from a security service employee. Read more here

● Elene Khoshtaria, leader of the Droa party, said after the court’s decision: “We continue the fight. I will fight from here, you from there. Until the end!”

● Independent lawyers say that applying criminal liability in Khoshtaria’s case is absurd, as the act directly concerns campaign materials and should therefore be regulated by the electoral code, which предусматривает only administrative responsibility for the illegal removal, tearing down, covering, or damaging of election posters. It is also noted that Elene Khoshtaria is a mother of four and has health problems. Read more here

● The opposition alliance called the sentence against Elene Khoshtaria a political decision.

● A representative of the ruling team, Gia Volski, said that Khoshtaria is being “punished for extremism, not for damaging a poster.” In his view, “the case concerns the organization of revolutionary processes in the country.”

● A member of the UK House of Lords, Baroness Margaret Patricia Curran, asked the country’s finance minister how compliance by Georgian companies is being monitored in connection with British sanctions against pro-government Georgian TV channels Imedi and PosTV. “A special meeting between the Georgian business community in London and the UK Treasury responsible for enforcing financial sanctions is not planned. However, if violations of sanctions are identified, appropriate measures will be taken,” the finance minister said. Read more here

● According to a new study by Moorepay published by Euronews, in 20 out of 39 European countries pensions do not cover basic expenses, and Georgia ranks at the very bottom of this list. The country has the lowest показатель among European states, with pensions covering only 22% of the minimum necessary expenses. More details here.

● Aleko Elisashvili, a member of the “Lelo – Strong Georgia” group who was arrested for attempting to set fire to a court building, issued a statement calling on others not to include him in the list of “political prisoners.”

● In Russia, journalist Valeria Kichigina from the independent TV channel Dozhd was sentenced in absentia to 10 years in prison for a publication in which she stated that Russia occupies territories of Georgia.

● The Interior Ministry reported a serious crime in Tbilisi. A local resident has been detained on charges of murdering his mother and brother; the incident is reported to have stemmed from a family conflict.

● Khvicha Kvaratskhelia will become the new captain of the Georgia national football team, local media report. The current captain, 38-year-old Guram Kashia, has announced that he is ending his career.

● The energy ministers of Kazakhstan and the United States discussed the possibility of involving American investors in utilizing the transport potential of the Caspian Sea to deliver petroleum products to international markets. U.S. companies ExxonMobil and Chevron are already key partners in the development of Kazakhstan’s largest oil fields. The Caspian export route currently accounts for about 2% of global oil supply. The development of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, using the Baku–Tbilisi–Ceyhan pipeline system, is seen as promising. Transport volumes along this route could increase to 2.1 million tons per year, according to a press release.

● Speaker of the Milli Majlis Sahiba Gafarova is on a working visit to China, where she will speak at the Boao Forum for Asia.

● Four wagons carrying Russian fertilizers (271 tons) and one wagon with buckwheat (68 tons) have been sent to Armenia via transit through Azerbaijan. Earlier, more than 23,000 tons of grain and over 700 tons of fertilizers were transported from Russia to Armenia through Azerbaijan.

● Since the beginning of this year, Azerbaijan has increased its revenue from fruit and vegetable exports by 32% compared to the same period last year. At the same time, export volumes grew by only 4.8%, indicating that the increase is largely due to higher prices rather than growth in production and exports.

● The new livestock complex “Shirvan Agro” in the Shamakhi district has become the first farm in Azerbaijan to operate on alternative and green energy. It has the capacity to accommodate up to 9,000 head of livestock and is set to become one of the largest and most modern livestock enterprises not only in the Caucasus but also in the CIS region. More than 200 local residents have been employed there, according to a press release.

● Several members of the European Parliament are calling for amendments to the report on Georgia, including adding the issue of possible sanctions against pro-government TV channels Imedi, Rustavi 2, and POSTV to the agenda.

● Peter Andreoli, a representative of the U.S. State Department’s Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs, is visiting Georgia. According to the U.S. Embassy, he will meet with representatives of the government, private sector, and civil society. The main goal of the meetings is to discuss cooperation between the two countries in various areas, particularly opportunities for U.S. investment in Georgia’s port infrastructure. Andreoli will visit the Black Sea port of Poti, where he will inspect a facility built with the participation of American investors, and will also travel to the Georgian-Ossetian conflict zone. “This visit will contribute to strengthening economic and political ties between the United States and Georgia,” the embassy said.

● Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Khvtisiashvili met with Acting U.S. Ambassador Alan Purcell, where they discussed economic cooperation and regional security.

● Public Defender Levan Ioseliani submitted an amicus curiae opinion to the court in the case of detained leader of the Strategy Aghmashenebeli party, Paata Manjgaladze. The ombudsman argues that there is no evidence supporting the charge of organizing group violence. He is accused in connection with the “October 4 case,” when, on the day of municipal elections, a group of protesters attempted to break into the presidential palace. The charge carries a prison sentence of 6 to 9 years.

● The case of opposition figure Nika Melia has been referred to court for consideration on the merits. He is charged with contempt of court, which carries a penalty of up to two years in prison.

● Several lecturers from Caucasus University have appealed to the court to drop administrative charges against Netgazeti journalist Mariam Dzidziguri. The Interior Ministry has accused her and Tabula journalist Mariam Kuparava of blocking a road. Both journalists say they were performing their professional duties while covering the regular pro-European Saturday marches in Tbilisi, which have been ongoing for more than a year and a half. Netgazeti stated that Dzidziguri was clearly identified as a journalist, wearing a badge and a PRESS armband. Both journalists face either a fine or up to 15 days of administrative detention.

● Daily memorial services at the grave of Patriarch Ilia II in Sioni Cathedral will be held for 40 days, with public access from 08:00 to 22:00.

● The Patriarchate has called for unity in society. Father Andria Jagmaidze said that “the politicization of events and the artificial escalation of controversial issues lead to division in society.”

● The Georgian Rugby Union has confirmed that several anti-doping violations were recorded in the national team ahead of the 2023 World Cup. However, it stressed that those involved are no longer associated with the team, and no similar cases have been identified since. Read more here

● Environmental regulations are being tightened in Georgia. Starting from October 1, 2026, fines ranging from 1,000 to 30,000 lari (approximately $400 to $11,000) will be introduced nationwide for improper disposal of tires and scrap metal.

● Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry has issued a protest against what it called “unacceptable statements” by Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova at a recent briefing. Zakharova criticized Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s speech in the European Parliament and mocked some of his remarks. In particular, Pashinyan mentioned that some members of the Armenian clergy were former Soviet KGB officers. Zakharova sarcastically asked who he was referring to—whether it was Heydar Aliyev (the father of Azerbaijan’s current president and a national leader)—before adding that he was actually talking about Armenian priests.

Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Aykhan Hajizada said that Baku expects clarification, stating that mentioning Heydar Aliyev in such a context and without any connection to the topic shows disrespect to his legacy and the Azerbaijani people. He added that such statements do not meet the standards expected from an official representative, emphasizing that diplomacy requires discipline, accuracy, and responsibility, not unfounded remarks that could increase tensions and undermine trust.

● The Committee to Protect Journalists called the recent sentence handed down in Azerbaijan to journalist Ahmed Mammadli “the result of a fabricated case” and demanded his release, as well as an end to the persecution of journalists. On March 16, the founder of Yoldash Media was sentenced to six years in prison after being found guilty of causing bodily harm. He rejected the charges, linking the criminal case to his journalistic and public activities, including his earlier involvement in the Democracy-1918 youth movement. His defense stated that no evidence of his guilt was presented and that even a prosecution witness did not confirm the investigation’s version of events. The defense intends to appeal the verdict. The Committee to Protect Journalists added that as Europe and the United States continue to strengthen ties with Azerbaijan, they should demand an end to pressure on the media. At least 24 journalists have been imprisoned in the country in retaliation for their professional activities.

● The foreign ministers of Azerbaijan and Iran discussed by phone possible efforts to stop military escalation in the region, with a focus on ensuring security in the Caspian region. Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov once again stressed that Baku expects the results of an investigation into drone attacks allegedly launched from Iranian territory toward Azerbaijan’s Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic.

● Training flights of drones were carried out in Baku and the Absheron peninsula. The Ministry of Defense заранее urged the public not to panic over the activity observed in the sky, stating that there are no grounds for concern.

● China and Azerbaijan are comprehensive strategic partners, and cooperation is successfully advancing in all areas, Chinese leader Xi Jinping said in a congratulatory message to President Ilham Aliyev on the occasion of the Novruz holiday.

● President Ilham Aliyev visited the city of Shamakhi and personally opened a new building of the Shamakhi European Lyceum, built by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, as well as a new livestock complex. “Ancient Shamakhi has become one of Azerbaijan’s tourist centers, with many new modern recreational areas. A new highway Shamakhi–Ismayilli–Gabala is also under construction, and the bridge being built here is the largest in the country,” the president said at a meeting with local residents.

● Four wagons of fertilizers and one wagon of buckwheat will be sent to Armenia in transit via Azerbaijan. As before, the train will pass through Georgia before reaching Armenia.

● Armenia is not yet ready to begin the process of joining the European Union, Deputy Foreign Minister Vahan Kostanyan said. According to him, despite the adoption of the law “On the Launch of the EU Accession Process,” current efforts are focused on implementing various programs and reforms. “At the moment when the country meets European standards, a political decision will be made. At this stage, there is no such decision,” Kostanyan noted.

● “Armenia is participating in the process of resolving relations between the EU and Georgia. Progress in this area will help create a more positive environment for the development of Armenia–EU relations,” Kostanyan said.

● Armenia has requested a third assistance package from the European Peace Facility, Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan said. Armenia first received support from the fund in July 2024 in the amount of €10 million, which was used to create a modular field hospital and provide related services. A second package worth €20 million was received in January 2026.

● Armenia and Turkey are discussing the possibility of establishing scholarship programs for students from both countries at their respective universities, Ararat Mirzoyan said. “There is a dynamic and promising dialogue between Yerevan and Ankara. Clear agreements already exist, and their implementation is progressing in both countries,” the foreign minister noted.

● Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan again stated that if opposition forces come to power as a result of the parliamentary elections on June 7, Armenia could face a new war by no later than September 2026. He explained this by saying that most opposition groups have territorial claims toward neighboring countries in their ideology. In response, former president Robert Kocharyan said that if his “Armenia” bloc wins the elections, there will be no war. “If we had been elected in 2021, the population of Karabakh would certainly not have been displaced, because we would not have signed that foolish statement in Prague that changed the entire situation. I have no doubt about that,” Kocharyan said. Much of Armenia’s opposition is generally seen as pro-Russian.

● Nikol Pashinyan held a phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin. It is reported that bilateral issues were discussed, and the leaders agreed to meet in person when possible.

● Four wagons of fertilizers and one wagon of buckwheat will be sent to Armenia in transit through Azerbaijan today, Azerbaijani media report.

● The Armenian authorities have decided to turn the Press House, built during the Soviet era, into a premium-class multifunctional hotel complex. This was announced by the Tun Expo organization. The reaction on social media has been largely negative, with many saying it is unacceptable to evict editorial offices from a 15-story building originally intended for media.

● A few days ago, a citizen identified as S.A. was charged over a Facebook post in which he expressed a wish that a drone would shoot down a plane serving Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and his wife Anna Hakobyan. This was reported by sources of Factor TV within law enforcement agencies.

● A memorial ceremony was held on March 23 at the Blue Mosque in Yerevan in memory of the schoolgirls killed at the Minaba girls’ school in Iran. Under the slogan “No to war and the killing of children,” candles were lit and flowers were laid.

● Yerevan is joining the global environmental initiative “Earth Hour.” On March 28, from 20:30 to 21:30, external lighting on the main streets and buildings of the capital will be switched off.

● Local media and social networks are discussing an incident involving Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, who, during a trip on the metro, was seen wagging his finger and shouting at a woman. It later emerged that her name is Armine Mosiyan, the daughter of field commander Meruzhan Mosiyan, who was killed during the First Nagorno-Karabakh War in 1993. She was accompanied by her young son. Pashinyan, along with his associates, entered the metro carriage and began handing out badges shaped like the map of Armenia, which he himself wears. In response to accusations of “handing over Karabakh to Azerbaijan,” the prime minister said: “We did everything so that you could live in Karabakh, but in 2023 you, the people of Karabakh, accused me of closing the borders so that people could not leave Karabakh for Armenia. Now you have come here and say: ‘No, we want to return.’ And we spent billions earned by the citizens of Armenia so that you would remain there. So why did you not stay? And do not speak with such contempt about the map of Armenia. Do not try—you who fled—to say that I handed over Karabakh.” Later, when journalists asked why he had spoken so harshly, Pashinyan replied: “If I said anything wrong, I apologize.”

● Members of Nikol Pashinyan’s team also acknowledged that the prime minister spoke rudely to the mother and child. He apologized a second time and invited Armine Mosiyan and her son to a meeting at the government to formally apologize live on air. “If visiting the government is inconvenient for her, I am ready to do the same in the Yerevan metro at a time convenient for her, also live. I am ready to do this at her place of residence or work as well. I love you all,” Pashinyan wrote on social media.

● “Anyone who speaks in such a tone to an Armenian mother, wagging a finger at her in the presence of her son, should not be our prime minister,” said Narek Karapetyan, a representative of the opposition party “Strong Armenia,” commenting on the metro incident. The opposition in Armenia is widely seen as having a largely pro-Russian orientation.

● Armenia’s Human Rights Defender called on government representatives to show sensitivity toward forcibly displaced persons and refugees. “It is necessary to ensure that public discourse contributes to strengthening an atmosphere of solidarity, inclusiveness, and mutual respect,” the ombudsperson said.

● President Vahagn Khachaturyan attended the funeral of the Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia Ilia II on Sunday in Tbilisi. As part of the visit, he held a personal meeting with Georgian President Mikheil Kavelashvili. He expressed condolences, and issues of bilateral cooperation and regional developments were also discussed.

● Despite receiving an invitation from the Georgian Patriarchate, the Catholicos of All Armenians was not granted permission to travel to Georgia and take part in the farewell ceremony for Ilia II. The investigator did not lift the existing travel ban imposed on him due to a criminal investigation. Garegin II is accused of obstructing the enforcement of a court decision related to Bishop Arman Saroyan. The Catholicos removed Saroyan from his position as head of the diocese after he supported the prime minister’s initiative to reform the Church. The bishop filed a lawsuit. The court prohibited the Church from preventing him from carrying out his duties until a final ruling, but the Catholicos subsequently defrocked him.

● At the funeral ceremony of the Georgian Patriarch, the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin was represented by the Primate of the Armenian Diocese of Romania, Bishop Tatev Hakobyan, and the Primate of the Armenian Diocese of Georgia, Bishop Kirakos Davtyan.

● “The return to Karabakh will not be an easy task, but through painstaking work this issue can be resolved,” said former President Robert Kocharyan during a campaign meeting with residents of the city of Ashtarak. “For a return, it is first necessary to recognize the right to return. Those returning must also be safe. I do not want to inspire excessive optimism, but in my life there have been situations where it seemed that a problem had no solution at all, yet through persistent work it was resolved,” Kocharyan said.

Parliamentary elections in Armenia are scheduled for June 7, and most observers consider them critically important for the country.

● The leader of the opposition party “New Force,” former mayor of Yerevan Hayk Marutyan, stated that during the election period he will not cooperate either with the ruling party “Civil Contract” or with the alliance led by Robert Kocharyan. “Our party is going to the elections independently. We have very serious disagreements with other forces as well, including the party of Samvel Karapetyan (a Russian dollar billionaire currently under arrest on charges of attempting a coup in Armenia). We see the development of our state along a European model; I think they do not,” Marutyan said.

● Pro-government media have published new details about a citizen of Azerbaijan who was arrested last week for blackmailing the president’s family. His name has been given as Farid Ilgar oglu Salmanov, born in 1976. It is reported that he previously worked as a journalist for the newspapers Ayna, “Zerkalo,” and Bizim əsr, and that after his arrest he fully admitted his guilt. According to the State Security Service, acting in collusion with other individuals abroad, Salmanov contacted high-ranking officials in Azerbaijan and demanded 5 million euros in exchange for not distributing intimate materials allegedly involving the wife of the president’s son, Alena Aliyeva. Media outlets have published materials about the true identity of the woman who was allegedly being passed off as her. It is also reported that “Salmanov sent voice messages to bloggers living abroad, Mehman Huseynov and Gabil Mamedov, who had previously published fabricated video images allegedly of Alena Aliyeva.” Both bloggers are known for their regular and sharp criticism of the president and the Azerbaijani authorities. More details on this story are available here.

● A high-level Azerbaijani delegation attended the funeral in Tbilisi on Sunday of the Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia Ilia II and conveyed deep condolences. The delegation was led by Speaker of the Milli Majlis Sahiba Gafarova and included the Chairman of the Caucasus Muslim Board Allahshukur Pashazade, Deputy Prime Minister Samir Sharifov, and a group of members of parliament.

● A significant increase in the salaries of top government officials has been announced. The salaries of the prime minister, ministers, committee chairs and their deputies have been increased by 60–80 percent, while the salaries of heads of local executive authorities have nearly doubled. The salaries of the prosecutor general and the speaker of parliament have increased fourfold. This decision has sparked widespread public debate against the backdrop of generally low wages across the country. For comparison: the monthly salary of the parliamentary speaker now amounts to 17,000 manats (approximately $10,000), the minimum wage is 400 manats (approximately $350), and the average monthly salary is 1,100 manats (approximately $650). A recent World Bank report noted that most income in Azerbaijan is concentrated in the hands of a small group of people.

● From February 28, when military actions began in Iran, to March 22, more than 3,000 people have been evacuated from Iran to Azerbaijan. Among them, 486 are citizens of Azerbaijan, while the rest are citizens of dozens of countries around the world.

● In connection with the Novruz and Ramadan holidays, the days from March 20 to March 30 have been declared non-working days in Azerbaijan.

● Heydar Aliyev International Airport has been recognized as the best airport in Central Asia and the CIS in the Skytrax World Airport Awards 2026. Local media report that the competition is considered one of the most authoritative in the global aviation industry and is based on the largest annual independent passenger survey. Since 1999, the study has evaluated service quality at more than 565 airports worldwide.

● The Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia Ilia II was buried at the patriarchal Sioni Cathedral on March 22. A memorial service was held at Sameba Cathedral, after which a funeral procession on foot, involving hundreds of thousands of people, made its way to Sioni Cathedral. A photo/video report is here.

● Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew also took part in the mourning ceremonies. He addressed parishioners and the Georgian people with a speech in which he called the Georgian Patriarch a “brilliant brother” and said that “the counsel, teachings, and prayers of Ilia II are a source of strength for believers.”

● Archbishop Zenon of Dmanisi and Agarak-Tashir stated that he is not interested in taking the patriarchal throne. He said that there are at least two bishops who could assume this position in the future.

📷 Photo: The tomb of the Catholicos-Patriarch Ilia II at Sioni Cathedral.

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