Top stories in Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Georgia from 4-8 August, 2025

● Today, August 8, marks the 17th anniversary of the 2008 Russia–Georgia war over South Ossetia. In Tbilisi and other cities, the ruling Georgian Dream party has planned commemorative events. JAMnews has prepared a documentary feature, Chronology of the War over South Ossetia in Facts and Photos, available here.

● Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze of Georgian Dream accused imprisoned ex-president Mikheil Saakashvili and the “deep state” of triggering the August 2008 war. “This was a betrayal by Saakashvili’s regime, carried out on the orders of the ‘deep state.’ A Council of Europe resolution, signed by Saakashvili’s regime, clearly states that the large-scale hostilities began with an attack by the former Georgian leadership on Tskhinvali. Saakashvili and his bloody regime bear responsibility for the deaths of over 400 people, the occupation of Georgian territories, and the sham recognition (by Russia and several others) of the separatist regimes in Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Saakashvili’s power was never democratic—it was born from rigged elections,” Kobakhidze told reporters.

● Kobakhidze also announced that, based on a parliamentary investigative commission’s findings, the current government plans to file a lawsuit with the Constitutional Court to ban the United National Movement—Saakashvili’s party—and affiliated political groups.
“One of the grounds for the lawsuit could be the start of the 2008 war, which Saakashvili himself acknowledged. In 2008, he signed a decree stating that his government started the war. Large-scale hostilities began with the bombing of Tskhinvali by Saakashvili’s government, followed by a disproportionate Russian response. That’s in the decree. Before Medvedev (then Russia’s president) announced the start of the Russian operation, Saakashvili spent all of August 8 telling us they were storming and planning to seize the entire Tskhinvali region—‘restoring constitutional order, liberating city by city, village by village,’ as Saakashvili declared,” Kobakhidze said.

● U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen, a senior member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued a statement on the 17th anniversary of the 2008 war. “Russia’s 2008 invasion of Georgia should have been a wake-up call to the international community that Russia intends to dominate its neighbors and attempt to obscure its aggression. Russia’s ruthless actions in Georgia foreshadowed actions in Ukraine, most recently through its full-scale war. The Georgian people understand what the ‘Russian World’ brings, and that is why they have fiercely resisted the Georgian Dream (GD) government’s efforts to draw them closer to anti-democratic, Russian-style rule.

On this solemn anniversary, the United States must continue to express our rejection of Russia’s illegal annexation of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. I am deeply concerned by the Georgian Dream government’s erosion of democratic values and its betrayal of the Georgian people’s Euro-Atlantic aspirations. If the government seeks to honor the victims of Russian aggression, it must release political prisoners like journalist Mzia Amaglobeli and recommit to Georgia’s democratic future. I continue to support the Georgian people and will redouble my efforts to enact the bipartisan, bicameral MEGOBARI Act,” Jeanne Shaheen said.

The MEGOBARI Act provides for large-scale sanctions against ruling party officials for “democratic backsliding.” It has already passed the U.S. House of Representatives and now awaits Senate approval, with the final step being President Donald Trump’s signature. Read more here

● The court has kept teacher and activist Nino Datashvili in pretrial detention. She was arrested on June 9 for allegedly assaulting a bailiff at Tbilisi City Court, where she was attending a hearing for detained participants in mass pro-European protests.
“Don’t worry—prison isn’t scary. Losing your country is. I will prove my truth,” Datashvili told the court. Her trial is scheduled to continue on August 21.

● PACE rapporteurs for Georgia, Edith Estrella and Sabina Kudic, condemned the two-year prison sentence for Mzia Amaghlobeli, founder of Batumelebi and Netgazeti. “This sentence is disproportionate, clearly politically motivated, and an example of abusing criminal justice to silence independent media and dissent. We call on the authorities to immediately release Mzia Amaghlobeli and fully uphold Georgia’s obligations on freedom of expression and assembly as an EU candidate country,” they said, adding they plan to visit Georgia this year.

● Georgia’s fifth president, Salome Zourabichvili: “Russia is waging two wars—an armed one in Ukraine and a hybrid one in Georgia. The hybrid war is especially dangerous as it weakens the state from within. The U.S. and EU are working for peace. In Washington, President Trump has invited the leaders of Azerbaijan and Armenia to the negotiating table. Georgia, once a regional leader, is now isolated. Today we are under Russian influence because our government chose this path. We are on the front line of the hybrid war. While peace is taking root in neighboring countries, Georgia is falling behind. This is a true betrayal of those who sacrificed themselves for this country and for our future.”

● In 2025, the first phase of road infrastructure reconstruction in the Kodori Gorge of Abkhazia will begin. This follows a meeting between de facto Abkhaz leader Badra Gunba and Russian presidential administration deputy chief Sergey Kiriyenko. Russia will allocate 1 billion rubles (about $13 million) from its budget for road repairs in Abkhazia, with the Kodori Gorge project costing 205.5 million rubles (about $2.5 million). Completion is planned for December 2026.

● Irakli Kurashvili has been appointed Georgia’s ambassador to France and permanent representative to UNESCO.

Photo: Wounded local residents in the basement of a hospital in Tskhinvali. August 10, 2008. REUTERS / Denis Sinyakov

Photo: Georgian soldiers cross a Russian peacekeepers’ checkpoint near the city of Tskhinvali. August 8, 2008. REUTERS / Irakli Gedenidze

Photo: Elderly residents of Georgian villages wait to be evacuated to Gori from the village of Kheiti, near Tskhinvali. August 21, 2008. Later, the village of Kheiti was completely destroyed by South Ossetian forces. REUTERS / Denis Sinyakov

Photo: Georgian soldiers near a burning building in the Georgian city of Gori after a Russian airstrike on a residential area. August 9, 2008. REUTERS / Gleb Garanich

● U.S. President Donald Trump issued a statement welcoming today’s historic trilateral meeting in Washington with the leaders of Azerbaijan and Armenia. “I look forward to meeting Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan at the White House tomorrow for a historic peace summit. These two countries have been at war for many years, resulting in thousands of deaths. Many leaders have tried to end the war but failed—until now, under Trump. My administration has been working with both sides for a long time. Tomorrow, President Ilham Aliyev and Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan will join me at the White House for the official peace signing ceremony. The United States will also sign bilateral agreements with both countries to jointly develop economic opportunities and unlock the full potential of the South Caucasus region. I am very proud of these courageous leaders who are doing the right thing for the great peoples of Armenia and Azerbaijan. This will be a historic day for Azerbaijan, Armenia, the United States, and the entire world. See you there,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social account.

● In Washington, President Ilham Aliyev met with Steve Witkoff, the U.S. President’s Special Envoy. According to the state news agency AZERTAC, the meeting began with the signing of a “Memorandum of Cooperation” between SOCAR and ExxonMobil, signed by Azerbaijan’s Minister of Economy Mikayil Jabbarov and ExxonMobil Vice President John Ardill (pictured below). Aliyev and Witkoff then discussed prospects for developing bilateral cooperation, the normalization process between Baku and Yerevan, and the regional peace agenda.

● According to AZERTAC sources, U.S. President Donald Trump will sign a document today suspending enforcement of Section 907 of the U.S. “Freedom Support Act.” The amendment, adopted in 1992 during the first Karabakh war when Armenia occupied Karabakh and seven adjacent districts, banned U.S. government assistance to Azerbaijan over its blockade of Armenia. For many years, U.S. presidents temporarily waived it, but the Biden–Blinken administration reinstated it.

● “U.S. President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio have repeatedly expressed hope for a swift agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia. Both have emphasized this in their speeches. The Secretary of State raises the issue at every opportunity,” U.S. State Department Deputy Spokesperson Tommy Pigott said at a briefing. Asked about a possible peace deal being signed in Washington and the U.S. stance on the Zangezur Corridor, Pigott advised waiting for the official results of the White House meeting.

The Zangezur Corridor is a proposed route from Azerbaijan to its Nakhchivan exclave via Armenian territory, a point of sharp dispute between the two countries. Baku insists it should be extraterritorial, while Yerevan insists on retaining control over the road on its territory. Local and international media are actively discussing a hypothetical U.S. plan under which an American private company would manage the route.

● U.S.-based journalist Alex Raufoglu, accredited at the White House, reported citing his sources that the main topic of today’s summit in Washington will be a new regional transit plan called the “Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity,” or TRIPP for short.

● Raufoglu also reported that the meeting will include the signing of a joint letter ending the work of the OSCE Minsk Group, which since the early 1990s has facilitated the Karabakh peace process.

● UN Secretary-General António Guterres welcomed the trilateral meeting of the Azerbaijani and Armenian leaders with the U.S. President, UN Deputy Spokesman Farhan Haq told pro-government outlet Report. “The steps taken in March to agree on a draft peace agreement between the two countries were particularly important,” Haq said.

● Ukrainian and Romanian foreign ministers Andrii Sybiha and Oana-Silvia Țoiu discussed in Kyiv the diversification of gas supplies via the Trans-Balkan Corridor, through which Azerbaijan has recently begun delivering gas to Ukraine. “Today we also focused on energy security ahead of winter. We discussed the importance of diversifying gas supplies via the Trans-Balkan Gas Corridor. It was through this route that Ukraine recently received Azerbaijani gas—and it is this infrastructure that has been targeted by Russian strikes,” Sybiha said at a joint press statement.

On July 28, Naftogaz of Ukraine signed its first gas purchase agreement with SOCAR Energy Ukraine, a subsidiary of Azerbaijan’s state oil and gas company. The first test shipment traveled via Bulgaria–Romania–Ukraine’s border.

● The heads of Azerbaijan and Georgia’s railways met in Baku to discuss the development of the Baku–Tbilisi–Kars (BTK) railway. They emphasized modernizing the Georgian section of the line and its role in cargo transit as a key segment of the Middle Corridor. They discussed boosting the BTKI Railways joint venture to improve freight operations and attract new cargo flows. Recently, the BTK’s capacity was increased to 5 million tons per year. The meeting confirmed joint plans to introduce paperless freight documentation and launch a cargo tracking system (“Track and Trace”) by year’s end.

● British energy giant BP and its partners in Azerbaijan invested about $0.7 million in social projects in the first half of this year, up 40% from the same period last year. BP Azerbaijan said it had implemented 17 education programs and one entrepreneurship development project.

● On August 7, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan arrived in Washington for a meeting with the presidents of the United States and Azerbaijan. The first video shared by the social media–active Pashinyan showed his visit to the Museum of the Bible. The accompanying caption stated that he had presented the museum with a copy of a medieval illuminated manuscript by Grigor Narekatsi –  an Armenian philosopher and theologian canonized as a saint.

● All Armenian media outlets and social networks are actively discussing and commenting on the possible results of the upcoming meeting between Nikol Pashinyan, Donald Trump, and Ilham Aliyev. The trigger for renewed debate was another social media post by Alex Raufoglu, a U.S. journalist accredited at the White House. He was the first to report that a trilateral meeting was scheduled in Washington for August 8, and yesterday he wrote about its expected outcomes: “The topic of the ‘corridor’ is no longer on the table. The main theme of the White House summit will be a new transit and development plan called the ‘Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity’ (TRIPP).”

The “corridor” has been one of the most contentious issues that Armenia and Azerbaijan have failed to agree on for years. In the context of unblocking regional communications, Baku demands the so-called “Zangezur Corridor” through Armenian territory — an unhindered link to its Nakhchivan exclave. Yerevan responds that it is ready to provide a road, but not a “corridor,” which would mean loss of sovereignty over that territory. In this regard, the Armenian government has developed a project called Crossroads of Peace, which proposes unblocking multiple routes — not only the road linking mainland Azerbaijan with Nakhchivan — while observing four principles: territorial integrity, sovereignty, jurisdiction, and reciprocity.

● Information about the new TRIPP project was confirmed and expanded in a Reuters publication, which stated that “the culmination of the meeting will be the signing of a framework peace agreement that includes exclusive U.S. rights to develop a strategic transit corridor through the South Caucasus.” According to a U.S. official quoted by Reuters, the route will operate under Armenian law, and the U.S. will sublease it to an infrastructure and management consortium. “Through commercial means, this step will unlock the region and prevent further military action,” the article said.

● The likelihood that Armenia’s authorities could agree to this option is supported by statements Pashinyan made at his last press conference. He spoke about the acceptability of outsourcing, citing the example of Armenia’s railway, managed by Russia: “What does this mean? It means that in Armenia a company called ‘South Caucasus Railway’ was established, which is a resident company of Armenia. This means it is registered in Armenia’s state registry, operates within Armenia’s legal framework, and pays taxes in Armenia. And there is an important nuance: there is not a single meter of territory operated by SCR where the powers of the police or any other state body of Armenia are limited. In other words, all this territory is under Armenia’s jurisdiction and sovereignty. We are talking about the same model,” Pashinyan said.

● The same well-informed journalist, Alex Raufoglu, also reported that the Armenian prime minister and the Azerbaijani president will sign several key documents in the presence of President Trump. According to him, these will include:

• A joint declaration outlining “a concrete path to peace” and full normalization of relations
• A joint letter on exiting the OSCE Minsk Group, which since the 1990s has worked on resolving the Karabakh conflict
• Memoranda of understanding with the United States
• The initialing of a peace agreement by the foreign ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan

“The White House hopes that, by placing the U.S. at the center of the new regional order, it can build a lasting legacy of peace and prosperity in a vital part of the world,” Raufoglu wrote.

● Imprisoned former Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili described the upcoming Washington meeting as “a most important historic event.” He wrote on social media: “Aliyev and Pashinyan have been negotiating for a long time, but everything sped up thanks to the intervention of the American president. Today will go down in world history as the date of the Caucasus’s liberation from Russia.”

● Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said: “President [Masoud Pezeshkian] visited Iraq, Pakistan, Azerbaijan, Qatar, and Oman, and within the next two weeks will travel to Armenia.”

● The Armenian government has decided it may sell its stake in the telecommunications company Viva Armenia. The state owns 20% of the shares, which in February 2024 Viva Armenia itself donated to the Armenian government. If the sale goes through, the government will receive $50 million. Under the draft agreement, the cabinet grants itself the right, at any time until May 15, 2028, to require the second shareholder to buy back the government’s shares — “subject to the conditions specified in the annex to the decision.” The conditions have not been disclosed.

● The annual Admiral Isakov memorial regatta is underway on Lake Sevan, with sailors from Armenia, Russia, and Georgia. Organized by the Armenian Sailing Federation, it began on August 5 and will end on the 10th. The main goal, according to the organizers, is to popularize the sport.

● The founder and director of the popular outlets Batumelebi and Netgazeti, Mzia Amaglobali, has been sentenced to two years in prison after seven months of pre-trial detention. She was accused of assaulting a police officer after slapping him in response to insults. Local and international human rights organizations have recognized Mzia as a prisoner of conscience. More details here.

● Activist and doctor Giorgi Akhobadze, who had been under arrest since December, was found not guilty due to lack of evidence and was released in the courtroom. He was detained while returning home from one of the large, ongoing pro-European protests. He was charged with illegal acquisition and possession of large quantities of narcotics. The prosecution announced it would appeal the acquittal in the Court of Appeals. More here

● U.S. Congressman Joe Wilson (Republican): “The anti-American ‘Georgian Dream’ regime has unjustly sentenced journalist Mzia Amaglobali to two years in prison. The regime bans free speech and opposition parties to pursue its goal of selling the country to Communist China. Congress must pass the MEGOBARI Act!”

● Italian Senator Marco Lombardo, who spoke about Mzia Amaglobali during hearings in the Italian Senate a few days ago, reacted to today’s verdict on X: “Mzia Amaglobali has been sentenced to 2 years in prison. The charge was reclassified as resisting an official. But her real ‘crime’ was being a free and independent journalist covering the people’s protests. Now we must turn this sentence into a victory,” he wrote.

● The foundation of human rights lawyer Amal Clooney and actor George Clooney, which monitored the trial of Batumelebi and Netgazeti founder and prisoner of conscience Mzia Amaglobali, has criticized the verdict. In an interview with Radio Liberty, Kate Levin, Senior Manager of the TrialWatch legal program, said the two-year sentence was “disproportionate.” More details here.

● “We are deeply concerned by the targeted prosecution of individuals critical of the government in Georgia,” the U.S. State Department told Formula.com in response to the two-year sentence of Mzia Amaglobali. “We are gravely concerned by the continued and intensifying anti-democratic activities in Georgia, including arrests of political opposition figures and targeted persecution of civil society, including those who criticize the government. We are seriously concerned that Georgia is selectively using newly adopted legislation, including amendments to the Law on Grants, against actual or perceived critics of the government, thereby unjustifiably restricting freedom of expression and the operation of civil society,” the State Department said.

● European Union representative Anita Hipper issued a statement regarding Mzia Amaglobali’s two-year prison sentence: “The judiciary is being used as a tool to silence independent voices. The Georgian government’s repressive actions against the media undermine the country’s democracy. The European Union calls on the ‘Georgian Dream’ government to release Mzia Amaglobali and other unjustly detained individuals and to ensure the principle of fair trial is upheld in their cases,” the statement said.

● Today, the verdict will be announced in the case of activist Anatoli Gigaouri. He was detained by police on November 25, 2023. According to the investigation, Gigaouri assaulted a patrol inspector mobilized to maintain public order and used physical force.

● Amnesty International published a comment from Denis Krivosheev, Deputy Regional Director for Eastern Europe and Central Asia: “The trial against Amaglobali was biased and full of procedural violations. Allegations of abuse and ill-treatment by police officers against Mzia Amaglobali must be investigated,” Krivosheev stated.

● The multinational NATO exercise Agile Spirit 2025 concluded. The exercises were held since July 25 at the Vaziani training center near Tbilisi. At the closing ceremony, representatives of Georgia’s Defense Ministry and the U.S. Embassy awarded medals and certificates to distinguished servicemembers. The drills included troops from Georgia, the United States, Turkey, Poland, Germany, Italy, Greece, Moldova, Romania, Bulgaria, Slovakia, Lithuania, and Ukraine. Observers included representatives of the armed forces of Armenia and Japan. Agile Spirit has been conducted annually in Georgia since 2011 and, since 2015, under NATO auspices; before that, it was a U.S.-Georgian initiative.

● Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry issued a statement on the humanitarian situation affecting Ukrainians deported by Russia to the Russian-Georgian border: “As a result of measures taken since late June, it has already been possible to organize the departure of 44 Ukrainian citizens from the buffer zone on the Russian-Georgian border. However, Russia continues to send even more deportees, which is part of its deliberate operation.” More on this issue here.

Activist Irakli Kurua shared these photos of Mzia Amaglobali taken on the day she was sentenced and wrote: “The day will come when Mzia, who is now sitting in the defendant’s seat opposite police officer Dgebuadze, will testify as a victim”

● Yerevan has officially confirmed reports by foreign and local journalists that on August 8 a meeting will take place in Washington between Trump, Pashinyan, and Aliyev. There is still no precise information on whether a peace agreement or any other document will be signed or initialed as a result of the meeting.

Political analyst Boris Navasardyan does not expect a peace agreement to be signed: “In any case, the meeting will serve as an incentive to continue the Armenian-Azerbaijani dialogue in all areas. It is possible that Azerbaijan is showing constructiveness to prevent a change of power in Armenia or to weaken its chances. I also don’t rule out that after the elections Azerbaijan will return to a tougher policy,” he said.

Azerbaijan expert Tatevik Ayrapetyan is confident Aliyev does not intend to sign anything. At the same time, she attaches great importance to U.S.-mediated talks: “In direct negotiations without mediators, Pashinyan simply gets an updated list from Aliyev of everything he dreams about. U.S. mediation and Trump’s activism—possibly driven by domestic political and personal ambitions—can be seen as an opportunity. It could be a good chance to temper Aliyev’s growing political appetite.”

More about the upcoming meeting and Armenian analysts’ forecasts – here.

Assessments of this meeting from Baku – here.

● Ahead of the Washington meeting, Armenian and Azerbaijani MPs expressed their positions. Rasim Musabekov, a deputy of Azerbaijan’s Milli Majlis, said: “Until a common decision on the ‘Zangezur Corridor’ is reached, no peace agreement will be signed. Armenian society opposes opening the corridor, but Armenia has no other option.”

By “Zangezur Corridor,” Baku refers to a potential road linking mainland Azerbaijan with its exclave Nakhchivan, crossing Armenian territory. Baku insists the road should be extraterritorial, i.e., free of Armenian control. Armenian authorities say they are ready to provide a road, but not a “corridor,” which would imply losing control over their own territory.

Asmik Akopyan, an MP from Armenia’s ruling faction, said: “Whatever option is discussed within the peace process, Yerevan will not make concessions. Armenia’s priority remains the principles of territorial integrity, sovereignty, jurisdiction, and reciprocity.”

● Russia’s State Duma also commented on Trump’s initiative. Adalbi Shkhagoshev, a member of the Security Committee, stated:
“Russia will not hand over or yield its interests here, right next door, to anyone. If the U.S. wants to engage in the Caucasus too—fine. But stability in the region will always be decided with Russia’s interests taken into account.”

● In the context of the planned August 8 Trump-Pashinyan-Aliyev meeting, Arsen Torosyan, a member of the ruling Civil Contract party, urged Armenians not to fall for information provocations. “In the coming days, hybrid attacks on our state will intensify as we move closer to our goal of establishing peace, which will significantly strengthen our sovereignty and independence. A large part of Armenia’s political spectrum, guided by external forces that do not want peace in the region, is working against this goal. These forces have no interest in independent, sovereign states in the South Caucasus capable of communicating directly, resolving disagreements, and building trust that has been absent for many years,” he wrote on Facebook.

● Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigoryan and the head of the EU delegation to Armenia, Vassilis Maragos, discussed the cooperation agenda and the progress of negotiations on visa liberalization with the EU. They also touched on the regional situation, unblocking communications in the South Caucasus, and diversifying economic ties in the interest of sustainable regional development.

● Economy Minister Gevorg Papoyan thanked UK Ambassador John Gallagher, who is concluding his diplomatic mission, for his work.
“Armenia is interested in continuing and deepening cooperation with the United Kingdom in joint industrial production, development of free economic zones, and support for innovative entrepreneurship,” the minister said.

● In July 2025, Armenia’s state budget received 175.2 billion drams ($450 million) in tax revenues and state duties. The State Revenue Committee reports this is 18,1% more than in July of the previous year. Economist Armen Ktoyan believes the increase is due to real economic growth and a reduction in unregistered businesses.

● Yeghishe Melikyan (in the photo on the right) has been appointed head coach of Armenia’s national football team. He replaces John van ’t Schip (former Ajax and Greece head coach), who had led the team since March 1, 2025. “We thank John van ’t Schip for his work. Now we entrust the team to a specialist who knows Armenian football from the inside, having progressed in recent years from national team player to coach,” said Federation President Armen Melikbekyan.

● Between August 2–5, the Ministry of Emergency Situations received reports of fires in Kotayk, Aragatsotn, Gegharkunik, and Syunik provinces. In total, about 10 hectares burned. Firefighters managed to contain and extinguish the fires, preventing the flames from spreading to nearby settlements. Due to continued high temperatures, the emergency service urges everyone to follow fire safety rules in forests and recreation areas.

● Russia attacked a gas transport infrastructure facility on the Ukrainian-Romanian border with dozens of drones (see video below). The facility was involved in deliveries of Azerbaijani gas to Ukraine. According to Ukrainian authorities, the damaged compressor station was part of a route connecting Greek LNG terminals with Ukrainian gas storage facilities via the Trans-Balkan pipeline, which has already been used to supply U.S. LNG and test volumes of Azerbaijani gas. “This was a deliberate Russian strike purely targeting civilian infrastructure – an attack against the energy sector and, at the same time, against relations with Azerbaijan, the U.S., and European partners. It is a clear message to all of Europe, which plans to fully stop buying Russian natural gas by 2027,” said Ukrainian Energy Minister Svitlana Hrynchuk.

● The Milli Majlis Commission on Foreign Interventions and Hybrid Threats issued a warning about “unfriendly actions against Azerbaijan from the territory of one of the neighboring countries via Facebook.” The statement did not specify which country was involved. In May, the commission reported that a cyberattack on several Azerbaijani media outlets was launched from Russia earlier this year. The attack was described as technically sophisticated. It was also reported that, against the backdrop of political tensions with Russia, various Russian news channels and individuals had started an information campaign against Azerbaijan and Azerbaijanis over the past month.

Tensions between Azerbaijan and Russia escalated after a violent police raid against Azerbaijanis in Yekaterinburg, Russia, in which two people were killed by special forces. The latest developments are linked to the arrest of Shahin Shikhlinsky, the head of the Azerbaijani diaspora in Yekaterinburg.

● The Ombudsperson appealed to international organizations over an incident in Kalbajar in which Azerbaijani servicemen were injured by a landmine. Five people sustained injuries of varying severity. “Mines, which were laid en masse by Armenian forces in Azerbaijani territory, continue to pose a serious daily threat to the lives and health of innocent people. They prevent the return of displaced people to their native areas, hinder reconstruction efforts, and cause severe environmental damage. We have repeatedly demanded that Armenia provide accurate maps of the mined areas in the territories liberated from occupation. But Armenia, violating international humanitarian law, refuses to share this information,” the statement reads. The Ombudsperson again called on international organizations to exert serious pressure on Armenia to compel it to hand over precise mine maps to Azerbaijan and to “respond resolutely to the war crimes and environmental crimes committed by Armenia, including violations of humanitarian law.”

● The hearing of the appeal of political analyst Bahrus Samedov, who was sentenced to 15 years in prison for treason, did not take place. His grandmother, Zibeida Osmanova—his only family member—came to the hearing, along with representatives of the U.S. and French embassies and Samedov’s friends. However, the panel of judges decided to hold the proceedings behind closed doors and ordered everyone removed from the courtroom. Samedov and his lawyer protested, calling the decision illegal. They argued that, by law, even if the entire trial is closed, the preliminary hearing and the pronouncement of the final verdict must be open to the public.
Samedov also filed an appeal demanding that he be transferred from the Umbaki prison complex to the Baku pre-trial detention center.
The prosecutor requested a postponement, citing lack of familiarity with the arguments presented. As a result, the hearing was rescheduled for August 13.

The young activist was convicted of collaborating with Armenian intelligence services. He denies all charges, saying he was punished for his peaceful activism, including during the Second Karabakh War in 2020. Read more about his case here

● Romania and Azerbaijan have begun developing a major project to deliver Azerbaijani liquefied natural gas through Georgia to Romania. Annual deliveries could reach up to 9 billion cubic meters. Romanian Energy Minister Bogdan-Gruia Ivan announced this in an interview with the pro-government outlet Report. According to him, the project envisions building a pipeline from Azerbaijani fields to Georgia’s Black Sea coast, LNG liquefaction facilities in Georgia, terminals in Georgia and Romania, and maritime logistics infrastructure for transportation.

● Baku will host the first meeting of the five-party expert group on the problem of Caspian Sea shallowing. This was announced by Deputy Prime Minister Shahin Mustafayev during a meeting of government officials from Caspian littoral states, held as part of the 3rd UN Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries in Avaza, Turkmenistan.

● Deputy Prime Minister Shahin Mustafayev will soon visit Iran. “The plan is to discuss various economic issues and exchange views on advancing joint projects and resolving any potential obstacles,” the statement said.

● Arif Mammadov, the 47-year-old president of the Azerbaijan Karate-do Federation, has passed away. The federation’s press service reported that the cause of death was “glass-like lung damage.” He fell ill while in Batumi, Georgia, and spent over three weeks in a coma there. As his condition worsened, he was transported to a clinic in Trabzon, Turkey, but could not be saved. Arif Mammadov was a three-time world champion and a five-time European champion in karate.

● The procedure for issuing permits to enter territories liberated from occupation (Karabakh and adjacent areas) has been simplified, the Ministry of Digital Development and Transport announced. Now, when Azerbaijani citizens purchase tickets through the biletim.az portal or mobile app, they will automatically receive a five-day permit.

● A verdict is expected today in the case of Mzia Amaglobeli, the founder and director of the popular outlets Batumelebi and Netgazeti. She has been in pre-trial detention for six months after slapping the head of the Batumi city police, who was insulting her. Mzia is charged with assaulting a police officer and faces between 4 and 7 years in prison. According to human rights defenders, the slap—which caused no harm—not only does not constitute assault, but should not be subject to criminal punishment at all. Leading international organizations working on press freedom issues have united around Mzia Amaglobeli’s case. The European Parliament’s resolution included a demand for “the immediate and unconditional release of Mzia Amaglobeli and the dropping of all politically motivated charges against her.” The European Parliament expressed “deep concern about the severe deterioration of Mzia Amaglobeli’s eyesight while in detention” and called for her to be “granted immediate access to medical care.” Mzia Amaglobeli’s case has also been accepted for review by the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg.

Hundreds of activists, journalists, and concerned citizens from Tbilisi and other cities are expected to arrive in Batumi to support Mzia. More about Mzia Amaglobeli’s case here

●  “No one will be forcibly subjected to a psychiatric examination against her will,” said the head of the Bureau of Forensic Psychiatric Examinations, Davit Magradze, in an interview with Formula TV about the detained activist Nino Datashvili (pictured below). He confirmed that it is his name appearing in the psychiatric documentation in the case of the dissident journalist Nazi Shamanauri 40 years ago. Magradze said the diagnosis she was given was not fabricated. He also stated that in Soviet Georgia, psychiatry was not used to neutralize political opponents. More details about the Nino Datashvili case here

●  During hearings in the Italian Senate, Senator Marco Lombardo spoke about the ongoing repressions in Georgia. He focused in particular on the imprisoned journalist Mzia Amaglobeli and the teacher and activist Nino Datashvili. Lombardo stated that both of them are innocent: “They are political prisoners, and ‘Georgian Dream’ is not a legitimate government but a regime,” Lombardo said, addressing the president of the Senate: “The moral duty of the Italian government must be to prevent the Georgian authorities from handing the Georgian people over to Russia.”

●  Five Ukrainian citizens at the Georgian-Russian border have declared an indefinite hunger strike. One of them, Serhiy Larko, told Echo of the Caucasus that the reason was “the violation of their rights and the illegal actions of the Georgian border guards.” According to Larko, he has been at the border crossing point for a month, but they are not being allowed to enter Georgia, request asylum, receive legal assistance, or appeal their detention.

●  Russia’s Prosecutor General’s Office has declared the leader of the opposition coalition “Lelo – Strong Georgia,” Aleko Elisashvili, internationally wanted. As Radio Liberty reports, Russia has labeled him a “mercenary” in connection with his participation on the Ukrainian side in the war Russia is waging in Ukraine. After the investigation is completed, the case will be transferred to the so-called “court of the Donetsk People’s Republic.” According to Moscow, in March 2022 Elisashvili took part in the battles for Ukrainian Irpin as part of the “Georgian Legion.” He later returned to Georgia.

●  Prime Minister from “Georgian Dream,” Irakli Kobakhidze: “The opposition has been thrown many ‘lifelines,’ but nothing has helped. What matters most to us is the opinion of our society. If any international document, for example, a European Parliament resolution or the American MEGOBARI Act, contains false information, it naturally has no value for Georgian society. The lies spread against the Georgian people by certain structures have been completely dispelled. Therefore, if someone hopes that the MEGOBARI Act could have any effect, they are deeply mistaken. Georgian society does not judge documents approved abroad, but whether those documents reflect the truth.”

The MEGOBARI Act is a bill providing for extensive sanctions against representatives of the ruling party for “democratic backsliding.” It has already been passed by the U.S. House of Representatives. Now the bill must be approved by the U.S. Senate. The final step is a signature by President Donald Trump. More details here

●  The opposition party “Gakharia for Georgia” is considering Giorgi Sharashidze, a member of its political council, as a candidate for Tbilisi mayor in the October 4 municipal elections. On July 14, the party “Gakharia for Georgia” and the coalition “Lelo – Strong Georgia” signed a memorandum on cooperation during these elections.

●  The Court of Appeals overturned the ruling of Tbilisi City Court to fine journalist Nino Tarkhnishvili of Radio Liberty’s Georgian Service 200 lari (about $85). The fine was imposed for “disrespect to the court” during her presence at the trial of Giorgi Akhobadze, a doctor and participant in pro-European protests, accused of drug crimes. It was stated that after the judge entered the courtroom and everyone, including journalists, stood up, Nino Tarkhnishvili sat down early, before the judge permitted it.

●  The Washington Post reported that U.S. President Donald Trump will host the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan at the White House on August 8 to try to reach a peace deal after decades of conflict. Two senior White House officials confirmed this to the paper. One said a peace agreement could be announced during the meeting. Earlier, U.S. State Department correspondent Alekper Raufoglu shared plans for such a meeting on X. Armenia’s Prime Minister’s office said it could neither confirm nor deny the information, and Baku has not commented. In July, the leaders met in the UAE and declared they could finalize key principles within months.

●  Middle East Eye also cited sources confirming the planned meeting, but said the parties may only sign a memorandum of understanding in Washington rather than a full agreement. The outlet noted this would be a diplomatic achievement Trump has sought in the region.

●  U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio discussed the peace process with French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot. According to State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce, they also addressed preventing Iran’s nuclear armament, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, ending Russia’s war in Ukraine, and the conflict in Sudan.

● Russia and Azerbaijan are reportedly discussing a possible prisoner exchange. According to the Telegram channel Nezygar, seen as close to the Kremlin, Russia could hand over the detained head of the Azerbaijani diaspora, Ural Shahin Shykhlynski, and his son Mirzaly if Azerbaijan releases arrested Russian citizens, including editors of the state media outlet Sputnik. However, Moscow is reportedly unwilling to exchange members of the Safarov family accused of criminal offenses, which could complicate the deal.

All these arrests followed the late June operation in Yekaterinburg, Russia, where security forces violently detained ethnic Azerbaijanis, killing two. The incident has severely strained relations between Baku and Moscow, with Azerbaijan launching a criminal case against Russia. Read more here

● The same Telegram channel Nezygar reports that Moscow is about to open a criminal case against prominent ethnic Azerbaijani businessmen, the father and son Agalarovs, who live there. Emin Agalarov, the son, is a former son-in-law of President Ilham Aliyev and is involved in major business projects in Azerbaijan as well. According to the channel, both Agalarovs have already left Russia. The criminal case will be related to the armed attack on the Crocus City Hall entertainment complex last year, which killed 147 people. The venue is owned by Emin Agalarov. During the trial that began in early August, victims stated that the management of Crocus City Hall had been negligent about security arrangements. Witnesses claimed there were only one or two guards conducting spot checks at the entrance.

● Ulvi Hasanli, director of the outlet AbzasMedia, has ended his hunger strike after 17 days, according to relatives. He stopped at their insistence ahead of an appeals hearing on August 12. Hasanli and six colleagues were sentenced to 7.5–9 years on charges of currency smuggling, illegal business, and tax evasion. They deny wrongdoing, saying they are being punished for investigative journalism exposing corruption. Local and international rights groups condemned the sentences as repression. At least 30 journalists and activists are jailed in Azerbaijan on similar charges.

● Prime Minister Ali Asadov visited Turkmenistan, met President Serdar Berdymukhamedov, and held a trilateral meeting with Parliament Chair Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov. Speaking at a UN conference, Asadov urged global cooperation to address the Caspian Sea’s environmental problems, especially declining water levels.

● Asadov also highlighted Azerbaijan’s role as a major transport hub, citing:

• • The Caspian’s largest merchant fleet (50+ ships)
• • A shipbuilding plant producing 10 vessels
• • The Baku port (capacity soon 25 million tons/year)
• • The Baku–Tbilisi–Kars railway
• • Nine international airports
• • The region’s biggest cargo airline

• Container trains from Chinese cities reach Baku in 10–12 days, underscoring the Middle Corridor’s importance.

● BP completed the first phase of a water supply project in Avaran village, Gusar region, part of broader efforts to improve access to clean water in rural Azerbaijan. Infrastructure includes a 10,000 m³ reservoir, a 2,000 m³ settling tank, and a 1.4 km pipeline. BP invested over $476,000 in this project alone.

● The trial continued in the criminal case against Ruben Vardanyan, the former state minister of the now-defunct, unrecognized Nagorno-Karabakh Republic and a citizen of Armenia, who is in pre-trial detention. He is accused of torture, mercenarism, war crimes, terrorism, and other offenses. According to the government outlet Azertag, the hearing included testimonies from victims and relatives of those killed in crimes allegedly committed during Armenia’s occupation of Azerbaijani territories. The next court session is scheduled for August 12.

● In Turkmenistan, Azerbaijani Culture Days are underway, including concerts and a final gala on August 8.

● A working group from the Austrian company Atelier Erich Pummer GmbH has arrived in Nakhchivan and is starting work to restore the 12th-century Momine Khatun Mausoleum and build infrastructure in the surrounding area (pictured below). For this stage, 1 million manats (around $590,000) have been allocated from the president’s reserve fund.

●  The Emergency Ministry and Interior Ministry issued a joint video urging citizens to follow fire safety rules, noting most forest fires are caused by human negligence.

● Several foreign outlets are reporting the possibility of a meeting between the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan in the White House on August 8. Among them is Middle East Eye. The first to report this was Alex Raufoglu, a correspondent for Kyiv Post and Foreign Press, who wrote that Nikol Pashinyan and Ilham Aliyev were ready to announce plans to sign a peace agreement this week. Middle East Eye clarified that, according to their information, the meeting would end not with a peace treaty but with a declaration of intent. The Armenian prime minister’s office neither confirmed nor denied the information about a Friday meeting. It is known that Nikol Pashinyan, who is currently on vacation, met with representatives of the expert community the day before, but the topics discussed were not disclosed.

● Armenian media report that U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and France’s Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Noël Barrot held a phone call. Among other topics, they discussed “ensuring lasting peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan.”

● The President of Armenia and Iran’s First Vice President discussed bilateral cooperation in transport, trade, energy, education, science, and culture. The meeting between Vahagn Khachaturyan and Mohammad-Reza Aref took place in Turkmenistan at the 3rd International Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries. They also touched on the upcoming visit of Iran’s president to Armenia. Khachaturyan described this visit as “a golden opportunity to strengthen partnership.” The Iranian vice president stressed that “regional issues must be resolved without foreign interference.”

● Also in Turkmenistan, during the same conference, the Armenian president met with Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze. They discussed bilateral cooperation in various areas and regional developments. The Georgian PM confirmed Georgia’s readiness to support dialogue between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

● “Once again, some governments, ignoring their own and regional interests, have raised the issue of the Zangezur Corridor and are trying by all means to push their illegitimate goals in the South Caucasus. Let me remind you: any state (whether from the region or beyond) that tries to repeat its previously failed actions will face a harsh response from Iran,” wrote Ali Akbar Velayati, foreign policy adviser to Iran’s Supreme Leader.

Baku refers to the “Zangezur Corridor” as a proposed route to connect mainland Azerbaijan with its exclave Nakhchivan through Armenian territory. Baku insists this route should be extraterritorial—meaning Armenia would have no control over it. Armenian authorities say they are ready to provide a road but not a “corridor,” which would imply surrendering sovereignty over part of their territory.

● “We could have expected much more from Armenia—if we ourselves had at least remained neutral. If we were in Armenia’s place, could we trust Iran? I would say no, not at all,” said Iranian politician Mahmoud Ahmadi Bighash, former member of the parliament’s national security and foreign policy commission. He criticized Tehran’s position on the Karabakh conflict, saying it has weakened Iran’s standing in the region.

● In Yerevan, the second “Armenian Youth Forum” has opened. The event has brought together 600 diaspora Armenians aged 18–35 from over 50 countries, along with 200 participants from Armenia. The forum is organized by the Office of the High Commissioner for Diaspora Affairs to foster connections between diaspora youth and Armenia. It began with a symbolic 3-km run through central Yerevan under the slogan “Uniting Youth: Armenia–Diaspora.” (pictured below)

The Armenian Prime Minister also attended the opening ceremony. Nikol Pashinyan welcomed the participants and spoke about Armenia’s relations with the diaspora, regional challenges, and the government’s steps to overcome them.

●  On August 4, the court hearing in the case of Mzia Amaglobeli, the director and founder of the popular Georgian independent media outlets Batumelebi and Netgazeti, lasted only half an hour. Mzia delivered her final statement in court, after which the judge announced a recess until 2:00 p.m. on August 6. The verdict is expected to be announced then. Read more here

●  The Clooney Foundation for Justice, founded by human rights lawyer Amal Clooney and actor George Clooney, which is monitoring the trial of Mzia Amaglobeli—recognized as a prisoner of conscience—has published a statement. The statement says the Clooney Foundation will closely monitor the verdict and will release a report assessing whether the trial meets international human rights standards.

●  Denmark, which currently holds the presidency of the Council of the European Union, will not invite Georgia as a candidate country to the meeting of foreign ministers scheduled for September. Denmark’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs told the InterpressNews agency that it intends to continue the practice of Poland, the previous holder of the EU Council presidency: “In November 2024, the Georgian government announced its decision to suspend the country’s EU integration process until 2028. The EU has taken this into account,” the Danish MFA said. Representatives of Ukraine, Moldova, the Western Balkans, and Turkey will participate in the informal meeting of foreign ministers on September 1–2.

●  The chairman of the political council of the United National Movement party, Levan Khabeishvili, wrote on social media that a ship carrying sanctioned Russian diesel fuel is docked at the port of Batumi. According to him, the tanker Capybara is transporting 15,000 tons of fuel, and the head of the State Security Service, Anri Okhanashvili, is personally overseeing the reception and sorting of the cargo.

●  The leader of the Lelo – Strong Georgia party, Mamuka Khazaradze, made his first statement about the scandal surrounding a rental agreement for his property by German Ambassador Peter Fischer and his wife. Khazaradze confirmed that the agreement exists and said it was registered in compliance with all legal norms. Earlier, the tax service announced it had launched an investigation into unpaid taxes on the rental income from this apartment. Khazaradze stated that “the issue of unpaid taxes was caused by a misunderstanding.”

●  Nino Datashvili, an arrested participant in the pro-European protests and a teacher who was forcibly sent for psychiatric evaluation by the court, addressed her supporters. “Thank you all so much for your support! You are absolutely right in your assessment of what the state machinery did to me. This concerns everyone: if the protest stops, we will all end up in prison or a psychiatric hospital. But they will never be able to crush the people of Georgia. Wherever I am, I will prove my truth! We will triumph!” Datashvili wrote. A large-scale rally in her support took place in Tbilisi. More about her case here

●  Another Georgian fighter, Mikheil Shedania, was killed in battles against the Russian aggressors in Ukraine. He was a citizen of Ukraine and served in the Azov Regiment. His body will be brought home and buried in Georgia. Mikheil Shedania became the 86th Georgian fighter to die since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

●  The Prime Minister from the Georgian Dream party, Irakli Kobakhidze, is taking part in a UN conference in Turkmenistan dedicated to developing opportunities for landlocked countries. It was reported that Kobakhidze will speak about Georgia’s role as a corridor connecting East and West, which opens significant opportunities for building ties with eight landlocked countries. Meetings are planned between the Georgian delegation and the President of Turkmenistan, as well as the UN Secretary-General. The delegation includes the Georgian Dream Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Economy, and the Head of the Government Administration.

●  Famed Georgian film director Eldar Shengelaia has died at the age of 92. A public memorial and funeral service will be held on August 7 at Sioni Cathedral.

In Batumi on the Black Sea coast. Photo by JAMnews

●  The Prime Minister’s office has neither denied nor confirmed information about Nikol Pashinyan’s planned visit to the U.S. on August 8 and a possible meeting there with the President of Azerbaijan. Armenian media reported this news citing Kyiv Post and Foreign Press correspondent Alex Raufoglu. He stated that the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan are ready to announce their intention to conclude a peace agreement as early as this week, and that they will be received in Washington by U.S. President Donald Trump.

“We ask that information about the visit be considered confirmed only after an official announcement,” the Prime Minister’s office responded to an inquiry from Armenpress.

After this statement, Alex Raufoglu published new details about the meeting at the White House scheduled for this Friday. He wrote on social media that Trump would first hold a bilateral meeting with the Armenian Prime Minister, then with the President of Azerbaijan, after which all three would make a joint statement. In Armenian expert circles, there is skepticism about the possibility of signing a peace agreement. They believe that even if the meeting takes place, in the end it will most likely be only “a verbal declaration of intent to move forward in the peace process.”

●  On August 4 at 13:10, Azerbaijani forces fired on an excavator that was performing construction work on roads between military positions of the two countries in the Syunik region. No casualties were reported. “We call on Azerbaijan to investigate the incident and provide public explanations,” the Ministry of Defense stated.

●  The EU civilian monitoring mission, which observes the border with Azerbaijan from the Armenian side, conducted its 6,000th patrol. “This achievement reflects our unwavering and steadfast commitment to peace and stability in the region. We remain firmly determined to cooperate with local communities in Armenia,” the mission said in a statement on social network X.

●  “Any transport route must be implemented in accordance with internationally recognized borders and must not violate the territorial integrity of any state,” said Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei in an interview with Armenpress, commenting on the recent surge of discussion about unblocking regional communications. He stated that Iran supports the Armenian government’s Crossroads of Peace initiative and believes its implementation will benefit all countries in the region.

●  President Vahagn Khachaturyan is in Turkmenistan, where he will participate in the 3rd International Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries (pictured below). The event is held under the auspices of the UN once every ten years to review completed programs and define new priorities.

●  “In 2024, about 180,000 Iranian tourists visited Armenia, which is 30,000 more than the previous year. Compared to 2021, the number of Iranian tourists who visited Armenia has doubled,” said Lusine Gevorgyan, Chair of the Tourism Committee.

●  On social media and in local media, people continue to discuss the concert by American singer Jennifer Lopez on Sunday at the Republican Stadium in Yerevan, where 30,000 people gathered. Everyone who sang and danced with J.Lo for several hours has been posting enthusiastic reviews of the show. The debate over the $6 million allocated by the government to organize it also continues. This time, Economy Minister Gevorg Papoyan responded to critics who called the spending “an unjustified waste of budget funds.” “In connection with the concert, 15,000 tourists visited Armenia. It can be said that thanks to the $6 million spent on this event, we received more than $13.3 million,” he stated.

●  “U.S. President Trump is on the verge of brokering a peace agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia,” writes U.S. Senator Steve Daines, a Republican, in The Wall Street Journal. “Many attempts by third countries or organizations to establish peace have been ineffective or short-sighted. Previous U.S. administrations did not prioritize the region or the peace negotiations. Trump is fostering growth and stability in the region and beyond,” Daines writes.

●  The upcoming meeting of the leaders of Azerbaijan and Armenia in Washington on Friday, August 8, together with President Donald Trump, was reported on X by U.S. State Department correspondent Alekper Raufoglu. Ilham Aliyev and Nikol Pashinyan “are preparing to announce their peaceful intentions,” Raufoglu wrote. He noted that the U.S. president will hold separate meetings with Pashinyan and Aliyev, after which the three leaders will make a joint statement.

●  A Moscow court has ordered the arrest in absentia of Shahin Shykhlinski, head of the Azerbaijani diaspora in the Urals (Russia). According to local media, he has been charged with murder and violence against a law enforcement officer. Shykhlinski denies any guilt. He was declared wanted in mid-July after his son Mutvaly was arrested. All this time, Shykhlinski was reportedly hiding in the Azerbaijani embassy in Moscow. The arrest is the result of events in Yekaterinburg at the end of June, when Russian special forces used violence to detain ethnic Azerbaijanis, killing two of them. The events in Yekaterinburg have led to a serious escalation in relations between Azerbaijan and Russia. Baku has opened a criminal case against Moscow. More details here

●   “Azerbaijan is pursuing a policy in the South Caucasus that is hostile to Russia’s interests,” said Konstantin Zatulin, Deputy Chairman of the Russian State Duma Committee on CIS Affairs, commenting on the escalation in relations between the two countries. “Russia was not the initiator of this deterioration in relations, and the question of normalization could be resolved at any moment. But we should by no means rely on the illusion that ‘Azerbaijan is an ally of Russia,’ because it is not. We must be clear about this and counteract it. We support normalization, but there must be no return to the times when people in our information agencies and elsewhere misled the country’s leadership by telling fairy tales about an alliance with Azerbaijan. It would be right to find out who did this out of naivety and who did it out of self-interest,” Zatulin said.

●  The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry expressed indignation over a statement by Iran’s Foreign Ministry about poor treatment of Iranian prisoners in Azerbaijani prisons, calling the claim “completely groundless” and issuing counter-accusations. “The rights, legitimate interests, and personal safety of convicted and detained Iranian citizens are protected, and they are provided with necessary material and living conditions. In contrast, Iran refuses to provide Azerbaijani diplomatic missions with information about most Azerbaijani citizens detained and arrested there,” said Foreign Ministry spokesman Aykhan Hajizada. “In most cases, Azerbaijani citizens are not allowed to meet or communicate by phone with diplomats or family members, nor are they allowed to apply to serve the remainder of their sentences in Azerbaijan, as provided under the intergovernmental agreement of February 21, 1998,” Hajizada added.

●  Moldova is interested in attracting Azerbaijani companies as potential suppliers, said Moldovan Energy Minister Dorin Junguietu in an interview with the pro-government outlet Report. The board of Moldova’s National Energy Regulatory Agency has approved a decision to revoke the gas supply license of Moldovagaz, which belonged to Russia’s Gazprom. From September 1, the functions of the supplier will officially transfer to the Moldovan state-owned company Energocom.

●  The Ministry of Defense denied as “not consistent with reality” the claim by Armenia’s Ministry of Defense that Azerbaijani army units allegedly fired on an excavator carrying out road construction between combat positions in the Syunik region.

●  Prime Minister Ali Asadov is on a working visit to Turkmenistan.

●  Another 30 Ukrainian children affected by the war have arrived in Azerbaijan as part of a medical and psychosocial support program. They will spend 10 days at the Gabala Children’s Rehabilitation Center, where they will receive individual consultations with professional psychologists, group therapy, yoga, and dance therapy sessions. Excursions will also be organized. In total, 222 Ukrainian children have already received rest and treatment in Azerbaijan under this support program.

●  The trial of a group of former leaders of the former unrecognized Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR) continued. They are accused of war crimes, terrorism, attempts to overthrow the government, and other serious offenses. According to the state agency AZERTAC, at the hearing victims of attacks by Armenian armed forces, landmine victims, and individuals who were tortured in captivity gave testimony. The trial will continue on August 7.

Photo Farid Salimov

●  Today, a verdict will be announced in the case of Mzia Amaghlobeli, founder and director of the popular media outlets Batumelebi and Netgazeti. She has been in pretrial detention for six months after slapping the head of the Batumi city police, who had allegedly insulted her. Mzia is charged with assaulting a police officer and faces 4 to 7 years in prison.

Human rights activists argue that the slap, which caused no harm, does not constitute assault and should not be criminally punishable at all. Leading international press freedom organizations have united in support of Mzia Amaghlobeli. A resolution of the European Parliament demands her “immediate and unconditional release and the dropping of all politically motivated charges.” The European Parliament also expressed “deep concern over Mzia Amaghlobeli’s severe vision deterioration in custody” and called for her to receive “immediate access to medical care.” The European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg has also accepted the case for review.

Hundreds of activists, journalists, and concerned citizens from Tbilisi and other cities are expected to travel to Batumi today to show their support. All the details on Mzia Amaghlobeli’s case here

●  August 3 marked two years since the tragic landslide that struck the mountain resort of Shovi in Georgia. 33 people died, and the bodies of many victims were searched for over several weeks. One teenager’s body remains missing. The resort of Shovi no longer exists.
Here is a report from the site, one year after the tragedy.

●  Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze of the Georgian Dream party announced that Georgian experts, in collaboration with a Swiss company, are studying glaciers and erosion processes across the country to prevent the risk of similar disasters. He spoke to journalists while visiting Shovi. Kobakhidze noted that there had been no previous precedents involving glacial mass collapse in Georgia, and thus no such studies had been conducted before.

●  Today, the final session will be held of the temporary parliamentary commission created by the Georgian Dream party to investigate the actions of the previous government during the presidency of Mikheil Saakashvili (2003–2012). The session will approve the commission’s draft conclusion on the actions of specific individuals who held political positions under that regime – and also includes a review of the actions of former officials currently in opposition. The final report will be reviewed at the plenary session of the Georgian Dream-led parliament in September. Six opposition leaders refused to cooperate with the commission and were each sentenced to several months in prison, read more here

●  Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze of the ruling “Georgian Dream” party made another statement against the opposition, once again calling them “foreign agents.” “They are trying to undermine state institutions, and this is a direct order coming from outside. This includes efforts to discredit law enforcement agencies and the Central Election Commission. They do this despite sociological studies confirming that the approval rating of all state institutions exceeds 50%. The majority of the population’s trust in the CEC significantly exceeds 60%. This proves that the opposition’s campaigns are ineffective,” Kobakhidze told journalists.

●  Representatives of the ruling “Georgian Dream” party claimed that German Ambassador Peter Fischer, who has been openly critical of the Georgian authorities, is renting an apartment in Tbilisi owned by the family of opposition leader Mamuka Khazaradze. “This indicates the ambassador’s corruption,” Georgian Dream stated.

●  Grigol Gegelia, a leader of the Lelo – Strong Georgia alliance (co-founded by Mamuka Khazaradze), protested against these accusations, saying: “The authorities continue their campaign against ambassadors from Georgia’s friendly countries. They are seeking to expel the German ambassador from his residence – and even from the country. It’s unclear what they even want. There is a rental agreement in place. Khazaradze’s family and the businesses he founded pay hundreds of millions of lari in taxes annually. It’s absurd that the Prime Minister believes Germany’s foreign policy is determined by the lease agreement of its ambassador’s apartment,” Gegelia said.

Photo: Mzia Amaghlobeli

●  Syria has become the 14th country to which Azerbaijan supplies natural gas via various pipelines. “The State Oil Company of Azerbaijan, SOCAR, is gaining increasing influence in regional and global energy markets,” said Minister of Economy Mikayil Jabbarov. The opening of the Turkey–Syria gas pipeline segment took place on Saturday in the Turkish city of Kilis, 7 km from the Syrian border. The ceremony was attended by the energy ministers of Turkey and Syria, the economy minister of Azerbaijan, and the president of the Qatar Development Fund. Jabbarov noted that the project is not only commercial but also diplomatic, and recalled previous meetings of the presidents of the two countries in Antalya and Baku.

●  “In the near future, major energy resources and logistics flows will be directed to Turkey through the Zangezur Corridor,” said Turkish Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Alparslan Bayraktar to journalists. The Zangezur Corridor is a route from Azerbaijan to its Nakhchivan exclave through Armenian territory, a point of sharp dispute between the two countries. Baku demands the road be extraterritorial, while Yerevan insists it will not relinquish control over the route on its territory. Bayraktar said that currently, oil, gas, and electricity supplies from Azerbaijan to Turkey go through Georgia. “Among the main projects implemented so far are the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline, the Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum gas pipeline, and the Nakhchivan-Turkey electricity interconnector. All these projects operate in parallel and in coordination. The Zangezur Corridor will become the main logistics route from Central Asia through Azerbaijan to Turkey and then to Europe,” Bayraktar said.

●  Azerbaijan’s delegation to the OSCE has called for the closure of the OSCE Minsk Group, which has operated since the early 1990s as a facilitator for negotiations on the Karabakh conflict under the co-chairmanship of the U.S., France, and Russia. “This structure has lost its relevance with the end of the conflict for which it was established,” the statement reads. “Azerbaijan was forced to restore its territorial integrity under conditions where the OSCE failed to fulfill its mandate for conflict resolution. […] The OSCE’s ability to respond effectively to security challenges will depend on how well the organization can learn from past failures. […] The OSCE’s limited resources should be directed to where they are most needed,” the statement says.

●  The pro-government outlet Report published a large article in support of the imminent opening of the first legalized casino in Azerbaijan. Gambling has been banned in the country since 1998 by a decree signed by then-president Heydar Aliyev. The current ambitious project (shown in the photo) is owned by Emin Agalarov, former son-in-law of the President of Azerbaijan, and is being implemented within the Sea Breeze resort complex on an artificial island near Baku. “This is an economic model aimed at returning funds and tourist traffic that for many years have been flowing out of the country. According to statistics, about 17% of casino visitors in Batumi, Georgia, are Azerbaijani citizens. Every year, they buy plane tickets, book hotels, and spend significant amounts in restaurants and shopping centers of the neighboring state. Meanwhile, Azerbaijan loses tourism income, job creation opportunities, and a taxable base,” Report writes. Sea Breeze is positioned as a year-round eco-friendly resort that “could turn the Caspian coast into the new capital of premium tourism in Eurasia.” Here is a critical analysis of this and similar projects.

●  The most discussed event in Armenia was the concert by American singer, actress, and dancer Jennifer Lopez on Sunday evening (video below). It drew more than 30,000 spectators, 15,000 of whom came to Armenia from other countries. The concert was held at the Republican Stadium, with both seated and standing areas for the audience. Media reported that residents of nearby high-rises watched the concert from their balconies and windows overlooking the stadium. In the days leading up to the concert, huge queues were observed at the Armenian-Georgian border crossing “Bagratashen,” as foreign guests arrived. Many couldn’t find hotel rooms in Yerevan, and some tourists stayed in regions closer to the capital.

Criticism began on July 31, when it became known that the Armenian government had allocated $6 million to organize Jennifer Lopez’s concert. The Armenian service of Radio Liberty requested additional information on the expenses. It turned out the government planned to pay the singer over $2.5 million, along with $37,000 for her two-day meals, $185,000 for hotel accommodations for the film crew, $11,500 each for a lawyer and an accountant, and $15,500 for the concert program producer.

The opposition harshly criticized the cabinet for squandering taxpayer money. Former Prime Minister Grant Bagratyan stated that “allocating $6 million from the state budget to Jennifer Lopez’s concert in Yerevan is unconstitutional” and claimed the decision carries significant corruption risks.

In response, ruling party MP Arsen Torosyan said the concert would bring “significant economic and international benefits.” According to figures he published, the thousands of attendees would generate a total added value of $10,071,320, with net profit—considering tourist spending—estimated at $4,071,320.

“Moreover, the concert brings Armenia $2 million in visibility value, promoting tourism and international recognition. This analysis was performed by Grok, an artificial intelligence system created by xAI. This concert shows that the Armenian government’s investment is not only financially sound, but also a strategic step for the country’s future development,” he wrote.

●  Preliminary investigation has concluded in a criminal case regarding an attempted assassination of former Armenian Prime Minister and ‘Republic’ Party leader Aram Sargsyan. The investigation revealed “credible factual evidence that S.S. was planning to murder Aram Sargsyan in July 2025 and had acquired and stored an F-1 grenade” for that purpose. An Armenian Telegram channel, citing its sources, claimed the attempt failed because the National Security Service intervened in time and monitored the situation. The motive behind the planned attack is still unknown.

●  Russian media reports that 140 tons of food and hygiene supplies are set to be delivered to Armenia as a “new batch of humanitarian aid for displaced persons from Nagorno-Karabakh.” The initiative is organized by Rossotrudnichestvo, a federal agency responsible for spreading Russia’s humanitarian influence globally. Many Karabakh Armenians responded on social media calling to reject the aid. One of them, David Babayan, head of the NGO “Union of Wounded Freedom Fighters,” stated: “What did Russia do in Artsakh? The murder of our innocent citizens whom the peacekeepers were supposed to protect; days of blockade—we must not forget this; handing over our military-political leadership as hostages, and more shady deals.” Renowned Karabakh journalist Marut Vanyan also reacted negatively: “Russia again decided to ‘help’ Armenians in Artsakh. 140 tons of food and hygiene items. Don’t forget to line up pregnant women and film them on phones, like you did in Nagorno-Karabakh before. Thanks, but we don’t need your toilet paper.”

●  The joint Armenian-American military exercise “Eagle Partner 2025” will take place from August 12 to 20 in Armenia. It will involve Armenia’s peacekeeping brigade, the U.S. Army Europe and Africa, and the Kansas National Guard. The goal is to train troops for international peacekeeping missions. These exercises have been held before and consistently trigger negative reactions from Moscow. Last year, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Yerevan was undermining security cooperation with Russia: “These exercises are nothing but regrettable. They are being held against the backdrop of Armenia freezing its participation in the [Russia-led military bloc] CSTO and publicly criticizing the organization,” she said. More on last year’s drills and reactions — here.

●  Armenia’s Civil Aviation Committee told local media that Azerbaijan’s airspace is ‘theoretically open’ to Armenian civilian aircraft. The reason they don’t fly through it is an internal decision by the airlines.

Top stories in Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Georgia from 28 July-1 August, 2025