Top stories in Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Georgia from 5-9 May, 2025

● The foreign ministers of Azerbaijan and Pakistan discussed the growing tensions between Pakistan and India during a phone call. Jeyhun Bayramov expressed solidarity with the people of Pakistan and condemned “India’s military attacks that resulted in civilian deaths and injuries.”

● Ahmed Mamedli, the journalist and founder of Yoldaş Media who was detained the day before, has been sentenced to four months of pre-trial detention. He is accused of stabbing a person and faces up to 11 years in prison. He denies the charges and claims the arrest is linked to his journalistic work. Before the court hearing began, as he was being brought to the courtroom, he said, “Free media cannot be silenced.” More details available here.

● Another member of the opposition Azerbaijan Popular Front Party has been arrested. Asam Ali was sentenced to 30 days of administrative detention. The charges against him remain unknown. Party chairman Ali Karimli said, “Ali had driven me to several events, and that was enough to put him on the regime’s blacklist. Over the past two months, six party activists who either drove or accompanied me have been arrested.” At least 15 members of the Popular Front are currently in long-term detention. Several others have received administrative sentences. All of them claim they are victims of political persecution.

● The trial of former leaders of the unrecognized Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR) continues. They are charged with war crimes, terrorism, attempts to overthrow the state, and other serious offenses. The pro-government agency AZERTAC reported that the hearing focused on the 1993 seizure of Kalbajar and surrounding villages by Armenian forces, which was accompanied by numerous killings, torture, and the enslavement of hundreds. Witnesses and victims gave testimony, and video materials were shown. The next hearing is scheduled for May 12.

● All flights from Baku to Moscow have been postponed due to airspace restrictions in Russia. AZAL Airlines stated that passenger safety remains their top priority.

● Another Georgian fighter has been killed in the war in Ukraine. Tarbei (Tabo) Arkania, 34, a refugee from Abkhazia, had lived in Ukraine for many years. His funeral will take place in Odesa on May 10.

● Georgia was not invited to the informal EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting in Warsaw, while all other EU candidate countries were. Poland’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs told Formula TV that this decision reflects concerns over the Georgian Dream government’s efforts to stall the country’s EU integration.

● Estonia has canceled visa-free travel for Georgian diplomatic and service passport holders. Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said this move sends a clear message that the international community, including the EU, will not tolerate the repression of ordinary citizens, protesters, and journalists, nor the unchecked police violence and suppression of civil society by the ruling Georgian Dream party.

● Transparency International Georgia has filed a case against the Georgian government at the European Court of Human Rights over the arrest of American lawyer and dual U.S.-Georgian citizen Ted Jonas during a crackdown on anti-government protests against the “foreign agents law” in May 2024. “The Special Investigative Service should have taken concrete steps to investigate the violence against Ted Jonas. More than a year has passed, and there has been no response from the state. That’s why we are turning to Strasbourg to protect his rights. Ted has been in Georgia for 30 years, working on major projects, including business development, job creation, and environmental protection,” said Eka Gigauri, Chair of Transparency International Georgia, at a press conference.

● Journalists Nino Zautashvili and Vasil Ivanov-Chikovani have filed a lawsuit in Tbilisi City Court, challenging their dismissal from the Public Broadcaster on April 11. They say their firing was politically motivated, linked to their public criticism of the channel’s editorial policies, which they claim fail to meet public expectations because of political pressure. Several other employees have also faced disciplinary measures. Media and human rights organizations have condemned the dismissals as an attack on press freedom.

● Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze made a thinly veiled reference to U.S. Congressman Joe Wilson, a vocal critic of the Georgian Dream government and co-author of the MEGOBARI Act, which calls for significant sanctions against the ruling party over its alleged democratic backsliding. “When President Trump defeats the deep state, this will, of course, have an immediate effect on our country. And no congressman – I don’t remember his name, he’s known for saying ridiculous things – will dare make such offensive statements. These comments are based on lies and deceit, and they do nothing to improve our relationship [with the United States]. We want friendship, cooperation, and partnership, but it must be mutual,” Kaladze said.

● The Armenian Ministry of Defense reports that Azerbaijani forces opened fire on the village of Khntsakh in Armenia’s Syunik Province, damaging the roof of a residential house.

●  “There has been no progress in signing a peace treaty between Armenia and Azerbaijan. If there are any updates, we will inform the public,” said Armenian Security Council Secretary Armen Grigoryan during a press briefing.

● Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has arrived in Moscow for the Victory Day celebrations. He was received by Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin before attending a formal dinner for heads of state. (Menu details, shared by the Telegram channel “Pervyi Pool,” included crab and strawberry salad, sturgeon and pike caviar dumplings, beef borscht, “Karelian-style” fish soup, halibut fillet with baby vegetables, venison medallions with wild mushrooms, and caramelized duck with asparagus. For dessert, guests were served cloudberry sherbet and apple pie with vanilla ice cream)

● Armenian police have detained a suspect in connection with the recent arson attack on the car of an opposition member of Yerevan’s Council of Elders. The suspect has been taken in for questioning.

● Activist Artur Chakhoyan, who was reportedly assaulted by the head of Yerevan’s Nor Nork administrative district, Tigran Ter-Markaryan, claims that before the attack, he was offered a “well-paid position with broad powers” as an attempt to silence him. Chakhoyan, who recorded the conversation, said he rejected the offer, stating, “I am not for sale. That goes against my principles. I will not make deals with anyone.”

● Yerevan’s No. 8 Pushkin School is on strike, with students and parents rallying against the dismissal of principal Natalia Stepanyan. Officials claim she failed a recent certification, but her supporters are demanding to see the official results. A petition calling for her reinstatement is already circulating.

● A court hearing is being held today in the case of Mzia Amaglobeli, the founder of the popular outlets Batumelebi and Netgazeti, who remains under arrest (pictured below). Batumi police chief Irakli Dgebuadze is expected to testify as a witness. Mzia was arrested for slapping him after he insulted her during a protest. She faces up to seven years in prison. Demands for her release, along with the release of other detained protest participants, are voiced at every rally of the ongoing pro-European protests, which have continued for six months.

● Washington-based journalist Alex Raufoglu reported that the U.S. Senate has taken up the bipartisan MEGOBARI Act, which is listed as item number 70 on the Senate legislative calendar. The document outlines tough sanctions against high-ranking politicians, judges, and propagandists linked to Georgian Dream and involved in the erosion of democracy in Georgia.

● Georgian Dream parliamentary speaker Shalva Papuashvili: “The only goal of the MEGOBARI Act is to create media noise. In reality, the document has no substance. Even if adopted, it doesn’t obligate the U.S. president to impose sanctions, as it is merely a collection of political opinions from various members of Congress, nothing more.”

● Irakli Kobakhidze, the newly appointed chairman of Georgian Dream and the party-nominated prime minister, called the U.S. House of Representatives’ passage of the MEGOBARI Act “an absolutely hostile act.” “There are people in Congress who are influenced not by President Donald Trump, but by the ‘deep state’—one of them is Congressman Joe Wilson (the Republican sponsor of the bill).”

● Businessmen Giorgi Chikvaidze and Irakli Papiashvili have been sentenced to 9 and 8 years in prison, respectively. They were accused of embezzling a large sum of money. Papiashvili was arrested right in the courtroom. The case was opened following a complaint by ETS Building, which claimed the accused failed to deliver a yacht worth around $400,000 as agreed in their contract. In an April statement, Transparency International Georgia said the criminal prosecution of Chikvaidze and Papiashvili “appears to be a civil dispute without evidence of fraud or elements of embezzlement.” Chikvaidze had supported Georgian Dream for years and assisted in its election campaigns. However, in recent months he accused the government of racketeering, facilitating “business fraud,” and even spoke of the risk of “physical liquidation.”

● The 5th president, Salome Zourabichvili, issued a protest in response to the sentencing. “The businessmen were punished for refusing to obey the orders of oligarch Bidzina Ivanishvili. Giorgi Chikvaidze accused Ivanishvili’s inner circle of blackmail and said he is ashamed of every day he supported Georgian Dream. He also openly opposed the adoption of the Russian law (on ‘foreign agents’),” Zourabichvili said.

● United National Movement chairperson Tina Bokuchava: “The opposition and the entire country are suffering because opposition parties have failed to unite. The ‘unity platform’ proposed by Salome Zourabichvili failed to take advantage of a unique opportunity to fully consolidate the opposition.”

● The State Security Service called on the U.S. Embassy to “act more responsibly and stop spreading yet another false report.” This was in response to a notice published on the embassy’s website about bombs allegedly planted in three shopping malls in Tbilisi.

● Armenia and Azerbaijan exchanged information on border violations, according to the office of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, as reported by factor.am. The specific data shared between the sides has not been disclosed.

● “Shut up and stop irritating me. You are spies and a fifth wheel,” Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan lost his temper during a government Q&A session in parliament after a question from the opposition regarding the scale of corruption and a heated exchange between ruling and opposition representatives. “You’re talking about articles in the media. If we followed those, we would have had to hang you or deport you from Armenia. There are articles saying you are foreign spies” (these publications imply Russia – JAMnews). “What are you even doing in this hall? If I start acting on media reports, I’ll throw you into the state security basements,” Pashinyan angrily stated.

● “Nikol Pashinyan’s threats against opposition MPs not only came as a surprise but also clearly showed that the system of governance in Armenia has effectively ceased to function,” wrote lawyer Aleksandr Kochubaev. “When the head of state allows himself to openly threaten members of the opposition faction with solitary confinement just for raising the issue of corruption, this is no longer political debate. It’s a deviation from democratic principles that turns into brazen cynicism by the authorities,” he added.

● The Foreign Minister expressed support for India amid heightened tensions with Pakistan. “We believe that no country considering itself civilized can condone terrorism. We must recognize a country’s right to defend itself from terrorism. We view this issue through that lens — this is our position,” said Ararat Mirzoyan.

● The European Parliament adopted a report on Turkey, which touches on the normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations and Turkey’s possible role in the normalization of Armenian-Azerbaijani ties. The report calls on Turkey to promote regional stability and support the swift conclusion of the peace process between Armenia and Azerbaijan. In particular, it urges Turkey to use its influence on Azerbaijan and help prevent potential further military actions by Azerbaijan against Armenia’s sovereignty.

● The Ministry of Internal Affairs is preparing a list of prohibited items in schools and is proposing a complete ban on the sale of folding knives to minors. These legislative amendments will be presented to parliament, said Minister of Internal Affairs Arpine Sargsyan, citing a rise in juvenile crime, particularly fatal stabbings.

● Nine police officers have been detained in Etchmiadzin, the Anti-Corruption Committee reported. They are accused of concealing crimes and official falsification. No further details have been released.

● A medieval chapel near the Agarak copper-molybdenum plant in southern Armenia will be relocated to save it from destruction. The structure, dated to the 15th–16th centuries, is located in close proximity to the mine and is being damaged by blasting operations.

● The well-known journalist Ulviyya Ali, who was detained on May 6, has been placed under arrest for one month and 29 days. She has been charged with smuggling. As evidence, more than €6,000 was presented, which, according to the police, was found under her mattress. The prosecution stated that she allegedly brought this money into the country in December from her last trip abroad. It is reported that she was subjected to violence during her detention, and her computer was confiscated. Her lawyer Elvin Alimov said that Ulviyya refused to testify. More details here.

● The very serious condition of opposition figure Tofig Yagublu, who has been on a hunger strike in prison since April 1, was reported by his lawyer after visiting him in the prison hospital. “He can no longer even drink water. He cannot move at all and speaks with great difficulty. He complained of severe abdominal and head pain,” said lawyer Fakhraddin Mekhtiyev. Tofig Yagublu, a member of the National Council and the Musavat party, was sentenced to nine years on charges of fraud. He categorically denies the charges and states he is being politically persecuted. “I asked him to end the hunger strike, but he refused. Saying goodbye to me, he said: ‘I am dying. I hear the sound of death,’” the lawyer added.

● Journalist and founder of Yoldash Media Ahmed Mammadli has been detained. Relatives report that he was beaten during the arrest. He is accused of assaulting a person, which his wife denies, claiming the arrest is related to his journalistic work. Read more here

● Another member of the Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan, Rahil Guliyev, has been arrested. He had not been reachable for a day, and it was later revealed that he had been placed under pretrial arrest for 30 days. The reason is still unknown; there has been no official comment from the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Rahil Guliyev is the brother of Elnur Guliyev, the bodyguard of party chairman Ali Karimli, who has been under arrest since April 10.

● Imprisoned activist Nijat Ibrahim injured himself by hitting his head against the glass of a courtroom booth during a court session, in protest against what he called “false” testimony from an expert. His family reported the incident. Ibrahim is accused of stabbing a local resident, which he categorically denies, stating that he has never seen the alleged victim. The session was suspended, and Nijat Ibrahim was taken to the hospital for urgent care. The trial was postponed until May 26. Ibrahim has been in prison since September 2024. Previously, in July 2020, he was sentenced to one year and three months for allegedly spreading the coronavirus. He says he was arrested at that time on his way to a rally demanding the resignation of President Ilham Aliyev.

● The head of the public association “Transparent Governance,” Jamil Gadzhiev, who is currently abroad, has been named as a suspect in the “NGO case” and declared wanted. He is accused of receiving three grants from the British organization “Disclose What You Pay” and from the American organization FHI 360, and of illegally bringing $87,000 into the country. Gadzhiev told Meydan TV that he received a summons from the General Prosecutor’s Office for questioning. “I do not accept the charges. I have never received a grant in that amount. In 2021–2022, I received grants totaling around 10,000 manats (about $6,000), which I used as intended. All transactions were transparent and made through Access Bank,” Gadzhiev said.

*About 50 people are already involved in the criminal “NGO case.” Many have been arrested, including the head of the Civil Rights Institute Bashir Suleymanli, the head of the Election Monitoring Alliance Mamed Alpay (Mamedzade), and the advisor to the US-German Marshall Fund (GMF) on Azerbaijan, Mehriban Ragimli. Under house arrest is the head of the “Law and Development” public association Hafiz Gasanov. Several other people who have gone abroad have been declared wanted. All are accused of fraud, smuggling, and official misconduct. They deny this and claim political persecution.

● President Ilham Aliyev will not attend the Victory Day parade in Moscow, which is important for Putin, despite previously confirming his participation. Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov told a Life journalist: “We received a message that Aliyev, unfortunately, will not come. The explanation was that he must take part in domestic events dedicated to Heydar Aliyev.” Relations between Russia and Azerbaijan have worsened since December 2024, when an Azerbaijani passenger plane crashed. According to multiple reports, it was mistakenly shot down by a Russian air defense system. Baku is demanding that Moscow admit responsibility and pay compensation.

● The Secretary General of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam, To Lam, arrived in Baku with his wife. President Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva held a ceremonial reception with an honor guard and military march. To Lam stated that a new chapter is opening in relations with Azerbaijan (pictured below).

● Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov, during his official visit to Iraq, met with President Abdul Latif Jamal Rashid and Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ Al Sudani. It was reported that they discussed new developments in the South Caucasus region, reconstruction efforts on territories liberated after the second Karabakh war, Azerbaijan’s fight against the mine threat, and its peace agenda. Iraq proposed opening an Azerbaijani consulate in Erbil, Kurdistan.

● Pakistani Ambassador Qasim Mohiuddin stated that his country “highly values Azerbaijan’s unwavering support,” following a post by the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry on X condemning India’s military attacks on Pakistan.

Photo by Report

● The US House of Representatives has passed the MEGOBARI Act, which envisions sanctions against high-ranking figures in Georgia and others “posing a threat to the country’s stability, security, and democracy.” The document states that these individuals “are aiding oligarch Bidzina Ivanishvili, the shadow ruler of Georgia, in capturing the Georgian state and placing the country under the influence of China, Iran, and Russia.” It also calls for a complete reevaluation of US-Georgia relations, including all aid programs. The bill now needs approval from the US Senate. The final step will be a signature from President Donald Trump. Read more here

● MEGOBARI Act initiator, Republican Congressman Joe Wilson, published on X the names of high-ranking Georgian officials likely to face US sanctions if the bill is finalized. The list includes leading figures from the “Georgian Dream” party, judges, businessmen, propagandists, and party-appointed officials — including the prime minister, foreign minister, justice minister, prosecutor general, and many others. More details here.

● A member of the student movement at Georgian National University was assaulted near the entrance of her home. Activist Tatia Apriamashvili wrote on social media: “I can’t name her publicly because her family would be extremely worried.”

● Georgian Dream prime minister Irakli Kobakhidze congratulated Friedrich Merz on being elected Germany’s chancellor and expressed hope that Georgia-Germany ties will strengthen under Merz’s leadership.

● Georgian Dream justice minister Paata Salia made a statement to journalists regarding the death of inmate Ioseb Gorgadze. According to him, the fatal injuries were most likely the result of a fall. Gorgadze, 46, died on May 5 at Viva Med clinic. He had been transferred from Gldani prison in January with serious injuries and had been in a coma since then. The family rejects the claim that the injuries were caused by a fall. His brother blames the penitentiary service for his death. More details here.

● The family of 32-year-old Nika Basiladze, who suffered injuries in prison that left him unable to walk or speak properly, claims he was beaten by a guard in Kutaisi prison. According to Basiladze’s father, his son was assaulted by a guard, cameras were then turned off, and his veins were cut. The story was reported by TV channel Pirveli.

● NGOs are reviewing the cases of eight people arrested for blocking the road near Tbilisi Mall on February 2. Independent lawyers argue their detention was unlawful, with violations in arrest procedures, detention timelines, and personal searches. The charges are said to be fabricated, and evidence was allegedly obtained illegally.

● Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky awarded Giorgi Kuparashvili, a Georgian fighter and one of the founders of the Azov Regiment (pictured). “There is no greater honor or pride for a fighter and commander than the recognition of his unit’s struggle and service. Fight until victory. Glory to Ukraine,” Kuparashvili wrote on social media.

● Today, the ruling “Georgian Dream” party is set to elect a new executive chairman after the previous one, former prime minister Irakli Garibashvili, announced his departure from politics. The party has two leaders: honorary chairman Bidzina Ivanishvili (the oligarch and party founder) and the executive chairman.

● Well-known journalist Ulviyya Ali (Guliyeva) was detained last night. She is the 11th journalist arrested in connection with the “Meydan TV case (photo below).” A post on her Facebook page reads: “If you are reading this, it means I have been slandered and illegally arrested for my journalistic work. Like my colleagues, I have committed no crime — I have not brought into the country what they call ‘illegal funds,’ nor have I done anything else. I have no working ties to ‘Meydan TV.’ But even if I did, cooperating with ‘Meydan TV’ is not a crime. I have been cooperating with Voice of America for a long time.” Activist Gulnara Mehtiyeva wrote on social media that Ulviyya was subjected to violence during her arrest and that her apartment was severely searched: “The apartment is wrecked. The piano, drawers, and shelves were broken.”

● The Court of Appeals denied a request from the lawyers of opposition figure Tofig Yagublu to place him under house arrest. He was sentenced to 9 years in prison for fraud, which he calls a fabricated charge and part of political persecution. Yagublu has been on hunger strike since April 1 in protest. He is now critically weak and has bid farewell to his family and supporters, stating this could be his last message. The next court hearing is scheduled for May 20. His daughter Nigar Yagublu said, “He will not be alive by then” and called the decision “made in the presidential administration.”

● Kenan Ismayil, another bodyguard of opposition Popular Front Party leader Ali Karimli, was sentenced to 30 days of arrest, reportedly for petty hooliganism. The Interior Ministry has not commented. Over the past month, two bodyguards and Karimli’s driver have been arrested. One of them, Niyameddin Ahmedov, was sentenced to 13 years in prison for “financing terrorism.” More than a dozen party members are currently imprisoned. The party claims all arrests are politically motivated. According to local human rights groups, there are around 357 political prisoners in Azerbaijan.

● The criminal trial of Ruben Vardanyan, former state minister of the unrecognized Nagorno-Karabakh Republic and Armenian citizen, continues. He is accused of torture, mercenarism, war crimes, terrorism, and other crimes. According to Azertag, his lawyer Avraham Berman filed a motion to disqualify the panel of judges, which was denied. The court accused the defense of trying to delay proceedings. Victims testified during the hearing. The next session is scheduled for May 13.

● Belarusian Prime Minister Roman Golovchenko, during a visit to Azerbaijan, said Belarusian companies may take part in the reconstruction of Karabakh, APA reported.

● Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov is on an official visit to Iraq.

● Azerbaijani and Ukrainian consular services discussed cooperation prospects. Ukraine’s foreign ministry official Vladyslav Kanevskyi thanked Azerbaijan for its support of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, its humanitarian aid, and cooperation on infrastructure restoration in Kyiv Oblast.

● Azerbaijan and the United Arab Emirates signed a Memorandum of Understanding between their parliaments during Milli Majlis Speaker Sahiba Gafarova’s visit to Abu Dhabi.

● A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between Azerbaijani and Iranian research institutions — the Center for Analysis of International Relations (CIAR) and Iran’s Institute for Political and International Studies (IPIS). It followed a UN Security Council conference titled “Azerbaijani-Iranian Relations in the Context of Regional Processes.”

● The Baku branch of Bank Melli Iran resumed full operations on May 6. Its activities had been partially restricted for two years.

● The Environmental Protection First (EPF) coalition appealed to Armenian NGOs and media regarding an environmental disaster on the Pambak (Debed) River, citing photos and videos published by epress.am. “Toxic wastewater ponds have formed due to mining at the Akhtala and Alaverdi sites. This threatens the entire region \[…] The waste site, containing arsenic, is state-owned, but no action has been taken.” EPF called on Armenia’s “Center for Civic Resistance and Contribution” and epress.am to organize international inspection and monitoring. The Armenian Environmental Front also reported that a village near the Dastakert mine has fallen into ruins, and its population dropped 30-fold to around 200. The copper-molybdenum mine is operated by “Molibdeny Ashxarh.”

● A man in Armenia has been arrested for distributing child pornography. According to the Investigative Committee, M.B. collected and stored videos on his phone and offered them to Telegram users. The criminal case has been submitted to the Prosecutor General’s Office.

● Following an order from the Central Bank, commercial banks will freeze credit agreements of individuals affected by cybercrime, said Central Bank chairman Martin Galstyan. Victims have been protesting for about a year, demanding the cancellation of loans, fines, and penalties.

●  Russia’s foreign ministry expressed regret over the recent remarks by Armenian parliament speaker Alen Simonyan, who called ex-president Robert Kocharyan a “politician focused on serving Russian interests.”

● The opposition faction “I Have Honor,” the second largest in parliament, announced its readiness to initiate impeachment proceedings against Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. Its leader, Hayk Mamijanyan, said they are open to discussing a new candidate with no preconditions. The faction is associated with ex-president Serzh Sargsyan, known for his pro-Russian stance.

●  Armen Rustamyan, an MP from the opposition “Hayastan” bloc, doubts impeachment is possible without public pressure. He told 24news that without this “key factor,” any impeachment attempt would be mere PR. However, if the initiators can secure 8 missing votes, “Hayastan” will support the process.

● Armenia’s first president, Levon Ter-Petrosyan, has undergone surgery and will be discharged soon, his spokesperson Arman Musinyan announced on social media.

● Former head of Armenia’s Food Safety Inspectorate Armen Danielyan has been arrested, accused of embezzling fuel coupons and staff bonuses.

● A 13-year-old Ukrainian girl, Maya Boryatynska, drowned in Yerevan near the former Children’s Railway. Her body was found in Lake Yerevan after a 9-day search, the interior ministry confirmed.

● Journalists staged another protest in parliament with slogans like “Be careful with journalists,” “Andranik Kocharyan, wipe your mouth,” and “Shame.” The protest followed an incident where Kocharyan, head of the defense and security committee, insulted journalist Ripsime Dzhebedzhyan. Parliament ultimately rejected the proposal to create a commission on deputy ethics.

● The US House of Representatives has approved the MEGOBARI Act — a bipartisan initiative proposing broad sanctions against the Georgian leadership, their allies, and close relatives. The bill also outlines possible visa liberalization, economic cooperation, and security support — but only if Georgia returns to a democratic path. It must still pass the Senate and be signed by the US president to become law.

● Civil activist Nutsa Makharadze says she was attacked last night by a masked man who sprayed pepper spray on her, her sister, and a friend in their building’s elevator, then splashed them with green dye and fled. She claims she’s been followed for a month. Makharadze is active in the ongoing pro-European protests.

● The “Resistance Platform,” founded by Georgia’s 5th president Salome Zourabichvili, held an online meeting with MEPs, US Congress members, and international organizations. Zourabichvili discussed the political crisis in Georgia, the platform’s goals, and invited them to Tbilisi on May 26 (Independence Day) in solidarity with the Georgian people.

● Leaders of the opposition party Lelo, Mamuka Khazaradze and Badri Japaridze, are demanding the questioning of Tea Tsulukiani, head of the parliamentary investigative commission created by the ruling Georgian Dream party. Their lawyers have submitted a formal request to parliament, which the opposition considers illegitimate.

● Georgian Public Broadcaster shut down the critical program “Real Space.” Journalists say they were offered other roles but refused, seeing it as an attack on their editorial independence.

● Ioseb Gorgadze, a 46-year-old prisoner, has died at Vivamed clinic after being transferred from Gldani prison in critical condition. His lawyer alleges he was severely beaten and tortured. The justice ministry denies this, claiming he suffered a stroke.

Photo JAMnews

● A two-year-old child has been missing for two days in Armenia, possibly having fallen into the Marmarik River. The case is widely discussed on social media, with some blaming the mother. The child’s grandfather told reporters he and the boy’s father were nearby when the child disappeared. Search efforts are ongoing.

● Parliament speaker Alen Simonyan called former president Robert Kocharyan a “Russian spy,” accusing him of serving Russian interests. Kocharyan’s office responded, calling Simonyan “a disgrace to any Armenian” and likening him to a “Turkish and Azerbaijani agent.”

● The electric car of the wife of opposition politician Gevork Stepanyan was set on fire on the night of May 6 (video below). MP Manuk Sukiasyan accused the authorities of being complicit in the attack.

● Victims of cyber fraud rallied at Armenia’s Central Bank, demanding the cancellation of fraudulent loans taken in their names — in some cases up to \$7.7 million. They urged authorities to block suspicious websites and cancel the debts.

● Armenia has the cheapest taxi fares in the South Caucasus, according to Numbeo. The average cost per kilometer is \$0.31.

● Russia has increased its potato imports from Armenia by 805 times, according to RIA Novosti.

● Yerevan and Marseille mayors Tigran Avinyan and Benoît Payan signed a sister city declaration. Avinyan noted both cities face similar challenges and aim to create more inclusive urban environments.

● Ruling party MP Hayk Sargsyan called for stricter criminal penalties for drug production and trafficking, saying it is a major global and national issue.

● “Armenia has become an oasis of freedom in the region,” wrote French ambassador Olivier Decottignies. Armenia ranked 34th out of 180 countries in the 2025 World Press Freedom Index by Reporters Without Borders — a significant improvement from last year.

● The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has announced the closure of its office in Azerbaijan, following a similar move by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). In a statement, UNFPA noted its 30 years of support in improving maternal health and combating gender-based violence in the country. It said future cooperation will continue through its regional office for Eastern Europe and Central Asia, and headquarters.

● The condition of opposition politician Tofig Yagublu, sentenced to nine years in prison and now on the 35th day of a hunger strike, is worsening, according to his lawyer Neymat Kerimli. “He can barely sit, cannot sleep, complains of body pain, memory loss, and weakness. The meeting lasted only 15 minutes because he had to lie down,” Kerimli said. Today, the Baku Court of Appeals will review his request for release. More on Yagublu here.

● Belarusian Prime Minister Roman Golovchenko is on an official visit to Baku with a delegation. Several agreements and memorandums have been signed, including on the supply of tractor equipment to Azerbaijan.

● Belarus and Azerbaijan will soon jointly produce military-industrial products, said Dmitry Pantus, head of the relevant Belarusian department, during the Baku visit.

● At a court hearing on May 5, Alesker Mamedli — founder of ToplumTV and a media law expert — revealed that during a home search, authorities seized personal items such as birthday videos, family photo albums, and 30 years of archives, none of which have been returned. “We’re being imprisoned without proper court decisions or legal basis. Is this justice?” he asked. He demanded the return of his confiscated equipment and the unfreezing of his family-owned car. Mamedli and seven others, including ToplumTV staff, are jailed on smuggling charges, which they deny as politically motivated. Another person faces a non-custodial measure. The trial continues on May 19.

● The trial of former leaders of the unrecognized Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR) continued in Baku. They face charges including war crimes, terrorism, and attempted overthrow of the state. The state-aligned AZERTAC agency reported that the hearing covered the 1993 occupation of Khojavend and Lachin by Armenian forces. Video evidence showed former Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan and current defendant Davit Ishkhanyan, who briefly served as NKR “president” in 2023. The court also examined evidence from the August 1992 Balligaya massacre in Goranboy, where 24 civilians were killed and 9 wounded. Eyewitness accounts were heard. The next hearing is on May 8.

● Uzbekistan’s Centrum Air has launched weekly direct flights on the Tashkent–Baku–Tashkent route.

Photo JAMnews

● Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry has lodged a protest after Milli Majlis deputy Azer Badamov was denied entry into Russia. “Badamov was part of an Azerbaijani delegation traveling to Astrakhan at the invitation of Vice Governor Denis Afanasyev to participate in events marking the 102nd anniversary of the national leader Heydar Aliyev’s birth. He was detained and then deported without any prior warning or explanation. We consider this an unfriendly step and expect clarification from Russia,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Aykhan Hajizada told journalists.

● Baku has accused Russia of organizing a cyberattack on major pro-government Azerbaijani media outlets on February 20. “The attack was carried out by Russian-based hackers known as APT29, Cozy Bear, Midnight Blizzard, and The Dukes,” stated Ramid Namazov, head of the parliamentary commission on foreign interference and hybrid threats. He suggested the motive may have been Azerbaijan’s closure of the “Russian House” in Baku and the shutdown of the Azerbaijani service of Russia’s state news agency Sputnik. At the time, experts viewed this as a signal from Baku to Moscow demanding recognition of responsibility for the AZAL plane crash and payment of compensation. “Russia’s attack on Azerbaijani media contradicts the two countries’ allied declaration and the spirit of bilateral relations — a regrettable act,” Namazov was quoted as saying by the pro-government outlet Report. Moscow has not commented on the accusation.

● Opposition figure Tofig Yagublu, a member of the Musavat party and the National Council, is in critical condition after 35 days of hunger strike in protest of his imprisonment. His daughter posted his appeal to the public on Facebook. Yagublu wrote: “This may be my last message to you. This hunger strike — my protest against the unlawful, baseless, and absurd charges — is a painful and difficult ordeal, but my resolve grows stronger every day […] I committed no crime. I merely told Aliyev’s government the truth and called on people to fight for their rights […] Of course, I want to live, but what can I do? The Aliyev regime has left me no other choice, and I do not want to spend the last days of my life in prison. I believe that if I die, it will not be in vain — it will draw the world’s attention.”

* Yagublu was convicted of fraud, charges he calls fabricated. He says he is being persecuted for political reasons. Leading international human rights organizations recognize him as a political prisoner and are calling for his release. His appeal hearing is scheduled for May 6.

● Journalist Nurlan Gahramanli (Libre), arrested in the Meydan TV case, and Teymur Karimov, head of “Channel 11” who was sentenced to 8 years, began a hunger strike on May 3 in protest of politically motivated arrests and in solidarity with Yagublu. Gahramanli stated he would escalate the protest by sewing his mouth shut. “This is my way of telling the state that no one can silence me but myself,” he wrote on Facebook.

● Meydan TV staff currently in custody issued a public statement on World Press Freedom Day: “We address our country and the international community from our closed cells — by our very presence and work we continue to defy all repressive regimes. Those who think we have been silenced do not understand the liberating power of prison: our voices will grow louder and be heard more often […] A government that hides injustice under the rug will one day suffocate in its own stench,” the statement reads.

* Six Meydan TV staff are currently under arrest. Others detained in the same case include Ulvi Tahirov, deputy director of the Baku School of Journalism; Shamshad Agayev, editor-in-chief of Argument.az; journalist Nurlan Libre; and journalist Fatima Movlamli. All deny the charges and claim they are being persecuted for their professional activities. In total, about 30 journalists and activists are in prison on smuggling-related charges.

● Researcher Igbal Abilov, 36, who studies Talysh culture, faces a possible 19-year prison sentence. The prosecutor has demanded the maximum penalty. Abilov is charged with treason, which he firmly denies. His lawyer says the prosecution has no solid evidence. Read and watch more here

● The investigation into Imran Aliyev, head of majlis.info, and activist Elgiz Gahraman has been completed. According to their families, the first court hearing is scheduled for May 20. Both face smuggling and financial crime charges and up to 12 years in prison. They deny all accusations and say the case is politically motivated.

● Azerbaijan has fallen to 167th place out of 180 countries in the latest World Press Freedom Index, dropping three more spots compared to last year. “There is no longer a single independent media outlet in Azerbaijan,” said Jean Cavellier, head of RSF’s Eastern Europe and Central Asia desk.

● The UN Development Programme (UNDP) has shut down its office in Azerbaijan. The reasons were not disclosed. UNDP had operated in the country since 1992, implementing dozens of projects including support for small businesses and environmental protection.

● “Despite repeated appeals, Armenia fails to fulfill its obligations under international law,” said Azerbaijani Ombudsperson Sabina Aliyeva. Her statement came after the discovery of two more mass graves in Shusha and Khojaly in Karabakh, believed to contain the remains of civilians, with signs of possible torture. “3,990 people are still listed as missing as a result of Armenia’s aggression. So far, the identities of about 170 individuals have been confirmed from remains found in mass graves,” she said.

Meydan TV collage: arrested Azerbaijani journalists:

● In Chiatura, manganese mine workers continue protests against mass layoffs following a reorganization process announced by company management. Tents have been set up outside the city hall. Four miners who were arrested have been on hunger strike since April 29, contesting their detention. They are accused of attacking the director of one of the mines—according to Chiatura Management Company, he was pulled out of his car and pelted with stones. The protesters, however, claim that excessive force was used during the arrests. The workers demand the release of the detained miners and resolution of long-standing issues: guarantees of safety, decent working conditions, debt relief, and increased wages. They insist that leaders of “Georgian Dream” come to Chiatura to resolve the crisis. Meanwhile, the company is trying to gather signatures from supporters of the reorganization. Here is a story on what happened

● The 5th president of Georgia, Salome Zourabichvili: “Today I went to a Carrefour supermarket. If you don’t know Russian, you can’t choose anything for yourself—only a few items have Georgian labels, written in such tiny font that no person with normal vision could read them. There’s no point even talking about food quality control. You get into a taxi and meet a driver who doesn’t know the language or the city, and who doesn’t even need a license. Tour guides are now Russians or other foreigners introducing people to Georgia’s history and landmarks. No one cares about accurately representing our culture and history or about employing and supporting our citizens. The country is run by people focused on repression and self-enrichment. Russians spend their time in restaurants and shops, acting like they’re at home. Soon, with the visa-free regime, citizens of countries practically barred from Europe and the US will be able to enter Georgia. Meanwhile, our visa-free regime with Europe—something that saved many people in recent years, gave them education, and helped families thanks to remittances from relatives abroad—is under threat. ‘Georgian Dream’ is setting visa liberalization and patriotism against each other. Our citizens face prison, fines, unemployment, unsafe working conditions, and injustice everywhere. And this is called patriotism?”

● Grigol Beselia, former head of the Adjara police and a witness in the case against detained journalist Mzia Amaghlobeli, has been promoted. Amaghlobeli, founder of independent media outlets Batumelebi and Netgazeti, faces up to seven years in prison after slapping the Batumi police chief who insulted her during a protest. Beselia had arrested her an hour before that incident for placing a poster on a police building. He has now been appointed deputy director of the Central Criminal Police Department. Giorgi Bukhrashvili has replaced him in Adjara.

● The floor of a three-story residential building collapsed on Dadiani Street in Tbilisi, leaving two people with minor injuries. Rescue teams are on-site. Irakli Adguladze, head of the Nadzaladevi district, said all affected families have been temporarily placed in a hotel. “We will also cover their rent during the reconstruction of the building. This had been offered before, but residents declined,” said Adguladze.

● Tbilisi Central announced that they are ready to prepare a reconstruction plan for the commercial area at the Borjomi railway station, where a major fire broke out a few days ago, destroying dozens of shops and warehouses. They said they will invest as soon as they receive official approval for operation from state authorities.

In the photo by JAMnews: a protester in Tbilisi holds a sign with the name of Mirian Kavtaradze — a police officer who filed a complaint claiming he was insulted by two young women, Ana Kurashvili and Miranda Bagaturia, who work in the press services of the opposition parties “Girchi — More Freedom” and “Ahali.” Each of them was fined 4,000 lari (around \$1,800), while the Ministry of Internal Affairs had demanded prison sentences. For the sixth consecutive month, large-scale pro-European protests have been ongoing in Georgia, with demands to hold new parliamentary elections and thus legally change the government, as well as to release arrested activists. Many protesters now wear various masks to prevent their faces from being recognized by the numerous surveillance cameras installed across central Tbilisi in recent months. Many participants have already received hefty fines for protesting — often three times or more than the average salary:

● “The next meetings within the 3+3 platform should take place in Yerevan and Baku in turn, in the order decided by the parties themselves. This format also allows discussion of regional security issues, including those being promoted by the West,” Russian Ambassador Sergey Kopyrkin told 168.am. “We hope our Armenian allies will not allow Russophobic forces in the West to use their beautiful country to open a ‘second front’ in the region against Russia, nor undermine their involvement in Eurasian integration processes,” Kopyrkin said. The 3+3 format includes Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia on one side, and Russia, Turkey, and Iran on the other. Georgia, however, has repeatedly refused to participate in the platform, stating that it will not cooperate in any format that includes Russia, which is occupying its territories.

● Former president Serzh Sargsyan dismissed widespread claims of a rift with his predecessor Robert Kocharyan. “Leave this topic alone. We have different views on some issues. But I’m not fighting for popularity — I’m fighting for a change of power. I don’t think there’s a country in the world where former presidents agree 100% on everything. But I don’t consider Robert Kocharyan an enemy. It would be fair to ask him the same question,” Sargsyan said during a meeting with students.

● “Azerbaijanis destroyed monuments in the village of Vank in the Martakert region of Karabakh. They demolished the World War II memorial, a khachkar commemorating victims of the First Karabakh War, and a memorial wall with sculptures of fallen soldiers,” reported the Yerevan-based Artsakh Monuments Preservation Service.

● Activist Artur Chakhoyan, who was beaten several days ago by the head of Yerevan’s Nor Nork district administration and his staff, has been discharged from the hospital.

● A large-scale cleanup was held in Yerevan. In the photo below, servicemen are seen cleaning the Yerablur military pantheon.

Top stories in Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Georgia from 28 April-2 May, 2025