Top stories in Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Georgia from September 2-6, 2024

● President Ilham Aliyev is on a working visit to Italy. Yesterday, he met with the President and the Chairman of the Council of Ministers of Italy. A document exchange ceremony between Azerbaijan and Italy took place in Rome.

● Azerbaijani positions in the direction of Kelbajar were shelled by Armenian Armed Forces, according to Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Defense.

● The Court of Appeal upheld the arrest of Bakhruz Samedov, a PhD student at Charles University in Prague, who is accused of treason.

●  Officials in Ismayilli district have been arrested. Alishir Suleymanov, the district executive representative, and Jahangir Surkhayev, the acting chairman of the municipality of Diyalli, are accused of extorting bribes for construction work and land rentals.

●  The Azerbaijani national football team lost 1-3 to Sweden in their first match of the UEFA Nations League in Baku.

●  Azerbaijani Paralympian Veli Israfilov won bronze in the 100m breaststroke at the Paralympic Games in Paris. The Azerbaijani team currently has seven medals – three gold, three bronze, and one silver.

●  The Armenian cabinet has approved the working regulations for the joint commission on the delimitation of the Armenian-Azerbaijani border. The document was passed without any discussion.

●  Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan highlighted worsening electricity supply issues in Armenia, calling for concrete solutions at a government meeting. “There is widespread dissatisfaction with the electricity supply. Complaints are coming from Yerevan and sectors such as culture, sports, and agriculture. The power outages we experienced during the government meeting should have been a clear signal that something is wrong,” he said.

●  Armenia currently has 108 cases of West Nile fever, reported Health Minister Anahit Avanesyan. She did not specify the locations of the cases but mentioned that mosquitoes, the primary carriers, are most prevalent in the Ararat and Armavir regions.

●  Yerevan’s central street, named after revolutionary Arsen Amiryan and leading to Republic Square and the government building, may be renamed. The Yerevan City Hall proposes naming it after King Pap, a historical figure frequently mentioned in recent speeches by Nikol Pashinyan.

●  A woman was abducted in broad daylight in Yerevan. The incident occurred yesterday at the “San Marco” pool complex. Two men in black clothing and masks, claiming to be NSS officers, approached the woman, forced her into a nearby parked car, and drove her to an unknown location. A criminal case has been initiated.

●  The restoration of the Holy Trinity Church in the border village of Kiranst and the landscaping of its surrounding area will be completed by the end of the year, according to the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture, and Sports of Armenia. The church, which dates back to the 4th century, was rebuilt in 1888 and remained active until 1930. Today, it is recognized as an architectural monument of regional significance.

 ●Senator Jeanne Shaheen in an interview with the National Journal:

• The “foreign agents” law is presented by the Georgian government as a way to achieve financial transparency, but it is actually aimed at suppressing civil society and dissent.
• During meetings in Tbilisi, the Prime Minister of Georgia suggested that U.S. senators stop funding Georgian NGOs critical of the government.
• The Georgian government is considering the dissolution of opposition parties, signaling a move towards autocracy.
• Georgia is aligning itself with Moscow, despite Russia’s occupation of Georgian territories.
• Washington suspended military exercises with Georgia after Tbilisi accused the U.S. of attempting to overthrow the Georgian government.
• There are serious concerns that the parliamentary elections in Georgia this October will not be free and fair.

● European Parliamentarian Rasa Juknevičienė: “Bidzina Ivanishvili (oligarch, honorary chairman of the ruling party) and EU membership are completely incompatible. The Georgian people face a critical choice: either to follow the European path or the ‘Russian world.'”

● In a Washington Post article, the ruling party “Georgian Dream” is described as an authoritarian, pro-Russian group that threatens to ban all opposition parties if it wins the parliamentary elections on October 26.

● The opposition coalition “Strong Georgia” presented its election platform at a meeting with voters in the village of Tsitsamuri near Tbilisi. The platform includes nine key points:

• Full compliance with EU sanctions against Russia;
• Prioritizing jobs for Georgian citizens;
• Restrictions on land purchases in Georgia by Russians;
• Ban on entry of vehicles with Russian license plates into Georgia;
• Ban on Russian companies participating in state tenders;
• Introduction of an “occupation tax” on Russian businesses;
• Reinstatement of the ban on direct flights to Russia;
• Ban on broadcasting Russian TV channels in Georgia;
• Ban on Russian foundations.

● Azerbaijani journalist Afghan Mukhtarli won his case against Georgia and Azerbaijan in the European Court of Human Rights, with both countries ordered to pay him a total of €21,000 in compensation. “Bidzina Ivanishvili was complicit in my abduction,” the journalist claims. Read more here

● “The police used force against Irakli Edzgveradze, a member of the opposition ‘National Movement,’ during his arrest, as evidenced by bruises and hematomas,” said his lawyer Lasha Tkhesheladze, urging the authorities to investigate the situation promptly. The Ministry of Internal Affairs claims that Edzgveradze was detained for resisting police during an investigation related to a drug offense.

● Georgia is establishing a registry of individuals convicted of pedophilia and sexual extortion.

● Culture Minister Tea Tsulukiani announced that a world-class rowing and canoeing training base will be created on the Maltakva beach near Poti.

● Baku condemned the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs for its travel advisory on Azerbaijan. “Paris issued a warning based on unfounded claims that French citizens are allegedly being detained and persecuted in Azerbaijan. Such baseless and biased decisions indicate France’s intention to further escalate relations with Azerbaijan. There is no evidence to support claims that French citizens are being detained and imprisoned in Baku without cause,” said the Azerbaijani Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In December 2023, French citizen Martin Rian was detained in Azerbaijan on suspicion of espionage, and Theo Hugo was detained for “illegal actions” in the Baku metro.

●  “Any attempt to discredit the activities of the Central Electoral Commission will be met with retaliatory measures,” said head of the commission Mazahir Panahov. “All appeals, information, and even posts on social networks will be thoroughly reviewed, and well-founded decisions will be made.”

●  Azerbaijani positions in the Nakhchivan direction came under fire from the Armenian Armed Forces, reported the Azerbaijani Ministry of Defense.

●  President Ilham Aliyev has embarked on a working visit to Italy.

●  Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan are developing a car assembly project. The production volume of “Cobalt” cars is planned to be 15,000 units per year, with the launch scheduled for 2025.

●  An Azerbaijani citizen wanted internationally has been extradited from Georgia to Azerbaijan. Rauf Kazimov is accused of committing significant fraud. He was detained in Georgia on September 3.

●  Azerbaijani swimmer Roman Saley won bronze at the Paralympic Games in Paris. He secured third place in the S12 category (athletes with visual impairments) in the 100 meters freestyle.

●  Members of the opposition United National Movement’s political council, Irakli Edzgveradze and Irakli Nadiradze, were detained in Tbilisi. The UNM reports that Edzgveradze was detained first after he confronted police officers who were filming him near his home in one of Tbilisi’s outskirts. This led to a verbal altercation. Soon, his supporters arrived, causing more commotion, during which Nadiradze was also detained. According to the authorities, the opposition members interfered with criminal police officers investigating a drug-related crime.

●  The coalition “Unity – National Movement” outlined five priorities in its electoral program: Georgia’s return to the EU accession process, increasing household incomes, protecting pensioners, strengthening families and creating a system to address the demographic crisis, and fighting the “price mafia.” The program was presented by UNM chairperson Tina Bokuchava at a vineyard near the home of the party’s founder, former president Mikheil Saakashvili, in Kvareli.

●  “The Georgian people will not suffer from sanctions, but we must understand that if we leave in power those who go against the world order and democratic world, we become accomplices in such processes,” said Nika Gvaramia from the opposition party “Akhali” (featured on the photo). “Then, we must be ready for the isolation that [oligarch and shadow ruler of the country] Bidzina Ivanishvili is creating to spread to us as well. However, this will be our choice. The US and the entire democratic world will give us every chance to prevent this from happening.”

● The Georgian Parliament passed the homophobic bill “On Family Values and the Protection of Minors” in the second reading. Eighty-one deputies voted in favor. The opposition is boycotting parliamentary work and was not present at the session.

● The European Union condemned the adoption of the bill. “The EU urges the Georgian authorities to fully reconsider this legislative package. Such a bill, along with the restrictions imposed by the ‘Law on Transparency of Foreign Influence’ on civil society, will further exacerbate EU-Georgia relations. The EU reminds that Georgia’s accession process is effectively on hold and urges the authorities to return to the path of EU integration,” stated the spokesperson for the head of EU diplomacy, Peter Stano.

●  Not only the honorary chairman of the ruling party Bidzina Ivanishvili, but also leaders of the “radical opposition,” particularly those whose attacks can be most effectively used to discredit the electoral process and the government, are under threat of attack, said Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze. The opposition is actively discussing staging high-profile criminal acts, he said, and warned: “Any attempt to artificially provoke unrest will be severely punished.”

● Another statement from the prime minister: “In Ukraine and Moldova, one party after another is being banned, and this has been met with positively, including by the European Union – this is a normal process. If a political party is anti-state and anti-constitutional, our responsibility to the state is to prevent such parties from existing in the political spectrum.”

●  The security of future communications with Azerbaijan may be handled by private companies, reported Deputy Foreign Minister Mnatsakan Safaryan.

●  Armenia’s decision to move closer to the West is strategic, stated Deputy Foreign Minister Vahan Kostanyan. “We want to be in an environment where we share the same values. The Armenian government has European aspirations,” he said.

● “The decision on the number and presence of EU observers in Armenia is made exclusively by Yerevan and the EU,” said Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Relations, Sargis Khandanyan, responding to the Azerbaijani President’s aide. The latter, Hikmet Hajiyev, earlier said, “Baku sees no need for the EU civilian mission to continue operating in Armenia, near the border with Azerbaijan.”

●  Armenian shooters won 6 gold, 7 silver, and 7 bronze medals at the European Running Target Shooting Championship in the Czech Republic.

●  The Armenian Ministry of Defense denied Azerbaijan’s claim that Armenian armed forces opened fire towards Azerbaijani positions on the evening of September 4.

●  Azerbaijani para-athlete Lamiya Veliyeva claimed gold at the Summer Paralympic Games in Paris. Competing in the T13 category, she set a new world record in the 100-meter sprint, finishing first with a time of 11.76 seconds.

So far, the Azerbaijani team at the Paris Paralympics has secured 3 gold, 1 silver, and 1 bronze medal.

●  “The parliamentary elections in Azerbaijan were conducted fully in line with the country’s

Constitution and laws,” announced the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry.

“The subjective and biased political statements from EU foreign affairs spokesperson Peter Stano, which mirror the OSCE/ODIHR’s predetermined negative stance on the elections in Azerbaijan, do not reflect reality,” the ministry stated.

Earlier, Stano had criticized the snap parliamentary elections held in Azerbaijan.

●  Azerbaijan, Georgia, Romania, and Hungary signed an agreement in Bucharest to establish a joint venture for the Black Sea Energy project. The initiative aims to lay a cable under the Black Sea to supply renewable energy to Europe.

●  “The role and statements of [informal Georgian leader Bidzina Ivanishvili] are utterly useless, and I’ve been saying for years that it’s time to hold him accountable”, said David Kramer, Director of Global Policy at the George W. Bush Center, at the Tbilisi International Conference.

He added that Ivanishvili’s remarks about the United States being part of a global war party are both confusing and offensive. “The U.S. has provided $6.5 billion in aid to Georgia, which I fully support. But to claim we are a global war party while Russia occupies 20% of your country is absurd. If such a party exists, it’s based in Moscow, not Washington.”

●   “Russia is intensifying steps toward annexing Abkhazia, while the Georgian government remains silent and conflicts with the West, weakening the country and aiding Russia. Our goal of true sovereignty and peaceful reunification within the European Union is under threat,” stated opposition MP Teona Akubardia.

●   Georgia’s fourth president, Giorgi Margvelashvili, might join the political alliance Strong Georgia, formed by the opposition party Lelo ahead of the parliamentary elections. Lelo’s Secretary-General Irakli Kupradze shared a photo of Margvelashvili on Facebook with the comment “Only victory ahead”. Margvelashvili declined to comment.

●   United National Movement Chairperson Tina Bokuchava: “I am confident that on October 26, during the historic elections, the people of Georgia will choose prosperity in Europe and reject poverty in isolation. This is our historic mission, and we will see it through, bringing our country into the European Union.”

●  A passenger train en route to Batumi collided with a work platform in Tbilisi, resulting in the deaths of three Georgian Railway employees conducting routine maintenance.

●   A 35-year-old tourist from Poland died during a tour of the Incira waterfall in Western Georgia. According to media reports, the woman slipped and fell into a steep ravine onto rocks, dying from her injuries.

●   A forest fire is burning in Borjomi. The fire broke out far from any settlements, and efforts are underway to contain it.

●  Several cows were blown up by mines near the village of Voskepar in the Tavush region, where the delimitation process between Armenia and Azerbaijan is currently “frozen.” The animals ended up on mined areas because there is no barbed wire fencing.

●  Armenian wrestler Yura Oveyan (63 kg) won bronze at the U20 World Greco-Roman Wrestling Championship in Pontevedra, Spain, after defeating Turkey’s Enes Ulku 2:1.

●  Henrikh Mkhitaryan will participate in a legends match for Borussia Dortmund. According to the German club’s press service, this will be a farewell game for former Borussia players Lukasz Piszczek and Jakub Blaszczykowski. Mkhitaryan will play for Piszczek’s team. The match will take place on September 5 in Dortmund.

● Armenian soldiers, along with colleagues from 13 countries, climbed Mount Elbrus. The “Climb for Peace” was organized by the International Military Sports Council, according to the Armenian Ministry of Defense’s press service.

● President Ilham Aliyev and First Vice President Mehriban Aliyeva visited the Kelbajar district, which returned to Azerbaijan’s control after the Second Karabakh War (as seen in the photo). They participated in several ceremonies, including the opening of the “Yukhari Veng” hydroelectric power station on the Terter River, the foundation laying of a new residential complex and administrative building, the opening of the “Istisu” mineral water plant, and the start of construction for the Istisu settlement. They also visited the Khudavang Monastery complex.

● The President of Turkey called President Aliyev to congratulate him on the ruling New Azerbaijan Party’s victory in the recent parliamentary elections.

● “Armenia’s armament is a factor hindering the creation of an atmosphere of peace and stability in the region,” stated Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov.

● “Azerbaijan will present Armenia with a new package of proposals for a peace treaty,” said Jeyhun Bayramov.

● Ali Suleymanov, a resident of the Lachin village of Vagazin, who was injured by a landmine while grazing animals on August 3, has passed away.

● As of September 1, Azerbaijan’s SOCAR has begun supplying gas to Croatia, making it the tenth country to receive Azerbaijani gas, alongside Turkey, Georgia, Italy, Greece, Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary, Serbia, and Slovenia.

● Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan plan to jointly produce ferries, with the project’s funding amounting to $150 million. The ferries will be manufactured for Uzbekistan’s needs.

● Azerbaijan will introduce a bonus system for train travel. “Passengers will earn bonuses based on the number of train trips, similar to the Miles program used in air travel,” announced Rovshan Rustamov, Chairman of the Azerbaijan Railways.

● A fire broke out on a SOCAR-owned offshore platform, resulting in the death of employee Rafiq Islamov. Firefighting ships were immediately deployed to the scene, and the fire has been extinguished.

● Nikol Pashinyan visited the border village of Kirants, near Azerbaijan, and toured a new school built just meters from the recently delimited section of the border. The Prime Minister assured that visiting the new school is safe. “It has never been as safe to live in Kirants as it is today,” he said. Pashinyan traveled to the Tavush region by helicopter.

● The government will review the regulations for the joint Armenian-Azerbaijani border delimitation commissions at a meeting on September 5, according to the Cabinet. The document outlines the organization of the work and the adoption of relevant documents, including the creation of a delimitation map of the appropriate scale. It governs procedural matters between the two countries following the future signing of a state border agreement, the Cabinet reported.

● “If the Armenian authorities want direct negotiations with Azerbaijan without Russia’s involvement to resume transportation links, then by all means,” said Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.

● Armenia plans to establish isotope laboratories to check the quality of brandy, announced Minister of Economy Gevorg Papoyan in parliament. Funds have already been allocated for this. Under the regulations, all batches of exported brandy will undergo inspection in the isotope laboratory before being sent for export. However, a specific start date for the lab’s operation has not been set.

● Armenia has extradited individuals wanted in Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan for large-scale fraud and cases involving the acquisition and storage of psychotropic substances, according to the General Prosecutor’s Office.

● The Armenian national football team held its first open training session in Yerevan, with almost all players in attendance. On September 7, Armenia will host Latvia in a UEFA Nations League match, and on September 10, they will play against North Macedonia in Skopje.

● The September 2 deadline for voluntary registration of NGOs and media under the “foreign agents” law has passed. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 476 NGOs registered, while there are around 30,000 NGOs in Georgia, Deputy Justice Minister Tamar Tkeshelashvili said. The law faces widespread opposition in Georgia, with Western partners imposing sanctions on the government and withdrawing direct funding from state structures. What’s next? Read more here

● The President of Georgia addressed participants of the 8th Tbilisi International Conference, emphasizing the importance of the October 26 parliamentary elections, particularly as the ruling party has shifted its foreign policy course. Salome Zourabichvili highlighted the significant assistance and support Georgia has received from Western partners over the decades, stating that “the people of Georgia will make the final decision in the parliamentary elections.”

● Public Defender Levan Ioseliani announced that he has appealed to the Minister of Justice to prevent the discriminatory interference in personal data as mandated by the “foreign agents” law. “The mechanism of access to personal data, as established by the minister’s order, creates a high risk of state abuse. The public disclosure of personal data is unjustified and harmful, exerting a strong limiting and stigmatizing effect,” said the Public Defender.

● MEP Rasa Juknevičienė at the Tbilisi conference: “Georgia’s path to European integration will be halted if the government carries out its threats against the opposition and independent media. The Georgian government will lose everything by passing such a law, persecuting the opposition, and showing such disdain for European and American leaders as they are now. The candidate status was not granted for the government’s merits. It was given for two reasons—due to the geopolitical situation and to show support for the people of Georgia. But Georgia needs de-oligarchization. The interests of this person (referring to oligarch and honorary chairman of the ruling party Bidzina Ivanishvili – JAMnews) have nothing to do with the EU; they align with the Kremlin.”

● The media ombudsman’s office has offered legal assistance to journalists covering the October 26 parliamentary elections, including a newly established advisory hotline at 577 070 592.

● The Legal Affairs Committee approved the amnesty bill in the second reading. The bill proposes the release of around 1,000 people and the reduction of sentences by 1/2, 1/4, and 1/6 for approximately 4,800 people. The probationary period for those conditionally sentenced will be reduced by one year.

Photo: Batumi. Yulia Kalaban / JAMnews

● The Constitutional Court held a preliminary three-day session on lawsuits challenging the “foreign agents” law, with a decision expected in the coming days. The court will determine whether to initiate legal proceedings against the law and whether its enforcement should be suspended pending a final ruling. There are four lawsuits under consideration: from the president, the parliamentary opposition, 122 NGOs, and media organizations.

● The head of the Institute of Linguistics, Nana Machavariani, disputed linguist Marina Beridze’s testimony during these Constitutional Court hearings. Beridze, who was invited by one of the plaintiffs, stated that the law’s wording about “serving the interests of a foreign state” carries an inherently negative connotation. However, Machavariani, speaking on the pro-government channel “Rustavi 2,” said that the institute had not authorized any research or conclusions that “do not align with the position of the Institute of Linguistics.”

● The registration process for political parties participating in the October 26 parliamentary elections has concluded. A total of 27 parties are on the list.

● Parliament returns from recess today and resumes discussions on a package of amendments to the Constitution aimed at “banning LGBT propaganda.” The Legal Affairs Committee will review the bill article by article in its second reading, followed by a plenary session debate. Local and international experts, as well as lawyers and politicians, describe this bill as “another Russian-style law,” following the “foreign agents” law. Read more on how this bill will restrict LGBT rights and others on JAMnews here

● Farmers in the Kakheti region are protesting against the extremely low purchasing prices for grapes. In the village of Bukurtsikhe, protesters blocked the main road connecting Tbilisi and Telavi, the region’s main city. Currently, wine companies pay 1.5 lari (about $0.55) per kilogram for “Saperavi” grapes and 1.05 lari for “Rkatsiteli.” Farmers are demanding prices be raised to 2 and 1.5 lari respectively, arguing that their costs won’t be covered amid the general price increase in Georgia. The government has been subsidizing grape purchases for several years, but this year’s state program only covers “Rkatsiteli.” For every 100 tons of grapes purchased at a price of at least 1 lari per kilogram, processing enterprises and wineries will receive a 20 tetri per kilogram compensation. A budget of 35 million lari (around $13 million) has been allocated for subsidies.

● The parliamentary legal commission begins discussing an amnesty bill that will cover certain crimes committed before July 1, 2024.

● “After 8 years of searching, I found my biological mother,” wrote journalist Tamuna Museridze on social media. Museridze is the author of the infamous project “I’m Looking for,” which has helped hundreds of people find their biological families. Several years ago, Museridze uncovered a horrifying story that led to ongoing criminal investigations. For over half a century, medical staff in maternity hospitals in Georgia kidnapped and sold infants. Now, with the help of the “Vedzeb” project, children and parents are finding each other. Read more about this story here

● Georgian para-athlete Giga Ochkhikidze (pictured) won the gold medal in his main event (F53) and set a world record at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris.

● A Georgian citizen died of a heart attack on board a flight from Rome to Kutaisi. The plane made an emergency landing at the nearest airport in Bulgaria, but she could not be saved.

● Azerbaijan held early parliamentary elections. According to preliminary results announced by the Central Election Commission, the ruling “New Azerbaijan” party secured the majority of seats in the Milli Majlis. The only opposition member in the new parliament is once again Erkin Gadirli from the “Republican Alternative” (ReAl) party. Voter turnout was 37.27%.

● “The reported election violations will be thoroughly investigated. We will also involve international observers and organizations that have not yet completed their missions,” stated CEC Chairman Mazahir Panahov.

● The Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement regarding the parliamentary elections in Azerbaijan: “The elections held across the entire territory of Azerbaijan, including the lands liberated from occupation, have historical significance. We believe these elections, in which the Azerbaijani people express their will, will contribute to lasting peace and stability in the South Caucasus.”

● “It is time to end the EU border mission in Armenia. The delimitation process between Azerbaijan and Armenia is proceeding peacefully and with mutual understanding, so we believe the mission is no longer necessary,” said Hikmet Hajiyev, Assistant to the President of Azerbaijan.

● Official Baku dismissed Pashinyan’s claims that Azerbaijan’s Constitution contains territorial claims against Armenia as “false.” “Attempts to draw parallels between the constitutions of the two countries are unacceptable. Pashinyan once again made statements contradicting the normalization process with Azerbaijan and efforts to ensure peace and security in the region,” stated the Azerbaijani Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

● Azerbaijani swimmer Roman Saley won a silver medal at the 2024 Summer Paralympic Games in Paris. The Azerbaijani Paralympic team has so far secured one gold, one silver, and one bronze medal. The Paralympic Games will conclude on September 8.

📸 In the photo: Newlyweds in Tovuz cast their votes in the parliamentary elections. The couple arrived at the polling station in their wedding attire.

● Armenia has submitted the 10th draft of the peace treaty to Azerbaijan, announced Deputy Foreign Minister Vahan Kostanyan during the panel discussion “Armenia and the EU: Priorities, Partnership, and the Way Forward” at the GLOBSEC conference in Prague on Sunday.

● Restoration and partial reconstruction work on the 6th-century Amberd Fortress on the slopes of Mount Aragats will begin next week and are expected to last 5-6 years, according to the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture, and Sports. Social media footage shows masonry crumbling from a deep crack in the fortress wall. This year, 50 million drams ($125,000) have been allocated, with the total project cost estimated at 450 million drams ($1.1 million).

● A delegation from the Ministry of Defense, led by Minister Suren Papikyan, is on an official visit to Georgia.

● A new course on “Art” will be introduced in the 10th grade curriculum in schools.

● A youth rally in solidarity with Karabakh residents took place late last night in front of the government building in Yerevan (as seen in the video). September 2 marks the declaration of independence of the former unrecognized Nagorno-Karabakh Republic.

Top stories in Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Georgia from August 26-30, 2024