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

● A referendum on constitutional reforms in Armenia is planned for 2027, according to Justice Minister Grigor Minasyan.

● Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan showed Armenian diplomats the new border with Azerbaijan near the village of Kirants in the Tavush region. The trip for Armenia’s ambassadors accredited abroad took place after their two-day gathering in Dilijan. The border demarcation in this area was completed in May, based on topographic maps from the Soviet General Staff from 1976. As a result, several houses and plots of land were returned to Azerbaijani control. “For the first time since independence, Armenia has an officially demarcated section of its border with Azerbaijan. This marks a cornerstone for the sovereignty and further development of the country,” stated Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. Read more here

● The ancient monastic complex of Surb Sargis in Aragatsotn and the Targmanchats Church in Armavir (pictured) are being restored in Armenia.

● The Armenian football club “Noah” has reached the group stage of the UEFA Europa Conference League for the first time in its history. The team played a return match against “Ružomberok” with a score of 1:3. On August 20, in Yerevan, “Noah” won 3:0, and the single goal scored yesterday was enough to advance to the group stage.

● Yerevan will host the World Military Wrestling Championship from November 18-24. Preliminary reports suggest that around 400 service members from over 40 countries will participate. The championship’s budget exceeds 467 million drams (approximately $1.2 million).

● Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has been invited to the BRICS summit in October. “Russia supports Baku’s bid for membership,” announced Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov.

● A cybercrime network has been uncovered in Azerbaijan. Members of the criminal group stole funds from the bank cards of around 400 citizens, causing financial damage totaling approximately 500,000 manats (around $300,000).

● Azerbaijani para-taekwondo athlete Sabir Zeynalov won a bronze medal at the Summer Paralympic Games in Paris.

? Pictured: A fountain in Khankendi (Karabakh) has started working again as water supply has been restored.

● “We are increasingly concerned about Georgia’s drift away from the European Union,” stated EU High Representative Josep Borrell at a press conference following the EU Foreign Ministers’ summit.

● The current situation in Georgia will be discussed today at an informal meeting of EU Foreign Ministers, announced Latvian Foreign Minister Baiba Braže.

● The Constitutional Court will continue reviewing lawsuits against the “foreign agents” law filed by the president, parliamentary opposition, NGOs, and media.

● A new veterinary center is under construction at the Tbilisi municipal shelter. It will be used for sterilization and post-operative care for animals.

● The Venice Film Festival has blocked Rusudan Glurjidze’s film *Antique* about the deportation of Georgians from Russia in 2006. The official reason cited is a copyright dispute involving three partners—Russian, Croatian, and Cypriot—of the Georgian company. However, the filmmaker believes it is political censorship. Legal proceedings will begin in Venice in November.

● The “Georgian Chacha Tower” in Batumi, built as a local attraction in 2012 at the initiative of then-President Mikheil Saakashvili, is being demolished (as seen in the video). In its early years, the tower featured a surprise for tourists: once a week, at a random time, a chacha fountain would flow for 15 minutes. This attraction eventually ceased. The Batumi City Council decided to demolish the tower due to “complete structural deterioration,” and a park is planned for the site.

● Today, Georgia’s Constitutional Court begins hearing lawsuits filed by the president, parliamentary opposition, NGOs, and media organizations, seeking to suspend or annul the “Law on Transparency of Foreign Influence,” commonly referred to as the “foreign agents” law.

● The Georgian Orthodox Patriarchate has confirmed that the ruling party has proposed declaring Orthodoxy the state religion. Deacon Andria Jagmaidze, the head of the Patriarchate’s public relations service, announced that the issue is under consideration.

● State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller has categorically denied claims by Russia’s foreign intelligence service that the U.S. is preparing a “color revolution” in Georgia. “”The allegations are categorically false. We have a proud record of working together with the people of Georgia to build a more peaceful, prosperous, democratic Georgia,” Miller said, as quoted by Washington-based political analyst Alex Raufoglu.

● The last days of August are particularly significant in Georgia, marking the centenary of the large-scale uprising against Soviet rule, during which many of the country’s intellectuals and nobility were killed. The uprising began in western Georgia. On August 24, 1924, the mountainous region of Svaneti came entirely under the control of the people. On August 30, a group of 1,200 rebels approached Kutaisi, already fortified by Russian troops. After three weeks of fighting, the Red Army regained control of Svaneti, and the uprising was crushed. According to various reports, Soviet authorities executed around 7,000 people, including all members of the “Damkom,” the committee that led the uprising and aimed to restore the Democratic Republic and form a coalition government.

● Another Georgian fighter has died in the battles against Russia’s military aggression in Ukraine. The body of 49-year-old Viktor Kipritidi will be brought back to Georgia on August 30. To date, more than 60 Georgian fighters have died fighting against the Russian army.

● The body of a young woman was found in the courtyard of the Ministry of Justice. The 28-year-old woman, an employee of the ministry, fell from one of the building’s floors. The investigation is ongoing under Article 115 of the Civil Code, “suicide.”

● A resident of the village of Akhasheni in the Gurjaani municipality killed two guests and his wife out of jealousy, in the presence of his children. The suspect is currently at large.

In the photo: Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze and Catholicos-Patriarch Ilia II.

● Experts in Armenia have labeled the statement by Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova as “another threat.” Zakharova stated, “The foundation of Armenian-Azerbaijani reconciliation lies in the trilateral agreements between the leaders of Russia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan. Attempts to undermine these are extremely dangerous.”

● Armenia’s Ministry of Defense twice denied accusations from Baku that Armenian forces had shelled Azerbaijani positions in Nakhchivan.

● “Russia reaffirms its intention to include the preservation of World War II monuments in the Armenian-Azerbaijani settlement agenda, and this is being discussed with both Baku and Yerevan,” said Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova in response to a question about the destruction of monuments to Armenian World War II heroes in Karabakh.

● Yerevan has transferred five prisoners, Iranian citizens, to Tehran under an interstate agreement, according to Iran’s Ministry of Justice.

● The presidents of Azerbaijan and Russia held a phone conversation to discuss the opening of a transport corridor between Azerbaijan’s western regions and Nakhchivan, according to the Azerbaijani president’s website.

● President Ilham Aliyev attended the opening of LANDAU School and The Grand aparthotel at the Sea Breeze resort near Baku (pictured).

● “Russia is familiar with Azerbaijan’s plan for the reintegration of Karabakh Armenians. However, Armenia has not presented such a program,” said Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova during a briefing, in response to a question about the return of approximately 100,000 ethnic Armenians who fled to Armenia last September fearing for their safety. The international community insists that Azerbaijan must ensure their safe return home, and Baku has not opposed this, offering Azerbaijani citizenship upon their return. For comments from Azerbaijani experts, click here

● The Ministry of Defense reported twice in the past 24 hours about shelling of Azerbaijani army positions in the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic from the Armenian side. Armenia’s Ministry of Defense has categorically denied these reports.

● Four individuals wanted internationally have been extradited from Russia to Azerbaijan. The names released are Farid Bolaev, Samandar Khalilov, Panah Babaev, and Ilham Mashadiev.

● The Aghdam football club Qarabağ lost 0-2 to Dinamo Zagreb in the second leg (first leg: 0-3) of the UEFA Champions League playoffs. Qarabağ will now compete in the UEFA Europa League.

● The opening ceremony of the Paralympic Games took place in Paris. The flag of Azerbaijan was carried by parataekwondo athlete Imamaddin Khalilov and para-athlete Lamiya Valiyeva. The Azerbaijani team will compete in seven sports: judo, athletics, powerlifting, swimming, shooting, archery, and taekwondo.

● The Foreign Ministers of Azerbaijan and Turkey met in Ankara to discuss the normalization process between Azerbaijan and Armenia. The Turkish Foreign Minister stated at a joint press conference that “Azerbaijan and Turkey will continue to take joint steps to establish peace in the region.”

● “The main obstacle to finalizing the peace agreement is the territorial claims against Azerbaijan and Turkey in Armenia’s constitution,” said Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov.

● “By the end of this year, more than 20,000 internally displaced persons will return to Karabakh. By the end of 2026, this number will exceed 140,000,” stated Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov.

● In 2024, Azerbaijan’s foreign trade surplus will exceed $16 billion, according to a UN report on the global economy. Azerbaijan’s total exports this year will amount to $33.899 billion, while imports will total $17.278 billion.

● Azerbaijan and Morocco have introduced a visa-free regime starting today.

Photo: “Venice” on the Baku Boulevard.

● Tomorrow, the Constitutional Court of Georgia will begin considering lawsuits against the “Law on Transparency of Foreign Influence,” which is commonly referred to as the “Foreign Agents Law.” There are four lawsuits in total: from the President, NGOs, the media, and opposition MPs.

● Opposition parties have been required to submit financial reports for the past eight months. “Their support with foreign money poses a threat to a fair electoral process,” said the head of the Anti-Corruption Bureau, Razhden Kuprashvili.

● President Salome Zourabichvili: “The authorities want to convince us that in the parliamentary elections in October, we will be choosing between war and peace. This is a lie. No one wants or is preparing for war in Georgia. The threat of war and the enemy’s desire to attack Georgia are heightened by isolation and our internal conflicts. The real choice will be between slavery to Russia and cooperation with Europe. Such a choice may never come again.”

● “Russia wants to help Georgia prevent attempts at a color revolution in the country, which is why it has published its intelligence on the matter,” said Sergey Naryshkin, the director of Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service, commenting on the report published the previous day. The Georgian opposition stated that the similarity between the plans described by Moscow and previous statements by Georgian authorities about U.S. interference in the country’s political processes indicates Russia’s unconditional support for the ruling party.

● On August 28-29, it marked exactly 100 years since the people’s uprising against Soviet rule in 1924, which was met with large-scale repressions by the Bolsheviks. Up to six thousand people were executed. Several waves of “Red Terror” followed the suppression of the uprising, resulting in the deaths of up to 60,000 people in total.

● The director of the Georgian human rights organization “Sapari,” Baia Pataraia, is one of three candidates for the international PACE Václav Havel Human Rights Prize. Her brief biography notes that she has been fighting femicide and sexual violence against women for over ten years. The list of nominees also includes Akif Gurbanov from Azerbaijan and María Corina Machado from Venezuela. The laureate will be announced at the opening of the PACE autumn plenary session in Strasbourg on September 30. The prize includes €60,000, a trophy, and a diploma.

● The goalkeeper of the Georgian national team, Giorgi Mamardashvili (pictured), will continue his career with the English club “Liverpool.” They paid Valencia €35 million (plus €5 million in bonuses) for him, making Mamardashvili the most expensive Georgian player in history.

● Albert Arustamyan, who threw an apple at the Armenian Prime Minister from his balcony, does not consider his action to be hooliganism, according to his lawyer. The charge against him carries several possible penalties. He has been released under a travel ban, but the court could impose a fine of nearly $4,000, 80-100 hours of community service, arrest, or a two-year restriction of freedom on the 71-year-old defendant.

● Armenia will allocate $3.7 million this year for compensation related to Soviet-era savings deposited before June 10, 1993. Around 8,000 people, including elderly citizens, war veterans, and residents of border regions, will receive these funds.

● Armenia will assess the resilience of 24 reservoirs of special state significance in the event of floods, earthquakes, and other catastrophes, according to the Ministry of Internal Affairs. This decision is partly due to the May flooding in northern Armenia, which caused significant destruction and claimed four lives.

● Armenian singer Anahit Akopyan received the top award at the “New Wave” International Music Competition in Sochi.

● Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service has issued a statement claiming that the U.S. is allegedly preparing a “color revolution” and a regime change in Georgia. Read more here

● Both leading U.S. parties, Democratic and Republican, equally support Georgia’s Euro-Atlantic aspirations, stated Tina Bokuchava, the chair of the opposition United National Movement. “In the parliamentary elections on October 26, we will choose between prosperity in Europe or living in poverty in international isolation. Under Ivanishvili’s government, such isolation is inevitable, which will further worsen the economic situation of every citizen.”

● The ruling party plans to officially declare Orthodox Christianity as the state religion in Georgia, reports the opposition-affiliated TV company Formula, citing its sources. According to the report, the initiative comes from Bidzina Ivanishvili, the founder of Georgian Dream, and discussions are already underway in the Patriarchate. A similar situation occurred in Georgia in 2002, when Patriarch Ilia II opposed the proposal, arguing that there was no need for it, and the necessary historical context had not developed.

● Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili welcomed the Prime Minister’s decision to erect a monument to the last King of Georgia, Erekle II, on Kakheti Highway in Tbilisi. Papuashvili called him “a lion, a wise king, a bulwark of Christian civilization, who dedicated every breath of his life to his homeland and people, restoring the country’s authority. His heroism was respected both in the West and the East.” King Erekle II (1720-1798) is remembered for unifying Georgia’s feudal principalities into a single state and resisting Iranian-Turkish domination. In 1783, he signed the famous Treaty of Georgievsk with Moscow, which soon led to Georgia’s annexation and incorporation into the Russian Empire.

● Mamuka Khazaradze, leader of the opposition party Lelo: “Everyone remembers the propaganda slogans of Georgian Dream in the previous parliamentary elections: ‘Gareji is Georgia’ (referring to the historic monument David Gareji, where there is a territorial dispute with Azerbaijan) and ‘A man is a man, and a woman is a woman.’ Now, for any issue, they claim, ‘Do you want a war to happen?’ Everyone must understand that this is just another cheap propaganda trick created for social media.”

● The Georgian government has dismissed the country’s ambassadors to the UK and Switzerland, as well as its representative to NATO, Geneva, and other international organizations. The Prime Minister signed the relevant decree and forwarded the message to the President.

● President Salome Zourabichvili has pardoned 17 convicts, releasing 13 of them, including two women. The sentences of two others have been significantly reduced.

● The management of the online casino “Evolution Georgia” has called on striking employees to end their hunger strike and offered assistance in the rehabilitation process. Some of the strikers have been on hunger strike for 14 days. In a statement, the company also announced significant staff cuts, affecting around 1,000 employees. According to the union, about 5,000 employees are on strike, demanding higher wages and better working conditions. Read more here

● Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky thanked Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili for her congratulations on Ukraine’s Independence Day and for her support, calling her “a dear friend.”

● Georgian women mountaineers Mariam Gelashvili and Maia Sichinava (pictured) have independently ascended Ushba, one of Georgia’s highest peaks at 4,710 meters, for the first time, reported the United Federation of Mountaineers of Georgia.

?  In the photo: members of the Georgian government praying in a church.

● Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan is holding a meeting with Armenia’s ambassadors accredited in other countries. President Vahagn Khachaturyan and Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan are also in attendance.

● Starting September 3, a passenger train will run between Yerevan and Tbilisi. In September, the train will operate every other day, departing from Yerevan on odd-numbered days and from Tbilisi on even-numbered days.

● Vachagan Hovhannisyan (70 kg) became the world champion in arm wrestling. In the finals of the World Championship in Chișinău, he defeated Kazakh Nurbulat Basimbek.

● A resident of Vayots Dzor and six Indian citizens are accused of kidnapping an Indian national. Police stopped a car in Yerevan on the night of August 23 and found the kidnapped victim in the trunk. It was revealed that the victim owed the Vayots Dzor resident compensation for a damaged car but refused to pay, claiming he had no money. The 36-year-old Armenian citizen “ordered” his countrymen to punish the debtor.

● Malkhas Amoyan, Vazgen Tevanyan, Arsen Harutyunyan, and other well-known athletes have been drafted into the army. On the last day of the summer draft, the Ministry of Defense reported that the world and European champions, as well as Olympic medalists, will serve in the sports unit and continue representing the country in prestigious tournaments.

● On September 22, a statue of Saint Charbel, a Catholic monk, will be installed in Yegvard, Armenia, according to the “Arevelk” publication (pictured). The ten-meter statue will be the first monument to a Catholic saint in the Caucasus.

● First Vice-President and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva celebrated her birthday with children in need of special care (as seen in the photo).

● President of COP29 Mukhtar Babayev met with UN Secretary-General António Guterres. The meeting took place on the sidelines of the Pacific Islands Forum in the Kingdom of Tonga.

● Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov will visit Turkey tomorrow.

● The Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement condemning the terrorist attack in Pakistan. According to the latest reports, 51 people were killed in an attack on passenger buses in the Balochistan province by militants.

● Around 60 observers from the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly will arrive in Azerbaijan to monitor the upcoming snap parliamentary elections. The elections will take place on September 1.

● Patriarch Kirill awarded the head of the Caucasus Muslims Office, Allahshukur Pashazade, the Order of St. Alexis. Pashazade received one of the highest honors of the Russian Orthodox Church for his contributions to improving relations between nations and in connection with his 75th birthday.

● Representatives of the Red Cross and Red Crescent visited Armenian citizens detained in Baku who are accused of war crimes as leaders of the former unrecognized NKR. They were provided with the opportunity to communicate with their families, according to Red Cross representatives.

● Azerbaijan’s trade turnover with BRICS countries amounted to $5.838 billion from January to July. This figure represents a 9.2% year-on-year increase, according to the Azerbaijani State Customs Committee. Trade with BRICS countries accounted for 21.7% of Azerbaijan’s total trade turnover.

● Azerbaijan’s SOCAR and Russia’s Tatneft are discussing the idea of jointly producing lubricants. Such production could be organized either in Azerbaijan or in third countries, according to Rufat Mahmud, General Director of SOCAR RUS.

● Baku prevented an Armenian singer from claiming a song by a famous Azerbaijani composer. The song in question is Javanshir Guliyev’s “Yarımgilə,” which Armenian performer Minas Ovanesyan (Mino) altered and performed under the title “Khrovel e im yare.” The Intellectual Property Agency successfully had the song removed from five YouTube channels.

● All leaders of the ruling party, led by its honorary chairman, oligarch Bidzina Ivanishvili, participated in a campaign meeting in the highland city of Ambrolauri. Ivanishvili was once again shielded by his podium with bulletproof glass, with a large EU flag featuring oversized gold stars behind him (as seen in the photo). He reiterated the need to “judge and destroy the United National Movement,” one of the leading opposition parties, “to save Georgia.” Ivanishvili also stated that “once the war ends, the unhealthy attitude towards Georgia will shift to the opposite. Remember, they [likely referring to the West] need us as much as we need them. ‘Georgian Dream’ must win the parliamentary elections in October so convincingly that no one is tempted to create problems for Georgia’s elected government.”

● Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, at the same rally, claimed that “certain forces” are trying to sow hatred, aggression, and polarization in Georgia, falsely blaming the ruling party for it. He insisted these divisions are artificially created from outside the country.

● Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili echoed these sentiments, criticizing those “pretending to be more Georgian than the people of Georgia” and accusing them of trying to dictate how the country should be run, which he claimed is an affront to Georgia’s sovereignty.

● Opposition party leader Mamuka Khazaradze of “Lelo” stated, “On October 26, the people of Georgia will deliver a severe verdict against the current government that is betraying our country and leading it toward Russia.” He vowed that “Georgian Dream” would no longer be in power starting October 27.

● Giorgi Gakharia, leader of the “For Georgia” party, stated: “We have visited many regions and see how people’s sentiments have changed compared to the previous parliamentary elections. Everyone is very tired; people no longer trust the ruling party. They see it as a political force that lies. Everyone understands that the country needs change, and they are all waiting for that change.” Former Prime Minister Gakharia and his party, along with “Lelo,” are among the leading opposition forces that the current Prime Minister, Irakli Kobakhidze, intends to ban and prosecute. Read more here

● U.S. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller expressed deep concern over the increasingly anti-democratic rhetoric and actions of the “Georgian Dream” party, particularly their plans to outlaw opposition parties. He urged the Georgian government to stop demonizing critics, restrict dissent, and return to the path of democracy and Euro-Atlantic integration.

● The Georgian Chess Federation posted on Facebook that Bidzina Ivanishvili’s son, Tsotne, made the honorary first move in the eighth round of the Women’s World Grand Prix in Tbilisi (pictured). One comment under the post read: “You should be ashamed. Georgia has plenty of chess players with that rating. Stop turning the whole country into your playground.”

● Hacker group Anonymous warned the Georgian government of mass cyberattacks if they continue their authoritarian policies. The statement was in response to the Prime Minister’s remarks about outlawing and prosecuting opposition leaders after the election. Anonymous compared “Georgian Dream” to “the darkest regimes of Belarus and North Korea.”

● “The claims that people in Azerbaijan are persecuted for their political beliefs or that criminal cases against those posing as journalists or human rights defenders are politically motivated are fundamentally wrong and unacceptable,” said Foreign Ministry spokesperson Ayhan Hajizadeh. This was his response to EU Foreign Affairs and Security Policy spokesperson Peter Stano’s statement in *Politico* that “independent journalists, human rights defenders, and civil society representatives have been arrested in Azerbaijan since last year.” Stano called for their release.

• Seven journalists and editors from the popular outlet Abzas Media, currently imprisoned in Azerbaijan, face new charges that could result in up to 12 years in prison. They firmly deny the charges, calling them politically motivated. Read more here

• Last week, Bahruz Samedov, a young activist, political scientist, and doctoral student at Charles University in Prague, was arrested on charges of treason. He also categorically denies the allegations. Read more here

●  “If German MP Frank Schwabe plans to attend the COP29 forum in Azerbaijan, he should know that those who voted against the Azerbaijani delegation at PACE are on the ‘undesirables’ list. If any of them arrive in Azerbaijan before the delegation’s mandate is restored, they will be denied entry,” said Ayhan Hajizadeh. Schwabe had earlier stated in an interview with *Radio Free Europe* that Azerbaijan is not interested in Council of Europe membership and accused Baku of ignoring values important to the CoE, noting that PACE was not invited to observe the snap parliamentary elections in Milli Majlis on September 1.

● Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov held a phone call with Iran’s new Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, inviting each other for mutual visits.

● A total of 991 candidates will compete for 125 parliamentary seats in Azerbaijan’s snap elections on September 1.

● A mine exploded in the Fizuli district, injuring construction worker Radju Aslanov, who is now in stable condition.

● “Since the start of the second Karabakh war, more than 370 people have fallen victim to landmines,” said Ombudsman Sabina Aliyeva. “The lack of accurate maps of mined areas in Azerbaijan not only endangers lives but also hinders the safe return of displaced persons to their lands,” she added.

● Baku launched its first bike-sharing service, with around 50 bike parking stations equipped with information boards providing rental instructions (photo).

● The CIS Archery Championship will be held in Khankendi (Karabakh) in 2025.

● Baku hosted a vintage car parade and exhibition (photo), featuring classic cars produced before 1984. The oldest among them was a 1929 Mercedes Benz Gazelle.

● An apple was thrown at Nikol Pashinyan from the balcony of a residential building in Yerevan. The 71-year-old resident was detained but later released under a travel ban. The incident occurred as the Prime Minister was riding his bicycle to Lake Sevan, passing through the Kanaker-Zeytun district of Yerevan. The apple was thrown from the 9th floor balcony. It is unclear whether it hit Pashinyan or someone in his entourage.

● Residents of the newly built “Vozrozhdenie” neighborhood blocked Monte Melkonyan Street in Yerevan. They have been requesting crosswalks and traffic lights for their road section for three years. To draw attention, the protesters chalked their own crosswalk on the road.

● Yerevan defeated Turkish champion Şişli 4:1 in the third round of Group D in the UEFA Futsal Champions League preliminary qualifying round. The Armenian team secured 2 wins and 1 loss, finishing 2nd in the group.

Top stories in Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Georgia from August 19-23, 2024