Top stories in Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia from January 8-12, 2024

● Ukrainian Navy Commander Alexey Nezhpapa stated that Ukraine “has the right to attack Russian ships at the new naval base in occupied Abkhazia.” More details in an analytical review from Abkhazia “Which poses a greater threat – a Ukrainian missile or Putin’s anger?”

● The Patriarchate of Georgia addressed protests against the Stalin icon in Tbilisi’s Sameba Cathedral, stating that changes are needed, sparking further dissent. The Patriarchate urges peaceful protest.

● Pro-Russian “Alliance of Patriots” leader Irma Inashvili claims the Patriarchate’s decision to change the Stalin icon resulted from government advice.

● The Foreign Ministry has demanded an explanation from the Danish Ambassador regarding “incorrect facts and political assessments” she expressed about Bidzina Ivanishvili. Ivanishvili is the newly appointed honorary chairman of the ruling party, viewed as the shadow ruler of the country. In an interview with the Danish publication Jyllandsposten, Ambassador Anne Toft Sorensen referred to Ivanishvili as an oligarch who enriched himself in Russia.

● A magnitude 3.1 earthquake occurred near Ninotsminda in the Samtskhe-Javakheti region.

● Konstantin Gamsakhurdia will replace Giorgi Kekelidze as director of the National Library, a decision criticized as “moral injustice.”

● A man in Tbilisi has been arrested for the murder of his 27-year-old wife, who died after being stabbed multiple times.

Photo JAMnews / David Pipia

● Starting February 1, the State Revenue Committee will impose fines on landlords renting out real estate without official contracts.

● The government approved a budget loan of 3.5 billion drams (approximately $8.75 million) to relocate a metallurgical plant from Yeraskh to Ararat, prompted by attacks from the Azerbaijani side.

● Security Council Secretary Armen Grigoryan will attend the 4th meeting on the “peace formula” of Ukraine in Davos.

● Armenia approves amendments allowing organ transplantation after a person’s death, introducing the concept of “biological death” in addition to “brain death.”

● The USA-made robot Moxie, designed by ethnic Armenian Paolo Pirjanian, wins the top prize in the CES 2024 Innovation Awards in the Artificial Intelligence category. Moxie aids children with disabilities in communication skills development.

● The men’s and women’s Armenian chess championships kick off in Yerevan with 10 participants each. Winners will be announced on January 20.

● Polling stations have been established in Khankendi, Askeran, Agder, and Khojaly for the early presidential elections on February 17.

● Azerbaijan reported a 5.3% increase in gas exports in 2023, reaching 23 billion cubic meters, according to Energy Minister Parviz Shahbazov.

● Azerbaijan maintains its position as the leading military power in the South Caucasus, ranking 59th out of 145 countries in the international Global Firepower rating. Georgia is 84th, and Armenia is 102nd.

● Approximately 500 foreign professors and teachers obtained residence permits in Azerbaijan in 2023, with a significant number coming from Russia and Turkey.

● There is a proposal to establish a tourist police force in Azerbaijan, following the example of several other countries, including Malaysia, Thailand, and Uzbekistan.

● “We have no intention of opening the border with Armenia at any location unless the Zangezur corridor (from mainland Azerbaijan to its autonomous region Nakhichevan through Armenian territory) is open. In other words, Yerevan stands to suffer more harm than benefit if this corridor is not opened,” stated Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev in an interview with local TV channels. Read the further details on his responses to journalists today at JAMnews.

● “Armenia desires guarantors for this peace treaty. However, we believe such guarantees are unnecessary. This will be a peace treaty signed by two sovereign states,” asserted Aliyev.

● A meeting between the commissions of Azerbaijan and Armenia for border delimitation is scheduled for January.

● Aliyev accused France of arming Armenia with the intent of preparing for a new war.

● Responding to Paris’ statement regarding the arrest of a French citizen in Azerbaijan, the Foreign Ministry in Baku stated, “This is another attempt to interfere in the internal affairs of Azerbaijan.” Azerbaijani authorities had earlier detained French citizen Martin Ryan on espionage charges, and he was subsequently arrested for 4 months by court decision. Read more here

● Azerbaijan has already supplied 1.2 million eggs to Russia.

● In Azerbaijan, a 10.8% pension indexation is anticipated this year. If the decision is approved, the amount due for two months will be disbursed in February.

? Officials, including the chief executive, have faced criminal charges in connection with a fire at the Republican Perinatal Center, resulting in the tragic death of four infants.

? The Baku circus suspended operations following inspections by the Ministry of Emergency Situations, which identified technical faults in the building. The circus building (pictured) was constructed in 1967.

● Duty-free stores that do not comply with EAEU quality standards will be closed in Armenia. The government is tasked with developing these standards, as well as establishing a register of traders in Duty Free.

● Acting on behalf of Nikol Pashinyan, the State Supervision Service of Armenia is conducting an investigation into the Urban Planning Committee to assess the legality and efficacy of constructing various general educational, sports, and cultural facilities. The inquiry will also scrutinize the allocation and utilization of state budget funds for design, architectural, and technical supervision.

● Greek Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis visited the Armenian Genocide Memorial and paid respects to the victims.

● Starting from 2024, ArCa cards (the Armenian unified system facilitating payments and cash withdrawals through local banks) will be issued with chips to enable contactless transactions.

● Teni Milidonyan, an ethnic Armenian, has been appointed as the Chief Director of the Oscars. Previously serving as the competition’s Executive Vice President of Strategy, she initiated her career in 2005 and had earlier worked at the Armenian Embassy in Washington.

● Armenian freestyle wrestler Vazgen Tevanyan emerged victorious in the rating tournament of the International Wrestling Federation held in Zagreb.

● The Military Academy named after Vazgen Sargsyan is now part of the international association of military academies. The organization’s members include 19 similar institutions in the USA, Canada, Germany, France, and other countries.

● Yerevan is in discussions regarding the prospects for defense cooperation with the EU. Armenian Defense Minister Suren Papikyan met with Rory Domme, the head of the European External Action Service, to explore potential collaborations.

● Former Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia, now leader of the “For Georgia” party, challenges Bidzina Ivanishvili, the newly elected honorary chairman of the “Georgian Dream,” to an open debate. Gakharia, once Ivanishvili’s protege, resigned in 2021 in opposition to the ruling power. An analysis of Gakharia’s personality and accusations of ties to Moscow can be found here

● Danish Ambassador Anne Toft Sorensen refers to Bidzina Ivanishvili, founder of the Georgian Dream, as an oligarch with real estate in Russia from the 1990s. The ambassador discusses Georgia’s latest events and its EU candidacy in local media.

● An individual accused of cruelty to a dog is arrested in Marneuli, sparking societal outrage and calls for stricter legislation on such crimes.

● The ruling Georgian Dream initiates legal amendments to increase penalties for insulting religious structures, potentially linked to the scandal involving activist Nata Peradze accused of defacing an icon in Tbilisi’s central cathedral. Protests against Peradze are led by the pro-Russian group Alt-Info.

● Russia cancels customs tax on oil and gas imports into South Ossetia, a territory considered occupied by Russia according to Georgia and the international community.

● Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze announces stricter penalties for unauthorized construction in culturally and historically significant areas.

● Former head of the Center for Disease Control, Amiran Gamkrelidze, reports three circulating viruses in the country: influenza, respiratory syncytial virus, and coronavirus.

● The Ministry of Internal Affairs has initiated an investigation after an individual poured blue paint on an icon depicting Stalin in Tbilisi’s Sameba Cathedral (pictured). Growing protests in society are linked to the controversial appearance of this icon. Read more  here 

● In Marneuli district, police arrested a local resident who brutally beat a dog to death. A viral video of the incident on social networks triggered large-scale protests involving both local residents and activists from Tbilisi.

● Member of the European Parliament Marketa Gregorova stated that oligarch Bidzina Ivanishvili’s return to politics is directly tied to the crucial parliamentary elections scheduled for October, deemed significant for the country.

● Armenia has ceased transporting goods to Russia through Georgia, citing unprofitability.

● Numerous members of the Union of Science, Education, and Culture, including scientists, artists, teachers, and cultural figures, jointly appealed to Minister of Culture Thea Tsulukiani, holding her accountable for numerous legal violations.

● A man wanted through Interpol for serious crimes, including sexual abuse of minors and assault in Texas and involvement in organized crime in Louisiana, has been extradited from Georgia to the United States.

● In Germany, two Georgian citizens were arrested for robbery, while a third managed to escape. German police detained the criminals, aged between 31 and 34, during another attempted robbery.

● Two military personnel were found dead with gunshot wounds at separate posts in the Armenian Armed Forces in a single day. The bodies of Mikael Danielyan and Karen Karapetyan were discovered at different locations.

● Bonuses in Nikol Pashinyan’s office surpassed $1 million in 2023. Responding to a request, the prime minister’s office disclosed that each employee received an average of around 49 thousand drams (just under $120) in monthly bonuses.

● Thirty new buses destined for Yerevan have been delivered to the Georgian port of Poti.

● Teachers with secondary vocational education, who were dismissed for failing mandatory certification since December 2023, protested at the Ministry of Education and Science. They sought a second chance to undergo certification after completing retraining.

● Yerevan commemorated the 100th anniversary of legendary film director Sergei Parajanov. A monument in his honor will be placed near the Cinema House, temporarily installed in the foyer for now (pictured). As part of the tradition, passers-by at the Moscow cinema were treated to arisa (porridge made from wheat and chicken meat).

● Seven candidates are set to compete for the position of President of Azerbaijan. The current President, Ilham Aliyev, is among them, along with self-nominated candidates Zahid Oruj and Fuad Aliyev. Representing political parties are Razi Nurullayev, Fazil Mustafa, Gudryat Hasanguliyev, and Elshad Musayev, according to the Central Election Commission (CEC).

● President Tokayev is scheduled to visit Azerbaijan soon, participating in the opening ceremony of the Kurmangazy Center for Children’s Creativity in Fuzuli.

● Azerbaijan.Travel center has ceased operations in Tbilisi after four years, aiming to promote Azerbaijani tourism in Georgia during the pandemic.

● Rufat Piriev, the director of Greencard Azerbaijan, has been detained on suspicion of fraud related to visa acquisition.

● Following a fire at the perinatal center in Baku, six out of fifteen babies transferred to the clinical medical center are in serious condition. Read more here

● In Baku, a 4-year-old child underwent surgery after swallowing 53 magnetic balls, which had been in his stomach for a month.

● Secretary of the Security Council Armen Grigoryan announced that there will be another meeting of commissions on the delimitation of the Armenian-Azerbaijani border at the end of January.

● Armenia has suspended ferry service to the Russian port of Caucasus via Georgian Poti to the Russian port of Caucasus due to financial unviability. Minister of Economy Vahan Kerobyan stated that the ferry failed to generate sufficient interest among exporters and importers.

● Secretary of the Security Council Armen Grigoryan expressed that there are no expectations from the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO).

● Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan engaged in discussions about Armenian-Azerbaijani relations and regional security issues with State Department Advisor for the Caucasus, Louis Bono.

● Armenia is set to open an honorary consulate in Costa Rica, aiming to strengthen economic, cultural, academic, and tourism ties between the two countries.

● Deputy Chairman of the Republican Party of Armenia, Armen Ashotyan, will remain under arrest for another three months. Ashotyan, who has been in custody since June 16, faces accusations of abuse of power and money laundering related to procurement for a medical university during his tenure as Minister of Education.

● On the first day of winter conscription, the heads of the Ministry of Defense and the General Staff of Armenia visited the central assembly point of the Ministry of Defense.

● UAE President Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan has visited Baku and held a meeting with President Ilham Aliyev.

● The deadline for submitting documents for presidential candidate registration in the early elections on February 17 has passed. Of 17 candidates, three have been officially registered by the Central Election Commission.

● A ministerial meeting is scheduled in Baku on March 1 for the Southern Gas Corridor Advisory Council. In 2023, Azerbaijan exported approximately 12 billion cubic meters of gas to Europe through this corridor.

● Construction of the Barda-Agdam railway in Karabakh is 90% complete, including the center of Agdam. Stations in Barda, Tyazyakand, and Kocharli are near completion.

● A fire broke out at the Republican Perinatal Center in Baku, quickly extinguished on the fourth floor. During the incident, a security guard suffered smoke inhalation. Evacuation took place, relocating newborns, pregnant women, and women in labor to other hospitals (see video).

● President Salome Zurabishvili addressed the issue of the unacceptability of insults directed towards political opponents, specifically mentioning Mikheil Saakashvili. She recalled her past opposition to him during his presidency, acknowledging the significant public criticism at that time. However, she emphasized that she does not recollect personally engaging in any personal insults.

● The party led by former Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia, “For Georgia,” proposes the reinstatement of direct popular presidential elections. Recent changes in Georgia dictate that Salome Zurabishvili will be the last president elected through popular vote. Subsequent presidents will be selected and appointed by a special board comprising members of parliament and representatives from local authorities.

● The Constitutional Court has accepted a claim filed by the non-governmental organization “Democratic Initiative of Georgia,” addressing concerns related to freedom of speech and media in the country. The lawsuit challenges a parliamentary Speaker’s directive, stating that a journalist must immediately halt an interview if the interviewee requests it, with potential consequences for the journalist’s accreditation.

● The ruling Georgian Dream party has amended its charter, designating the honorary chairman of the party, billionaire and party founder Bidzina Ivanishvili, as the representative for the candidate for prime minister. Ivanishvili, elected as honorary chairman on December 30, also assumes the role of the party’s chief political adviser under the revised charter.

● Director of the Iashvili Central Children’s Hospital, Ivane Chkhaidze, has warned that January will witness the highest incidence of childhood morbidity. He emphasized the heightened risk of various complications in children under 5 years old due to the circulating influenza virus in the country.

● Health Minister Zurab Azarashvili reassured the public that regular seasonal viruses are currently circulating in the country, urging against unnecessary panic.

● The Environmental Protection Agency has issued warnings of a significant deterioration in weather conditions across the country starting from January 9. Anticipated challenges include snowfalls in the mountains, heavy fog, blizzards, slippery ice on roads, and the potential for avalanches. A storm with intensity reaching 3-4 points may lead to traffic restrictions on specific highway sections.

● Zahid Oruj has temporarily suspended his role as the head of the Center for Social Research due to the upcoming presidential elections. Currently, the Central Election Commission has confirmed the candidacy status of three nominees: Ilham Aliyev, Zahid Oruj, and Razi Nurullayev. The extraordinary presidential elections in Azerbaijan are scheduled for February 7.

● The master plan for the development of Baku until 2040 has been unveiled. Over the next 17 years, the population of Azerbaijan’s capital is projected to reach 3.17 million people. The plan includes relocating petrochemical enterprises from the center of Baku to Sangachal and Alyat, increasing the number of metro stations from 25 to 46, reintroducing trams in the city, and introducing metrobuses.

● According to the Global Passport Power Rank for 2024, Azerbaijan holds the 61st position. Azerbaijani citizens enjoy visa-free access to 37 countries, can obtain a visa on arrival in 46 countries, and require a visa for entry into 155 countries.

● A surge of indignation continues on social networks over the discovery of an icon depicting Stalin (pictured) in the main cathedral of Tbilisi Sameba. Historian Giorgi Kandelaki noticed the icon and shared a photograph, attributing its presence to “the Russian propaganda machine.”

● In Tbilisi and several other cities, the traditional Alilo procession occurred on Christmas Day (pictured). The event unfolds almost spontaneously, with everyone joining. Many participants dress in attire reminiscent of the occasion, portraying wise men, shepherds, leading bulls, cows, and even a camel. As always, there was a concurrent collection of donations for those in need.

● Winter conscription has commenced in Armenia.

● Today marks the 100th anniversary of the birth of the renowned director Sergei Parajanov, an ethnic Armenian by origin and a native of Tbilisi. Events will be held in Yerevan and Tbilisi to commemorate this day.

● Composer Tigran Mansuryan visited the frontline positions of the Armenian Armed Forces, ascending to the posts and engaging in conversations with military personnel.