Media monitoring in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, 13-17 November, 2023

● Today, Azerbaijan commemorates National Revival Day. On November 17, 1988, mass protests against Soviet policies initiated on Lenin Square in Baku (now Freedom Square). Concerns about the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and refugee influx led to calls for Azerbaijan’s secession from the USSR. The 17-day action involved millions, marking the largest protest in the USSR at that time. On November 22, a curfew and significant Soviet troop deployment occurred. The protesters were dispersed on the night of December 3-4, resulting in about 400 arrests (photo).

● Baku declined a meeting between the foreign ministers of Azerbaijan and Armenia in Washington, citing concerns about the U.S.’s unilateral approach risking its mediation role.

● Azerbaijan has closed its doors to American officials, deeming their visits “inappropriate” due to Washington’s demonstrated position. The Foreign Ministry of Azerbaijan stated, “The United States announced the postponement of bilateral meetings and high-level contacts, emphasizing that our bilateral relations cannot be the same as before.” Azerbaijan adopts a similar approach, asserting that relations cannot be one-sided.

● The U.S. has introduced a draft legislation denying military assistance to Azerbaijan. The document is titled the “Armenian Defense Act 2023.”

● Hikmet Hajiyev, presidential aide, praised Azerbaijan’s model for resolving the Karabakh conflict, highlighting the OSCE’s inability to address it.

● “Currently, a preliminary registration of Armenians residing in the Karabakh military region, including Khankendi, is underway, with a temporary headquarters established,” announced the head of the migration service.

● The repatriation of residents to Shusha is set to commence in February-March 2024, with an anticipated arrival of over 300 families during this phase.

● Shusha will introduce small electric buses, relocate all water, gas, and electric lines underground, including beneath sidewalks. Next year, the construction of 17 km of internal roads and streets out of the planned 56 km will commence, according to Aydin Kerimov, the special representative of the president.

● The State Security Service arrested M. Huseynzade for attempting a terrorist attack at a foreign embassy, with a 4-month preliminary arrest. It is not reported which country’s embassy the terrorist attack was attempted.

● Single fathers in Azerbaijan raising a child under three will only engage in night work with their consent, as per a labor code amendment.

● Azerbaijani Shahdag joined the Eurasian Alliance of Mountain Resorts, signing a memorandum in Tashkent.

● Azerbaijan earned 21 million manats from exporting recycled household waste products, with the Balakhani Industrial Park contributing significantly.

● Currently, Azerbaijan has 320,000 registered diabetes patients, including an increase in children with type 1 diabetes.

● The Azerbaijani national football team won 3-0 against Sweden in a European Championship qualifying match in Baku.

● “Today, there is no other oligarch in Georgian politics except Ivanishvili. He did not play any positive role in accelerating our path to the European Union,” remarked President Salome Zurabishvili. Her brother, Otar Zurabishvili, characterized Ivanishvili as a “real Russian oligarchy.”

● On November 16, Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz had a telephone conversation, discussing the positive recommendation of the European Commission to grant Georgia candidate status for joining the EU.

● Civil funeral services were held in Tbilisi’s Sameba Cathedral for 20 people considered missing during the Georgian-Abkhaz war in the early 1990s. On November 16, five people were buried with military honors, and the remains of 15 others were interred in different cemeteries as decided by their families.

● Giorgi Vashadze, leader of the Agmashenebeli Strategy, expressed confidence in the victory of the opposition coalition of the National Movement and Agmashenebeli Strategy parties in the 2024 parliamentary elections, stating, “The ruling Georgian Dream will be defeated.”

● Public TV employees protested against a bill, adopted in the first reading, that changes the financing system of the television and radio company. The bill proposes to abolish the requirement to finance Public Television and Radio Broadcasting at no less than 0.14% of the country’s GDP, a move deemed to contradict today’s reality.

● The Ministry of Health extended the free vaccination program against seasonal flu, which was supposed to end on November 15.

● Two Georgian fighters, Ramaz Petelava and Beka Lomashvili, fighting on the side of Ukraine, were killed in battles in the Donetsk region, as reported by the Georgian Legion in Ukraine. Nine more Georgian soldiers were wounded, with three in serious condition.

● Parliament elected new vice-speakers, Irakli Chikovani and Gaga Kahiani, according to the majority quota.

● The US Senate passed the draft “Armenia Defense Act 2023,” imposing a ban on military assistance to Azerbaijan.

● Baku declined the meeting of the foreign ministers of Azerbaijan and Armenia in Washington on November 20, expressing concerns about the unilateral approach of the United States and its potential impact on transport security efforts.

● Armenia submitted the original of the ratified Rome Statute to the International Court of Justice, becoming the 124th participant.

● The head of the CSTO’s joint headquarters, Anatoly Sidorov, stated that Armenia has not submitted applications or documents to leave the CSTO.

● French Ambassador to Armenia Olivier Decotigny visited Mount Tezhkar on the border with Azerbaijan, emphasizing France’s commitment to respecting Armenia’s territorial integrity and 1991 borders.

● The International Committee of the Red Cross removed 220 bodies from Nagorno-Karabakh in September-October, with the majority being victims of a fire near Stepanakert, as noted on the ICRC’s social media page.

● The US and EU are working on a plan to bring Armenia closer to transatlantic allies, according to James O’Brien, an assistant to Secretary of State Blinken.

● Yerevan and Brussels are in talks about expanding the European observer mission in Armenia and supplying non-lethal weapons, as stated in a joint release following discussions on political and security matters.

● The upcoming weeks are crucial for the peace agreement process between Armenia and Azerbaijan, says the US Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs.

● Prime Minister comments on Armenia’s relationship with the CSTO, emphasizing the organization’s lack of clarity on its responsibility in Armenia. He clarifies that Yerevan is not preparing to leave the CSTO but is giving time for considerations.

● Russian Foreign Ministry representative Maria Zakharova asserts that CSTO membership provides Armenia with necessary security amid discussions about the country’s potential exit from the bloc.

● Armenian Armed Forces plan a systemic reform of military uniforms, expected to be ready by 2024, according to the Minister of Defense.

● The Turkish parliament extends the mandate of its military in Azerbaijan for another year.

● Armenia reports 100 children born in the first 10 months of 2023 as part of the free IVF program for infertility treatment, as announced by the Minister of Health. Read more here

● Armenia acquires its first business class aircraft.

● Another 25 families (94 people) of internally displaced persons moved from Baku and other Azerbaijani cities to permanently reside in the village of Zabukh, Lachin region, increasing the village’s population to 188.

● Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs James O’Brien stated that the next few weeks will be crucial for the peace agreement process between Armenia and Azerbaijan during a hearing in the US Congress.

● Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova welcomed Baku’s assurances on the rights and security of Armenians returning to Karabakh, expressing Russia’s commitment to support the process through peacekeepers.

● Simon Mordu, Advisor to the President of the European Council Charles Michel, affirmed Azerbaijan as an important partner of the European Union in the Caucasus during a meeting with Assistant to the President of Azerbaijan Hikmet Hajiyev.

● The Turkish Parliament extended the stay of Turkish military personnel in Azerbaijan for another year, particularly those in the joint Russian-Turkish monitoring center in the Agdam region.

● First Lady of Azerbaijan Mehriban Aliyeva highlighted Azerbaijan’s support for the Palestinian people through a school built in Palestine and scholarships provided to Palestinian youth for higher education in Azerbaijan.

● Azerbaijan and Serbia signed an agreement for the supply of up to 400 million cubic meters of Azerbaijani gas to Serbia next year, with plans for a subsequent increase in volume.

● The activist and head of independent trade unions “Work Desk,” Afieddin Mamedov, had his preliminary arrest extended for another 2 months.

● Azerbaijan extradited blogger Tural Mamedov to Russia at the request of the Russian side, who is accused of organizing attacks on residents of St. Petersburg.

● Sahib Nagiyev, deputy chairman of the state committee for work with religious structures, stated that the Armenian Church in Baku is always open for worship.

● The 1/8 finals of the Azerbaijan Football Cup, featuring the Agdam club “Garabagh,” will take place at the stadium in Khankendi on December 21, as decided by the Association of Football Federations of the country.

? Image: Armenian church in the center of Baku – on Fountain Square.

● The newly appointed US Ambassador to Georgia, Robin Dunnigan, dismissed as “ridiculous” the claims by the Georgian State Security Service about an alleged coup being planned during civil society training supported by USAID, according to an interview with Radio Liberty’s Georgian office.

● Georgian citizen Levan Petriashvili, detained by the Russian military near the village of Ergneti in the Georgian-Ossetian conflict zone, has been released and is now in territory controlled by the central government, as stated by the state security service.

● The final court hearing for activist Lazare Grigoriadis, accused of violence against police during protests in Tbilisi against the foreign agents bill, has been postponed to December. Grigoriadis faces 7 to 11 years in prison, and his mother expressed doubts about a fair trial, mentioning a potential appeal for a presidential pardon.

● The parliament approved in the first reading a bill proposed by the ruling party to increase deputies’ salaries with 85 votes in favor out of 150. If fully approved, the law will be effective in 2025, impacting the next parliament’s deputies.

● Starting from 2024, the pension for former members of parliament will nearly double, reaching 1,000 lari (approximately $400) compared to the current 560.

● Opposition member Irakli Nadiradze suggested that the renovation of Rustaveli Avenue is initiated due to fears of protests related to the parliamentary elections, countering the mayor of Tbilisi’s announcement about the avenue’s reconstruction project in 2024.

● Businessman David Khidasheli decided to sell his game breeding business in the highlands, stating that he did not want to discredit his name. The sale followed a scandal around a state auction of a hunting license for 104,712 hectares of forest without informing local residents.

● The gross domestic product in 2022 recorded a 20.4% increase compared to 2021.

● In an IRI survey, 73% of participants expressed support for implementing a visa regime for Russian citizens, prohibiting them from registering businesses or buying real estate in Georgia. Additionally, 86% favored Georgia’s accession to the EU, and 79% to NATO.

Photo: Tbilisi. JAMnews/David Pipia

● “We recommend that governments initiate investigations based on sanctions against their citizens,” stated the new US Ambassador, Robin Dunigan, in an interview with the Georgian edition of Radio Liberty. The discussion focused on Otar Partskhaladze, the former Prosecutor General, subjected to American sanctions for corruption and collaboration with the Russian FSB. Read more here

● German Ambassador to Georgia, Peter Fischer, emphasized in an interview with Interpress News that “the European Union will not accept a state with questionable elections. The 2024 parliamentary elections must be free, fair, and transparent.”

● The brother of Tamaz Ginturi, killed by Russian military forces in the Georgian-Ossetian conflict zone, revealed that one of the alleged killers, Vasily Demidov, changed his first and last name. He demands that his brother’s killers be handed over to the Georgian authorities for justice.

● Formula TV showcased video footage revealing new infrastructure construction on the Abkhaz side of the Inguri Bridge.

● The son of the head of the Association for the Rescue and Protection of Street Animals, Tamaz Elizbarashvili, was arrested for a stabbing incident in Tbilisi. Elizbarashvili stated that his son Guram had a conflict with a foreign citizen while walking his dog, leading to injuries, including to Elizbarashvili himself.

●  The commander of the Georgian Legion fighting in Ukraine, Mamuka Mamulashvili, confirmed two Georgians were captured by Russia but clarified they were not part of the legion. Mamulashvili expressed doubt about any diplomatic steps from the Georgian government based on its position.

●  If doctors provide a recommendation, imprisoned ex-President Mikheil Saakashvili will be transferred from the clinic to a penitentiary institution, as announced by the Minister of Justice.

● Parliament will discuss the draft state budget for 2024 today.

● Lazare Grigoriadis’ mother, arrested for violence against police during the March protests in Tbilisi, hopes for a presidential pardon. The final hearings in his case are scheduled for November 15 and 17, with a verdict likely to be announced.

● “Baku handed over the fifth adjusted version of the peace treaty to Yerevan. The document was sent through bilateral channels with appropriate explanatory notes, expecting a response from Armenia to be presented in the near future,” said presidential aide Hikmet Hajiyev.

● “The accusations leveled by Borrell against Azerbaijan are deemed inadequate and unacceptable, deliberately distorting the realities in the South Caucasus,” stated the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry. “Open support for Armenia and threatening statements against Azerbaijan by the EU representative serve as a clear example of the bias and policy of double standards within this structure.” The day before, the EU High Representative addressed Baku, asserting that “any violation of the territorial integrity of Armenia will have serious consequences for the quality of our relations.”

● British Minister of State Leo Docherty will visit Baku next week from Armenia, with the exact date still unknown.

● Fitch Solutions predicts a stable manat exchange rate in Azerbaijan until 2027, followed by a decline to 1.75 in 2028, maintaining until 2033. The current rate is 1.70 manats per dollar.

● Azerbaijan reduces state duties for registering imported phones, with the maximum duty now set at 100 manats for smartphones over $1,001.

● Azerbaijan breaks a 10-year record by importing a significant number of live cattle from Georgia, totaling $14.856 million in January-September, according to the Georgian Statistics Service.

● Azerbaijan achieves a record level of grain purchases from Russia, with 1,535 tons shipped from North Ossetia in 10 months, an 11-fold increase from the previous year, mainly comprising wheat, corn, and barley.

● Azerbaijan will host the II World Championship in Chovgan, a sport similar to polo, in September 2024, featuring six teams.

● Nikol Pashinyan informed Lukashenko in a phone call that he won’t attend the CSTO summit in Minsk, a decision regretted by the Kremlin, emphasizing the value of such meetings for exchanging opinions.

● The Armenian Deputy Head of Foreign Ministry stated that negotiations on visa liberalization with the EU are expected to begin in the next few months.

● Armenia expresses readiness to sign a peace treaty by year-end, exploring various locations including Washington, according to RA Security Council Secretary Armen Grigoryan.

● A ruling party deputy proposes raising the conscription age in Armenia, citing low thresholds compared to Azerbaijan and Turkey.

● Levon Kocharyan, son of the second President of Armenia, recently released from arrest, joins the opposition “Armenia” faction as a member of parliament.

● Ararat Mirzoyan announces Yerevan’s intention to sign a comprehensive and enhanced partnership agreement with the UK.

● The Ministry of Social Labor reports 3,490 migrants from Nagorno-Karabakh registered with the unified social service, seeking employment opportunities.

● “The EU warns Baku that any violation of Armenia’s territorial integrity will lead to serious consequences for the quality of relations with Brussels,” stated Borrel.

● The Armenian Embassy in the UK has moved to a new building, and the opening ceremony was attended by Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan and British Trade Minister Timothy Minton.

● Tatul Asilian, who previously called for the “deportation” of IDPs from Nagorno-Karabakh participating in anti-government rallies, has been expelled from the ruling party.

● Yerevan hosted the first-ever festival of the traditional Armenian dish Hapamy (pumpkin with rice, dried fruits, and nuts). The event introduced guests to Armenian cuisine and culture. A video demonstrating how it is cooked is available here

●  The main Christmas tree of the country has started to be installed at the Republic Square in the center of Yerevan.

● Yerevan Metro will replace 4 kilometers of worn-out rails, with the replacement expected to be completed within two months.

● Early this morning, 10 more IDP families (40 people) left for the town of Lachin, bringing the total residents in the town to 1,245.

●  Public transportation in Lachin will start operating in the coming days, with 712 facilities already built in the city center. Construction is ongoing for 75 non-residential facilities, 628 private houses, and 9 residential buildings with 144 apartments.

● “Azerbaijan has presented a transparent program regarding the right to coexistence and the return of Armenians to Karabakh. However, Armenia denies the right of Azerbaijanis to return to Armenia and has not presented any of its views on this issue,” said Ilham Aliyev at a meeting with Pia Kauman, head of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly.

● “Armenia has failed to fulfill its commitments to establish communication between East Zangezur and Nakhichevan,” Aliyev added during the same meeting.

● The term of Turkish servicemen’s stay in Azerbaijan may be extended for another year, as the Turkish President has sent a relevant bill to the Parliament. This concerns Turkish servicemen in the Turkish-Russian joint monitoring center in the Agdam district.

● A mine exploded during a fire near Novoivanovka village in the Gadabay district, near the Armenian-Azerbaijani border. Fortunately, there were no casualties.

● An Azerbaijani officer shot himself, confirmed by the Terter Military Prosecutor’s Office. A criminal case has been opened in connection with the incident.

● Azerbaijan will allocate $2.35 billion from the state budget in 2024 for the restoration of Karabakh and Eastern Zangezur, according to the Finance Minister.

● Belgrade expects to start gas supplies from Azerbaijan by the end of 2023. Serbia will also be able to connect to TAP and TANAP gas pipelines, as stated by the Serbian Minister of Mines and Energy.

● A monument will be erected in Khojaly to commemorate the victims of the Khojaly tragedy during the first Karabakh war.

● The Khankendi City Stadium has been transferred to the balance of the Ministry of Youth and Sports of Azerbaijan, and the ministry invited representatives of the PFL and AFFA to familiarize themselves with the arena for potential soccer matches.

In the photo: Lachin today

● Makuna Gochiashvili, mother of a child with achondroplasia, announced the arrival of urgently needed medicine in Tbilisi for children with this condition. After months of advocacy and protests, achondroplasia was officially added to the state program for rare diseases. Read more here

● Ben Mallett, former adviser to ex-British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, was denied entry into Georgia, where he planned to meet with pro-Western opposition representatives. The Georgian Ministry of Internal Affairs cited the high number of daily entries and no plans to disclose personal affairs.

● The Independent reported on Ben Mallett’s entry denial, quoting the opposition National Movement’s deputy secretary, Alexander Krevo-Asatiani, who noted Mallett’s surprise ban, given his recent visit to Georgia.

● Member of the European Parliament Rasa Juknevičienė stated, “The European Union has opened a window for Georgia, as no one wants this country to remain under Putin’s influence.”

● Former Georgian Defense Minister Tengiz Kitovani, a key figure in the Georgian-Abkhaz conflict and subsequent civil war, passed away at 85.

● Tamaz Ginturi’s family, killed in the Georgian-Ossetian conflict zone, has been granted victim status.

● Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili met with Chinese Ambassador Zhou Qian, expressing regret over President Zurabishvili’s critical statement against China. The president commented on potential justice for Putin and Xi Jinping.

● The “Sirtskhvilia” (“Shame”) movement called for support for Lazare Grigoriadis, on trial for violence against police during March protests, at the Tbilisi City Court on November 15 and 17.

● Radio Liberty published a comprehensive article on the 20th anniversary of the Rose Revolution in Georgia, featuring an exclusive interview with the central figure of that revolution, imprisoned ex-President Mikheil Saakashvili. Saakashvili remarked, “Putin perceived the Rose Revolution as a conspiracy against Russia.”

● Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze stated, “Why discuss Russia? Georgia’s foremost challenge today is the radical opposition, which has attempted and is still trying to hinder the country from attaining EU candidate status and other facets of European integration.”

● “Deputy from the ruling party Anri Okhanashvili stated that the ruling party is not discussing changing the electoral threshold. On July 7, 2022, the chairman of the Georgian Dream, Irakli Kobakhidze, stated that if the European Union grants candidate status to Georgia, the parliamentary elections in 2024 will be held under a fully proportional system and with a 2% threshold. The public fears that the elections will still be held with the 5 percent threshold, albeit under a fully proportional system.

● EU Ambassador Pavel Gerchinsky emphasized, “Unity is necessary. When society is united, great things happen.”

●  The Youth Affairs Agency was transferred from the Ministry of Culture to the Ministry of Education.

● “Yerevan is prepared for a trilateral meeting in Brussels,” says Armenian Security Council Secretary Armen Grigoryan at the Armenia-Europe conference.

● U.S. Congressman Adam Schiff urges sanctions on Baku for alleged violations of Armenian prisoners’ rights.

● Armenia awaits Russian study results on the Sevan pine tree drying issue, expected by the end of November. The data was sent for analysis in the summer. Read more here

● Armenian Foreign Ministry head’s visit to the UK on November 13-14 for the inaugural meeting of the Strategic Dialogue.

● “The EU’s transparent goal is to oust Russia from Transcaucasia and Central Asia, but it will not succeed,” states the Russian Foreign Ministry.

● Over 50% of those surveyed by Armenian organization GALLUP express mistrust in Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. Nearly 60% disapprove of the government’s work, over 64% the parliament, and almost 54% the president.

● President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Pia Kauma, Special Representative for the South Caucasus Kari Henriksen, as well as the organization’s Secretary-General Roberto Montella, have arrived in Baku. The discussion agenda includes cooperation between Azerbaijan and the OSCE PA and the situation in the region.

● Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov traveled to Morocco, where he will participate in a meeting of the Azerbaijan-Morocco intergovernmental commission.

● “The Zangezur corridor is a strategic project that will give a powerful impetus to world trade. This could become an alternative route to the Middle Corridor, connecting Asia with Europe,” said Presidential Representative for Special Assignments Elchin Amirbekov. “If Armenia dislikes the word ‘corridor,’ you can use terms like ‘transition,’ ‘road,’ ‘communication,’ and others. If she does not fulfill her obligations, we have an alternative option.”

● Baku condemned the “provocative and unfounded” statements of Iranian Ambassador to Armenia Mehdi Sobhani, who told Armenian media that “the people of Karabakh must have their rights and the right to self-determination.” Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry spokesman Aykhan Hajizadeh stated, “These statements undermine relations between Azerbaijan and Iran and also contradict the opinions expressed by the Iranian president during a meeting with Aliyev in Tashkent.” He added, “Against the background of Raisi’s words and the positive dynamics in the development of bilateral relations, the Azerbaijani side regards the Iranian ambassador’s statements as a provocation.”

● An Azerbaijani-Uzbek enterprise for the production of passenger cars was inaugurated. Azərmaş CP LLC expects to produce 30 thousand cars per year. Assembly, welding of bodies, and painting of cars will be carried out on the complex’s premises, employing 1,200 people.

● A charity race dedicated to Azerbaijan’s victory in the second Karabakh war was held on Baku Boulevard, covering a route of 10 kilometers.

● The 15th pomegranate festival took place in Goychay, featuring products from 30 villages in the region.

● “The upcoming parliamentary elections in 2024 are a chance for Georgia to break free from the one-party system,” says President Salome Zurabishvili.

● President Zurabishvili envisions Georgia, Ukraine, and Moldova joining the European Union simultaneously.

● The opposition National Movement stated that the authorities did not allow the party’s consultant, a British citizen, into the country. He arrived in Georgia a week ago, but now he has been denied entry.

● Georgian fighter Irakli Kurtsikidze loses his life in battles against Russian aggression in Ukraine.

● Andria Dzhagmaidze, head of the Public Relations Service of the Patriarchate, expresses regret at the funeral of Tamaz Ginturi, emphasizing the need to prevent reckless actions escalating tensions.

●  Starting December 22, Turkish company Pegasus initiates flights through Kutaisi airport.

● The Georgian film “Blackbird, Blackbird, Blackberry” wins two awards at the international film festival in Cottbus, Germany, with Eka Chavleishvili receiving the Best Role award and the film itself honored with the Ecumenical Jury Prize.

● Tbilisi International Film Festival celebrates the Day of European Art-House Cinema at the Amirani cinema.

? In memoriam: Irakli Kurtsikidze, who lost his life in Ukraine.

Media monitoring in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, 6-10 November, 2023