Top stories in Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Georgia from September 23-27, 2024

● According to the Central Election Commission (CEC), 60 polling stations will be open in 42 countries for the parliamentary elections on October 26. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs commented, saying that “some interested parties have actively tried to politicize the opening of polling stations abroad and mislead the public. However, the CEC will successfully open polling stations in 42 countries based on official data.”

● This year, more polling stations will be open outside Georgia for the parliamentary elections compared to the 2020 elections, including in countries where no polling stations were previously available. Under the law, a polling station is opened if at least 50 voters are registered at the consulate and serves no more than 3,000 people. Georgia’s election law does not provide any alternative participation rules for Georgian citizens abroad, aside from consular registration. This includes letters sent to the CEC by Georgians living abroad. “Everything is being done according to the law, and it is completely unacceptable for anyone to attempt to manipulate the CEC,” stated the commission.

● President Salome Zourabichvili called on Georgian citizens living abroad to participate in the parliamentary elections on October 26, saying that these elections “will decide the fate of the country.” She added, “It’s in your hands to choose whether Georgia becomes truly independent, European, and democratic, or returns to an uncertain past with Russia and its influence, where you and your children probably won’t want to return.” Zourabichvili also expressed regret that not enough polling stations were opened abroad.

● President Salome Zourabichvili condemned the new election banners of the ruling Georgian Dream party as “deeply shameful.” The banners feature war-torn cities in Ukraine alongside picturesque Georgian locations with the slogan “I chose peace.” Read more here

● The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine issued a statement denouncing the use of images of destroyed Ukrainian cities in the campaign advertisements of the Georgian Dream party. “The terrible price of our resistance is also the price of peace in Georgia,” the statement read.

● “We will welcome you with open arms,” Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze said in an address to the people of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. He noted that 20% of Georgia’s territory is occupied, though he did not specify by whom and made no mention of Russia. More details here.

● Joe Biden announced nearly $8 billion in additional military aid to Ukraine, “which will help Ukraine win the war.”

● The opposition party For Georgia, led by former Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia, presented its candidate list for the upcoming parliamentary elections. Gakharia tops the list, followed by former government officials who held key positions during his time as Interior Minister and Prime Minister. Key campaign promises include EU membership, raising the minimum wage to 950 lari (about $350), increasing pensions by 200 lari, improving social support, and large-scale infrastructure projects, including the expansion of the Tbilisi metro by 15 stations.

● The opposition electoral blocs “Strong Georgia: Lelo, For the People, For Freedom” and “Unity – National Movement” have also presented their candidate lists for the October 26 parliamentary elections.

● The ruling Georgian Dream party has unveiled its list of 170 candidates, 20 more than the number of seats in parliament. The party explained that the list is prepared “in case of securing a supermajority in parliament.” The list is headed by the party’s honorary chairman, oligarch Bidzina Ivanishvili.

● U.S. television channel Sky News published an investigation into how sanctioned cars are being imported into Russia via Georgia and Armenia. Read more here

● Azerbaijan is marking Memorial Day today, commemorating the start of the Second Karabakh War exactly four years ago. Azerbaijan refers to it as the Patriotic War, which ended with the liberation of territories held by Armenia for nearly 30 years.

●  “Bayramov and Mirzoyan agreed to make additional efforts to finalize the ‘Peace and Interstate Relations’ agreement as soon as possible,” stated the Azerbaijani MFA after the foreign ministers’ meeting in New York, mediated by U.S. Secretary of State.

● “Armenian forces shelled Azerbaijani army positions in the direction of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic,” reported Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Defense.

● “Economic growth stands at 4.3%. Considering global trends and the geopolitical situation, this is a very positive indicator, surpassing growth rates in many developed countries,” said Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev at an economic meeting.

● Azerbaijan proposed that Serbia join the “Caspian–Black Sea–Europe” green energy corridor. The topic was discussed during a meeting between Azerbaijani Energy Minister Parviz Shahbazov and Serbian Deputy Prime Minister Irena Vujović.

● Hotel prices in Azerbaijan have risen. In 4-star hotels listed on online booking platforms, the average nightly rate is 118.3 AZN (around $70), up 17.1% from last year. In 3-star hotels, the average price is 83.1 AZN (about $49), with a 26.1% increase.

● The traditional international chess tournament in memory of Vugar Gashimov has begun in Shusha. Azerbaijani grandmaster Vugar Gashimov passed away in 2014 at the age of 27. Since then, an annual international tournament in his memory has been held in Azerbaijan.

● Agdam football club “Qarabag” lost 0-3 in their first UEFA Europa League match in London against local team “Tottenham.” The game started 35 minutes late due to the Azerbaijani team’s bus being stuck in London traffic.

● “Peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan is more attainable than ever, said Nikol Pashinyan at the UN General Assembly session. According to him, one of the key reasons is the provision for joint border delimitation commissions—the first bilateral document signed by both sides.

● The President of Turkey stated that Yerevan is seeking Ankara’s assistance in signing a peace agreement with Baku. “Looking at Pashinyan’s approach, we see no negativity. They want us, as Turkey, to help facilitate the signing of a peace deal between Armenia and Azerbaijan. We are already working towards this. Our expectation is that the issues between Armenia and Azerbaijan will be gradually resolved because both sides are genuinely for peace,” said Erdoğan.

● A trilateral meeting between Mirzoyan, Blinken, and Bayramov took place in New York. Armenia’s Foreign Ministry stated that Mirzoyan and Bayramov agreed to make additional efforts towards finalizing an agreement on “Establishing Peace and Inter-State Relations” as soon as possible, according to the Armenian Foreign Ministry.

● The draft state budget for next year has been approved—defense spending in 2025 will increase by 20%, reaching approximately 665 billion drams ($1.713 billion).

● Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili called U.S. President Joe Biden’s decision to cancel the invitation for Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze to the traditional reception for world leaders in New York “regrettable.” He expressed confidence that “our partners will reconsider this decision.” “We are ready for an open discussion with our strategic partner,” Darchiashvili stated. More on the cancellation of the Georgian PM’s invitation can be found here.

● The U.S. Embassy in Georgia cited “growing concern over the Georgian government’s anti-democratic actions, disinformation, and negative rhetoric towards the U.S. and Western partners” as the reason for canceling the invitation and declining a meeting with the Georgian delegation.

● Mamuka Mdinaradze, Secretary of the ruling party, posted on social media that “Kobakhidze was intentionally humiliated.” Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili suggested the U.S. “learn hospitality from the Georgian people.”

● Former U.S. Ambassador to Georgia Ian Kelly said, “It’s likely no one should be surprised by the Biden administration’s decision not to invite Prime Minister Kobakhidze and his delegation to the reception. This followed a series of insults and lies directed at U.S. senators and the ambassador by the Prime Minister and other Georgian government officials. We will be watching closely to see what happens in Georgia over the next few weeks.”

● Minister of Culture Tea Tsulukiani announced her resignation. She has been placed in the top ten of the ruling Georgian Dream’s list for the parliamentary elections on October 26. “September 26 will be my last working day. I am following orders as they were given. I don’t yet know what I will do in Parliament; my role will become clearer later,” Tsulukiani said. She has served as Minister of Culture since 2021, during which time she has faced protests from nearly the entire creative community, who accuse her of incompetence and unjustified dismissals, demanding her resignation. More details here.

● Former Georgian President Giorgi Margvelashvili has joined the opposition election bloc “Strong Georgia,” which includes the parties Lelo, For the People, Freedom Square, and Citizens. However, Margvelashvili said he will not be included in the bloc’s list of potential MPs. “I don’t think being an MP is my role. What matters is being in politics. Today, my role is the election campaign,” Margvelashvili stated. In 2013, he was elected president with full support from the leader of the ruling Georgian Dream party, oligarch Bidzina Ivanishvili, but soon became one of his strongest opponents.

📸 Street art and tourists in Tbilisi. The graffiti on the wall depicts “Mzia and Zezva,” ancient humans whose remains were discovered near the Georgian town of Dmanisi in the Kvemo Kartli region.

● Yerevan has proposed signing the already agreed-upon articles of the peace treaty with Baku before the COP-29 summit to “stimulate” the peace process. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan made this statement during his address to the UN General Assembly.

● Today in New York, the foreign ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan will meet with U.S. Secretary of State Blinken.

● Armenia and Cyprus will continue conducting joint military exercises, Cyprus Defense Minister Vasilis Palmas said in Yerevan after meeting with his Armenian counterpart (pictured).

● Armenia’s parliament has established a commission to review the living conditions of displaced persons from Karabakh. The decision was made following the request of at least one-quarter of the MPs.

● Bilateral trade between Armenia and China exceeded $1.4 billion, growing by 40% in 2024, along with an increase in Chinese tourists.  This was stated by China’s Chargé d’Affaires Min Chen at a reception marking the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China.

● The wife of the Prime Minister, Anna Akopyan, attended a reception in New York organized on behalf of the First Lady of the United States. Social media features a video showing her chatting and warmly shaking hands with Emine Erdoğan, the wife of the President of Turkey, in the corridors of the UN General Assembly (see video below).

● A tobacco company linked to former MP and prominent businessman Gagik Tsarukyan has returned $745,000 in evaded taxes to the state budget, according to the Investigative Committee.

● Today, the first displaced families returned to the city of Jabrayil, which was liberated during the Second Karabakh War in the fall of 2020. In the initial phase, 36 families (117 people) were resettled.

● Today, the foreign ministers of Azerbaijan and Armenia will meet in New York with the participation of U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken. The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry confirmed the information.

● “We demand that France, whose foreign policy has failed in many parts of the world, cease its destructive activities in our region,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated. “They portray Armenia as a peaceful victim, but for nearly 30 years, this country occupied Azerbaijani territories, displaced about a million Azerbaijanis from their homeland, committed mass killings and crimes against humanity, and ignores the right of hundreds of thousands of displaced Azerbaijanis to return. This shows how unjust France’s policies are.” The statement followed comments from the French president during his recent UN General Assembly speech, where he said, “Amid pressure from Azerbaijan on Armenia and territorial claims, France stands shoulder to shoulder with Armenia.”

● “There is no region or entity called ‘Nagorno-Karabakh.’ A year ago, Azerbaijan ended Armenia’s illegal military presence in the Karabakh region and the existence of its separatist regime,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Aykhan Hajizadeh responded to a statement from Germany’s Foreign Ministry, which said: “A year ago, Nagorno-Karabakh again became a site of military conflict. Thousands fled their homes to Armenia.”

● The Foreign Ministry warned Azerbaijani citizens not to visit areas near the Israeli-Lebanese border and to follow local safety instructions due to the state of emergency declared in Israel.

● The Foreign Minister discussed the post-conflict situation in the South Caucasus with the UN High Commissioner. The meeting between Jeyhun Bayramov and Volker Türk took place on the sidelines of the 79th session of the UN General Assembly in New York.

● The special quarantine regime in Azerbaijan has been extended until January 1, 2025.

● MEP Rasa Juknevičienė: “If the situation in Georgia worsens and becomes more anti-democratic, the suspension of the visa-free regime could be considered.”

● The Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association and ISFED deemed the Anti-Corruption Bureau’s decision against Transparency International-Georgia and the “Choose Europe” movement illegal, urging its reversal. They argue this interpretation of the law risks restricting freedom of speech and expression. Read more here

● The “My Vote – EU” coalition, with over 30 NGOs, echoed these concerns, claiming the prime minister is using the Anti-Corruption Bureau to pressure Georgian NGOs.

● Transparency International-Georgia stated that the Anti-Corruption Bureau’s decision “lacks both factual and legal grounds.” The organization, along with its director Eka Gigauri, remains committed to Georgia’s pro-European path, which aligns with the country’s constitution and the aspirations of most citizens. The statement further notes that they are waiting to receive the official decision from the Bureau and will then take the necessary legal steps.

● Opposition members met with the PACE delegation. National Movement’s Khatia Dekanoidze reported that partners delivered harsh critiques, warning that “continued Russian influence could lead Georgia down a path similar to Belarus.”

● The Central Election Commission (CEC) called on President Salome Zourabichvili to stop politically motivated attacks on the election administration, accusing “interested parties” of misleading voters.

● In the past two months, political parties have raised over 9 million lari ($3.3 million) in donations, with more than 8 million lari going to the ruling Georgian Dream party.

● Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili criticized external interference in the electoral process, saying the opposition’s inability to win fuels such involvement.

● Journalists noted that Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze and Georgian Dream delegates did not applaud President Joe Biden’s speech at the UN General Assembly, where he expressed strong support for Ukraine’s victory.

● Deputy Chairman of the Russian Duma’s CIS Committee, Konstantin Zatulin, stated: “The train for Tbilisi has long since left. There will be no return of Abkhazia or South Ossetia to Georgia. Russia will not influence or pressure these republics, as some may hope. There is no plan to change our recognition of them for any fleeting benefits.” His comment followed hints from Georgia’s ruling party, Georgian Dream, that relations with Abkhazia and South Ossetia might shift if they win the October 26 parliamentary elections.

● A Sky News investigation is in progress, revealing that luxury cars continue to reach Russia via South Caucasus countries, including Georgia, despite Western sanctions.

● The popular club BASSIANI announced that it is canceling its event on October 25 to encourage citizens to vote in the parliamentary elections on October 26. “These are some of the most important elections in the history of independent Georgia. Society faces an existential threat, and it is everyone’s duty to make their voice heard and act for fundamental changes in the destructive situation in the country, which has led to poverty, emigration, and despair,” the statement reads.

● Ridetech Georgia plans to appeal a 4,000-lari (approximately $1,500) fine imposed by the Georgian Personal Data Protection Service. The fine was issued after it was discovered that the company’s mobile apps, Yandex GO and Yandex Pro, were connected to servers in Russia and transmitted users’ personal data, including device IP addresses, to those servers. Read more here

● Russian military forces have unlawfully detained another Georgian citizen in the Georgian-Ossetian conflict zone, near the village of Artsevi. The State Security Service of Georgia reported that the “hotline” with the EU monitoring mission has been activated, and the information has been shared with the co-chairs of the Geneva International Discussions and international partners.

● Starting September 30, Georgian citizens will be able to travel visa-free to Hong Kong.

Photo David Pipia/JAMnews

● “The normalization of relations between Baku and Yerevan will also impact Turkey’s relations with Armenia,” stated Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan during his speech at the 79th session of the UN General Assembly in the United States.

● The speakers of the parliaments of Azerbaijan and Armenia will meet in October in Geneva, according to the Inter-Parliamentary Union. Sahiba Gafarova and Alen Simonyan plan to discuss a peace treaty between Baku and Yerevan.

● “Since 2020, approximately 17.5 billion manats (over $10 billion) have been allocated for the reconstruction of Karabakh and Eastern Zangezur. Next year, 4 billion manats (around $2.5 billion) are planned for these purposes,” reported Prime Minister Ali Asadov during a cabinet meeting.

● Azerbaijan and Turkey signed several agreements on military-technical cooperation in Baku. Turkish Minister of National Defense Yaşar Güler is in Azerbaijan as part of the 5th International Defense Exhibition ADEX.

● The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry reported on the return of Azerbaijani citizens detained in Chechnya. Following the detention of citizens Elhan Shirinov, Vugar Magerramov, and Nihad Rzaev, a note was sent to the Russian Foreign Ministry by the Azerbaijani side. As a result of negotiations on September 21, the return of these citizens to Azerbaijan was secured. Previously, it was reported that the detained Azerbaijanis in Chechnya were threatened with being sent to fight in Ukraine.

● Azerbaijani Railways unexpectedly raised prices by 50% for electric train rides. For instance, a trip from Baku to Sumgait, which previously cost 0.80 manats (about $0.47), will now cost 1.2 manats (approximately $0.70).

● A single-barrel gun produced jointly by Azerbaijan and Spain is on display at the ADEX-2024 defense exhibition in Baku (as shown in the photo).

● Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan met in New York. Yerevan has not disclosed details of the meeting. Ankara reported that the meeting took place at the “Turkish House” in New York. The Turkish President noted progress in relations with official Yerevan and expressed a desire to see a “strong friendship” between Armenia and Azerbaijan. A photo was released showing Pashinyan holding Erdoğan’s book titled “A More Just World is Possible.”

● The Constitutional Court of Armenia reviewed the regulations regarding the work of commissions for delimiting the border with Azerbaijan and will express its position on the document soon. The head of the court, Arman Dilanyan, assured that if there are provisions in the document that contradict the country’s interests, the court is free to communicate that.

● The Enforcement of Judgments Service has ceased operations at the “Kecharis” hotel in the resort town of Tsaghkadzor, owned by the former head of this service and ex-deputy Migran Poghosyan. It has been reported that the building was found to have violations by the inspection body responsible for urban development, technical, and fire safety, which set a specific deadline for their rectification, but nothing has been done.

● The Investigative Committee has launched a criminal case under the article “causing serious harm to health by negligence” following an incident involving a 10-year-old girl from the city of Vedi. The girl has been in a coma and is in critical condition due to injuries sustained at school since September 19. Details about what specifically happened to her are currently unknown. The girl’s parents were involved in an accident while en route to Yerevan. They were taken to the hospital; the father has already been discharged, while the mother remains under medical supervision.

● Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze called reports of potential international sanctions against ruling party leader and oligarch Bidzina Ivanishvili “blackmail.” He claimed that “Ivanishvili’s $2 billion assets in Europe are already frozen, and now there are threats of formal sanctions.” Kobakhidze accused Western powers of trying to pressure Ivanishvili into actions against Georgia’s national interests, but stated, “This blackmail is doomed to fail.”

● President Salome Zourabichvili stated at an emergency briefing that the “pro-Russian orientation of the government is becoming increasingly obvious, leading the country toward internal confrontation.” Read more here

● Zourabichvili urged citizens to participate in the parliamentary elections on October 26, calling it “a choice for independence, progress, and Europe.”

● On October 8, the European Parliament will discuss the situation in Georgia. EU High Representative Josep Borrell will present a report titled “The Failure of Democracy and Threats to Political Pluralism in Georgia,” and a corresponding resolution is expected.

● The government has issued mineral extraction licenses in the Adjara region to a company owned by Nargiza Chavchanidze, wife of Georgia’s ambassador to Egypt, Mikhail Tigishvili, according to Transparency International-Georgia. TI’s investigation also revealed that the ambassador and his wife are involved in 20 companies, none of which were disclosed in their 2024 asset declarations.

● Former U.S. Assistant Secretary of State David Kramer commented on reports that ruling party leader Bidzina Ivanishvili plans to include Georgia’s ambassador to the U.S., David Zalkaliani, in the government, saying it “would not be a wise move.” Before becoming ambassador in 2022, Zalkaliani was Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs.

● The Personal Data Protection Service is investigating the possible illegal transfer of Georgian citizens’ data to Russia. The company “Ridetech Georgia” operates taxi services through the apps “Yandex GO” and “Yandex Pro,” which were found to be connected to servers in Russia. Read more here

● Two popular public figures, Nana Malashkhia and Iva Chkonia, have joined the pre-election “Coalition for Change,” formed by former allies of ex-president Mikheil Saakashvili. This is Nana Malashkhia, who became well-known after photos of her went viral during the protests against the “foreign agents” law, showing her defiantly waving the EU flag while being knocked down by water from a riot control water cannon. Iva Chkonia, co-founder of the organization *Choose Europe*, also joined the coalition. The new members were introduced to voters by coalition leaders Zurab Japaridze and Elene Khoshtaria.

● The “United National Movement” (founded by ex-president Saakashvili) announced that Saakashvili “will be immediately released” if the party wins the October parliamentary elections. During a meeting with voters in Zugdidi, party representatives also promised “European pensions, European wages, European healthcare, European education, and yes, a European passport.”

● The court upheld the detention of activists Omar Okruibelashvili and Saba Meparishvili, arrested during protests against the “foreign agents” law. They are charged with causing property damage, including the destruction of a fence near the parliament, valued at 400 GEL (about $150).

● Otar Zourabichvili, brother of the Georgian president and head of the Georgian community in France, stated that the Georgian authorities did not invite the community to a commemorative event in Leuville, near Paris. The event is dedicated to the 1924 uprising and the execution of 11 members of the Democratic Republic’s founding assembly. In a Facebook post, Zourabichvili criticized the government’s actions against Georgian citizens abroad ahead of the parliamentary elections.

In the photo: “Who in Georgia is hiding their assets?” reads the poster illustrating Transparency International-Georgia’s investigation.

● Speaking at the UN in New York, Nikol Pashinyan emphasized positive thinking, stating that he would not accuse neighboring countries from the podium. “The future exists,” he reminded, echoing his party’s slogan, and expressed his desire to contribute to building a future for the region.

● Armenia ranks 10th among Iran’s largest trading partners in the region, according to Tehran Times, citing data from Iran’s customs administration. Non-oil trade increased by 6% from March to August this year, reaching around $192 million.

● “Do not bring iPhone 16s into Armenia at the request of strangers,” warned the State Revenue Committee. A spokesperson explained that individuals often approach travelers at foreign airports to ask them to deliver new iPhones to contacts in Armenia, which is a disguised business activity. The committee will now enforce stricter customs checks to prevent the import of gadgets intended for resale.

● Armenian chess players Elina Danielyan and Anna Sargsyan won individual bronze medals at the World Chess Olympiad in Budapest (pictured). Danielyan scored 7.5 out of 10 points, and Sargsyan scored 8 out of 10, according to the Armenian Chess Federation.

● “The closure of Azerbaijan’s land borders has saved us from major disasters. Even today, while the borders remain closed, dangerous attempts are made but stopped,” said President Ilham Aliyev at the first session of the newly elected parliament.

● “Armenia, and any country backing it, must understand that they cannot speak to us in ultimatums. We are ready and capable of responding to any challenge,” stated Ilham Aliyev.

● Sahiba Gafarova was re-elected as Speaker of the Azerbaijani Parliament.

● On the sidelines of the 79th UN General Assembly, Azerbaijan’s Foreign Minister met with the EU Climate Commissioner. Jeyhun Bayramov and Wopke Hoekstra discussed priorities for the COP29 environmental forum to be held in Azerbaijan in November. Here are the details on how Baku will host COP29

● A tree-planting event took place in Baku’s Ganjlik Park with the participation of First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva (pictured).

● Polad Bulbuloglu was recalled from his position as Azerbaijan’s ambassador to Russia after being elected as a member of parliament.

● Computer drills named Eternity-2024 involving Azerbaijani, Turkish, and Georgian military personnel have begun in Georgia.

● The 5th Azerbaijan International Defense Exhibition (ADEX) opens today in Baku, the region’s largest event dedicated to the defense industry. Simultaneously, the 14th International Exhibition “Internal Security, Protection, and Rescue Equipment – Securex Caspian” will take place. Around 270 companies from 38 countries are expected to participate.

● Azerbaijan Railways is launching free Wi-Fi services at major stations, including Baku, Koroglu, Baku Khanov, Sabunchu, Pirshagi, Sumgayit, Goran, Ganja, Agstafa, and Gabala.

● A Chess Association of Turkic-speaking countries was established, with founding members including Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and Kyrgyzstan.

● Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze is expected to announce in his upcoming speech at the annual UN General Assembly in New York the potential signing of a non-aggression pact with the separatist regimes of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, according to TV channel Formula. Russia and representatives of these two self-proclaimed republics have long demanded such a pact at the Geneva negotiations. For years, Georgia has unilaterally pledged this commitment, including at the UN and the European Parliament. Many experts and journalists from “Formula” believe that if such a treaty is signed, Tbilisi would, in effect, be recognizing Sukhumi and Tskhinvali as parties to the conflict and subjects of international law, rather than Russia.

● Formula also reports that, according to its sources, Bidzina Ivanishvili, the honorary chairman of the ruling “Georgian Dream” party, has received a personal message from Washington stating that the U.S. will cease communication with Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze and his administration. This followed a meeting between the prime minister and the U.S. ambassador to Georgia, during which Kobakhidze openly threatened Washington. The same sources claim that Ivanishvili intends to recall Georgia’s ambassador from the U.S.

● Thirty members of the European Parliament have urged the EU to publish a clear action plan if the Georgian government fails to ensure free elections on October 26. Their proposals include halting government funding, imposing severe sanctions on key figures, and informing the Georgian public about these measures. Read more here

● A delegation from the PACE arrives in Georgia today to assess the pre-election situation. PACE previously stated that free parliamentary elections scheduled for October 26 are under threat. The delegation will meet with officials, party representatives, civil society, and media, with findings to be shared in a separate statement.

● Political analyst Gia Khukhashvili: “According to my sources, Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze reached out to high-ranking officials in Israel, asking for help to arrange an urgent meeting with U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan. If true, this is yet another moral low. Kobakhidze, who recently visited Iran and stood beside terrorists obsessed with destroying Israel, is now seeking help from Israeli politicians.”

● Under a new decree from the Minister of Justice, media outlets and NGOs listed in the “foreign agents” registry are no longer required to provide personal identification numbers, but banking data and salary amounts must still be reported. This amendment was made on the 51st day after the “foreign agents” law came into effect. Nearly three weeks later, the Constitutional Court has yet to issue a decision on three lawsuits filed against the law, one of which challenges the publication of personal information.

● The ruling “Georgian Dream” party released a campaign video featuring prominent civil society figures alongside the message “No to the moral degradation of society.” Major NGOs condemned the video as incitement to violence. According to the election law, all TV channels are required to broadcast permitted campaign ads from parliamentary political parties. However, three independent channels—Mtavari, Pirveli, and Formula—refused to air the clip and were fined 5,000 lari (about $2,800). If unpaid, they will incur new fines that will be double the original amount. Transparency International Georgia, whose staff also appeared in the video, said the ad shows members of at least two organizations registered as election observers for the October 26 parliamentary elections. The TV channels have appealed to the court, and Transparency has filed complaints with the Central Election Commission and the regulator, requesting the video’s removal.

● Russian businesses now account for approximately 8.1% of all registered companies in Georgia. Russian-owned enterprises have penetrated every industry, often through offshore entities, and many are registered at fictitious addresses. Detailed findings from IDFI can be found here.

● In Tbilisi, the famous transgender model Kesaria Abramidze, who was brutally murdered by her partner, was laid to rest. More than a thousand people, including President Salome Zourabichvili, attended the funeral. This murder has shocked society, bringing renewed attention to femicide and transphobia in the country. Kesaria was killed a day after a homophobic law against “LGBT propaganda” was passed.

● Greek media report that a Georgian citizen has been arrested for attacking police officers at Thessaloniki airport. During the arrest, he fought back and even bit one officer on the leg. He was sentenced to 29 months in prison, and an investigation revealed he had been living illegally in Greece and was trying to leave the country when he was apprehended.

● Azerbaijan’s Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov is on a working visit to the U.S. to participate in the 79th session of the UN General Assembly in New York.

● Today, the candidates for Speaker and Deputy Speaker of Parliament from the ruling New Azerbaijan Party will be selected. On Saturday, the Constitutional Court of Azerbaijan approved the results of the September 1 snap elections for the Milli Majlis.

● The disposal of expired and unusable ammunition will begin today at the Seyfeli training ground.

● An Azerbaijani soldier, Musa Bayramov, died from a gunshot wound in the Gubadli district. A criminal case has been opened.

📸 Baku waterfront at night.

● Nikol Pashinyan has arrived in the U.S. The government press office has not disclosed his scheduled meetings, but Turkish media report that Turkey’s president plans to meet the Armenian prime minister on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. There are also speculations about a possible meeting with the Azerbaijani side.

● Armenia’s men’s chess team placed 6th, and the women’s team 5th at the World Chess Olympiad in Budapest, with both teams scoring 17 points. India’s teams won the Olympiad.

● The “Tavush for the Homeland” movement will resume protests with a rally at Republic Square in Yerevan on October 2. The movement’s leader, Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan, promised a “patient and consistent struggle,” stating that protesters “cannot afford mistakes.” Protests led by Galstanyan paused in June, when his main demand was the resignation of the current prime minister, with Galstanyan himself being named the opposition’s candidate for the role. Read more here

Top stories in Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Georgia from September 16-20, 2024