Top stories in Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Georgia from 13-17 July, 2026

● The body of Captain Samed Nasrullayev of the civilian cargo vessel Atlas Bey, who was killed in a drone attack near the coast of Odesa, has been found. The vessel belongs to the Turkish company Okean Maritime. There were 11 crew members on board, all Azerbaijani citizens. Ten of them were rescued. The Foreign Ministry expressed its deepest condolences to the captain’s family and relatives. After the necessary procedures are completed, his body will be transported to Baku.

● The pro-government outlet Report has published a major editorial accusing Russian state institutions. The article is titled “Smearing Azerbaijan in Russia: Chauvinists Who Do Not Understand Baku’s Goodwill.” Observers see the publication as a message from Baku to Moscow amid Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov’s visit to Russia. The article says, among other things:

• A new anti-Azerbaijani campaign has begun in Russian media and social media. According to the publication’s monitoring, there are grounds to conclude that it is part of a centrally coordinated campaign. It suggests that the trigger may have been President Ilham Aliyev’s remarks at the Shusha Global Media Forum supporting Ukraine’s territorial integrity.

• “Certain forces within Russia’s state institutions, who are fueling this conflict, became enraged by this objective assessment. In their view, the Azerbaijani leader should have justified Moscow’s aggression against Kyiv, recognized the occupied territories of Ukraine as part of Russia and, figuratively speaking, called white black.”

The author gives the following assessment of the situation in Russia:

• Ideology based on claims of Russian superiority over other peoples, violence, and aggressive nationalism.

• A policy of linguistic and cultural discrimination and restrictions on the rights of small ethnic groups living in Russia, along with a chauvinistic approach that places the Russian nation above other ethnic communities.

• Xenophobia – Russian state media frequently use hate speech against other countries and peoples.

• Overall, discrimination in Russia is described as a systemic problem directed not only against Azerbaijanis but also against many other ethnic groups.

• The State Duma continues tightening legislation, while migrants face what the article calls unjustified deportations and violations of their rights.

• Social inequality – because of chauvinistic attitudes, non-Slavic peoples are often forced into low-paid, low-status jobs and face social pressure.

• Forced conscription into the war in Ukraine disproportionately affects representatives of ethnic minorities.

• The judicial system is said to display bias against members of other ethnic groups.

• Russia’s setbacks in the war against Ukraine are increasing, fueling public dissatisfaction. Russians, the article says, did not expect Ukrainian missiles to continue striking deep inside the country.

• Western sanctions are damaging Russia’s economy, and the country is facing a fuel crisis.

• According to the publication, nationalist and fascist circles represented in the authorities are trying to create the image of a new enemy in order to distract attention from existing domestic problems.

• Because of their hostile stance, a number of bilateral visits did not take place. Nevertheless, Azerbaijan showed goodwill, and Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov traveled to Moscow on 16 July.

• The Kremlin, the article says, still fails to recognize the new reality in the South Caucasus and across the post-Soviet space. It recalls President Ilham Aliyev’s statement that “the old methodologies for perceiving and understanding the South Caucasus are completely outdated,” and argues that Russia should abandon this archaic approach, which, it says, no one is willing to accept anymore.

● According to the Foreign Ministry, a bilateral meeting between the foreign ministers of Azerbaijan and Russia will take place in Moscow today.

● President Ilham Aliyev thanked Donald Trump for sharing a link to a Breitbart article covering his speech at the Shusha Global Media Forum, where he described Trump as “a man of peace.” “Less than one month remains until the first anniversary of the historic Washington Summit, and I would once again like to express my sincere gratitude for your indispensable role in advancing lasting peace between Azerbaijan and Armenia. Your leadership has made a historic contribution to bringing our region closer to peace, stability and prosperity. You truly are a Man of Peace,” Aliyev wrote on X.

● Prices of pharmaceuticals and medical products in Azerbaijan have increased by an average of 24.9 percent over the past year, according to new data from the State Statistics Committee.

● A delegation led by First Deputy Defense Minister Kerim Valiyev, currently on an official visit to Belarus, visited a number of military facilities, including an airbase, an airborne assault brigade, a drone training and operations center, and an enterprise of the state military-industrial complex.

● Since the beginning of the year, the Prosecutor General’s Office has received 67 reports concerning alleged corruption, the office said. Thirty-eight new criminal cases have been opened, and 13 people have been arrested. In 34 cases, warnings were issued to citizens and public officials. It was also reported that preliminary investigations have been completed in 78 previously opened corruption cases involving 108 individuals. These cases provide for the recovery of almost 4 million manats (about $2.3 million) in damages. Property worth almost 1.5 million manats (about $880,000) has been seized.

● Two people have been detained on charges of blackmailing women using artificial intelligence software. The Interior Ministry said they altered photos of women taken from social media by adding obscene and offensive captions, then distributed the images and demanded money to remove them. A criminal case has been opened.

● Almaz Mahmud, rector of the Academy of Television and Radio, proposed creating a professional organization specializing in religious journalism. “This will help provide society with higher-quality information,” Mahmud said at a conference in Gusar titled “Covering Religious Issues in the Media: Shared Responsibility for Protecting Religious Stability.” He was supported by Mushfig Otgun, a lecturer at the Azerbaijan Institute of Theology, who stressed that when covering religious topics it is important to convey not only information but also the meaning of spiritual values.

● A working meeting involving representatives of the National Security Service, the Ministries of Internal Affairs and Foreign Affairs, the State Revenue Committee, and international experts discussed a draft project to improve Armenia’s integrated border management system as part of the visa liberalization process with the European Union. Participants were presented with detailed information about the draft, while international experts outlined the European concept of integrated border management and its mandatory components. The need for the project to be approved as soon as possible was emphasized.

● A sports complex in Yerevan belonging to businessman Gagik Tsarukyan, the leader of the pro-Russian opposition Prosperous Armenia party, has been confiscated and transferred to the ownership of Yerevan City Hall. Tsarukyan is under arrest on charges of large-scale fraud. The building will continue operating as a training center. His Ararat Cement company has also been transferred to state management.

● The Prosecutor’s Office is seeking the confiscation from Gagik Tsarukyan of:

• 75 real estate properties and the market value of 10 additional properties, 57 of them located in Yerevan;
• 42 vehicles;
• Shares in 38 legal entities, including Multi Group Concern, Multi Autotrans LLC, Onira Club LLC, and others;
• 105.865 billion drams (about $210 million), including the remaining proceeds of alleged illegal income, loans issued, the market value of five vehicles, and other assets.

● Armenia has approved the procedure for registering fish exporters to the European Union. The country received permission to export fish and fish products to the EU in March 2025. Under European Commission regulations, companies must be registered in the TRACES system before they can export. Before an application is submitted, the authorized national body must inspect the company to verify that it meets EU requirements.

● The government plans to purchase $25 million worth of high-performance computing resources from Firebird AI. The main goal is to establish Armenia’s most powerful data center, specializing in data processing, server hosting, and cloud infrastructure services.

● Azerbaijan has begun exporting plastic construction materials to Armenia. According to Azerbaijan’s State Statistics Committee, 1.39 tonnes of plastic construction components worth $5,910 were exported to Armenia in June. Overall, Azerbaijan exported goods worth $17.13 million to Armenia in January-June 2026, mainly gasoline.

● Aregnaz Manukyan, a board member of the pro-Russian opposition Mother Armenia party, has declared her innocence. She is under arrest on charges of disclosing state secrets. She described the accusations against her as “fabricated and absurd assumptions.”

● GRECO (the Council of Europe body that assesses countries’ compliance with international anti-corruption standards) has noted significant progress in Armenia’s anti-corruption reforms. According to its report, Armenia has satisfactorily implemented six of the 22 recommendations. “Although further work is needed to fully implement all recommendations, GRECO encourages Armenia to continue its efforts and is confident that the planned measures will strengthen its anti-corruption system,” the report says.

● The detention of two men accused of sexually abusing underage sisters in the town of Vedi has been extended by another two months, the sisters’ lawyer Varduhi Elbakyan said. The suspects are 58 and 65 years old.

● The second phase of the renovation of the Tsitsernakaberd Memorial Complex in Yerevan, dedicated to the victims of the Armenian Genocide in the Ottoman Empire, has begun.

📍 Foreign Minister Maka Botchorishvili is taking part in a ministerial meeting in Washington hosted by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and dedicated to political violence and extremism. In her speech, Botchorishvili said Georgia is facing “attempts to weaken democratic institutions and political terror.”

📍 Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze said there have been five attempted revolutions in Georgia in recent years, describing them as “manifestations of political terror.” According to him, “the opposition is a foreign agent network,” and the government’s recently adopted laws were introduced in response to this threat. Local and international lawyers and politicians, including the European Union, have described the new laws as repressive toward independent media and civil society.

📍 Turkmen President Serdar Berdimuhamedov is on an official visit to Georgia. He met with President Mikheil Kavelashvili, and talks with the prime minister are scheduled for today. According to Turkmen media, the visit focuses on integrating Georgia’s Port of Poti with the Turkmenbashi International Seaport. Discussions also cover the development of an efficient Caspian Sea-Black Sea transport route linking Central Asia with European markets. Another topic is the diversification of Turkmen energy exports using Georgia’s transit potential.

📍 The Georgian government welcomes Turkmenistan’s plans to expand logistics and warehouse facilities near the Black Sea ports, Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze said at the Georgian-Turkmen business forum in Tbilisi. He noted that, alongside the existing ports, the Anaklia deep-sea port and the free industrial zone being developed around it will become an important platform for Turkmen companies seeking access to regional markets. Kobakhidze also said that freight traffic on the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway increased nearly sixfold in 2025, while container transportation along the Middle Corridor through Georgia rose by 33%.

📍 Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova backed the Georgian prime minister’s criticism of the OSCE and Western institutions in general. She said the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly had taken “the path of aggressive rhetoric and destructive actions.” Her comments came after the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly adopted a critical resolution on Georgia as part of the Hague Declaration. The resolution refers to the serious decline of democracy in the country and repression against the media and civil society. Zakharova said that “the West is irritated by Georgia’s independent course, which is why it interferes in the country’s internal affairs and opposes its policies.”

📍 Gas supplies were cut off to about 10,000 subscribers in Tbilisi’s Mtatsminda district after a gas pipeline on the right bank of the river was damaged. Restoration of gas service begins today.

📍 Italian architecture studio Fuksas, which designed the twin buildings on Tbilisi’s Rike Square known as the “Jugs,” criticized the city hall’s decision to allow their demolition. The architects said they had proposed preserving the buildings by giving them a new purpose but received no response from the authorities. The “Jugs” were built during the presidency of Mikheil Saakashvili.

📍 A clash broke out at the stadium in Kutaisi between supporters of the local Torpedo football club and representatives of the club’s management. The fans demanded the resignation of the head coach. Police and special forces were deployed to the scene.

📍 British citizen Matthew Roy Desmond, who was charged with importing narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances into Georgia, was found guilty under a plea agreement. He was fined 100,000 lari (about $38,000), deported, and banned from entering Georgia for 20 years. The Prosecutor’s Office said that during a customs inspection, Desmond failed to provide any medical documents showing that the large quantities of three different types of narcotic and psychotropic medications found in his hand luggage had been prescribed by a doctor.

📍 Revaz Elizbarashvili, who is under arrest for allegedly hitting a mother and her child in the city of Gori, both of whom later died, had previously received more than 225 administrative fines, including for speeding. He has already served a prison sentence. The new charges relate to causing the deaths of two people.

● Ten Azerbaijani citizens rescued from the cargo vessel attacked by a drone off the coast of Odesa in the Black Sea have left Ukraine and returned home (pictured). The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry said earlier that on July 14, the civilian cargo ship Atlas Bey, owned by the Turkish company Okean Maritime, came under a drone attack off the coast of Odesa. Eleven Azerbaijani citizens were on board. All crew members, except the captain, who is also an Azerbaijani citizen, were brought safely ashore in Odesa.

● A court has granted defendant status to Samira Gasimli, the wife of political analyst Azer Gasimli, who was sentenced to 12 years in prison. The case was brought by the same person, Gurbanali Yusibov, whose complaint led to Azer Gasimli being convicted of extortion through threats. The political analyst has repeatedly said he is imprisoned on false, politically motivated charges because of his criticism of the authorities. Yusibov now claims that Samira Gasimli should be punished for allegedly defaming his honor and dignity in posts published on her Facebook page during her husband’s trial. Her lawyers said Yusibov has failed to appear at any court hearing since the proceedings began and argued that, under the law, this indicates he has no interest in continuing the criminal case. They asked the court either to dismiss the case or order Yusibov to appear in court by force. The judges rejected both requests. Samira Gasimli denies the charges and says the criminal case against her is politically motivated.

● Igbal Abilov, editor-in-chief of the Bulletin of the Talysh National Academy and an ethnographer, who was sentenced to 18 years in prison on charges of treason, was subjected to torture at the Baku pretrial detention center where he is being held, according to the public committee defending his rights. “The young scholar was placed in a punishment cell. His hands were tied to an iron bed, and he had bruises and serious injuries on various parts of his body. Abilov was placed in solitary confinement after appearing in court wearing a short-sleeved shirt and quoting a line from poet Ali Nasir’s poem about the value of independence: ‘On the day a nation loses its head, it signs its homeland’s death sentence.'” The hearing had been held as part of his civil lawsuit against several local media outlets, which he accused of publishing information damaging his honor and reputation. Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty’s Azerbaijani Service reported that it was unable to obtain comments from the authorities.

● Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov left today on an official visit to Russia. He is expected to hold a bilateral meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

● An Azerbaijan-Slovakia Business Forum was held in Baku on Wednesday. Economy Minister Mikayil Jabbarov presented participants with the opportunities Azerbaijan offers for accessing a wider regional market. “Joint investment funds have been established with Kazakhstan, the UAE, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan, with Azerbaijan holding at least a 55% stake in each of them. This creates a complete business ecosystem that allows projects to be implemented across various sectors,” Jabbarov said. He also highlighted the preferential conditions for industrial production in Azerbaijan’s special economic zones. In particular, he described the Alat Free Economic Zone as a key logistics hub for cargo flows from Central Asia and China to the West, Türkiye, and Europe. An international airport is expected to open there by the middle of next year, while railway connections have already been established, Jabbarov said.

● Azerbaijan and Slovakia plan to sign an agreement on the promotion and protection of investments aimed at creating more predictable conditions for businesses in both countries. The announcement was made during a meeting in Baku between Slovak President Peter Pellegrini and Azerbaijani Prime Minister Ali Asadov. Pellegrini said Slovakia wants to strengthen its role in transport and transit projects linking Europe and Asia, in which Azerbaijan plays a leading role.

● Peter Pellegrini told Ali Asadov that Slovakia will build and donate a secondary school building to the village of Bash Garvand in the Aghdam district of Karabakh. During the meeting, the participation of Slovak companies in rebuilding territories of Azerbaijan that were recaptured from Armenian control during the Second Karabakh War in autumn 2020 was highly praised.

● Direct flights between Bratislava and Baku are expected to be launched in October.

● Azerbaijan plans to introduce a subsidy mechanism for airlines operating scheduled flights to the country, the State Tourism Agency announced. The measure is intended to encourage the launch of new routes and increase the frequency of existing flights. One of the priorities of the new state program will be attracting low-cost airlines to Azerbaijan.

● Azerbaijan is negotiating with several airlines to turn Gabala International Airport into a regional aviation hub, similar to Kutaisi Airport in Georgia, the State Tourism Agency said. The goal is to increase tourist arrivals in the country’s regions and make better use of Azerbaijan’s tourism potential.

● Since the beginning of this year, Azerbaijan has exported petroleum products worth $17.13 million to Armenia, according to the State Statistics Committee. No imports from Armenia were recorded.

● The YAŞAT State Foundation has resolved 110,000 requests submitted by more than 19,000 family members of war victims and people who became disabled as a result of the war. Foundation head Ulvi Mehdiyev said about 96 million manats (around $56 million) had been spent on these programs. The funds covered medical treatment, household appliances, education costs, and part of housing purchase or housing-related expenses. Since this category of citizens has recently been fully exempted from tuition fees, the YAŞAT Foundation is now focusing exclusively on medical assistance, Mehdiyev said. In addition, a bank account has been opened for every child in the families of fallen soldiers, with an initial deposit of 5,000 manats (about $3,000). The funds remain untouched until the child reaches the age of 16, while interest continues to accumulate. “By that age, a substantial amount will have accumulated in the account. This is additional support to help secure the children’s future,” Mehdiyev said.

● Political debate over the critical resolution adopted by the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly continues. EU representatives again said that cooperation with the Georgian government has effectively been suspended and that EU support is now focused on the Georgian people, while Georgian government representatives described the resolution as politically motivated and said relations with Brussels would be reassessed. On July 13, the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly adopted a resolution in The Hague criticizing Georgia’s 2024 parliamentary elections, the state of democracy and fundamental human rights, and, among other things, calling for new elections and the release of detained protesters.

● Foreign Minister Maka Botchorishvili will take part in a ministerial meeting in Washington at the invitation of U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. According to the Foreign Ministry, the meeting will focus on the theme of “countering political terrorism.”

● Turkmen President Serdar Berdimuhamedov arrives in Tbilisi today on an official visit.

● The Interior Ministry arrested 121 people across the country on charges related to drug crimes, including 59 accused of participating in drug trafficking schemes. Those detained include citizens of Georgia and several other countries. Police said they seized particularly large quantities of various narcotics, including cocaine, methadone, ketamine, and marijuana.

● Tbilisi City Court found eight members of what prosecutors described as a “fascist and Nazi ideological group,” including five minors, guilty of criminal offenses. According to the Prosecutor’s Office, members of the group systematically attacked people with different views and lifestyles, including minors, subjected them to torture and humiliation, filmed the abuse, and shared the videos on social media. In some cases, they also stole victims’ personal belongings. The defendants were sentenced to prison terms ranging from five to 14 years.

● Ricky Martin’s planned concert in Georgia has been canceled. The performance had been scheduled for July 16 at the Rustavi International Motorpark. According to the organizers, the concert was canceled at the artist’s own decision.

● A construction worker was killed after scaffolding collapsed on Ioseliani Street in Kutaisi during the construction of a residential building. The incident occurred while concrete was being poured. In recent years, Georgia has seen repeated cases of safety violations at construction sites, resulting in injuries and deaths among workers.

● President Mikheil Kavelashvili met with the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, in Doha. They discussed prospects for expanding bilateral cooperation and issues of regional security. The president thanked Qatar for its support for Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

● Armenia is launching the process of ratifying its agreement with the United States on the TRIPP (Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity) transit project. The government is expected to approve the relevant draft law covering the agreement, which was signed on June 1, 2026, in Washington and on June 4, 2026, in Yerevan.

● The Guardian reports that the US State Department has appointed Chicago-based private equity investor Konstantin Sokolov, who was born in Russia, to lead the TRIPP+ fund.

● Azerbaijan exported $17.1 million worth of petroleum products to Armenia in January–June 2026, according to Azerbaijan’s State Statistics Committee. During the same period, indirect imports from Armenia to Azerbaijan totaled $960, with no deliveries recorded in June.

● Russia is waiting for Baku and Yerevan to agree on the sequence of the next meetings of foreign ministers within the regional “3+3” platform, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said. She noted that during the platform’s first expert-level session, held on June 5, 2026, on the sidelines of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, participants strongly supported focusing on concrete mutually beneficial economic projects without politicization.

The regional cooperation platform “3+3” is intended to include Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia, Türkiye, Russia, and Iran. Georgia has so far refused to participate, saying official cooperation with Russia is impossible while Russia continues to occupy Georgian territories.

● A lawyer for Gagik Tsarukyan, the leader of the pro-Russian Prosperous Armenia party, who is under arrest on charges of large-scale fraud, has demanded that his legal status be changed. “He should be considered not an accused person, but a victim,” the lawyer said in a statement.

● Employees of Multi Stone, a company owned by Gagik Tsarukyan, have been protesting for a third consecutive day. The company’s operations have been suspended since his arrest. The protesters are demanding the restoration of their right to work. “We have been standing here for three days not for politics, but for the survival of our families, and we will not leave until the company is unsealed,” one employee told journalists.

● Gagik Tsarukyan thanked the employees of his companies for their support. “The unjust case brought against me has nothing to do with these enterprises. Everyone knows that I stepped away from managing them a long time ago and have no connection with their current operations. Their unlawful suspension was intended solely to hurt me,” Tsarukyan said.

● Human Rights Defender Anahit Manasyan met with European Parliament member Marina Mesure. They discussed issues affecting forcibly displaced people, women, children, national minorities, and persons with disabilities.

● President Vahagn Khachaturyan expressed his condolences to the Emir of Qatar during their meeting in Doha following the death of the Emir’s father, the country’s former ruler.

● The Foreign Ministry issued a statement following reports that a drone struck the civilian cargo vessel Atlas Bey off the coast of Odesa. Eleven Azerbaijani citizens were on board. The vessel belongs to the Turkish company Okean Maritime. According to available information, all crew members except the captain have been brought ashore in Odesa. Their condition is reported to be satisfactory. The search for the captain is ongoing.

● President Ilham Aliyev and Slovak President Peter Pellegrini, who is on an official visit to Azerbaijan, made press statements in Shusha, Karabakh. The main points included:

The strategic partnership declaration signed in 2024 is being actively implemented.

Slovakia is actively participating in the reconstruction of Karabakh. In particular, a Slovak company is implementing a “smart village” project in the village of Bash Garvand in the Aghdam district.

Trade and economic ties, as well as cooperation in energy, defense industry, and other sectors, remain priorities.

In 2027 and 2028, Slovakia will continue to serve as NATO’s Contact Point Embassy in Azerbaijan through its embassy in Baku.

Slovakia will take part in the major international defense exhibition to be held in Baku in September.

More about the goals of the visit and the agreements signed here.

● Slovak Economy Minister Denisa Saková said Slovakia plans to import 1.2 billion cubic meters of gas annually from Azerbaijan after 2027, when the country completely phases out Russian gas imports.

● Representatives of Azerbaijan’s state oil company SOCAR and Slovakia’s gas company SPP are holding talks in Baku today. According to Denisa Saková, Slovakia is interested in long-term cooperation.

● Azerbaijan presented the Slovak delegation with a project for an energy corridor that would transport electricity from Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and Azerbaijan through Türkiye to Europe. Saková said the project has significant potential for the European market.

● The interior ministers of Azerbaijan and Slovakia signed a memorandum in Baku on expanding cooperation between their law enforcement agencies. The talks focused on joint efforts to combat transnational organized crime, drug and arms trafficking, human trafficking, illegal migration, and cybercrime.

● The next Azerbaijan-Slovakia Business Forum will be held in Baku today in an expanded format.

● Peter Pellegrini wrote on X that President Ilham Aliyev pleasantly surprised him with an unusual gesture of hospitality by personally driving the car during their joint trip around Karabakh. “It is certainly not common for a host head of state to personally take the wheel during an official visit. It is a vivid demonstration of the warm relations, mutual trust, and respect that form the foundation of our bilateral partnership,” Pellegrini wrote, adding that he was “deeply touched.”

● The Kremlin called Ilham Aliyev’s position on Ukraine “mistaken.” Russian presidential aide Dmitry Peskov was responding to Aliyev’s statements at the Shusha Media Forum that Ukraine should continue defending its full territorial integrity and that Azerbaijan would continue supporting it in every possible way. More on Aliyev’s statement here. Despite criticizing Aliyev’s position, Peskov stressed that it poses “no threat to relations between Baku and Moscow.” “We believe this issue should not cast a shadow over our bilateral relations. We take a pragmatic approach. Moscow will continue to explain its position to its Azerbaijani colleagues with reasoned arguments,” Peskov said.

● Another court hearing was held in the Toplum TV case, in which several staff members of the independent media outlet remain under arrest. They are charged with smuggling and other financial crimes. The defendants categorically deny the charges, saying they are being prosecuted for their critical reporting on the authorities. During the hearing, Akif Gurbanov, head of the Institute for Democratic Initiatives and spokesperson for the Third Republic Platform, protested the charges and again stated that the case is politically motivated. “We are described as an organized criminal group. But no evidence has been presented showing when, what crime, or how we allegedly planned to commit any offense as such a group. There was nothing criminal in our activities. On the contrary, we worked to expose crime, prevent the embezzlement of public funds, and hold officials accountable,” Gurbanov said.

● Azerbaijan is frequently the target of large-scale international disinformation and smear campaigns, Presidential Assistant Hikmet Hajiyev said while speaking at the 4th Shusha Global Media Forum. “Some international media tried to portray Azerbaijan as the guilty party in the Karabakh conflict, even though the country was only seeking to restore its sovereignty. This is deeply regrettable. We respond with facts. However, it has become more difficult to establish the truth today because technology giants and some institutions that are supposed to uphold professional journalism are themselves actively involved in spreading disinformation. Trust can be restored through professional journalism and mutual respect,” Hajiyev said.

● President Ilham Aliyev said a new chapter has begun in relations between Azerbaijan and France “as a result of productive discussions on bilateral issues and prospects during recent telephone conversations and the meeting in Copenhagen last year.” The statement was made in a congratulatory letter sent to French President Emmanuel Macron on the occasion of France’s national holiday.

● Members of the Milli Majlis working group on interparliamentary relations with the United Kingdom met with Bob Blackman, head of the UK-Azerbaijan Inter-Parliamentary Group. It was noted that relations between Azerbaijan and the United Kingdom have reached the level of a strategic partnership.

● The Baku Court of Appeal continued hearing the appeals of the imprisoned former political and military leaders of the former self-proclaimed “Nagorno-Karabakh Republic.” In February this year, Arayik Harutyunyan, Levon Mnatsakanyan, David Manukyan, David Ishkhanyan, and David Babayan were sentenced to life imprisonment on charges including war crimes committed during Armenia’s military aggression against Azerbaijan, terrorism, violent seizure of power, and other offenses. Arkady Ghukasyan and Bako Sahakyan were sentenced to 20 years in prison, Madat Babayan and Melikset Pashayan to 19 years, Garik Martirosyan to 18 years, David Alaverdyan and Levon Balayan to 16 years, and Vasily Beglaryan, Gurgen Stepanyan, and Erik Ghazaryan to 15 years.

Bako Sahakyan continued presenting his defense. He rejected the charges against him, set out his arguments, and asked the court to overturn the first-instance verdict.

David Manukyan and his lawyers also presented their arguments and asked the court to acquit him.

The next court hearing is scheduled for July 17.

● Five people, including two children, were hospitalized with food poisoning in Ganja. Four remain in stable condition, while one is in moderately serious condition. This is the second case of mass food poisoning reported in Ganja within the past three days. An investigation is underway.

● Azerbaijan’s potato import statistics for January-April show notable changes. Imports from Belarus increased 197-fold, from Russia 33-fold, and from Iran 14-fold. At the same time, potato imports from Georgia fell by 56%, and imports from Türkiye declined by 51%.

● Azerbaijan’s Sabah defeated Welsh club TNS 2-1 away in the first qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League. The team, coached by Valdas Dambrauskas, advanced to the second qualifying round, where it will face Finland’s KuPS.

● Security Council Secretary Armen Grigoryan met with a delegation from the new EU Partnership Mission in Armenia, led by Stefano Tomat, Civilian Operations Commander and Managing Director of the EU External Action Service. Grigoryan welcomed the establishment and deployment of the mission in Armenia and stressed the importance of the EU’s broad support for the country in recent years.

● Scientists from Armenia and Russia have developed an “electric steering wheel” for light that could replace mechanical components in lasers and microscopes. Unlike conventional liquid crystal displays, which simply dim images, the new technology developed by researchers from the Far Eastern Federal University and Yerevan State University uses electricity to redirect a beam of light without distorting it or reducing its brightness. The 8-micron-thick technology could eliminate bulky rotating parts from complex optical instruments, making them more compact and reliable, according to Scientific Russia magazine.

● FlyOne Armenia is increasing the frequency of its Yerevan-Batumi-Yerevan flights. Starting on July 17, 2026, direct flights will operate five times a week: every Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.

● The Institute for Crime & Justice Policy Research has published its global ranking of countries by prison population. Armenia ranked 167th, with the lowest imprisonment rate of 83 prisoners per 100,000 people. Azerbaijan ranked 50th (264 prisoners), Georgia 41st (285), Russia 35th (300), and Türkiye 10th (468).

● The Administrative Court has rejected a lawsuit filed by Tashir Capital against the government. The company is owned by Russian dollar billionaire Samvel Karapetyan, who is under arrest in Yerevan on charges of calling for the overthrow of Armenia’s constitutional order. The government has launched the nationalization of Electric Networks of Armenia, a strategically important company owned by Tashir Capital. In response, the company filed a lawsuit on July 1 challenging the decision, but the court ruled that the case was not admissible.

● A delegation led by President Vahagn Khachaturyan traveled to Qatar on July 14 to express condolences over the death of the father of the current emir and to pay tribute to his memory.

● The My Step charitable foundation, headed by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s wife Anna Hakobyan, has received donations totaling 115 million drams (about $317,000) so far this year. The news outlet Pastinfo reviewed the list of donors and found that 70 million drams came from two anonymous donors. Last year, the foundation had 10 anonymous donors who contributed a total of 150 million drams (about $415,000).

● Lawyers for Gagik Tsarukyan, leader of the pro-Russian Prosperous Armenia party and businessman who is under arrest on charges of large-scale fraud, say they will appeal to international arbitration following the suspension of operations at companies he owns.

● The Investigative Committee denied reports that investigators were planning to seize horses from Gagik Tsarukyan’s estate. It said only an inspection of the horses had been carried out and that reports about their planned transportation were false.

● The Armenian Surb Karapet Church in Istanbul’s Üsküdar district has reopened after a lengthy restoration. Üsküdar is a historic district on the Bosphorus where about 50,000 Armenians lived at the beginning of the 20th century.

● Since the beginning of this year, 1,775 families have already benefited from the government’s housing assistance program for families with children. Another 300-400 families are expected to receive payments in the coming days. Since the program was launched, around 17,000 families have benefited from it.

● The 23rd Golden Apricot International Film Festival is underway in Yerevan. The festival features award-winning filmmakers and films from leading international festivals, including Cannes, Venice, Berlin, and Locarno. Running from July 12 to 19, it includes 10 films in the international competition. Four of them tell stories from the Arab world, with projects related to Palestine, Qatar, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Libya.

● According to a report by Transparency International Georgia, from September 2025 through April 2026, 379 public officials declared gifts worth a total of 24 million lari (about $9 million). Most of the gifts were money and real estate, mainly received from family members. Among government institutions, employees of the Interior Ministry declared the most valuable gifts.

● Tbilisi City Court upheld a lawsuit filed by pro-government film director Goga Khaindrava and ordered the independent TV channel Formula to pay 10,000 lari (about $3,800) in compensation for moral damages. The case concerns the broadcaster’s report alleging that Khaindrava was involved in human trafficking and accepted bribes to help organize the entry of 2,000 foreign nationals into Georgia, allegedly receiving about $4 million in return.

● Hearings continue in the so-called sabotage case. Members of the United Neutral Georgia party — Nana Kakabadze, Vato Shakarishvili, Bidzina Giorgobiani, Levan Nikoleishvili, and Gela Nikoleishvili — were questioned as witnesses. After the hearing, the defendants said they consider the case politically motivated and reject all charges against them.

The “sabotage case” was launched in November 2025. The main defendants are eight opposition leaders, including Mikheil Saakashvili, Nika Gvaramia, and Nika Melia. They are accused of organizing mass protests after the 2024 parliamentary elections, calling for the overthrow of the government, and assisting a foreign state in hostile activities against Georgia.

● Tbilisi Municipal Inspectorate demolished illegal structures near the square by the central railway station and the agricultural market, clearing the area. According to City Hall, the measure is intended to improve pedestrian access, reduce street trading, and eliminate unsanitary conditions.

● Cleanup operations continue in Telavi, Kakheti, following the flooding and mudslides. Most of Kavkasioni Street has been cleared, and the demolition of the damaged bridge has been completed. All municipalities in the region are taking part in the recovery effort. Damage assessment is underway. Farmers are reported to have suffered major losses, with vineyards and orchards flooded.

● EU High Representative Kaja Kallas said the European Union has effectively suspended relations with the Georgian government. According to her, Brussels’ goal is to support the Georgian people and ensure that society does not lose hope in the country’s European future.

● Following the critical resolution adopted by the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, the government has continued to strongly criticize the organization. Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze said cooperation with the OSCE would continue, but its quality would depend on the organization’s future actions. Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili said the resolution had called the OSCE’s impartiality into question. More on the resolution here.

● Patriarch Shio III has appealed to President Mikheil Kavelashvili to pardon prisoners, Metropolitan Vakhtang Tsurtaveli said. According to him, the Holy Synod may also formally appeal to the president on the issue. Georgian society continues to actively discuss the possible release of dozens of imprisoned politicians and civil activists.

● Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze commented on the possibility of an amnesty. He said the government would continue consultations with the president to make the most effective use of amnesty and pardon mechanisms, although they would not apply to most people convicted of serious and especially serious crimes, including those accused of drug trafficking.

● The government has changed the rules for issuing residence permits to foreign entrepreneurs. Under the new regulations, foreign sole proprietors and companies registered within the past three months and applying for work and residence permits for the first time will no longer be required to prove an annual turnover of 50,000 lari (about $20,000).

● A project to expand Tbilisi International Airport is currently underway, Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze said. More than $150 million will be invested in the project, increasing the airport’s annual passenger capacity to 10 million.

● Tbilisi City Hall has issued a permit to dismantle the structures on Rike Square known as the “Jugs” (pictured below). According to City Hall, the site is privately owned. The owners have been granted permission to develop a hotel project there, which may include demolishing the structures if necessary.

● Georgia is today marking the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Feast of the Gathering of the Twelve Apostles of Christ. Festive services were held in churches across the country, with the main service led by Patriarch Shio III at Svetitskhoveli Cathedral in Georgia’s ancient capital, Mtskheta.

● Tragedy in Gori: a car struck a mother and her child in the city center. The woman died in hospital, while the three-year-old child remains in critical condition.

● According to the National Environment Agency, the water quality of the Black Sea remains within normal standards along Georgia’s entire coastline. The conclusion is based on laboratory tests assessing the chemical and biological indicators of seawater.

● The Council of the European Union announced the launch of the EU Partnership Mission in Armenia (EUPM Armenia) under the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP). The civilian advisory mission is intended to help the Armenian authorities strengthen resilience against hybrid threats and improve their capacity to respond to evolving security challenges.

● Armenian Foreign Ministry: “The launch of EUPM Armenia opens a new and important chapter in the partnership between Armenia and the European Union.”

● A vote in Israel’s Knesset on a resolution recognizing the Armenian Genocide in the Ottoman Empire has been postponed amid the sensitive diplomatic situation in the region, Israeli media report. At the end of June, the Israeli government unanimously supported the initiative to recognize the Armenian Genocide, and the draft was sent to parliament for consideration. According to local media, relations between Israel and Türkiye have deteriorated in recent months because of the war in Gaza and sharp criticism of Israel by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

● Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s wife, Anna Hakobyan, is leaving for Ethiopia, where she will take part in the international conference “Peace and Sustainable Development: A Philosophical Inquiry.” Her trip is being funded by the Prime Minister’s Office. Several months ago, Anna Hakobyan and Nikol Pashinyan announced their divorce, and there has been no official announcement that they have reconciled.

● Yerevan resident Lusine Avakyan has filed a lawsuit against Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. The case stems from his public statement that his Civil Contract party received “100% organic votes” in the June parliamentary elections, while all other political forces received “100% vote-buying votes.” Avakyan said she voted for an opposition party, meaning the prime minister’s remarks also apply to her. She argues that the statement is false and damages her dignity and reputation, according to a1plus.am. If the court rules in her favor, Pashinyan will be required to publicly retract his statement within five working days. Avakyan is also seeking 3 million drams (about $8,000) in compensation. She is additionally demanding that Pashinyan reimburse the 230,000-dram (about $600) state court fee she paid in advance if the lawsuit is upheld.

● Fitch Ratings forecasts that Armenia’s real GDP growth will reach 5.2% in 2026, well above the projected average of 2.9% for countries in the “BB” rating category.

● Employees of the Multi Grand Hotel joined protests against the closure of businesses belonging to the Multi Group holding, also owned by businessman and pro-Russian politician Gagik Tsarukyan, who has been arrested on charges of large-scale fraud. Protesters are demanding that the businesses reopen and warned that demonstrations will also begin in Tsaghkadzor, where other tourism facilities owned by the oligarch remain closed. Multi Grand employee Hovsep Stepanyan told reporters about what he described as the rough actions of law enforcement officers while sealing the building: “When they entered, all three of our hotels were full of tourists, including large foreign groups. People were literally forced out into the street from the restaurant during breakfast in a very rude manner. Some foreign partners understood the situation, but others are now demanding substantial compensation for their ruined holidays,” Stepanyan said.

● A woman who publicly argued with Nikol Pashinyan during the election campaign has been dismissed from her job. Her daughter, Arpine Soghoyan, said the clinic where her mother worked decided to fire her as part of staff reductions. “This is obvious political persecution. Everyone responsible for this decision must face legal consequences or, at the very least, public condemnation,” said Daniel Ioannisyan, head of the Union of Informed Citizens NGO.

● Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told reporters that “Russia and Armenia are bound by special relations based on a shared history and mutual sympathy.” “This is a genuine love between our peoples and cultures, with deep mutual ties,” Zakharova said. She stressed that Russia has “always provided Armenia only with assistance and support,” linked to geopolitical considerations.

● Another shipment of Russian wheat will be sent to Armenia today via Azerbaijan in transit. The shipment consists of 490 tonnes of wheat transported in seven railway wagons.

● President Ilham Aliyev made a series of major policy statements at the 4th Shusha Global Media Forum, outlining Azerbaijan’s political priorities. Among other things, he said Azerbaijan is considering a complete withdrawal from the Council of Europe; that relations with the United States have reached their highest level; and that Section 907 of U.S. legislation, which bars U.S. government assistance to Azerbaijan, should be repealed. The president also expressed full support for Ukraine, saying it should not give up its territorial integrity. Aliyev spoke about increasing gas supplies to Europe, difficult relations with France, normalized ties with Russia on new terms, and the need to make the South Caucasus a peaceful region free from geopolitical rivalry. More here 

● Slovak President Peter Pellegrini is on an official visit to Azerbaijan at the invitation of President Ilham Aliyev. Earlier, his office announced that he would meet with President Aliyev and other senior officials. “This visit is an opportunity to turn the trust we have already built into closer cooperation in energy, trade, and investment,” Pellegrini wrote on X. A Slovak-Azerbaijani business forum will also be held during the visit.

● “Azerbaijan has significant potential to further expand cooperation with the European Union and its member states. With many of them, bilateral relations have already reached the level of strategic partnership,” Presidential Assistant Hikmet Hajiyev said in an interview with EUREFLECT on the sidelines of the 4th Shusha Global Media Forum. Hajiyev noted that Azerbaijan is a strategic energy supplier to the European Union and one of its key economic partners. At the same time, around 70% of Azerbaijan’s trade is with EU member states, he said.

● D-8 Organization for Economic Cooperation Secretary General Isiaka Abdulqadir Imam arrived in Shusha, Karabakh, to take part in the 4th Shusha Global Media Forum for the first time. He told reporters that Azerbaijan’s accession to the organization in 2024 had given new momentum to its activities. In addition to Azerbaijan, the D-8 includes Türkiye, Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Nigeria, and Pakistan.

● The Shusha Media Forum hosted the presentation of the new D-8 Media Centre of Excellence. Its mission is to strengthen media cooperation among member states, promote research and innovation, and combat disinformation. Future plans include creating a network of media organizations across D-8 countries, implementing joint projects, expanding partnerships with international organizations, and sharing best practices. The center will also hold annual consultative meetings to discuss action plans and set priorities.

● Lawyers for imprisoned Azerbaijan Popular Front Party leader Ali Karimli say he is being subjected to inhuman treatment in order to prevent him from sending articles from prison and giving interviews to international media. According to them, Karimli has been deprived of phone calls with his family. His daily outdoor exercise time has been reduced from two hours to one, and a prisoner with a mental disorder has been placed in his cell. “Every night this person gets out of bed, loudly performs religious rituals, hits himself on the head and cries, bangs his head against the wall, and screams, turning the night into hell for everyone in the cell. State Security Service officers watch all this through surveillance cameras but take no action,” the lawyers said.

Karimli has been in prison since November 2025. Along with him, party member Mammad Ibrahim was also arrested. They are charged with actions aimed at violently changing the constitutional order. Their arrests are linked to the investigation involving former head of the Presidential Administration Ramiz Mehdiyev. The opposition and international human rights organizations have described the arrests as politically motivated. More than 20 party members and activists are currently imprisoned. The latest list compiled by the Union for the Freedom of Political Prisoners of Azerbaijan includes 328 political prisoners. The authorities deny that arrests in the country are politically motivated.

● Speaker of the Milli Majlis Sahiba Gafarova met in Baku with Bob Blackman, head of the UK-Azerbaijan Inter-Parliamentary Friendship Group. Blackman said London attaches great importance to developing relations with Baku.

● Prime Minister Ali Asadov met in Baku with World Customs Organization Secretary General Ian Saunders. They discussed the implementation of international standards in Azerbaijan’s customs system, projects to facilitate international trade, modernize customs procedures, and strengthen the resilience of global supply chains, including within regional and international transport corridors such as the Middle Corridor.

● Chief of the General Staff of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces Karim Valiyev is on an official visit to Belarus. His meetings are focused on prospects for expanding bilateral defense cooperation and regional security.

● The 4th Shusha Global Media Forum opened in Shusha, Karabakh, under the theme “The Mission of Media in Promoting Peace: Restoring Truth and Rebuilding Trust” (pictured below). Around 160 media representatives, experts, and officials from 53 countries are taking part. The forum brings together about 30 international news agencies and more than 60 leading media organizations. According to the organizers, the program includes panel discussions and interactive sessions aimed at promoting practical steps to rebuild trust between societies, strengthen digital solidarity, and support peace.

● President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Shusha this morning and is meeting with participants of the Global Media Forum. He said Azerbaijan is “seriously considering withdrawing from the Council of Europe.” According to Aliyev, the Council of Europe’s Secretary General asked him not to take that step, and the process was put on hold. However, he said, “nothing has changed since then, and the Parliamentary Assembly’s ultimatum-like demands on Azerbaijan remain unacceptable.” Aliyev stressed that PACE must restore the credentials of the Azerbaijani delegation before the country can return to the organization’s work. “European institutions should have the courage to admit the serious mistake they made,” he said.

● On Sunday, Presidential Assistant Hikmet Hajiyev met with participants of the media forum during a tour of the newly built Karabakh Street in Shusha. A total of 10 buildings have been constructed there with state and private funding, including a hotel, apartment hotels, offices, cafés, and restaurants.

● President Ilham Aliyev met with residents of the restored village of Guzeykhirman in the Khojavend district of Karabakh. The village was occupied by Armenian forces in 1992 and came under Azerbaijani control in 2023 following the Second Karabakh War and the subsequent military operation. Of the village’s 549 homes, 170 were completely destroyed and 379 were partially damaged. According to the official statement, 50 homes have already been restored, work is continuing on another 147, and preparations are underway to restore all remaining houses. A new gas pipeline has been laid, water wells equipped with pumps, the water supply network fully rebuilt, and a fiber-optic cable installed. A few days ago, 18 Azerbaijani families (72 people), formerly internally displaced, returned to the village. After the visit, Ilham Aliyev posted a video on social media with the caption: “Over the past 80 years, no state or nation has achieved a victory like Azerbaijan did, and in just 44 days.”

● Azerbaijan has expanded the rules allowing websites to be blocked without a court order under amendments to the Law on Information, Informatization and Protection of Information. State authorities can now temporarily restrict access to internet resources without waiting for a court ruling if they publish insults, defamation, violations of privacy, drug propaganda, pornography, gambling promotion, or content encouraging suicide, according to the amended law. Previously, such blocking without a court order was allowed only in emergency situations involving threats to legally protected state and public interests or an immediate danger to people’s lives and health.

● Authorities are investigating a suspected food poisoning incident at a memorial ceremony in the city of Ganja, where eight people were hospitalized. All were diagnosed with unspecified food poisoning, their condition was reported as satisfactory, and they have since been discharged. Homemade food had been served at the event, and samples have been sent for laboratory testing.

● Azerbaijan’s freestyle wrestling team achieved its best-ever result at the U20 European Championships in North Macedonia. The team won two gold, two silver, and four bronze medals, setting new national records both for total medals and overall points. With 170 points, Azerbaijan finished second in the team standings behind Russia (194), while Armenia placed third with 118 points.

● Azerbaijani wrestler Haji Kerimov won the U20 European championship title.

● Armenia celebrated Vardavar, the Feast of the Transfiguration of Christ, on Sunday. It is one of the Armenian Apostolic Church’s major holidays, but its origins date back to pre-Christian times, and several pagan traditions have been preserved. One of them is the custom of splashing each other with water. This year, Yerevan City Hall organized large-scale celebrations. In addition to people drenching one another in the streets, municipal vehicles sprayed water over crowds to music. Here are videos and the story behind the holiday.

● Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has filed lawsuits against Sofia Hovsepyan, a former MP from his Civil Contract party, and Edmon Marukyan, leader of the Bright Armenia party. According to Armenia’s Datalex court portal, Pashinyan is demanding that Hovsepyan apologize for what he describes as insulting remarks and retract her allegations that the parliamentary elections were falsified. He is seeking 2 million drams (about $5,500) in compensation for the insults and 4 million drams (about $11,000) for defamation. The lawsuit against Marukyan concerns a video he posted on his Telegram channel shortly after the elections. The specific demands in that case have not been disclosed.

● The Prosecutor General’s Office is seeking to strip two members of the pro-Russian parliamentary opposition of their immunity. They are Narek Karapetyan, leader of the Strong Armenia bloc (29 seats in the new parliament), and Ishkhan Saghatelyan of the Armenia bloc (12 seats). Armenian media report that criminal cases are being prepared against them, although it has not yet been announced what charges they may face.

Following the June 7 parliamentary elections, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s Civil Contract party secured a constitutional majority with 64 seats.

● U.S. Chargé d’Affaires David Allen met with participants in the Armenian Assembly of America’s summer internship program. The American students spoke about their experience working in Armenia in government institutions, civil society organizations, private companies, and cultural institutions. They also discussed how the program can help strengthen ties between Armenia and the United States.

● The Union of Armenians of Russia issued a statement in support of businessman and pro-Russian politician Gagik Tsarukyan, who is under arrest in Yerevan on charges of large-scale fraud and money laundering. “This is not only a clear violation of democratic norms and human rights, it is a continuation of the political lawlessness launched by Prime Minister Pashinyan in 2018,” the statement said.

●  Employees of the Multi Wellness club in Yerevan, which belongs to Gagik Tsarukyan, staged a protest. The club was closed after Tsarukyan’s arrest, leaving around 150 employees without work. “We all have families, children, and loans to pay. We demand that the club be reopened,” the protesters said.

● Economy Minister Gevorg Papoyan said Armenian fruit is now exported to 15 countries, vegetables to eight countries, and flowers to 25 countries. In June, Armenia exported 784 tons of peppers, 200 tons of tomatoes, 109 tons of strawberries, 1,400 tons of cherries, and about 3,000 tons of apricots. By the end of the first week of July, apricot exports had already reached 5,450 tons. During June, Armenia also exported 1.5 million liters of mineral water and 230,000 liters of wine.

● Papoyan also announced that the government will allocate 3.14 billion drams (about $8.5 million) in subsidies to exporters for June. The funds are intended to offset part of the costs of entering alternative markets after Russia, previously the main destination for Armenian exports, effectively blocked imports of Armenian products.

● Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said Armenia must prepare as much as possible for exports next year and diversify its export markets wherever possible.

● Armenia has received 56 Starlink units donated to the Ministry of High-Tech Industry. “This equipment will provide reliable, high-speed internet connectivity for effective emergency response,” the ministry said.

●  A 12-year-old boy was killed while riding a bicycle at the Sev Berd fortress. He reportedly lost control and crashed into a wall.

● A large tree was uprooted during a windstorm and fell onto a car and a moped. The moped rider, a foreign citizen, died at the scene, according to the Interior Ministry.

● Heavy rains triggered landslides and flooding in Telavi, in Georgia’s Kakheti region. The river overflowed, flooding parts of Kavkasioni and Alazani avenues, as well as residential and commercial buildings. Cars and power lines were damaged. The disaster also affected several nearby villages, where vineyards and agricultural fields were flooded. According to a preliminary assessment by the National Environment Agency, the risk of landslides has increased in the Telavi Gorge river basin. Damage assessment and recovery work are underway.

● Senior police officer Ioseb Sigua has resigned after being accused of violence and threats against his wife. According to the Interior Ministry, a restraining order has been issued against him, he has been fitted with an electronic monitoring bracelet, and his right to carry a firearm has been suspended. The investigation was launched following his wife’s public statement.

● On July 11, a march was held in Tbilisi in memory of more than 120 Georgian fighters who have been killed while fighting against Russian aggression in Ukraine. Family members of the fallen also took part. Video report here.

● The State Security Service announced the arrest of Beka Chulukhadze, who had been wanted in connection with the October 4, 2025 case in which a group of protesters allegedly attempted to seize the presidential administration. Chulukhadze was detained in the neutral zone at the Georgian-Armenian border. He is charged with acquiring and possessing a large quantity of weapons and explosives. He denies the charges.

● Family members and supporters of Giorgi Chakhunashvili, a doctor sentenced to five years in prison in the same case, held a protest outside the Prosecutor’s Office. They demanded his release and argued that the law provides legal alternatives to a plea agreement.

● Azerbaijani citizen Emin Aliyev was arrested at Batumi International Airport in connection with a murder committed in Tbilisi on June 27. According to the Interior Ministry, he is accused of killing his relative, Azerbaijani citizen Fatima Karimova, in a rented apartment. The arrest was carried out in coordination with law enforcement authorities in Türkiye and Azerbaijan.

● A Tbilisi resident has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for acquiring, possessing, and distributing pornographic material involving minors.

Top stories in Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Georgia from 6-10 July, 2026