Top stories in Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Georgia from 20-24 July, 2026

●  The European Union has removed Azerbaijan’s Yelo Bank from its Russia sanctions list under the 21st sanctions package after the bank disconnected from all Russian systems and implemented robust safeguards to prevent sanctions circumvention, a senior European Commission official said.

The EU continues to increase pressure on both Russian banks and banks in third countries that facilitate sanctions evasion. Under the 21st package, another 33 Russian banks have been sanctioned, with transaction bans imposed and access to the SWIFT financial messaging system cut off. Sanctions have also been imposed on one bank in Mongolia, two Indian subsidiaries of Russia’s Sberbank and VTB, and a bank in Kyrgyzstan that continues to use Russia’s Mir payment system.

● Amendments have been approved to the laws regulating the status of refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs), as well as their social protection. Under the changes, housing provided from the state resettlement fund in their places of origin in territories formerly occupied by Armenian forces will now be transferred into their ownership. The amendments also stipulate that anyone who refuses housing offered by the state in a designated region will lose their refugee or IDP status. However, social protection benefits will continue for three years after the loss of status or voluntary renunciation of it.

● “The prolonged failure to implement UN Security Council resolutions undermines confidence in both the Security Council itself and the international legal order. Azerbaijan experienced this firsthand when the relevant Security Council resolutions remained unimplemented for nearly three decades,” Azerbaijan’s Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, Elvin Ashrafzade, said during an open debate on strengthening mechanisms for implementing UN Security Council resolutions. He recalled that during the Armenian occupation of Azerbaijani territories, the UN Security Council adopted four resolutions in 1993 calling for the immediate withdrawal of all occupying forces from the occupied territories. However, those resolutions remained unimplemented for nearly 30 years. “During the Patriotic War in 2020 and the local anti-terrorist measures in 2023, Azerbaijan itself ensured the implementation of those resolutions and restored its territorial integrity,” Ashrafzade said.

● Azerbaijan’s investment in the development of the Eurasian transport system increased by nearly 62% year-on-year to $3.4 billion, according to the Eurasian Development Bank. Over the past year, 402 projects with a total investment volume of $345 billion have been added to the system. It covers 13 countries: Azerbaijan, Armenia, Afghanistan, Belarus, Georgia, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.

Notably, eight of the ten largest infrastructure projects within the Eurasian transport system are being implemented in Russia, as the development of the Northern Eurasian Corridor is the most capital-intensive.

● Azerbaijan has expanded the legal grounds for compulsory psychiatric examinations. Under amendments to the Law on Psychiatric Care, a prosecutor may now order such an examination without the consent of the individual or their legal representative if criminal proceedings are underway and delaying psychiatric care poses a threat to the person’s life or health, or to the life or health of others. The amendments also require that patients subject to compulsory medical treatment be treated separately from other patients. In addition, the confidential electronic system will now record not only treatment provided but also refusals of treatment.

● A 47-year-old local resident was seriously injured after stepping on a landmine in the village of Hasanli in the Jabrayil district. He suffered multiple complex fractures and remains in critical condition.

● Firefighters continue battling a wildfire in the Aghdam district of Karabakh. The fire has spread to several villages, and strong winds are hampering firefighting efforts.

● Azerbaijan’s State Committee on Work with the Diaspora has organised a 10-day summer camp in Washington, D.C., for children of servicemen killed during the 44-day war with Armenia in 2020. The camp, named Zəfər (“Victory”), is hosting 10 students from ADA University, Khazar University and Azerbaijan Medical University who have achieved outstanding academic results. The programme is designed to familiarise participants with the U.S. system of government, innovation, law, history and culture.

● Ancient artefacts have been discovered during the construction of a park in the city of Jalilabad, at a site known as Nar Bagi (“Pomegranate Garden”). Jars and other ancient objects have been unearthed. Specialists from Azerbaijan’s Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology are working at the excavation site. The exact age and historical significance of the finds will be determined after further examination.

●  German Chancellor Friedrich Merz held a phone conversation with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. According to the German government, the discussion focused on the situation in the Middle East, Russia’s war against Ukraine and its implications for the South Caucasus. “The chancellor called for further steps in the peace process between Armenia and Azerbaijan and stressed its importance for regional stability. In this context, the importance of expanding bilateral relations and Armenia’s relations with the EU was emphasised,” the statement said.

● The latest political consultations between the foreign ministries of Armenia and Canada were held in Ottawa. Both sides stressed the need to develop bilateral economic ties and increase investment.

● The prosecutor has launched public criminal proceedings against Narek Karapetyan, the nephew of Russian dollar billionaire and head of the pro-Russian Strong Armenia party Samvel Karapetyan, who is under house arrest in Yerevan on charges of calling for a change of power in Armenia. Narek Karapetyan (pictured below) has been charged with coercing people to participate in or refuse to participate in a gathering through threats, blackmail or material incentives. He is also accused of large-scale money laundering. The Strong Armenia party entered parliament following the June elections, and Narek Karapetyan received his parliamentary mandate just two days ago. However, the Central Election Commission approved the initiation of criminal proceedings based on the Prosecutor General’s Office request.

● However, the Central Election Commission did not approve the Prosecutor General’s Office request to detain Narek Karapetyan, stating that this “falls outside its authority.”

● Narek Karapetyan issued a video statement: “Now in Armenia, even declaring political ambitions is considered a crime. We are ready for these difficulties. For our struggle, it is an honour to be behind bars rather than on this side. Armenia will become a country where law enforcement structures work to ensure genuine rule of law.”

● The detention period of Andranik Tevanyan, leader of the pro-Russian Mother Armenia party, has been extended for another two months. He is accused of treason and espionage.

● Armenian human rights defender and lawyer Siranush Sahakyan has filed a complaint with the European Court of Human Rights over the case of Ruben Vardanyan, the former leader of the former unrecognised Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, who was sentenced in Baku to 20 years in prison on terrorism charges.

● In the second quarter of this year, Armenia recorded 42 cases of violations of journalists’ and media rights. Of these, one involved physical violence, 30 involved various forms of pressure, and 11 involved violations of the right to receive and disseminate information, according to a statement by the Committee to Protect Freedom of Speech.

● Arrested journalist and TV host Vakho Sanaia has been sentenced to 14 days of administrative detention for a Facebook post about Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili and ruling Georgian Dream party MP Vladimer Bozhadze. The case was reviewed following an appeal by the Interior Ministry’s Department for Combating Hate Crimes. Sanaia did not attend the court hearing and was arrested at his home after the verdict was announced. Before his arrest, the journalist said he had no intention of restricting his freedom of expression. The detention of the journalist has drawn international condemnation. Freedom House called the decision a violation of freedom of expression and demanded Sanaia’s immediate release. World Liberty Congress described the arrest as another example of government pressure on freedom of expression and independent media in Georgia. More details about Vakho Sanaia’s arrest here.

● Three people were injured and a minor was killed in a shooting in central Tbilisi. Police detained the suspect after a pursuit; according to reports, he resisted police using a weapon and suffered finger injuries himself. More details here.

● Onise Okriashvili, a stand-up comedian and participant in Georgia’s pro-European protests, was brutally beaten outside his home in Tbilisi. According to his wife, the attackers told him they were punishing him for insulting Nodar Dumbadze, a classic of Georgian literature. Several days earlier, Okriashvili had joked about Dumbadze on one of his podcasts, which led to a propaganda campaign against him in pro-government media and on social networks, claiming that he had insulted the writer. Okriashvili was taken to hospital. The Interior Ministry has launched an investigation, and one of the attackers reportedly turned himself in to police. Okriashvili’s wife links the attack to his critical statements and protest activities. More details here.

● According to updated data from Transparency International Georgia, there are currently 91 political prisoners in Georgia. The organisation says that those included on the list meet the criteria for political prisoners defined by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. Convicted former president Mikheil Saakashvili criticised the organisation for not including him on the list. Saakashvili said his imprisonment is also politically motivated and referred to the ongoing “sabotage case”, in which, he says, he is being tried for political statements and calls for protests.

● More than 30 people have already been questioned in the case of Nata Vibliani, who publicly spoke about sexual violence she experienced as a child. Vibliani has been giving testimony for the second day; according to her lawyer, she will be granted victim status after the questioning is completed. The rape investigation was launched about a month ago following Vibliani’s public video statements. She says that an adult man from her village systematically raped her for several years in the 1990s and accuses three other residents of the village in Georgia’s mountainous Svaneti region of sexual violence. More details here.

● The 2026 Unified National Exams have concluded. According to the National Assessment and Examinations Centre, around 94% of more than 45,000 registered applicants took part. Master’s entrance exams will be held on July 23–24, and the entire examination process this year will end on July 29.

Photo: Vakho Sanaia’s arrest

● Agricultural cooperation and potential joint investment projects were discussed during a meeting in Baku between Azerbaijan’s Economy Minister Mikayil Jabbarov and Peter Singr, head of the Czech Agrofert group of companies.

● Trade turnover between Ukraine and Azerbaijan has increased by more than 10% since the beginning of the year, Ukrainian Ambassador to Azerbaijan Yurii Gusev said. According to him, Ukraine mainly exports agricultural products to Azerbaijan, while importing fertilizers, oil and petroleum products, as well as energy equipment used to restore damaged energy infrastructure. Gusev stressed that expanding cooperation with Azerbaijan is of strategic importance, as it contributes to the development of transit transport corridors and gives Ukrainian producers access to the markets of the South Caucasus and Central Asia. He also said that the two countries continue joint work on developing transport routes in the Black Sea–Caspian region, including the restoration of ferry links between Ukraine and the South Caucasus.

● Yuri Gusev: “Ukraine counts on the participation of Azerbaijani companies in the joint production of energy equipment and the modernization of Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. We are already engaged in such a dialogue with our Azerbaijani partners. At the same time, Azerbaijan has already provided significant assistance to Ukraine following Russian attacks on energy infrastructure by supplying transformers, generators and other equipment.”

● Ukrainian-born Azerbaijani national Timur Tkachenko (Mamedov) has been appointed head of Kyiv region. He is the son of Firudin Mamedov, one of the activists of the Azerbaijani diaspora in Ukraine. Previously, he served as deputy minister for strategic industries of Ukraine and later headed the Kyiv City Military Administration.

📍 Azerbaijan has legally introduced a requirement for teachers in state general education institutions to comply with an established dress code.

📍 Azerbaijan and Sudan have abolished visa requirements for diplomatic passport holders.

📍 The Baku municipality has provided free buses for visitors to the international Dream Fest music festival, which will take place on July 23–26 at the Sea Breeze entertainment complex.

📍 The second Baku International Arts Festival (BIAF) will take place in Baku from October 28 to November 8, 2026. The programme includes more than 20 concerts, ballet and theatre performances, film screenings, meetings with artists and master classes. Artists and creative groups from Azerbaijan, the United Kingdom, Israel, Canada, Monaco, Russia, the United States, France and other countries will participate in the festival.

Dream Fest music festival, photos from the official website

● Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz signed a Joint Declaration on the Strategic Agenda of Bilateral Partnership during talks in Berlin. They also signed a Joint Declaration on the establishment and operation of the Azerbaijani-German Business Council. Read more here about the significance of the Azerbaijani president’s visit to Germany and its expected outcomes.

●  Ilham Aliyev and Friedrich Merz held a joint press conference in Berlin. Key statements:

Friedrich Merz:

The visit by Ilham Aliyev had originally been planned for March but was postponed because of the war with Iran.

The war in the Middle East and Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine have had a major impact on both Germany and Azerbaijan in terms of security and economic interests.

Germany and the European Union are highly interested in achieving lasting peace in the South Caucasus. The region’s importance as a bridge between Europe and Asia is growing.

Bilateral relations continue to develop steadily. In spring 2025, President Frank-Walter Steinmeier became the first German head of state to visit Azerbaijan. This year has also seen intensive exchanges between our parliaments. The joint declaration signed during Ilham Aliyev’s visit lays the foundation for further expanding bilateral relations.

The Azerbaijani-German Business Council has been established.

Against the backdrop of the ongoing crisis in the Middle East, cooperation on oil supplies and gas deliveries through the Southern Gas Corridor is of particular importance.

Germany wants to further diversify its energy supplies through cooperation with Azerbaijan.

Discussions are underway regarding the investment program proposed by Azerbaijan.

Ilham Aliyev:

More than 200 German companies are actively operating in Azerbaijan. Specific proposals have been made to expand their activities in the country.

This year, Azerbaijan began exporting natural gas to Germany. Azerbaijani gas is now supplied to 10 EU member states, making a major contribution to Europe’s energy security.

Energy cooperation will expand significantly. Azerbaijan already exports oil to Germany and plans to supply green energy to Europe in the future.

Azerbaijan has become a full member of the Central Asia consultative format and serves as a bridge between Central Asia and Europe.

Several working groups will be established to ensure that the agreements signed during this visit are implemented as quickly as possible.

The initialing of the peace agreement and the signing of the joint declaration in Washington, with the participation and signature of President Donald Trump, have effectively brought the 30-year conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia to an end.

The gasoline and diesel fuel supplied by Azerbaijan make a significant contribution to Armenia’s energy security. Transit cargo shipments to Armenia through Azerbaijani territory have also expanded substantially, with more than 40,000 tons already transported.

Azerbaijan, whose territories were under occupation for many years, liberated them by its own efforts, restored its territorial integrity, implemented all four UN Security Council resolutions on its own, proposed peace to Armenia and received a positive response. During the negotiation process, meetings between the foreign ministers were also held in Germany.

This year, European Council President António Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen visited Azerbaijan, further strengthening ties between Azerbaijan and the European Union.

● Asked whether an informal German-Russian meeting had indeed taken place in Baku a few days earlier, President Ilham Aliyev gave an ambiguous response. “We learned about it from The Times. […] It has been confirmed that on July 12, two representatives of Ms. Merkel’s administration arrived in Baku on a Berlin-Baku flight and returned to Berlin on July 14. At the same time, former Russian Prime Minister Viktor Zubkov and the head of the Russian Presidential Council for Civil Society and Human Rights, Valery Fadeyev, arrived in Baku from Moscow. One left on July 13 and the other on July 14. We received no information whatsoever. […] Flight records give grounds to say that such a secret meeting did take place in Baku. If it helps bring the Russian-Ukrainian war to an end, we would of course welcome it,” Aliyev said.

● Asked how much oil and gas Azerbaijan is able and willing to supply to Germany, Ilham Aliyev replied: “Last year, total trade between Azerbaijan and Germany amounted to about $1.5 billion. Most of that was Germany’s exports to Azerbaijan. The main part of Azerbaijan’s exports was crude oil worth several hundred million dollars. Azerbaijan can supply as much as is needed. This year, natural gas deliveries to Germany began under a 10-year contract with an initial annual volume of 1.5 billion cubic meters. This volume can be increased. However, first, there must be a corresponding request from buyers, and second, gas infrastructure must be expanded. Today, the TANAP and TAP pipelines are operating at full capacity and have no spare capacity left. New interconnectors are needed in Europe. However, European banks, especially the European Investment Bank, have stopped financing oil and gas projects because of the green agenda.

Given the crisis in the Middle East and the shutdown of some Russian oil refineries, it would be good if European banks reconsidered their decisions. In that case, Azerbaijan would be able to significantly increase gas exports to Europe, including Germany.”

● Azerbaijan marked the 151st anniversary of its national press on July 22. Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty’s Azerbaijani Service writes that the country is now among the world’s leading jailers of journalists. More than 20 journalists are currently imprisoned on charges including smuggling, tax evasion and other crimes. They insist they are being prosecuted because of their professional work and critical journalism. The authorities deny this.

In 2025, a group of journalists received prison sentences ranging from 7.5 to 9 years in the AbzasMedia case. Court proceedings are currently continuing in the Toplum TV and Meydan TV cases. Prosecutors have requested prison terms of between 13 and 16 years for the nine journalists and activists on trial in the Toplum TV case. “Azerbaijan continues to fall in the global press freedom ranking year after year. This year it ranked 171st out of 180 countries and territories in the Reporters Without Borders World Press Freedom Index. International human rights and media organizations continue to urge the authorities to stop the crackdown on critical journalism and civil society,” Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty’s Azerbaijani Service writes.

● Armenian wrestlers will compete at the U17 World Championship in Baku from July 27 to August 2, the Armenian Wrestling Federation said. Armenia will be represented by 16 athletes in freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling.

● Prosecutors have begun presenting their arguments in the appeals trial of the imprisoned former military and political leaders of the former unrecognized Nagorno-Karabakh Republic at the Baku Court of Appeal. In February this year, Arayik Harutyunyan, Levon Mnatsakanyan, Davit Manukyan, Davit Ishkhanyan and Davit Babayan were sentenced to life imprisonment on charges including war crimes committed during Armenia’s military aggression against Azerbaijan, terrorism and the violent seizure of power. Arkadi Ghukasyan and Bako Sahakyan were sentenced to 20 years in prison, Madat Babayan and Melikset Pashayan to 19 years, Garik Martirosyan to 18 years, Davit Alaverdyan and Levon Balayan to 16 years, and Vasily Beglaryan, Gurgen Stepanyan and Erik Ghazaryan to 15 years. Many of those convicted have appealed, insisting the charges are unjustified and requesting that their convictions be overturned. At previous hearings, both defense lawyers and the convicted men addressed the court. Prosecutors argued that all evidence had been examined thoroughly and objectively and was supported by victims’ testimony, forensic examinations, physical evidence, documents and other materials.

The next court hearing is scheduled for July 24.

●  President Ilham Aliyev sent a congratulatory letter to the United Kingdom’s new Prime Minister Andy Burnham, stressing the importance of further developing bilateral relations. The letter says that “the current level of strategic partnership in the energy sector is highly satisfactory.” “British companies operate successfully in Azerbaijan in both the oil and non-oil sectors. I would especially like to highlight our many years of successful cooperation with bp. British companies were among the first foreign businesses invited to Azerbaijan after the liberation of its territories from occupation, and they are actively participating in reconstruction and development projects there,” the letter says.

● Germany’s newly appointed ambassador to Azerbaijan, Dirk Lölke, has arrived in Baku and begun his diplomatic mission.

● Azerbaijan’s population has increased by 9,300 people since the beginning of 2026, according to the State Statistics Committee.

● According to new data from Georgia’s National Statistics Office, Georgia has significantly increased imports of frozen fish from Azerbaijan this year. Compared with the same period last year, imports rose fourfold in value and ninefold in volume. Georgia also sharply increased imports of Azerbaijani cheese and cottage cheese, up 95% in value and 65% in volume. Imports of Azerbaijani crude oil and petroleum oils also doubled.

Photo by JAMnews: Balakhany settlement on the outskirts of Baku.

● Several dozen employees of fish farming enterprises held a protest outside the government building in Yerevan. They said they are unable to sell around 15,000 tons of fish products prepared for export. For decades, Russia had been their main market, but the Kremlin banned imports of almost all Armenian products after the Armenian authorities declared a course toward European integration. Earlier this week, government officials announced a new opportunity to export fish products to European Union countries. However, fish farmers say this does not solve the immediate problem, as it will take months to organize exports to the EU in practice. In addition, according to Armen Grigoryan, head of the Armenian Fish Farmers Union, “it is unrealistic to sell the current volumes of fish products on the European market.”

● Central Election Commission Chairman Vahagn Hovakimyan: “I am convinced that the June 7 parliamentary elections were free, transparent and fair. There were incomparably fewer shortcomings than ever before. These elections were the best in every respect. But there was a high level of emotional tension in society,” Hovakimyan said.

● German Chancellor Friedrich Merz welcomed the progress made in the peace process and in the normalization of relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan, and called for further steps toward achieving a comprehensive peace agreement. He made the statement during a joint press conference with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev in Berlin.

● At the same press conference, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said: “Gasoline and diesel fuel supplied from Azerbaijan have made a significant contribution to Armenia’s energy security.”

● Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan congratulated the newly appointed Prime Minister of the United Kingdom in a letter expressing hope for close bilateral cooperation.

● The health of Andranik Tevanyan, the detained leader of the pro-Russian Mother Armenia party, suddenly deteriorated during a medical examination, according to the party’s press service. Tevanyan is under arrest on charges of treason.

● Arthur Osipyan, leader of the Karabakh Revolutionary Party, has filed a lawsuit against Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. He is demanding that the prime minister publicly retract statements he considers defamatory and issue an apology. Osipyan was detained in May after an altercation with Pashinyan during one of the prime minister’s campaign meetings with voters. He is charged with public incitement to violence, hooliganism and obstructing election campaigning. While in detention, Osipyan went on a hunger strike, demanding an apology from the prime minister. He was released on June 10 under a travel ban pending trial.

● Armenia’s Investigative Committee has appointed 35 new investigators.

● Giorgi Chigladze (pictured), who was detained following the conflict between Russian tourists and guests at a Georgian wedding at the Agarani Mamuli hotel in Telavi, in the Kakheti region, has been released on bail of 5,000 lari (about $1,800). He is charged with intentionally causing minor bodily harm. A video circulated on social media showing part of the physical confrontation, during which Chigladze struck one of the tourists in the face. According to the Interior Ministry, the incident was preceded by insults from the tourists, who also poured water from a balcony onto the wedding guests, spat at them and damaged musical equipment. During the court hearing, Chigladze said he regretted his actions. Read more here

The incident has sparked a strong political and public reaction in Georgia. Most people agree that violence is unjustified, but also believe the actions of the foreign tourists should receive a legal assessment. Many have called for the tourists to be deported and for Georgia to introduce a visa regime for Russian citizens.

● Transparency International Georgia has published a list of 90 political prisoners in Georgia. According to the organization’s representative, Sandro Baramidze, everyone on the list meets at least one of the criteria for a political prisoner established by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. The list includes journalist Mzia Amaghlobeli and opposition politician Elene Khoshtaria.

● A new opposition party is expected to be established in Georgia. The initiative is led by politicians who were previously members of the Lelo, United National Movement and Girchi – More Freedom parties. They include Saba Buadze, Badri Grigalashvili, Nika Oboladze, Tsotne Koberidze and Boris Kurua. The initiative comes after the ruling Georgian Dream party announced plans to ask the Constitutional Court to ban the country’s three main opposition forces.

● Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze has left for a working visit to Singapore. He is scheduled to meet the country’s president, prime minister, parliament speaker and representatives of financial technology companies. According to the Georgian government, the main topics of the talks will be political and economic cooperation, investment and Georgia’s potential as a logistics hub.

● The Interior Ministry has launched a remote investigation into the case of Nata Vibliani, who publicly said she was subjected to systematic sexual abuse for years during her childhood by several residents of the village where she lived with her family. According to her lawyer, no one has been arrested so far, although several people have already been questioned. Read more about the case here.

● During a meeting between Patriarch Shio III and Culture Minister Tinatin Rukhadze, an agreement was reached to establish a joint working group to oversee the restoration of churches and monasteries. The issue has become especially important following problems with the restoration of the Gelati Monastery in western Georgia, responsibility for which the state transferred to the Patriarchate in 2023.

● Four people have been sentenced to lengthy prison terms in two separate drug-related cases. Two were sentenced to 17 years each for operating an underground drug laboratory and producing an exceptionally large quantity of narcotics. In a separate case, two others received 20-year prison sentences for facilitating the purchase, storage and sale of an exceptionally large quantity of narcotics.

●  Two small earthquakes were recorded in Georgia within a short period of time. One, with a magnitude of 3.3, occurred near Akhalgori in the Tskhinvali region, and the other, with a magnitude of 3.0, struck near the town of Ninotsminda in the Samtskhe-Javakheti region. There have been no reports of damage or injuries.

● Animal welfare organization Animal Project has criticized the government’s program for managing stray dogs and cats. The organization’s co-founder, Natia Chikovani, said that reducing the number of stray animals requires large-scale sterilization and neutering, the creation of a unified database, control over the breeding of domestic animals, and effective enforcement of laws against animal abandonment.

● A full reconstruction of Rustaveli Avenue, Tbilisi’s central boulevard, has begun. Vehicle traffic has been completely suspended on Rustaveli Avenue and part of Kostava Street. The project covers a nearly two-kilometer section from Tamar Chovelidze Street to Freedom Square and is expected to be completed by the end of November.

● Formal charges have been filed against Giorgi Chigladze, who was detained following a confrontation during a wedding at the Agarani Mamuli hotel in Telavi, in Georgia’s Kakheti region. He is accused of intentionally causing minor bodily harm. Prosecutors are requesting bail of 5,000 lari (about $1,800) as a preventive measure. The court is due to hear the case on July 21.

The incident took place on July 18, when a conflict broke out between guests at a Georgian wedding and Russian tourists. A video circulating on social media shows Chigladze striking a female tourist in the face during the altercation. According to Georgia’s Interior Ministry, the incident was preceded by insults from the tourists, who also poured water from a balcony onto the wedding guests, spat at them and damaged the musical equipment. Authorities also say Chigladze was injured by one of the tourists. His lawyers have requested a medical examination. The hotel says police had been called before the physical confrontation began.

The incident has sparked a strong political and public reaction in Georgia. While most agree that violence is unjustified, many argue that the actions of the foreign tourists should also receive a legal assessment. There have also been public calls to deport the tourists and introduce a visa regime for Russian citizens.

● Heavy rain flooded several streets in Tbilisi and disrupted traffic. Problems were reported on the Aghmashenebeli Highway, in the Gldani and Avlabari districts, and near the House of Justice. Torrential rain washed large amounts of rocks and gravel onto Tamarashvili Avenue, blocking traffic. Heavy machinery has been deployed to clear the road. According to the emergency response service, no injuries have been reported.

● Severe weather also caused problems in Tusheti and western Georgia. In Tusheti, a river burst its banks, completely washing away the road surface near the bridge in the village of Shenako and destroying the road foundation. On the Kutaisi–Tskaltubo–Tsageri–Lentekhi road, near the Sakdri Bridge, flooding has forced the temporary closure of the road to all traffic.

● A court has upheld the pretrial detention of Gulbaat Rtskhiladze, who is accused of espionage. His lawyers requested his release or, alternatively, bail of 30,000 lari (about $12,000). Rtskhiladze was arrested on May 30. Investigators accuse him of cooperating simultaneously with the intelligence services of two foreign states and conducting parallel intelligence activities. If convicted, he faces up to 12 years in prison.

● Former Prosecutor General and politician Murtaz Zodelava remains in the Vivamed clinic. He is serving a seven-year prison sentence in the so-called “October 4 case” over the attempted seizure of the presidential administration building in Tbilisi. According to the clinic, his condition is stable. Zodelava was transferred from prison to hospital last week after experiencing dizziness.

● During the first six months of the year, Tbilisi collected 11.2 million lari (about $4.2 million) in parking fines, 95% more than during the same period last year. Overall revenue from traffic violation fines increased from 96.4 million lari (about $37 million) to 148.4 million lari (about $57 million).

● During the first half of the year, Georgia welcomed about 249,000 visitors from the European Union and the United Kingdom, an increase of 23.4% compared with the same period last year. According to the National Tourism Administration, tourism revenue from these countries reached a record $335.7 million, up 21.2% year on year.

📌 By decision of the Anti-Corruption Court, the Ararat Cement company has been placed under the management of Armenia’s Ministry of Economy. The company is part of the Multi Group holding owned by Gagik Tsarukyan, leader of the pro-Russian Prosperous Armenia party, who is under arrest on charges of large-scale fraud. Local media report that Ararat Cement has repeatedly come under anti-corruption scrutiny in recent years. Economy Minister Gevorg Papoyan said a company manager will be appointed during July. “Until then, I urge all employees to perform their duties conscientiously and responsibly so there are no grounds for dismissal or administrative or criminal liability. Everyone who knows their job well and works honestly and with discipline will keep their position,” Papoyan said.

📌 Inspections are under way at Arinj Mall, a shopping centre owned by the family of Gagik Tsarukyan.

📌 Villagers blocked the Yerevan–Yerask highway in protest over problems selling their tomato harvest. A local resident told NEWS.am that he currently has 60 tonnes of tomatoes in his fields that processing factories refuse to buy. “It’s the same every year. Nothing is resolved until people take to the streets. Last year they promised things would be better this time, but this year it’s even worse. Our tomatoes are meant for the factories, but they won’t buy them. They say they won’t be able to export the products, so there’s no point in purchasing them,” he said.

📌 For the first time, Armenia is now able to export fish and fish products to the European Union. According to the economy minister, the EU has issued all the necessary approvals and all required export procedures have been completed.

📌 Araik Harutyunyan, chief of staff to Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, has resigned, according to ArmLur.am. There has been no official confirmation, and the reason for his resignation has not been announced.

📌 Passengers on Yerevan’s public transport can now pay using their phones through Apple Pay and Google Pay, the city’s mayor announced.

📌 David Manukyan, a former deputy commander of the Defence Army of the former unrecognized Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, who was sentenced to life imprisonment in Azerbaijan on terrorism charges, released an audio address from prizon. “The trial is directed not only against 15 people, but against the past and present of the Armenian people, because according to the indictment and the verdict, it dates back to the first decades of the last century. Despite all these false accusations, we continue our just struggle, refusing to allow the Armenian people and the rights of Armenian statehood to be humiliated,” the address says. Manukyan called on Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan to publicly state his position on the charges brought in Azerbaijan against the former military and political leaders of the former unrecognized Nagorno-Karabakh Republic. “If there is no response from you, it will mean that you agree with these false accusations, making not only yourself but also the Armenian people complicit. It is sad that those of us here do not feel the presence of the Republic of Armenia, but this is the reality,” the address says.

● President Ilham Aliyev is on an official visit to Germany. He met with Michael Harms, Chairman of the Eastern Committee of the German Economy. The talks focused on opportunities for Azerbaijani and German businesses to expand cooperation, including in conventional and renewable energy, transport and logistics, including the Middle Corridor. The sides also discussed the use of advanced German technologies in Azerbaijan’s agricultural sector.

● A delegation from the Military Police Department of Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Defence is visiting Ankara. The delegation held meetings with Türkiye’s defence minister, the commander of the Turkish Special Forces and the head of the Special Forces School. It also observed the training process for a personal protection unit course and visited the central command headquarters.

● Mehdi Amrakhov, the former head of the Information Technology and Statistics Department at the Ministry of Health, has been arrested during a court hearing on charges of embezzling 783,000 manats (about $460,000) in state funds. Prosecutors allege he paid salaries to fictitious employees and received kickbacks from companies that won government tenders. Amrakhov denied the charges, saying he considers himself guilty only of failing to ensure sufficient oversight. A representative of the Ministry of Health, which has been recognized as the injured party in the case, filed a lawsuit demanding compensation for the alleged losses. Amrakhov told the court he would not accept the claim because he does not consider himself guilty. If convicted, he faces up to 14 years in prison.

● The Batumi Oil Terminal in Georgia, owned by Kazakhstan’s KazTransOil, has resumed transporting aviation fuel after an eight-year break. The terminal is seen as one of the main logistics hubs for shipping JET A1 aviation fuel from Europe to Kazakhstan via the Middle Corridor (the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route). The first shipment of 10,000 tonnes has arrived in Batumi by sea and is awaiting loading onto railway tank cars for transport to Kazakhstan.

The terminal is already used for transporting crude oil, fuel oil, diesel, gasoline, various types of kerosene and other liquid petroleum products along the Middle Corridor. In the first half of 2026, cargo throughput reached 725,000 tonnes.

● Georgia and Azerbaijan have launched a bilateral system of electronic permits for international road freight transport. The same permits will also be valid in Türkiye. According to Georgia’s Land Transport Agency, the digital system will simplify administrative procedures and improve the efficiency of international transport operations. A full transition to the digital system is planned for 2027.

● Azerbaijan’s Mine Action Agency (ANAMA) reported that nearly 2,000 hectares of land were cleared of mines in just one week in territories liberated from occupation by Armenian forces following the 2020 Second Karabakh War. Sappers neutralized 28 anti-tank mines, 200 anti-personnel mines and 630 unexploded ordnance. The operations were carried out jointly by ANAMA, the Ministry of Defence, the Ministry of Emergency Situations, five private companies and one non-governmental organization.

● Azerbaijan has presented to UNESCO a programme to strengthen the capacities of Small Island Developing States (SIDS). The programme includes training specialists and supporting future nominations of sites to the World Heritage List. Azerbaijan also reaffirmed its readiness to support the implementation of UNESCO’s strategy for Africa.

● Azerbaijani special forces are taking part in international counterterrorism and special operations exercises in Jordan. The scenarios include the use of drones, modern military equipment, urban combat, hostage rescue and counterterrorism operations. The exercises are aimed at improving operational capabilities and strengthening coordination among the participating countries — Jordan, Azerbaijan, Türkiye and Pakistan.

● A delegation led by Uzbekistan’s Prosecutor General is on an official visit to Azerbaijan at the invitation of the Azerbaijani side. The two countries are expected to sign a bilateral cooperation programme between their prosecution services.

● Azerbaijan has imported an electric vehicle from Poland for the first time, worth $36,400, according to the State Statistics Committee. Most electric vehicles imported into Azerbaijan come from China, the United Kingdom, the United States, Germany and Mexico. During the first half of the year, EV imports fell by 39% in volume and by 52% in value compared with the same period last year.

● Baku has hosted the presentation of the first historical documentary created with the help of artificial intelligence, Sultan Hasan Bahadur. The film was produced by the state broadcaster Azerbaijan Television and Radio together with the Turkish company Patik Production. Rovshan Mammadov, chairman of the state broadcaster, said the film is based on historical facts and that particular attention was paid to historical accuracy. It is the first film in a series titled Proud of Our History and tells the story of Sultan Hasan Bahadur and his mother, Sara Khatun, who is regarded as the first female diplomat of the East. The film was directed by Mecit Güven.

● Destruction and a fire occurred about 200 meters from the Azerbaijani embassy building in Kyiv when Russia launched ballistic missile strikes on the Ukrainian capital on the morning of July 19. The Kyiv City Military Administration reported that one person was killed and five others were injured in the attacks.

● The body of Samad Nasrullayev, the captain of the civilian cargo vessel Atlas Bey, who was killed in a Russian drone attack off the coast of Odesa, has been returned to Azerbaijan. The Turkish-owned cargo ship Atlas Bey came under attack on July 14. There were 11 Azerbaijani citizens on board. The captain was the only fatality. His body was found on July 16 after an intensive search.

● The committee defending the rights of opposition Popular Front Party chairman Ali Karimli says the conditions of his detention have become even harsher. According to the committee, the inmate sharing Karimli’s cell is still a prisoner reportedly suffering from mental health problems and facing terrorism-related charges. The committee says the inmate makes noise throughout the night, preventing Karimli from sleeping. It also states that Karimli has long been denied visits from his family, phone calls, outdoor exercise, and access to news. In recent days, the restrictions have reportedly been tightened further: his family is no longer allowed to send him food, handwritten notes — including legal motions prepared for court — have been confiscated, and his lawyers have been prohibited from giving him written materials during visits. The committee believes these restrictions are linked to interviews Karimli gave to international media and claims they were imposed on the direct orders of the president. It is calling for the release of Karimli and all political prisoners.

Ali Karimli has been under arrest since November 2025. At the same time, party member and MP Mammad Ibrahim was also detained. Both are charged with actions aimed at violently overthrowing the government. Their arrests are linked to an investigation involving former head of the presidential administration Ramiz Mehdiyev. The opposition and international human rights organizations have described the arrests as politically motivated repression. More than 20 party members and activists are currently in prison. 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.

● About 1.3 tonnes of wild-growing cannabis plants were discovered and destroyed in a single day, the Interior Ministry reported. During the same operation, police also seized more than 3.5 kilograms of narcotic substances.

● The British Embassy congratulated Azerbaijan’s Mine Action Agency (ANAMA) on its 28th anniversary. “Every hectare cleared means lives saved. We are honored to stand alongside you in mine action,” the embassy wrote on X.

● The first open-air library has opened in Shusha, in Karabakh. It will operate 24 hours a day and be open to everyone. The project was created by the Ministry of Culture in partnership with the administration of the Shusha State Reserve and the companies Azercell Telekom and Aztelekom.

● Azerbaijan national team footballer Mahir Emreli is transferring from Germany’s Kaiserslautern to Poland’s Raków Częstochowa.

● FIFA referee Farida Lutfaliyeva has been appointed to officiate two matches in the first qualifying round of the UEFA Women’s Champions League. Another Azerbaijani referee, Gulnura Akbarzade, will officiate one match in the same round. Lutfaliyeva will also serve as the reserve referee for the tournament final in Slovakia.

● Azerbaijan has begun importing ice cream from Brazil (0.3 tonnes worth $3,140) and South Korea (1.1 tonnes worth $12,000), according to official statistics.

● Police arrested Giorgi Chigladze after a conflict during a wedding at the Agarani Mamuli hotel in Telavi, charging him with intentionally causing minor bodily harm to a foreign citizen. A video circulating on social media shows Chigladze striking a woman in the face. She was taken to hospital. The investigation is being conducted under Article 120 of the Criminal Code, which carries a sentence of up to three years in prison. According to the Interior Ministry, the incident was preceded by public insults from foreign nationals staying at the hotel toward guests attending the Georgian wedding. The foreign nationals were also pouring water from the balcony onto the wedding guests, including the musical equipment, and demanding that people speak Russian. Chigladze’s lawyer claims the confrontation began after repeated provocations and says his client was the first to suffer injuries. The defense has requested that he undergo a medical examination. According to the hotel administration, police had been called before the physical confrontation began, while an ambulance arrived after the incident.

● Heavy rain and overflowing rivers have caused problems in several regions of Georgia. In Tusheti, near the village of Shenako, floodwaters completely washed away part of the road, destroying its foundation. Traffic has also been temporarily suspended in both directions on the Kutaisi–Tskaltubo–Tsageri–Lentekhi road near the Sakdri Bridge because of river flooding.

● A train to Batumi was delayed for about 20 minutes at Tbilisi Railway Station after security staff called the patrol police. One of the carriages was carrying family members of people arrested during the pro-European protests. They were wearing T-shirts with images of the detainees and holding placards. They refused to comply with the administration’s request to put the placards away. After a report was drawn up, the train continued its journey.

● A traditional protest march took place in Tbilisi on Saturday, from the Philharmonic Hall to the parliament building, under the slogan “Glory to the Heroes.” Participants carried the flags of Georgia, Ukraine, and the European Union. The demonstration continued outside the parliament building.

📸 Protest on the Tbilisi–Batumi train. Photo: Mariam Nikuradze

● Armenia now has the opportunity to purchase US defence technologies, Armenian Ambassador to the United States Narek Mkrtchyan told Axios. “Because of the absence of peace, many potential opportunities were blocked. As soon as we begin implementing the peace programme, prosperity will come. We are strengthening our sovereignty. We are seeking greater independence for Armenia. Greater sovereignty means less dependence on one single actor,” Mkrtchyan said.

● Armenia has slightly worsened its overall result in the Government Quality Index compiled by the international Chandler Institute of Governance, ranking 64th. Georgia is ahead of Armenia in 43rd place, while Azerbaijan ranks 57th. Türkiye is in 75th place, and Russia in 78th. The top positions in the ranking are held by Singapore, Norway and Denmark. Armenia’s weakest scores were recorded in long-term vision, bureaucratic quality, logistical competence, adaptability and passport strength. At the same time, between 2025 and 2026 Armenia maintained or improved its performance in five out of seven main areas, including public finance management.

● Video recording of an armed incident in central Yerevan has been released. The footage shows a person approaching a group of people standing on the street, opening fire and throwing a grenade in their direction. A body was found at the scene, and one person was hospitalised. One person has been detained. A criminal investigation has been launched, and authorities are taking measures to identify other participants in the incident.

● An intestinal infection outbreak has been reported in the city of Byureghavan. The emergency service received 15 calls overnight and another 14 calls in the morning. Six people have been hospitalised. The main symptoms include general deterioration, fever and abdominal pain. Local residents claim the incidents are linked to poor-quality water. They have already held several protests outside the city hall, demanding that the problem be resolved.

● The Ministry of Education has announced preliminary results of the 2026–2027 admission competition for local higher education institutions. The government allocated 12,720 places, including 2,133 state-funded places. A total of 9,620 applicants were admitted to universities, including 1,875 who received free education places.

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