LIVE: Key morning headlines from Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia

●  The joint special forces exercise “Caucasian Eagle 2026” involving Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Turkey has concluded at the Mukhrani military base near Tbilisi. The drills included building-clearing operations in small units, controlled demolitions, helicopter insertions, neutralization of a mock enemy, and other tactical exercises.

● The Azerbaijan Popular Front Party says the prison conditions of its chairman, Ali Karimli, have deteriorated and that his rights have been further restricted. According to the party’s press service, Karimli told family members during a visit that he had been transferred to another cell and is now being held under stricter conditions than other inmates. He said the television in his cell has been switched off, he has no access to a radio, and newspapers and other printed materials brought by his lawyers are not being delivered to him. He also says his right to a two-hour daily walk has been restricted. The authorities have not commented on these allegations.

Ali Karimli and Popular Front Party presidium member Mammad Ibrahim were arrested in November last year on charges of attempting to violently seize power. Both politicians categorically deny the accusations. They are defendants in a case involving alleged activities threatening national security. The main defendant in the case is former presidential administration chief Ramiz Mehdiyev, who is also under arrest and was long regarded as the “gray cardinal” of Azerbaijani politics.

●  Azerbaijan’s hazelnut exports have seen significant changes since the beginning of the year. Compared to the same period last year, export volume fell by 17.6%, while export value increased by 38.2%. Hazelnut exports accounted for 0.6% of Azerbaijan’s total export revenues.

●  Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has awarded Hikmet Javad, chairman of the United Azerbaijani Diaspora of Ukraine, the Order of Merit, Third Class.

●  Another shipment of Russian wheat has been transported to Armenia via Azerbaijan in transit, consisting of 11 railcars.

●  The second UFC Fight Night Baku tournament took place over the weekend at the National Gymnastics Arena. Azerbaijani fighter Tahir Abdullayev defeated Brazil’s Jefferson Nascimento, Farman Hasanov beat American Eric Nolan, while Nazim Sadykhov lost to Brazil’s Matheus Camilo. The first UFC tournament in Baku was held in 2025.

●  Turkey and Azerbaijan have jointly submitted an application to have baklava inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

📸 Photo: The CandyFest summer festival continued over the weekend on Baku Boulevard. Opened on June 1, the festival will run through the end of July, featuring theater performances, concerts, interactive games, circus shows, entertainment programs, and a large fair. Photo by Report

Top stories in Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Georgia from 22-26 June, 2026