The main topics of the day: what is happening in Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia, 10-14 April, 2023

● Judge Badri Kochlamazashvili refused to let some American judges come to the country to study, as “the study visit, besides the professional goals, also has a political meaning”. He is referring to the American sanctions placed on 4 Georgian judges.

● The head of Court Watch, Nazi Janezashvili, said that Badri Kochlamazashvili’s reasons for stopping the American judges from visiting do not seem convincing.

● The international organisations Eurojust and Europol support the investigation into the so-called “call centre case”. It is suspected that former Georgian Defense Minister David Kezerashvili may be connected to this global fraud network.

● In Zugdidi, a juvenile defendant was sentenced to 12 years in prison for the murder of a teenager.

● The body of Georgian volunteer David Kuchukian, who died fighting in Ukraine, was brought back home. He was 32 years old and a native of the village of Kyzyl-Kilisa in the Kvemo Kartli region. More than 40 fighters – citizens of Georgia and natives of Georgia who have Ukrainian citizenship – have already died fighting for Ukraine.

● “Lazare is supported by many people, including police officers,” says the grandfather of Lazare Grigoriadis, who was arrested after participating in protests against the law on foreigners.

● Abkhazia’s intelligence services said that Georgian intelligence services have stepped up their recruitment activities for Abkhaz residents. “Tbilisi is trying to get data on the location of military facilities, their qualitative and quantitative composition and movements. This is connected with Georgia’s plans to undermine the independence and sovereignty of Abkhazia,” the statement reads.

●  The relatives of the dead soldiers have blocked the street outside the Investigative Committee of Armenia and stayed there all night, demanding that the perpetrators of the September 21 case are charged.
On the morning of September 21, 2022, relatives of the dead soldiers were on duty at the military pantheon, intending to disrupt Nikol Pashinyan’s visit to Yerablur, but the police used force to restrain them.

●  Yerevan agrees with the European Union’s proposal to mirror the withdrawal of troops along the entire perimeter of the border with Azerbaijan, Nikol Pashinyan said. However, according to him, Azerbaijan systematically violates the agreements reached through international platforms.

●  Two Armenian companies were put on the U.S. sanctions list last year.
After the introduction of anti-Russian sanctions, VTB Armenia, as well as two Armenian companies: Taco and Milor Electronics were put on the list. According to the U.S. Treasury Department, these companies are interconnected with Russian electronics developers.

● Azerbaijani athletes arrived in Yerevan to participate in the European Championships. “We ensured their safety,” said the Armenian chief of staff.

●  The second Azerbaijani soldier among those who entered Armenian territory was found and detained. Qajaran mayor Manvel Paramazyan told Armenian mass media that the soldier had the mobile phone of the watchman, working for Zangezur Copper and Molybdenum Combine, who was killed. However, this version of events has not been published by the police, or officially proposed.

●  The work of the Minsk Group is frozen, but the group may restart if needed, OSCE head Buyer Osmani said at a press conference with his Armenian counterpart in Yerevan.

● The launch of a reconstruction project in Yerevan’s Kond district will move into a practical phase. Armenian and French specialists will soon begin work. The aim of the initiative is to combine the new with the traditional in the urban environment, preserving the original colour of the historic district.

● Visiting museums and museum reserves under the jurisdiction of the Armenian Ministry of Science, Culture and Sports will be free for children under the age of 12 from May 1.

● Azerbaijan has made a request to join the ‘Islamic Eight’. This was announced by Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu. The D-8 includes Bangladesh, Egypt, Nigeria, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Pakistan and Turkey.

●Baku responded to Pashinyan, who accused Azerbaijan of violating its commitments in the Prague and Sochi meetings. “The fact that Armenia continues to make claims on the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Azerbaijan and does not withdraw its forces from these territories is a vivid example of a serious violation of the Prague and Sochi agreements and Armenia’s lack of interest in the peace process,” Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry spokesman Aikhan Hajizade stressed.

● The General Prosecutor’s Office of Azerbaijan opened a criminal case on the torture of an Azerbaijani soldier missing in Nakhichevan and detained in Armenia.

●  International organisations have been informed about the violence in Armenia against an Azerbaijani soldier, the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry said. “This manifestation of violence demonstrated by Armenia against prisoners of war is a gross violation of the Geneva Conventions of 1949, the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, international humanitarian and other international obligations related to human rights,” the ministry said in a statement.

● Baku demands compliance with international law in the treatment of prisoners. Armenian media yesterday circulated photos and videos showing the torture and ill-treatment of Azerbaijani soldier Huseyn Akhundov. The Azerbaijani State Commission on Prisoners, Hostages and Missing Persons sent official appeals to international organizations.

● Azerbaijani weightlifters will not participate in the opening ceremony of the European Weightlifting Championship in Yerevan in order “not to create a stir”.

● Bosnia and Herzegovina will open an embassy in Azerbaijan. This was announced by Presidency Chair Željka Cvijanović during a meeting with President Ilham Aliyev, who paid a one-day working visit to the country.

● In Lachin, a man was blown up by a land mine at the entrance to one of the houses. The incident took place in the village of Sus in an abandoned residential area. A civilian was injured.

● Mahbuba Huseynova, director of the scandalous Orphanage No.3 in Baku, was dismissed from her post. A pupil of this home was placed in a psychiatric hospital after he criticized the management of the institution for corruption. Read more in our story 

● Former President Mikhail Saakashvili has been awarded the Prometheus Award in Poland, named after President Lech Kaczynski (pictured). Saakashvili’s mother, Julie Alasania, received the award on behalf of her son. The award ceremony was held in Warsaw and was timed to coincide with the 13th anniversary of the tragedy in Smolensk when Kaczynski was killed in a plane crash. British Minister of Defense, Ben Wallace, has also received this award, which is given for contributions to diplomacy and economic studies

● Judicial Watch chief Nazi Janezashvili, referring to insider information, said: “There has not been a joint statement regarding the American sanctions against four Georgian judges, because so far it has not been possible to get enough votes for one.”

● The draft law on deoligarchization continues to be discussed. The adoption of the law is one of the main criteria for Georgian to receive EU candidate status. One change has been made: now it is not the government who has the power to recognize someone as an oligarch, but the Bureau for Anti-Corruption.

● World-famous opera singer Paata Burchuladze is suing journalist Shalva Ramishvili for damaging his honour, dignity and business reputation. Ramishvili is described by some as a propagandist for the ruling party. In a broadcast on his POSTV channel, he accused Burchuladze of fraud and appropriation of money while working with the Ivannan Foundation.

● 10 Georgian civil and administrative law judges were on a business visit to the United States to exchange their experiences with freedom of speech.

●  Georgian doctors living in the United States are asking the president to pardon imprisoned Niku Gvaramiya, director of the popular independent TV channel “Mtavari archi”.

● A kindergarten was robbed in Gori – a plasma TV, computer equipment and expensive music equipment were taken.

●  Moscow has asked its Armenian partner to clarify whether the country will participate in NATO exercises. ”Our response will be determined after we get an answer,” Maria Zakharova said.

● The head of the Armenian Foreign Ministry said that there were no European observers at the shooting in the village of Tegh, but that they had recorded the information.

● The Armenian Foreign Minister has announced a meeting with his Azerbaijani counterpart in the near future. Ararat Mirzoyan did not say exactly when and where the meeting would be held but stressed that it would happen.

● Parliament has approved the Prosecutor General’s motion to start criminal proceedings against opposition MP Mher Sahakyan for hitting a ruling party MP during a session.

● Anahit Manasyan has been elected as Armenia’s new ombudsman.

● An artificial snow system will be installed at a ski resort on the slopes of Aragats to help fuel the ski season. This was announced by the Minister of Economy, Vahan Kerobyan.

● A wolf has attacked a man in Spitak near a gas station. The victim was immediately hospitalised and vaccinated against rabies. His life is not believed to be in danger.

Photo: Yerevan, JAMnews / David Pipia

● Azerbaijani weightlifters will take part in the European Championship in Yerevan. The organisers of the championship provided special security guarantees for Azerbaijani athletes, the Azerbaijani Weightlifting Federation reported.
Azerbaijani athletes last came to Armenia in 2009 for the European Youth Judo Championship.

● The Azerbaijani side has appointed Murad Najafbeyli as head of the secretariat for the State Border Delimitation Commission between Azerbaijan and Armenia. He has previously been ambassador to Switzerland, Estonia and the UN European Mission respectfully.

● The Azerbaijani authorities are initiating a pilot seawater desalination project to improve Baku’s water supply. Aliyev has signed a decree to implement it.

● Aide to Azerbaijani President Hikmet Hajiyev met with Iranian Ambassador to Baku Musavi. “I hope that the end result of the initiated process will be in the interests of both countries and regions,” the Iranian ambassador wrote on social media after the meeting.

● The speaker of the Azerbaijani parliament arrived on a working visit to St. Petersburg. Sahiba Gafarova will participate in the Council of the CIS Interparliamentary Assembly meeting and the 55th plenum of the Assembly.

●  In the Lachin village of Sus, a shepherd was blown up by an anti-personnel mine. Ramil Azizov sustained a leg injury. He was hospitalised.
● Turkey and Azerbaijan are trying to help the countries of Southeast Europe with gas supplies. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said that to this end, work on doubling the capacity of TANAP continues.

● In Sofia on April 25-26 is expected to sign an agreement on the expansion of gas infrastructure between Bulgaria, Turkey, Romania, Slovakia, Hungary and Azerbaijan. The event was announced by Bulgarian Energy Minister Rosen Hristov. “Thus, gas from Azerbaijan can be delivered through Bulgaria to Central Europe,” he said.

● Permission to import products with Russian labels into Azerbaijan has been extended until the end of the year. The AR Food Safety Agency banned the import of products labelled without translation into the territory of the state on December 1, 2022.

● Citizens arriving in Azerbaijan or going abroad can freely import and export medicines necessary for personal use, the State Customs Committee said. This includes medicines that have not passed state registration in Azerbaijan.

●  The draft of the new Defence Code was discussed in its second reading. An amendment was introduced: a clause offering a one-year deferral fee (almost $4 thousand in GEL equivalent) was removed altogether. It will no longer be possible to buy deferral of military service.

● The acting director of the Republican Hospital has resigned. Since 22 March, the clinic’s staff have been asking the authorities not to allow it to be demolished.

●  Тhe father of activist, Lazare Grigoriadis, who was arrested after participating in the protests against the proposed law on foreign agents, has said: “My son was sacrificed for having a different outlook on life. But he grew up free and has always taken part in protests for freedom, especially against this ‘Russian law’.”

●  According to the EU Foreign Affairs Official, Peter Stano: “The EU expects the Georgian authorities to create a truly independent judiciary”

● The parliamentary opposition summons Interior Minister Vakhtang Gomelauri for a hearing in connection with the thousands of protests in Tbilisi in March against the law on foreign agents.

● Public Defender, Levan Iosseliani, claims, that it is not his jurisdiction to comment on the American sanctions against the Georgian judges.

●  According to the Azerbaijani Defence Ministry, three Azerbaijani soldiers have died in clashes at the border with Armenia.
In a statement, the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry said: “It was a provocation from Armenia, not only attacking the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Azerbaijan but also threatening regional peace and security.”

●  The Ombudsmen of Azerbaijan have called on the international community to “take a decisive position in the plan to end Armenia’s military provocations.” “If Armenia’s continued provocations prove that this country is not interested in the peace process and has not abandoned their aggressive intentions” Sabina Aliyeva highlighted.

●  Ilham Aliyev will travel to Bosnia and Herzegovina on the 13th April. It will be the Azerbaijani President’s third foreign visit in the last few days. Since the 5th April Aliyev has visited Tajikistan and Kazakhstan and also hosted the Georgian Prime Minister.

●  4 have died and 6 Armenian soldiers were injured in clashes on the Armenian Azerbaijani border. The Defence Ministry has said that Armenia has lost no territory or position.

●  According to plans, citizens of a third country should be able to cross the border between Armenia and Turkey by summer. The Armenian side is now working on the Magara checkpoint’s technical equipment to launch the plans, the Deputy-Speaker said.

●  The Prosecutor General’s Office in parliament is petitioning for criminal proceedings for assaulting a ruling party MP against opposition MP Mher Sahakyan. Sahakyan will support the motion to initiate criminal proceedings against him. He will not face jail time.

● Relatives of the 26 Armenian prisoners, who have already been held for two years by Baku, blocked the Gyumri-Bavra highway in protest. They are demanding the return of the prisoners.

●  Five Armenian TV channels are suspended for two hours due to debts.

●  Parliament is discussing ombudsman candidacy, with a closed-door vote scheduled.

●  The search for 25-year-old Levan Dolenjashvili has continued for the second day in Kvareli. Before he left his house he told his family that he was going to meet with friends but he has not been seen since.

●  Former State Department Official, David Kramer, said that the USA has the right to deny visas to anyone, and security forces are not obligated to provide evidence of involvement in corruption against the Georgian judges who have fallen under sanctions. Kramer also said that he had advised members of the ruling party to be careful “in case they think that they are immune from sanctions”.

●  According to the TV channel Formula, some Georgian judges were about to go to the USA to study, but are being pressured not to by more powerful colleagues.

●  A member of the judicial family, Dimitri Gvritishvili, thanked Prime Minister Garibashvili, who met with the Supreme Court and publicly resented the US sanctions against Georgian judges, for his support. The prime minister said that Georgia has a fair court and he is proud of it.

●  The former Prime Minister, now opposition figure, Giorgi Gakharia has claimed: “The source of [oligarch] Ivanishvili’s power is the ruling party [that he created] and the influential court group.”

● Levan Khabeishvili, representative for the opposition ‘National Movement’ group, claimed: “Garibashvili protected the corrupt judges as the Russians would” in the Prime Minister’s speech about the sanctions placed on judges.

●  A representative of the Supreme Court, Nino Kadagidze invited the USA to recognize their own mistake with these sanctions: “Everyone has mistakes, recognizing them is a trait of the strong.”

●  Musicians and actors joined the movement for the release of proven director of independent TV channel Mtavari Niki Gvaramia. The announcement was made at a gathering in Dedaena Park in Tbilisi, where participants once again called Gvaramia a political prisoner. The protesters appealed to President Salome Zurabishvili to pardon Gvaramia. Dozens of teachers, lawyers, scientists, professors, doctors and artists have already joined the movement.

●  Since the beginning of the year, more than 5,000 Russians have registered as entrepreneurs in Georgia, while over 15,000 new business entities were registered by Russian citizens in Georgia in 2022.

●”In the last three months, 27 members of the Muslim Union movement and 16 other believers have been arrested in Azerbaijan on trumped-up charges,” the movement and D18 said in a joint statement.

●The Azerbaijani Ministry of Defense reported two soldiers lost and missing due to adverse weather conditions in Nakhichevan. The Armenian side later announced the detention of one Azerbaijani soldier, presumably one of those missing.

● Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev made a working visit to Kazakhstan, where he met with Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. “We discussed specific figures and a schedule for increasing the transportation of goods along the East-West route and gave instructions to work out all these issues in the near future,” Aliyev told the press after the meeting.

●The Baku Metro has announced the start of the next phase of construction of a new station of the metro’s purple line. It will be the 28th station of the Baku metro.

● A woman threw an umbrella towards Nikola Pashinyan during his working visit to Vayots Dzor. The 47-year old woman was imprisoned and released within a few hours.

● An Armenian journalist is accused of insulting a judge. According to the Investigative Committee’s version, Nairi Okhikyan disrespected the judge in a post on his social media page. Okhikian was released on his own recognizance. The journalist himself called the accusation a political order and blackmail.

● The court granted the suit filed by the speaker of the Armenian parliament against the journalist Ani Gevorgyan. She was ordered to publicly refute in the media Alain Simonyan’s slander that he had “ordered” attacks on her and her young child. The court also ordered Gevorkyan to pay 150,000 drams ($300) in damages for defamation.

● Тwo Azerbaijani soldiers were found on Armenian territory. One was detained. The other soldier has disappeared and the search is ongoing.

● An Armenian Embassy opening in Turkey is not going to happen in the foreseeable future, but the countries are working to reopen their borders, according to Mevlut Cavusoglu.

● Armenia is planning to give a $200 scholarship to students, who are studying subjects that the government is prioritising.The ministry is offering the support in particularly to future teachers, vets, cattle breeders and agronomists. At the moment the scholarship is worth about $10-12 per month.

● Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili has awarded medals of honour to two women, Nana Maharadze and Nana Malashkhia, who have become symbols of two protests in Georgia : 9 April 1989 and the recent March rallies against the “foreign agents” law.

● The father of 21-year-old Lazare Grigoriadis, accused of assaulting police officers during the March rallies, promises to announce a new protest in support of his son soon.

● The release of Lazare is one of four demands that were made to the authorities at the opposition United National Movement rally on Sunday. The other three are:
– The immediate resignation of the judges hit by US visa sanctions;
– the release of the third president, Mikheil Saakashvili, and Mtavari TV founder Nika Gvaramia;
– fulfilment of 12 EU conditions, most notably de-oligarchisation, judicial reform and electoral reform.

● “Georgian Dream is offering us the Russian world, but we already saw in 200 years what the Russian world is”: Giorgi Vashadze, leader of the opposition party Agmashenebeli Strategy.

● “Some want to give us to Russia, others to Europe”: Bishop Jacob of Bodbie.

● Today the Foreign Minister of Northern Macedonia arrives in Georgia on an official visit.

● Today marks the 120th day of Azerbaijani activists protesting on the Lachin road. Activists are demanding a meeting with the commander of the Russian peace-keeping contingent in Karabakh and access for Azerbaijani mine-monitoring specialists. So fare none of their demands have been fulfilled.

● The foreign ministers of Azerbaijan and Iran had two telephone conversations over the weekend. They discussed the discontentment and misunderstanding, which exists between the two countries and also emphasised the importance of continuing talks to resolve these misunderstandings.

●”Islamic solidarity excludes the use of religion for political purposes, interference in the internal affairs of Muslim neighbours, but does not involve military support for the occupation of the territories of another Muslim country,” said a statement by Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry in response to Iranian Foreign Ministry protests over the expulsion of four Iranian diplomats from Baku.

● An Azerbaijani citizen was detained in the Fizuli district who attempted to enter the territories which had fallen under Azerbaijani control after the second Karabakh war. Gurbanov was detained administratively for 10 days by a court decision.

● In Armenia they celebrated Zatik: the Armenian celebration of Easter. On this day, Armenians greet each other with the traditional, “Christ is risen from the dead” and reply: “Blessed is the Resurrection of Christ”. Festive tables are decorated with dyed red eggs – in memory of the fact that the world was saved at the cost of Christ’s blood.

● Young people led a torchlight march and placed candles on the square to form the symbol of Saint Geghard’s holy spear.

● Armenia has decided to create a general academy of the Interior Ministry. The creation of the new institution is planned by merging the Police Education Complex with the Crisis Management Academy. The leadership of the MIA believes that in this way it will be possible to provide the apparatus of the ministry with quality personnel.

● Foreign direct investment in Armenia has reached nearly $1 billion, according to Economy Minister Vahan Kerobyan.

●  Armenia is among the top three importers of Russian vodka

The main topics of the day: what is happening in Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia, 3-7 April, 2023