Georgia
Kobakhidze speaks at CPAC Hungary as Orbán calls Georgia the ‘bravest nation in Europe’
The bulk of Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze’s speech was about traditional values and praise for Georgia’s strategic neutrality.
OC Media
Open Caucasus Media brings you news, commentary, multimedia, and podcasts from the North and South Caucasus.
Daily Brief
Monday, 23 March 2026
Regional * The Armenian authorities rejected a petition to allow the Catholicos Karekin II to attend the funeral of Georgian Patriarch Ilia II yesterday. Karekin II has been under a travel ban since February. Armenian President Vahagn Khachaturyan and Minister of Culture and Education Zhanna Andreasyan attended the funeral. Armenia * Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has faced backlash after calling Nagorno-Karabakh Armenians ‘runaways’ in an argument with a refugee on the metro. Later that
Daily Brief
Friday, 20 March 2026
Regional * Yesterday, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan had a telephone conversation with his Georgian counterpart Irakli Kobakhidze, offering his condolences for the death of Patriarch Ilia II. Earlier yesterday, Pashinyan stated that Armenia ‘will participate in the funeral at the highest level’, however the attendance of Catholicos Karekin II still remains unclear, considering he has been under a travel ban since February. Armenia * Yesterday, Pashinyan received EU Enlargement Commissioner
Daily Brief
Thursday, 19 March 2026
Regional * Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan sent a letter of condolence to his Georgian counterpart Irakli Kobakhidze on the occasion of the death of Georgian Patriarch Ilia II. Catholicos Karekin II also sent similar condolences. It remains unclear if Karekin II will be able to attend Ilia II’s funeral, considering he has been under travel ban since February. * This morning a total of 488 tonnes of grain were shipped from Baku, bound for Armenia from Russia via Azerbaijan. Armenia * EU Enl
Georgia
Over 70 arrested in Georgian police operation against mafia in Adjara
Among those detained were alleged high-ranking members of the post-Soviet mafia network known as ‘thieves-in-law’.
Ilia II
Obituary | Patriarch Ilia II — the one constant in Georgia’s modern history
Ilia II, the Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia, has died, leaving behind a troubled legacy after 48 years of leading the Georgian Orthodox Church.
