Georgia
Controversy after Olympian films video with lion cub in Tbilisi
Two-time Olympic gold medal winner Lasha Bekauri videoed himself playing with the cub while driving a Porsche through one of Tbilisi’s main avenues.
Xandie (Alexandra) Kuenning
After years in academia, Xandie returned to Georgia to join OC Media. Her previous work with non-profits focused on Eurasian affairs, particularly queer and gender rights and green politics. She’s also a fan of foreign cinema, tea, and books (but not spilling tea on them).
Armenia–Azerbaijan Conflict
EU Parliament calls for sanctions against Azerbaijani officials
The EU Parliament has called on the EU to end its gas dependency on Baku, and for the imposition of sanctions against Azerbaijani officials over human rights violations in the country, and individuals who threaten Armenia In a resolution adopted on Thursday, MEPs cited ‘worrying reports’ of Russian gas being rebranded as Azerbaijani for export to the EU, thereby bypassing Western sanctions. They also noted Azerbaijan’s deepening ties with Russia since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2
Azerbaijan
Biden calls on Aliyev to finalise peace agreement before 2025
US President Joe Biden has encouraged Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev to finalise a peace agreement with Armenia before the end of 2024. Biden also emphasised his personal commitment to achieving this goal, while referencing the ‘steps’ the US was willing to take. In a letter hand-delivered to Aliyev on Monday, Biden highlighted what he called the ‘steady progress’ Azerbaijan and Armenia had made towards finalising a peace agreement which would normalise relations between the two countries
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan sentences French national to three years in prison for spray painting train
Azerbaijan has sentenced a French citizen to three years in prison for spray painting a Baku metro car, as diplomatic relations between Baku and Paris remain tense. On 10 September, the Narimanov District Court in Baku sentenced Théo Clerc to three years in prison for painting the train carriage at the Baku metro depot. Australian citizen Paul Han and New Zealand citizen Ismael De-Saint Quentin were fined ₼6,800 ($4,000) each for the same charge. The harsh sentencing of Clerc compared to
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