Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan becomes full-fledged member of Central Asian consultative meetings format
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev had previously been invited to partake in the last two meetings in an unofficial capacity.
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 books).
Azerbaijan’s Media Crackdown
Imprisoned Abzas Media editor-in-chief awarded RSF Press Freedom Award
Sevinj Vagifgizi was sentenced to nine years in prison in June on charges of smuggling foreign currency as a group and money laundering.
Georgia’s EU U-turn
Erasmus+ suspends funding to Georgian authorities
The ban on funding will not affect independent educational institutions, including within the Erasmus+ mobility and cooperation activities.
Azerbaijan–Russia Relations
Azerbaijan summons Russian Ambassador over missile strike on embassy in Ukraine
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi separately held a phone call with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev following the strike.
Mikheil Saakashvili
Saakashvili appeals to Zelenskyi after transfer back to prison
Georgia’s ex-president Mikheil Saakashvili requested he be included in the list of civilian prisoners of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Reviews
Review | The Literature Express — misogyny dressed up as literary satire
Lasha Bugadze’s 2009 novel critiquing the art of literature, particularly the ‘Georgian author’, falls flat in its obsession with sex and sexism.
