Afgan Sadigov
Independent journalist Sadigov reportedly abducted in Azerbaijan
Simon Rovensky is reportedly being held at Tbilisi’s Gldani prison and is awaiting his next court hearing.
News Stories
Yesterday, 08 June 2026
Yesterday, 08 June 2026
Azerbaijan
Four Azerbaijanis killed in Ukrainian drone strike in Azov Sea
Ukraine said the hit ships were illegally transporting sanctioned grain from territories occupied by Russia.
Chechnya
Parents of Chechen man arrested in Kazakhstan allegedly abducted by security forces
Earlier, a support group reported the abduction and torture of the activist’s brother.
South Ossetia
South Ossetian Prime Minister steps down ‘to be replaced’ by candidate from Russia
He will reportedly be replaced by a North Ossetian official who will ‘oversee integration into Russia’.
Georgia
Canadian man reportedly detained in Tbilisi for carrying Adderall
Simon Rovensky is reportedly being held at Tbilisi’s Gldani prison and is awaiting his next court hearing.
Ingushetia
Former Ingush Supreme Court judge convicted of bribery
Former Supreme Court judge of Ingushetia Sergei Boichuk has been sentenced to seven years in prison.
Daily Brief
Monday, 8 June 2026
Regional * Today, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov departed for a working visit to Istanbul. During his visit, Bayramov is expected to participate in a trilateral meeting with his Georgian and Turkish counterparts. Armenia * Armenians went to the polls yesterday to vote in the first regularly scheduled parliamentary elections since 2017. * According to the final results, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and his Civil Contract party have gained the most votes, and will receive 58
2026 Armenian parliamentary elections
Live updates | Armenia wakes up to Civil Contract victory
Karapetyan’s Strong Armenia Alliance, Kocharyan’s Armenia Alliance, and Tsarukyan’s Prosperous Armenia have also entered parliament.
2026 Armenian parliamentary elections
Pashinyan’s Civil Contract wins parliamentary elections
The party triumphed over the Russian-Armenian billionaire Samvel Karapetyan’s Strong Armenia Alliance.
Sunday, 07 June 2026
2026 Armenian parliamentary elections
Live updates | Pashinyan’s Civil Contract leads as vote count continues
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s Civil Contract party is being challenged by political newcomer and Russian-Armenian billionaire Samvel Karapetyan.
Friday, 05 June 2026
2026 Armenian parliamentary elections
Armenian election commission rejects appeal to deregister main opposition group
Samvel Karapetyan’s Strong Armenia alliance was the main challenger to the ruling Civil Contract party.
Georgia
Georgia expels activist ‘at risk of death penalty in Iran’ to unspecified country
While in Georgia, Hadi Rostami has actively protested against the Iranian regime.
Azerbaijan
Russia hints at possible EAEU membership for Azerbaijan amidst rift with Armenia
Russian President Vladimir Putin has noted that Russia invested over $10 billion into projects in Azerbaijan.
2026 Armenian parliamentary elections
Opinion | The silent revolution: What happens when Armenia’s diverging generations meet at the polls?
Armenia’s youth have undergone different experiences than their elders, affecting what they consider important when voting in a new parliament.
Georgia
Georgia cracks down on cryptocurrency mining in Svaneti
The Interior Ministry announced the seizure of almost 150 mining devices from the Mestia Municipality.
Armenia
Armenia says citizens returning to vote may be called up for military training
The move comes following reports that Russia organised the bussing of ‘tens of thousands of Russian–Armenians’ to influence the election outcome.
Georgia–US Relations
Georgia denies asking US ‘what it would take’ to restart relations
Georgia said the US Secretary of State Marco Rubio may have understood and said ‘something based on their own interpretation’.
2026 Armenian parliamentary elections
Azerbaijan’s media apparatus goes all-in for Pashinyan
Ahead of elections, incumbent Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has found an unlikely cheerleader — Azerbaijani pro-government media.
Armenia
Armenia investigates nearly 40 people for money laundering linked to Karapetyan ally
The arrests follow nationwide raids targeting an alleged scheme to pay citizens to attend political rallies.
2026 Iran War
Israel sent troops to Azerbaijan during Iran War, sources tell CNN
The unit reportedly included members of Israel’s special operations forces, its heliborne combat and rescue force, and Mossad personnel.
Abkhazia
Russian court sentences Abkhazian opposition MP Kvarchiya to 10.5 years in prison in absentia
Abkhazian authorities had previously refused to strip Kan Kvarchiya of his parliamentary immunity.
Daily Brief
Friday, 5 June 2026
Armenia * Armenian Defence Minister Suren Papikyan did not rule out that Armenian citizens returning from abroad may be sent to 25-day military training camps. The news came amidst media reports of the organised transport of Russian–Armenians to vote in the 7 June parliamentary elections. * Armenia has issued arrest warrants against four major former officials of former President Serzh Sargsyan’s cabinet on charges of corruption and money laundering. * More affiliates of Strong Armenia and A
Thursday, 04 June 2026
Georgia
Kobakhidze announces plans to procure DMD medication
The announcement was made on Thursday after a meeting with the parents of children with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD).
Georgia
Ivanishvili’s detained ex-associate Udzilauri condemns Georgian Dream leadership
Giorgi Udzilauri, who was detained in May on espionage charges, believes he was charged over his government criticism.
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan and EU resume negotiations over partnership agreement
A preliminary draft document on partnership priorities for the period 2026–2030 was prepared during negotiations in Baku.
Adygea
Adygea man accused of murdering partner and daughter asks to be sent to Ukraine
Bislan Nekhai faces a possible life sentence for the double murder.
Armenia
Opinion | Does the concept of ‘peace’ change when the government monopolises the discourse?
What happens when words such as ‘peace’ and ‘peacebuilder’ become politically instrumentalised in Armenian discourse?
Economy
Georgian National Bank’s monetary tightening drives Georgia’s inflation down to 5.7%
The decline came after the bank raised its refinancing rate for the first time in four years.
Armenia
Armenia offers subsidies to exporters amidst Russian restrictions
Russia has restricted the imports of a number of Armenian products ahead of parliamentary elections on 7 June.
Daghestan
Former head of Daghestan’s Pension Fund sentenced to life for plotting murders of officials
The former official was convicted in absentia of financing terrorism and for organising the killing of a counter-extremism officer.
