Georgia
Georgian Dream vows to amend law to ban new and future opposition parties
Banning the political opposition was one of the ruling party’s pre-election promises for 2024.
News Stories
Today, 02 April 2025
Today, 02 April 2025
Georgia
Uproar after Russian state media photographer awarded for coverage of Georgian protests
Mikhail Tereshchenko took the photos as part of his work with the Russian state media agency TASS.
Azerbaijan
Iranian President Pezeshkian set to visit Azerbaijan in April
The news came during the visit of Iran’s Presidential Advisor on Political Affairs Mehdi Sanayei to Baku.
Georgia
UK imposes financial sanctions on two members of group locally known as Georgia’s ‘Clan of Judges’
In recent years, watchdogs have criticised what they say are close ties between the ruling Georgian Dream party and a ‘clan’ inside the judiciary.
Georgia
Investigation reveals Georgia’s largest dairy farm fed chicken faeces to its dairy cows
The media investigation is based on the legal dispute between the poultry company and the dairy-producing farm.
Chechnya
Kadyrov’s 17-year-old son appointed ‘supervisor’ of Chechnya’s Interior Ministry
The decision to appoint Adam Kadyrov to his new position was made by order of his father.
Reviews
Review | Tesnota — a taut portrait of Jewish diaspora life in the North Caucasus
This unsettling domestic drama is an admirable directorial debut from dissident Kabardian director Kantemir Balagov.
Ingushetia
Ingush activist walks free after six years in prison
The activist, convicted of ‘organising protests’ against the land agreement between Chechnya and Ingushetia, had served his full sentence.
Azerbaijan
German President Steinmeier arrives in Baku for historic visit clouded by controversy
President Frank-Walter Steinmeier’s visit to Baku is the first time a German president has been to the country.
Armenia
Armenia brings charges of official negligence against two former high-ranking military officials
The two accused, Movses Hakobyan and Armen Harutyunyan, have maintained their innocence.
Georgia
Head of Georgia’s State Security Service demoted to Minister of Regional Development
Critics have accused the government of using Liluashvili’s new position in order to ‘secure the regions for elections’.
Abkhazia
Badra Gunba inaugurated as president of Abkhazia
Gunba’s inauguration was attended by representatives of Russia, South Ossetia, Nicaragua, Venezuela, and Transnistria.
Georgia
Zourabichvili testifies in UK Parliament about the impact of ‘Russian disinformation’ on Georgia
Georgia’s fifth President Salome Zourabichvili warned that Georgia was at risk of becoming a grey zone where Russians could bypass Western sanctions.
Daily Brief
Wednesday, 2 April 2025
Regional * The head of the Armenian church, Catholicos Karekin II, has asked German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier to raise ‘the issues of the Nagorno-Karabakh people’s just rights, the release of Armenian prisoners of war and preservation of Armenian spiritual-cultural heritage’ during Steinmeier’s visit to Azerbaijan. Steinmeier is the first German President to visit Armenia and Azerbaijan. * During Steinmeier’s meeting with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev today, Aliyev stated that he
Yesterday, 01 April 2025
Armenia
Nagorno-Karabakh Armenians launch a series of protests against the cutting of state aid
Starting from Tuesday, the Armenian government will reduce state assistance to Nagorno-Karabakh Armenians.
Georgia
Echoing Musk, Georgian Dream creates a Department of Government Efficiency
This is not the first time the ruling party has echoed the trends of the Trump administration.
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan summons German ambassador ahead of president’s visit to Baku
The spat appears to have originated from a now deleted Instagram post from the German president containing the Nagorno-Karabakh flag.
Georgia
Zourabichvili announces creation of ‘platform of resistance’
Zourabichvili said the platform is open to all pro-European parties and groups that share the protest demands.
Armenia–Azerbaijan Conflict
Azerbaijan again accuses Armenia of ceasefire violations
Azerbaijan has repeatedly accused Armenia of violating the ceasefire in recent weeks.
Armenia
Following Russia’s warning, Armenia reiterates that annual fees to the CSTO will not be paid
Armenia announced in February 2024 that its participation in the CSTO was ‘basically frozen’.
Georgia
Georgian Dream passes media and civil society restrictive laws with final hearing
The laws were unanimously passed by the ruling party in the absence of opposition in parliament
Georgia
Georgian Dream’s questioning of military officials over August 2008 War sparks outrage
Georgian Dream repeatedly claimed that former President Mikheil Saakashvili’s government started the war.
Daily Brief
Tuesday, 1 April 2025
Regional * Abkhazian President-elect Badra Gunba is set to be inaugurated tomorrow in Sukhumi (Sukhum). The Administration of the President of Abkhazia has told Sputnik that the guests will include First Deputy Head of the Russian Presidential Administration Sergei Kiriyenko, South Ossetian President Alan Gagloev, and the ambassadors of Nicaragua and Venezuela. * Nine criminal cases have been opened after two brothers from North Ossetia were found to have 60 counterfeit Abkhazian passports. A
Caucasus Datablog
Datablog | Is quality education in Georgia really accessible for all?
Most Georgians believe access to quality education is fairly equitable between men and women.
Monday, 31 March 2025
Armenia
Armenia’s ruling Civil Contract party appears to lose two local snap elections
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan congratulated the winners.
Chechnya
Business records of Kadyrov’s official wife hidden from state register
Journalists previously reported that Medni Kadyrova controlled two of the largest shopping centres in Chechnya.
Georgia–China Relations
Georgian National Bank signs cooperation agreement with People’s Bank of China
Georgian–Chinese relations have been steadily warming in recent years, with Tbilisi courting Chinese investment in several Georgian projects.
Reviews
Review | 1978 — The Struggle for the Status of the Georgian Language: Oral Histories
While an interesting collection of oral histories, this compilation struggles to do too much at once, becoming disjointed in the process.
Armenia
Germany wants peace in the South Caucasus, President Steinmeier says during historic Armenian visit
It is the first time a German president has visited Armenia, in a trip that will also see him travel to Azerbaijan.
Armenia–Azerbaijan Conflict
Yerevan rejects Baku’s ceasefire violation accusations, claims Azerbaijan has fired towards Armenia
Armenia claimed that Azerbaijan opened fire towards the Khnatsakh settlement in Syunik, damaging a residential house.
