Georgia–Ukraine Relations
Georgian and Ukrainian foreign ministers meet again in latest sign of warming ties
The increased communication has strengthened discussions on normalisation prospects between the two countries.
News Stories
Yesterday, 18 May 2026
Yesterday, 18 May 2026
Chechnya
Akhmat club fighter expelled after assault on women in Grozny
Dzhikhad Yunusov has still not been detained despite public outrage and an Interior Ministry inquiry.
Abkhazia
Gunba focuses on economy and Russian relations in first major press conference since 2025 election
An underlying theme throughout the press conference was Abkhazia’s dependence on external factors, primarily regarding interactions with Russia.
Georgia
Patriarch Shio III targets abortion, ‘gender ideology’ on ‘Family Purity Day’
Patriarch Shio III made remarks after the Family Purity Day March.
Azerbaijan
Baku hit by mass flooding as it hosts international forum
Photos and video taken by a forum participant showed that the area where the World Urban Forum was held was also flooded.
Armenia
Armenia launches investigation into alleged plot to assassinate Pashinyan
The investigation was announced after a video appeared online showing masked and armed men issuing direct threats to Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.
Georgia
US court sentences Georgian national to 15 years in prison over white supremacist terror plot
Michail Chkhikvishvili was found criminally liable for ‘soliciting hate crimes and distributing instructions to make bombs and ricin’.
Kabarda–Balkaria
Authorities in Kabarda–Balkaria again ban march commemorating Circassian Genocide
Ahead of 21 May, residents began being summoned to police stations to receive warnings against participating in unauthorised actions.
Armenia
Yerevan court accepts Pashinyan’s defamation case over Kareptyan’s hallucinogenic mushrooms comment
Russian-Armenian tycoon Samvel Karapetyan, who also heads the most popular opposition party, alleged Pashinyan was taking hallucinogenic mushrooms.
Daily Brief
Monday, 18 May 2026
Regional * The Russian Cabinet of Ministers has supported a cooperation agreement between the governments of Daghestan and South Ossetia. The order was signed by Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin. The agreement would increase trade, economic, scientific, technical, and socio-cultural cooperation. Armenia * Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan had a phone call with Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, during which the two leaders discussed various issues related to bilateral cooperation
Friday, 15 May 2026
Daghestan
Childcare workers jailed after allegedly severing toe of two-year-old at Makhachkala kindergarten
The staff members allegedly attempted to conceal that the child had lost a toe.
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan hosts neocolonialism-focused Global South conference
On 14 May, Baku hosted the first General Assembly of the Global South NGOs Platform.
2026 Armenian parliamentary elections
Criminal cases, insults and claims of foreign control: Armenia’s pre-election campaign heats up
Armenia is scheduled to hold parliamentary elections on 7 June.
South Ossetia
Tbilisi says Russia advances annexation steps in Georgia after new South Ossetia deal
Georgia’s Foreign Minister Maka Botchorishvili spoke on the issue at a Council of Europe event in Moldova.
Daily Brief
Friday, 15 May 2026
Regional * Former Georgian Economy Minister Levan Davitashvili has been appointed CEO of the Italian petroleum company Italiana Petroli (IP), which had recently been acquired by Azerbaijan’s SOCAR. Davitashvili stepped down as minister in June 2025. * Yesterday, 14 freight wagons with Russian wheat were sent to Armenia via Azerbaijan. Armenia * In a heated exchange, former President Robert Kocharyan referred to Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan as a ‘lackey’. Later the same day, Pashinyan r
Karachay–Cherkessia
Sochi court upholds sentence of Karachay–Cherkessia resident in tourist murder case
Supporters of the convicted man insist he acted in self-defence.
SOCAR
Ex-Georgian Economy Minister appointed CEO of SOCAR-acquired Italian petroleum company
Levan Davitashvili served as Economy Minister from February 2022 to June 2025.
Georgia
Georgia’s new vineyard rules draw accusations of ‘Soviet-style thinking’ from small producers
While the government insists the regulations will safeguard Georgian wine’s reputation abroad, critics argue they could wipe out smaller producers.
Thursday, 14 May 2026
2026 Armenian parliamentary elections
Pashinyan orders dismissal of four school principals for letting teachers and students attend Civil Contract rally
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said the resignation letters were submitted per his instruction.
Imedi
Pro-government Georgian TV Imedi temporarily banned from European Parliament
Imedi noted that it had received an official letter regarding the matter.
Georgia–EU Relations
Georgians rank second after Turks in deportations from EU
Over 10,000 Georgians and 13,000 Turks were deported from the EU in 2025.
Armenia
Armenian billionaire vows to build Noah’s Ark after construction of world’s tallest Jesus statue
Gagik Tsarukyan, also an opposition figure, had earlier dubbed his signature campaign platform a ‘political and civic Noah’s Ark’.
Iran
Iran reportedly revokes passport of anti-government activist in Armenia
The Iranian Embassy in Armenia has declined to comment.
Armenia
Buckets, sticks, and stories — Inside Armenia’s woman-led tradition khabukhaz
Khabukhaz is a woman-led milk exchange now only practiced in a few villages in Armenia’s Shirak province.
Daily Brief
Thursday, 14 May 2026
Regional * In an incident of apparent vandalism at the Armenian Surb Nshan Church in Akhaltsikhe, Georgia, church icons were thrown near the rubbish, prompting an official investigation. Armenia * The US and the EU welcomed the lifting of restrictions on bilateral trade between Armenia and Turkey. * Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigoryan hosted a delegation from AECOM, which had come to Armenia under the US State Department to begin site survey work for the Trump Route. * The Akanates obse
Reviews
Review | Small Town of Anara — a subversive Soviet Georgian exploration of drinking culture
Georgian director Irakli Kvirikadze’s 1976 film turns a drinking tradition into a portrait of a society trapped in itself.
Wednesday, 13 May 2026
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan imposes travel ban on mother of jailed journalist
Dilruba Amanova’s daughter Aytaj Ahmadova (Tapdig) was one of 12 journalists detained as part of a 2024 crackdown on independent Azerbaijani media.
2026 Armenian parliamentary elections
Karapetyan hits back at Pashinyan as more affiliates arrested on vote-buying charges
Armenian authorities have launched several vote-buying cases against Samvel Karapetyan’s affiliates in the past months.
Georgia
Former Georgian rugby captain and players receive lengthy bans amidst doping accusations
The bans affected six players, as well as a doctor.
South Ossetia
Seven contract soldiers dismissed after scuffle outside South Ossetian Interior Ministry
Another soldier has been declared wanted.
