Georgia
Armenians in Georgia denied permission to commemorate genocide near Turkish Embassy
The organisation refused to hold the protest at an alternative location.
News Stories
Friday, 24 April 2026
Friday, 24 April 2026
Azerbaijan
EU sanctions Azerbaijani bank, but removes five Azerbaijani vessels
The five vessels were sanctioned for transporting Russian energy products in July 2025.
Chechnya
Adam Kadyrov launches energy drink in Chechnya
Previously, his father, Chechen Head Ramzan Kadyrov, described energy drinks as poison.
Georgian Dream’s purge
Georgia’s ex-Defence Minister Burchuladze sentenced to 10 years in prison
The sentencing comes amidst an apparent purge of former senior officials.
Armenian Genocide
Pashinyan links Armenian Genocide to ‘international machinations’ in commemorative address
The Armenian Genocide is commemorated annually on 24 April.
Chechnya
NIYSO reports new wave of Chechen detentions and raids
The NIYSO movement added that relatives of those detained have been receiving threats.
Daily Brief
Friday, 24 April 2026
Regional * Today, five freight wagons of wheat will be sent to Armenia via Azerbaijan. Armenia * Today Armenia commemorates the 111th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide perpetrated by the Ottoman Empire, which resulted in the deaths of nearly 1.5 million Armenians. * In his message on the occasion, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan stated that according to Armenian academic literature, the genocide ‘was also a consequence of the practice of drawing the Armenian people into international ma
Donald Trump
Tbilisi’s ‘fairytale’ Trump Tower — doomed to fail?
As Georgia–US relations remain sour and with the shadow of a failed project in Batumi, Trump Tower Tbilisi has a lot to live up to.
Thursday, 23 April 2026
Azerbaijan
Baku sentences Russian national detained at height of Azerbaijan–Russia tensions
Aleksandr Vaisero denied all accusations of money laundering, stating that he had come to Azerbaijan for tourism purposes.
Armenia–Russia Relations
Russia claims EU accession could cost Armenia ‘23% of GDP’
The warning is the latest in a series of similar messages from Moscow to Yerevan.
Georgia–EU Relations
EU Ambassador warns of Georgia’s return to ‘dark past’, prompting ruling party outrage
Senior officials from Georgian Dream have suggested summoning the ambassador to the Foreign Ministry.
Daghestan
Daghestani court sentences two for 2018 abduction and murder of 8-year-old girl
The main defendant received a life sentence, while his accomplice was sentenced to 12 years in prison.
Nagorno-Karabakh
Satellite imagery suggests Stepanakert’s main church destroyed by Azerbaijan
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan expressed his reluctance to make the destruction ‘a subject of international discussions’.
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan’s Ganja administration under investigation for corruption
The investigation was launched while the head of the city’s administration, Niyazi Bayramov, was on an official visit to China.
Armenia
Pashinyan confirms reconciliation with long-time partner Anna Hakobyan
The couple had announced their separation in February 2026 after 30 years together.
Reviews
Review | My Happy Family — what passes for women’s joy in Georgia
My Happy Family is a portrait of a middle-aged Georgian woman who dares to get a room — and a life — of her own.
Chechnya
Woman evades abduction after fleeing domestic abuse in Chechnya
The abductors, reportedly from Chechnya, called themselves police officers.
Daily Brief
Thursday, 23 April 2026
Regional * Satellite imagery analysis by Hetq indicated that Azerbaijan destroyed Nagorno-Karabakh’s main Armenian church, the Holy Mother of God Cathedral in Stepanakert. Construction of the cathedral began in 2006. * Armenian Defence Minister Suren Papikyan met with his Georgian counterpart Irakli Chikovani as part of his official visit to Georgia yesterday. According to the Armenian readout, they discussed ‘issues related to the process and development prospects of bilateral cooperation in
Wednesday, 22 April 2026
Abkhazia
Abkhazian Parliament opts not to strip opposition MP Kvarchiya of immunity after protracted standoff
The effort to oust MP Kan Kvarchiya stemmed from a public dispute involving Russian political strategists apparently illegally working in Abkhazia.
Chechnya
Chechen stranded at Astana Airport for 4 months departs for Armenia
Zelimkhan Murtazov left his place of service in Russia without authorisation and says he signed the contract under threats.
Georgia’s EU U-turn
Georgian Dream vows to add Federalists to party ban lawsuit
Georgian Dream has already requested the banning of three political parties.
Azerbaijan
Baku to host UFC fights through 2028 after signing multi-year deal
The deal follows the Azerbaijani debut of the premier fighting championship in 2025.
Azerbaijan
Israel says it uncovered Iranian terror network following failed attack on Baku pipeline
The announcement comes several weeks after Azerbaijan’s security service (DTX) said it had thwarted the multi-pronged Iranian-backed plot.
Georgia
Georgia to create new ministry for security chief Mdinaradze amidst wider reshuffle
The reshuffle also brought on a new Interior Minister.
Armenia
Vardanyan-linked party announces cooperation agreement with Karapetyan’s Strong Armenia
The Country to Live party, linked to Ruben Vardanyan, will cooperate with Samvel Karapetyan’s alliance.
Ingushetia
Residents of Ingushetia and Adygea to hold WWII commemorations online
The Victory Day commemorative action will be held online in both republics.
Daily Brief
Wednesday, 22 April 2026
Regional * Zelimkhan Murtazov, a native of Chechnya who spent around four months in the transit zone of Astana International Airport in Kazakhstan, has been able to fly to Armenia. In Russia, he faced possible prosecution for leaving military service or forced return to the front. Murtazov signed a three-year contract with the Akhmat unit in August 2022 — according to him, under pressure from Chechen security forces, who allegedly threatened to send his younger brothers to war otherwise. * Ar
Tuesday, 21 April 2026
Azerbaijan
Dutch and Belgian resolutions on Armenian prisoners in Azerbaijan trigger outrage in Baku
The resolutions demanded the release of imprisoned Armenians in Baku.
Georgia
Georgia arrests two in Batumi for alleged links to Islamic State
One of the suspects is a Georgian national, while the other was a foreigner from an undisclosed country.
Armenia
US senators appeal to Meta, Google to ‘counter Russian disinformation’ in Armenian election
The letters expressed appreciation for the actions the companies made ahead of Moldova’s 2025 election and asked for the efforts to be repeated.
