Azerbaijan
Azerbaijani teenager commits suicide in shelter for human trafficking victims
Elshad Jafarov, Nurjan Jafarova's father, ‘officially abandoned’ her two days ago.
News Stories
Yesterday, 21 November 2025
Yesterday, 21 November 2025
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan sentences French water executive to 12 years for bribery
Anasse Derraz denies the charges, claiming he only coordinated the work of lawyers assisting Russian–Azerbaijani billionaire Farkhad Akhmedov.
Daghestan
Russia’s Prosecutor General demands confiscation of local Daghestani MP’s assets worth $11 million
The Pro claim concerns the discrepancy between the deputy’s income and his expenses.
Reviews
Review | Searching for Satyrus — butterflies, family secrets, and cross-border collaboration
Azerbaijani photographer Rena Effendi’s debut documentary explores the effects of state and familial conflict in the search for an elusive butterfly.
Armenia
Pashinyan seeks updates on Trump ‘pledge’ to help release Armenian prisoners in Baku
US President Donald Trump reportedly promised to ‘ask Aliyev’ about the prisoners during the August summit in Washington.
Karachay–Cherkessia
Court vacates sentence against mother of seven from Karachay–Cherkessia in husband’s killing
An appeals court overturned a previous ruling, finding that Olga Valieva had acted in self-defence.
Bidzina Ivanishvili
Ivanishvili’s lawyer rails against ‘deep state’ ahead of Credit Suisse verdict
The final hearing in the latest suit brought by Ivanishvili against Credit Suisse is expected to take place in London on 24 November.
Ingushetia
Former Ingush Interior Minister convicted over protests against Chechen border deal
He was sentenced to nine years in a penal colony.
Daily Brief
Friday, 21 November 2025
Regional * Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has said Armenia expects the US to help secure the release of the 23 Armenian prisoners held in Azerbaijan, recalling US President Donald Trump’s public pledge during their August 8 White House meeting to personally ask Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev to free the ‘23 Christians’. Pashinyan told reporters that he raised the issue with visiting US Under Secretary of State Allison Hooker in Yerevan on Monday, asking for information on Washington’s effo
Thursday, 20 November 2025
Azerbaijan
Former Popular Front Party member banned from leaving Azerbaijan
Saleh Rustamli, a Russian citizen, was temporarily residing in Azerbaijan via a valid residence permit.
Chechnya
Kremlin weighs candidates to succeed Kadyrov amidst fresh rumours about his health
Journalists report that candidates range from Kadyrov’s son Adam to the commanders of security structures.
OC Insider
Brussels’ deadlock: EU diplomats on Georgia’s uncertain future
Brussels’ deadlock: EU diplomats on Georgia’s uncertain future In early November, as the EU released its latest enlargement report — describing Georgia as ‘a candidate country on paper only’ — I travelled to Brussels with several other journalists from Georgian online media platforms. During the five-day press trip, organised by the EU Delegation to Georgia, we met with EU officials and diplomats from member states and had a chance to ask them questions about how they see the next steps with G
Armenian–Turkish Normalisation
Armenia says normalisation with Turkey would help, not harm, peace efforts with Azerbaijan
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has said that the border with Armenia will be opened once Yerevan and Baku sign a peace deal.
Georgia’s EU U-turn
A look back on Georgia’s 100-day theatre strike
Georgia’s theatres have been at the forefront of anti-government demonstrations — yet their strike still failed.
Azerbaijan–Israel Relations
Azerbaijan supplied Israel with 40% of its oil during Gaza war, report finds
The report found that Kazakhstan and Azerbaijani crude formed 70% of Israel's imports.
Georgia
Former Georgian Interior Minister Okruashvili sentenced to 7 years over 2004 police killing
The case involved the police killing of a 19-year-old in 2004.
Chechnya
Chechen family forcibly sent to fight in Ukraine, NIYSO says
It was later reported that they were returned home.
Georgia’s EU U-turn
Georgian courts consider banning lawyers from bringing phones and laptops into courtroom
A ban on filming and recording trials was first adopted in June, largely targeting journalists from reporting on politically sensitive cases.
Georgia
Freedom Square registered as political party in Georgia after two failed attempts
The group had participated in the 2024 elections as part of the Strong Georgia grouping.
Georgia’s EU U-turn
13 detained after Georgian police move in on protest march
The protest march had been organised to mark the one-year anniversary of imprisoned 21-year-old protester Mate Devidze’s original detention.
Daily Brief
Thursday, 20 November 2025
Armenia * Armenia will receive 10 Toyota vehicles as a donation from the US State Department under its export control and border security assistance programme. The 2025 Toyota Fortuner, Toyota Prado, and Toyota Hiace vehicles — valued at more than $500,000 – will be transferred to Armenia’s National Security Service, where they will be used by its Border Troops. The government is set to approve the donation at today’s cabinet session. * Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said Armenia recognises o
Wednesday, 19 November 2025
Armenia
US approves Nvidia chip exports for AI supercomputer project in Armenia, Bloomberg reports
The project, announced by Nvidia, is the first large-scale AI data centre in the South Caucasus.
Abkhazia
Abkhazian Orthodox Church suspends services in bid to retake New Athos Monastery
The conflict stems from an argument over whether the Church should align with the Moscow Patriarchate or seek greater independence.
Ingushetia
Ingushetia’s ex-head leads first Russian Defence Ministry delegation to Syria since al-Assad’s fall
Moscow and Damascus are continuing negotiations over the maintenance of Russian military bases in Syria, Russian media reported.
Samvel Karapetyan
Armenian–Russian tycoon Karapetyan to remain in pre-trial detention for two more months
The owner of Tashir Group Samvel Karapetyan was detained in June.
Azerbaijan
Euronews opens office in Baku despite crackdown on local and international media
Investigative journalists have linked the main shareholder of Euronews to Hungarian President and close Azerbaijani ally Viktor Orbán.
Daghestan
Father of teen shepherds killed by security forces holds solo picket in Makhachkala
The two brothers, 17 and 19, were shot dead in August 2016 near their home village of Goor-Khindakh; the investigation has stalled ever since.
Mzia Amaghlobeli
Georgian Appeals Court upholds two-year sentence for journalist Mzia Amaghlobeli
The hearing lasted around seven hours, five of which consisted of lawyer Maia Mtsariashvili’s concluding speech.
Georgia’s EU U-turn
EU postpones meeting with Georgia ‘due to presence of sanctioned official’
The sides intended to discuss human rights.
Trump Route
US official visits Georgia to discuss Trump Route
Government critics have warned the Trump Route could decrease Georgia’s geopolitical and economic relevance.
