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Tuesday, 26 May 2026

Regional * The Chechen State Pedagogical University and Azerbaijan’s Ganja State University have signed an agreement providing for the joint implementation of scientific and cultural-educational projects, as well as academic exchanges involving students and teaching staff. Armenia * US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is expected to arrive in Armenia this afternoon. * Two Russian media outlets have published investigations based on leaked documents obtained from the Russian side, one allege

Daily Brief

Monday, 25 May 2026

Regional * The Akhalkalaki–Kars railway between Georgia and Turkey ‘is now open’ for Armenian exports and imports, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan announced. Pashinyan also announced that despite the concession agreement with Russia over the management of Armenia’s railways, the Armenian government will soon begin the renovation of the Gyumri–Akhurik–Akyaka and Yeraskh junction railway. Armenia * US Secretary of State Marco Rubio will visit Armenia on Tuesday. * A recent IRI surve

OC Insider

The paradoxical reopening of the Baku–Tbilisi railway

One of my most poignant memories of travelling on the Baku–Tbilisi passenger train dates back to September 2019, the last time I rode this route and said ‘goodbye’ to my homeland. Soon after, the COVID-19 pandemic swept the world, with the Azerbaijani government taking advantage of the situation to completely close its land borders for over six years. During these last six years, Azerbaijanis living in areas near the Georgian border had to spend 16 hours travelling in order to visit relatives l