Georgia
When Eagle Hills comes to town: what its European projects reveal about the risks for Georgia
Eagle Hills projects across Europe have failed to generate meaningful profits for host states, despite promises of long-term returns.
News Stories
Yesterday, 26 February 2026
Yesterday, 26 February 2026
Adygea
Adygea Supreme Court rules to uproot 10,000 trees in place of ski resort
The ski resort will be built near the Caucasus Nature Reserve, a World Heritage Site.
OC Insider
Four years into Russia’s full-scale war and no end in sight
When I came to Georgia from Kyiv in early February 2022, as warnings were heating up about an impending full-throated Russian invasion, I could not have fathomed it would even begin on the scale it did on 24 February, let alone that it would be still going on four years later. I never did end up going back to my life in Kyiv, apart from a few visits to Ukraine over the past few years, including one in 2025 when I had my first personal experience with a Russian drone and missile attack. There is
Azerbaijan-Armenia conflict
Vardanyan says he won’t appeal Azerbaijani prison sentence
Vardanyan stated that he refuses to ‘participate in the farce’ or to ‘legitimise’ his 20-year sentence.
Reviews
Review | Self-Portrait Along the Borderline — exploring identity and belonging amidst conflict
Anna Dziapshipa’s 2023 collage documentary invites the viewer into her own story, examining personally what it means to be an Abkhaz–Georgian woman.
Daghestan
Sentence toughened for man responsible for Daghestan petrol station blast that killed 33
His prison term has been increased from five to eight and a half years.
Georgia
Georgian Parliamentary Speaker Papuashvili calls Zelenskyi ‘ungrateful’
Georgian Parliamentary Speaker Shalva Papuashvili also said ‘the ultimate judgment on Zelenskyi will be made by the Ukrainian people themselves’.
Georgia-UK Relations
Georgia summons UK Ambassador over sanctions on pro-government media
The Georgian Foreign Ministry sought to demand an explanation regarding the sanctions.
Chechnya
Two Chechen narcotics officers go on trial over alleged abduction
The body of the abducted man has not been found nine years later.
2026 Armenian parliamentary elections
Armenia announces plans to increase pensions ahead of elections
Armenia’s opposition has accused the government of ‘pre-election bribery’.
Daily Brief
Thursday, 26 February 2026
Armenia * The government has announced plans to increase pensions by up to ֏10,000 ($27) by April. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has said that pensions will be increased from 1 April, noting that ‘relatively low pensions will increase by ֏10,000, higher ones by less’, according to Civilnet. Azerbaijan * Nigar Hazi, the daughter of imprisoned politician Tofig Yagublu, stated that he began a hunger strike on 22 February in protest of him being placed in solitary confinement, which he had ju
Wednesday, 25 February 2026
Georgia
Georgian POSTV owner transferred management of his shares weeks before UK sanctions hit
The main shareholder of the pro-government POSTV is MP Viktor Japaridze.
Azerbaijan
Another Azerbaijani opposition politician linked to alleged Mehdiyev coup plot
Gultakin Hajibayli was deported from Turkey two weeks ago after being held there for more than two months.
Georgia
Georgian Dream MPs to attend summit organised by Russian-friendly US Congressperson Luna
Speakers at the event include US House Speaker Mike Johnson and Markus Frohnmaier, a member of Germany’s Alternative for Deutschland (AfD) party.
Georgia
Monstrous costumes and cracking whips — the Georgian village preserving the spirit of Berikaoba
The centuries-old tradition of Berikaoba, a special masquerade to invoke spring, is now only found in a few villages in western Kakheti.
Georgia-UK Relations
‘Soon there will be neither Great nor Britain left’ — Georgia slams UK sanctions
Leaders of Georgia’s ruling party strongly condemned the sanctions on Imedi and POSTV.
Adygea
Former Adygea migration officer fined for issuing forged ID to Ukrainian citizen
The former official served as the head of the Migration Department district office in Krasnogvardeisky.
2026 Armenian parliamentary elections
Armenia requested EU dispatch anti-Russian disinformation team ahead of elections, RFE/RL reports
The team would identify and counter Russian disinformation.
Daily Brief
Wednesday, 25 February 2026
Regional * The Deputy Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan have met on the sidelines of the Human Rights Council session in Geneva. * Azerbaijani pro-government media outlet APA has reported that 4,500 tonnes of diesel would be sent to Armenia today via rail. Armenia * Defence Minister Suren Papikyan has met with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian as part of his working trip to Tehran. Papikyan ‘emphasised the need to resolve the situation around Iran through diplomatic means’, in
Tuesday, 24 February 2026
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijani government mouthpieces claim Russia was behind anti-Aliyev protests in DC
Videos of President Ilham Aliyev’s security detail beating Azerbaijani protesters in Washington have been circulated widely.
Armenia
Armenian Defence Minister visits Iran as rumours of war swirl
Armenian Defence Minister Suren Papikyan met with his Iranian counterpart Aziz Nasirzadeh and other high-ranking Iranian military officials.
Abkhazia
Abkhazian opposition figure wounded in shooting
Eshsou Kakaliya was hospitalised after the incident, which other members of the opposition claimed was politically motivated.
Georgia
UK sanctions Georgia’s Imedi and POSTV over ‘Russian disinformation’
The two channels were sanctioned on the fourth anniversary of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Daily Brief
Tuesday, 24 February 2026
Armenia * Defence Minister Suren Papikyan has arrived in Iran for a work visit. Today, Papikyan met with his Iranian counterpart, Aziz Nasirzadeh. They discussed defence cooperation and relations between their countries. * YouTube has begun testing monetisation in Armenia. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan stated on social media that advertisements have begun to appear between videos played on the streaming platform, noting it was ‘good news for everyone who believes they can earn money through
Monday, 23 February 2026
Azerbaijan
Thousands of bird carcasses found on Azerbaijan’s Caspian Sea coast
State-run media wrote that the mass amounts of bird carcasses have been lying in coastal areas of the Caspian Sea for more than 20 days.
Kabarda–Balkaria
Ex-soldier who fought in Ukraine sentenced for brutal Nalchik murder of elderly woman
The court found Rustam Nogmov guilty of murder committed with particular cruelty and of desecration of a corpse.
Georgia
French court suspends Georgia’s $383 million payment to company behind Namakhvani HPP
ENKA Renewables terminated the contract to build the HPP in 2021, citing breaches of terms and force majeure.
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijani TikToker arrested for making ‘immoral statements’
Prior to her latest arrest, Zeinab Zeinalli was fined in November for promoting illegal gambling on social media.
Daghestan
Daghestani teen charged with justifying terrorism
The teenager faces three counts of publicly calling for terrorist activity online
Georgia
Georgia sharply restricts foreigners from working in delivery and taxi sectors
Restrictions were detailed in the recent governmental decree.
