Armenia
Pashinyan bashes Soviet Union amidst troubled relations with Russia
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s statements were made on the occasion of Armenia’s Republic Day.
News Stories
Today, 29 May 2025
Today, 29 May 2025
Georgia
Georgian Dream is watching: how AI-powered surveillance is used against Tbilisi protesters
When police forces left the streets, the number of cameras increased, keeping watch on the daily protests.
Georgia
Georgian government opens hotline to report FARA violations
The new restrictive media law, allegedly based on the US Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA), comes into force 1 June.
North Ossetia–Alania
An officer from Vladikavkaz, who helped bomb Mariupol, was killed in an explosion in Stavropol
After returning from the war, Zaur Gurtsiev became the first deputy mayor of Stavropol.
Armenia
Armenia accuses Azerbaijani fire of damaging seventh residential building
This marks the first ceasefire violation report following over two weeks of silence.
Georgia
Kobakhidze speaks at CPAC Hungary alongside Orbán and other conservative politicians
Kobakhidze previously spoke at the conference in 2024, while former Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili spoke in 2023.
Daghestan
Telegram is again blocked in Daghestan
Telegram was accessible for a few days recently, but it has not again been blocked without explanation.
Georgia
Georgian Dream will revoke the mandates of Gakharia’s MPs from the opposition For Georgia party
MPs from the opposition For Georgia party did not renounce their parliamentary mandates, but have still been boycotting sessions.
Daily Brief
Thursday, 29 May 2025
Regional * On 26 May, Azerbaijani citizens Hasan Azizov and Namaz Tahmazli were detained while attempting to avoid criminal liability in Georgia by ‘illegally crossing the state border along the Ingur River’ into Abkhazia, the Russian Border Directorate of the Federal Security Service (FSB) has reported. The department’s press service also reported that the FSB detained a group of foreigners at the same place earlier in May, including ‘Turkish citizens Selcuk Guren, who is wanted international
Georgia–Poland Relations
Poland issues travel advisory for Georgia following border entry denials
The Polish Embassy in Georgia highlighted that attending demonstrations, being around them, or specific social media activities were a risk.
OC Insider
What it means to remember a genocide
Last Wednesday, I quietly commemorated the 161st anniversary of the Circassian Genocide in Tbilisi, much like I did in the past few years. But as I sat in the OC Media office, editing the news of the day, I could not help but let my mind wander, allowing myself to curiously scan the Telegram channels and Instagram accounts covering Circassian affairs in the North Caucasus just to see what was going down in Nalchik, Maykop, and Cherkessk. I knew the people there would commemorate the genocide a
Yesterday, 28 May 2025
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijani, Turkish, and Pakistani leaders meet in Lachin
The three leaders met to inaugurate a new airport in Lachin and to commemorate Azerbaijan’s Independence Day.
Russian Invasion of Ukraine
Putin’s demands for peace in Ukraine include a pledge to stop NATO enlargement, Reuters reports
The demands would explicitly bar Georgia, and the rest of the South Caucasus, from joining NATO.
Georgia
Conflicting stories emerge about US diplomatic outreach to Georgia
The US Embassy said on Wednesday that ‘Ivanishvili has refused to meet with Ambassador Dunnigan to hear a message from the Trump administration’.
Armenia
Hungary blocking non-lethal military aid to Armenia over lack of support to Azerbaijan
Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó gave his statement during the Yerevan Dialogue Forum.
Daghestan
Daghestan residents regain access to Telegram
The messaging app has been ‘unofficially’ unblocked in Daghestan, but not in the neighbouring republic of Chechnya.
Georgia
Sanctioned Georgian Interior Minister Gomelauri resigns
Vakhtang Gomelauri, who was appointed Interior Minister in 2019, has overseen numerous violent crackdowns against protesters.
Daily Brief
Wednesday, 28 May 2025
Armenia * On Tuesday, Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan had several meetings on the sidelines of the Yerevan Dialogue Forum, including with his Hungarian counterpart Péter Szijjártó. They discussed bilateral issues and ‘expressed hope that the opening of diplomatic representations’ in the two countries would provide ‘additional impetus for advancing the cooperation’. * During the forum, Szijjártó commented on Hungary’s blocking of non-lethal military aid to Armenia from the European Peace Faci
Tuesday, 27 May 2025
Azerbaijan
Aliyev attends opening ceremony of factory in Lachin
In 2024, Azerbaijan spent ₼5.3 billion ($3.1 billion) on restoration projects in Nagorno-Karabakh.
Georgia
Police detain demonstrators in Tbilisi and Batumi on Georgia’s Independence Day
Georgia’s new foreign agent law means OC Media’s team could face prison for speaking truth to power. Join the fight for free media in the Caucasus for as little as €5 and enjoy exclusive benefits from our team as a thank you. Become a member At least two demonstrators were detained the night following Georgia’s Independence Day after attending anti-government protests in Tbilisi and Batumi. In the capital, police detained a man called Ucha Kemashvili at night. According to h
Bidzina Ivanishvili
Wanted former Ivanishvili aide in exile ‘forcibly returned’ to Georgia
The announcement of Giorgi Bachiashvili’s arrest came one day after the publication of a profile on him in the Guardian.
Armenia
Pashinyan to pursue constitutional reform if peace treaty conflicts with Armenian law
Meanwhile, Pashinyan reiterated that Armenia’s Constitution does not contain any territorial claims against Azerbaijan.
Chechnya
Austria deports two Chechens to Russia
Austrian authorities deemed the two Chechens a threat to national security.
Chechnya
Chechnya’s Akhmat special forces unveils new flag with Russian tricolour and Orthodox cross
Akhmat commander Apti Alaudinov said the change in the flag was a way of demonstrating that the unit is now only 25% Chechen.
Georgia
Georgia’s Independence Day celebrated with official events and protests
Georgian Independence Day — 26 May — coincided with the 180th day of ongoing anti-government and pro-European protests.
Armenia
Armenia discusses nuclear and defence cooperation with Slovakia
Along with Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot was also in Yerevan to participate in an international forum.
Daghestan
Two detained in Daghestan after dancing lezginka on car roofs
Police detained and fined them, drawing up ten administrative reports, including against the drivers.
Azerbaijan
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Sybiha’s visit to Baku rankles Russian pro-government media
The Russian media outlet Tsargrad, known for its pro-government views, wrote that the visit was a sign that Azerbaijan had become openly pro-Ukraine.
Chechnya
Kadyrov addresses rumours about declining health in Telegram video
The video came after numerous rumours spread that Chechen Head Ramzan Kadyrov had a serious illness.
Caucasus Datablog
Datablog | Happy Georgians are young, wealthy, and religious
Notably, one’s reported political beliefs and the media a person consumes were not associated with happiness.
