Georgia
Georgian government to ban import of cars made before 2020
The decision was unexpectedly announced by the prime minister on 12 February.
News Stories
Friday, 20 February 2026
Friday, 20 February 2026
Armenia–Azerbaijan Relations
Pashinyan and Aliyev attend inauguration of Trump’s Board of Peace
Armenia and Azerbaijan joined the organisation in January.
Chechnya
Russian war correspondent with Akhmat unit accused of wearing fake Wagner award
The man is said by the Chechen authorities to be embedded with the Akhmat special forces unit.
Azerbaijan
Aliyev’s bodyguards assault protesters in Washington
After the incident, medical personnel checked the protesters’ injuries, but none of them were taken to the hospital.
Georgia–Iran Relations
Iran’s Ambassador to Georgia deflects criticism after embassy downplayed 17th century deportation
Iran’s Ambassador to Georgia, Ali Moujani, has acknowledged controversial wording allegedly used by the embassy to refer to the historic deportations of Georgians to 17th century Iran, but claimed that modern-day Iran was not responsible for actions committed by Safavid Iran. The controversy began on 13 February, when Georgian professor Giorgi Sanikidze published a photo of the invitation for an event he received from the Iranian Embassy marking the anniversary of the 1979 Islamic Revolution, w
Armenian Apostolic Church
Pro-Pashinyan archbishop appears to turn on prime minister
Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, who had called for Karekin II’s resignation, signed a statement urging authorities to end ‘the repression of clergy’.
North Ossetia–Alania
North Ossetia court orders seizure of Olympic champion’s property
The prosecutor’s office has secured a court ruling transferring to the state a property complex owned by Makhharbek Khadartsev.
Daily Brief
Friday, 20 February 2026
Regional * Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev participated in the inaugural session of the Peace Council in Washington. While in Washington, Pashinyan held brief conversations with Trump and US Vice President JD Vance in Washington, as well as Aliyev. Later, Pashinyan posted on social media that he was returning to Armenia ‘with greater confidence in peace’. * As details emerged about the meeting, Azerbaijani presidential aide Hikmat Hajiyev stated
Chechens in Europe
‘A personal catastrophe’ — Roza Dunaeva on Europe’s deportation of Chechens
Roza Dunaeva, a representative of the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria in Austria, has spent years highlighting the cases of Chechens deported to Russia.
Thursday, 19 February 2026
Azerbaijan
Two exiled Azerbaijani critics convicted in absentia
The two were convicted of making calls for mass riots in Azerbaijan.
OC Insider
How the Aliyevs are getting a taste of their own bitter medicine
The Aliyev regime’s weaponisation of women’s bodies is now being used against them.
Chechnya
Chechnya says it provided $560 million for full-scale invasion of Ukraine
The origin of the funds is unknown.
Daghestan
Daghestani man sentenced for murder of university rector
Investigators suspect that the murder was a hit ordered by former MP Magomed Gadzhiev.
Armenia–Russia Relations
Russia warns Armenia not to make ‘ill-considered decisions' regarding railway takeover
Pashinyan had proposed a third-country takeover of Armenian railways from Russia as a solution to Armenia losing its ‘competitive advantage’.
Georgia
Kobakhidze blames ‘liberal ideology’ for declining birth rates
According to Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, birth rates have little to do with social factors.
Georgia
Two foreign nationals arrested for purchasing uranium in Georgia
The two were arrested in Kutaisi, western Georgia.
Azerbaijan
Aliyev meets with CEO of AIPAC during visit to Washington
President Ilham Aliyev is in the US to attend the inaugural meeting of President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace.
Daily Brief
Thursday, 19 February 2026
Regional * Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan are both in the US to attend the first meeting of US President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace today. Armenia * Armenian police have announced that the ‘full circle of individuals’ involved in the shootings on Wednesday afternoon in Yerevan was identified and ‘measures are being taken to locate them’. No further information has been provided about the incident as a result of which one person was killed
Wednesday, 18 February 2026
Georgia
Bidzina Ivanishvili’s jailed ex-ally released in surprise move
Giorgi Bachiashvili had been sentenced to 11 years in a case linked to the founder of Georgia’s ruling party, Bidzina Ivanishvili.
Ingushetia
Two political prisoners released after serving sentences in the ‘Ingush case’
Akhmed Barakhoev and Musa Malsagov have fully served the sentences imposed by the court.
Armenia
Breaking: 1 killed and 6 injured in Yerevan shooting
Official information about the shooters and their motives has yet to be released.
Georgian Dream
Georgian Constitutional Court refuses to review judge’s appeal against administrative arrests
The judge had requested a review of the constitutionality of administrative arrests
Azerbaijan
Two Azerbaijani TikTokers jailed for ‘immoral behaviour’ on social media
Last week, three people were arrested for social media posts.
Georgia
Georgian journalist Eliso Kiladze among 10 charged with fraud and money laundering
The defendants face up to 12 years in prison.
Russia
South Ossetia and Abkhazia again top list of Russia’s ‘friendliest neighbours’
Georgia’s rating increased from 2024, while those of Armenia and Azerbaijan both dropped.
North Ossetia–Alania
International Testing Agency drops doping charges against North Ossetian Olympic champion
The case against Khadzhimurat Gatsalov, initiated in May 2025, has been fully closed.
Daily Brief
Wednesday, 18 February 2026
Regional * South Ossetia and Abkhazia top Russian-state owned media group Russia Today’s ‘friendliness’ ranking in the post-Soviet world. South Ossetia has ranked first and Abkhazia second. Armenia has ranked eighth with Azerbaijan trailing behind at ninth place — both countries appear to have dropped in ranking from 2024. Armenia * Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has received Gert-Jan Koopman, the EU Director-General for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations. According to the Armenian
The United States
Opinion | Vance’s visit shows the US wants to stay engaged — on the region’s terms
JD Vance’s visit to the South Caucasus was not about taking over the region — it was about partnership and, paradoxically, independence.
Tuesday, 17 February 2026
Chechnya
Chechnya’s Supreme Court overturns sentence of activists’ mother, orders retrial
During the retrial, Musaeva will remain in custody.
Georgia
Georgian opposition TV channel says it is being investigated over US donation
TV Kavkasia’s bank account is public while the channel is asking for donations.
