Daghestan
Childcare workers jailed after allegedly severing toe of two-year-old at Makhachkala kindergarten
The staff members allegedly attempted to conceal that the child had lost a toe.
News Stories
Today, 15 May 2026
Today, 15 May 2026
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan hosts neocolonialism-focused Global South conference
On 14 May, Baku hosted the first General Assembly of the Global South NGOs Platform.
2026 Armenian parliamentary elections
Criminal cases, insults and claims of foreign control: Armenia’s pre-election campaign heats up
Armenia is scheduled to hold parliamentary elections on 7 June.
South Ossetia
Tbilisi says Russia advances annexation steps in Georgia after new South Ossetia deal
Georgia’s Foreign Minister Maka Botchorishvili spoke on the issue at a Council of Europe event in Moldova.
Daily Brief
Friday, 15 May 2026
Regional * Former Georgian Economy Minister Levan Davitashvili has been appointed CEO of the Italian petroleum company Italiana Petroli (IP), which had recently been acquired by Azerbaijan’s SOCAR. Davitashvili stepped down as minister in June 2025. * Yesterday, 14 freight wagons with Russian wheat were sent to Armenia via Azerbaijan. Armenia * In a heated exchange, former President Robert Kocharyan referred to Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan as a ‘lackey’. Later the same day, Pashinyan r
Karachay–Cherkessia
Sochi court upholds sentence of Karachay–Cherkessia resident in tourist murder case
Supporters of the convicted man insist he acted in self-defence.
SOCAR
Ex-Georgian Economy Minister appointed CEO of SOCAR-acquired Italian petroleum company
Levan Davitashvili served as Economy Minister from February 2022 to June 2025.
Georgia
Georgia’s new vineyard rules draw accusations of ‘Soviet-style thinking’ from small producers
While the government insists the regulations will safeguard Georgian wine’s reputation abroad, critics argue they could wipe out smaller producers.
Yesterday, 14 May 2026
2026 Armenian parliamentary elections
Pashinyan orders dismissal of four school principals for letting teachers and students attend Civil Contract rally
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said the resignation letters were submitted per his instruction.
Imedi
Pro-government Georgian TV Imedi temporarily banned from European Parliament
Imedi noted that it had received an official letter regarding the matter.
Georgia–EU Relations
Georgians rank second after Turks in deportations from EU
Over 10,000 Georgians and 13,000 Turks were deported from the EU in 2025.
Armenia
Armenian billionaire vows to build Noah’s Ark after construction of world’s tallest Jesus statue
Gagik Tsarukyan, also an opposition figure, had earlier dubbed his signature campaign platform a ‘political and civic Noah’s Ark’.
Iran
Iran reportedly revokes passport of anti-government activist in Armenia
The Iranian Embassy in Armenia has declined to comment.
Armenia
Buckets, sticks, and stories — Inside Armenia’s woman-led tradition khabukhaz
Khabukhaz is a woman-led milk exchange now only practiced in a few villages in Armenia’s Shirak province.
Daily Brief
Thursday, 14 May 2026
Regional * In an incident of apparent vandalism at the Armenian Surb Nshan Church in Akhaltsikhe, Georgia, church icons were thrown near the rubbish, prompting an official investigation. Armenia * The US and the EU welcomed the lifting of restrictions on bilateral trade between Armenia and Turkey. * Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigoryan hosted a delegation from AECOM, which had come to Armenia under the US State Department to begin site survey work for the Trump Route. * The Akanates obse
Reviews
Review | Small Town of Anara — a subversive Soviet Georgian exploration of drinking culture
Georgian director Irakli Kvirikadze’s 1976 film turns a drinking tradition into a portrait of a society trapped in itself.
Wednesday, 13 May 2026
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan imposes travel ban on mother of jailed journalist
Dilruba Amanova’s daughter Aytaj Ahmadova (Tapdig) was one of 12 journalists detained as part of a 2024 crackdown on independent Azerbaijani media.
2026 Armenian parliamentary elections
Karapetyan hits back at Pashinyan as more affiliates arrested on vote-buying charges
Armenian authorities have launched several vote-buying cases against Samvel Karapetyan’s affiliates in the past months.
Georgia
Former Georgian rugby captain and players receive lengthy bans amidst doping accusations
The bans affected six players, as well as a doctor.
South Ossetia
Seven contract soldiers dismissed after scuffle outside South Ossetian Interior Ministry
Another soldier has been declared wanted.
Armenia–Turkey Relations
Turkey opens bilateral trade with Armenia after decades of closure
Goods can now pass between Armenia and Turkey without needing additional registration, but further steps remain until the border is officially opened.
Georgia–France relations
French Parliament calls for sanctions on Ivanishvili, with far-right and far-left voting against
The resolution condemned the ruling party’s ‘authoritarian drift’.
Karachay–Cherkessia
Karachay–Cherkessia court confiscates almost $900,000 in assets from former minister, including 22 properties and 3 cars
Prosecutors secured the transfer to the state of 22 properties, three vehicles, and more than $870,000.
Daily Brief
Wednesday, 13 May 2026
Armenia * Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigoryan received a US delegation to discuss the Trump Route (TRIPP). According to the Armenian readout, the sides ‘discussed and agreed on a number of operational and legal issues related to the implementation of TRIPP’. * Armenian authorities have arrested an unclarified number of Russian–Armenian tycoon Samvel Karapetyan’s affiliates over electoral bribery offering material incentives for people to attend his alliance’s rally. Azerbaijan * Azerbaij
Tuesday, 12 May 2026
2026 Armenian parliamentary elections
Karapetyan’s nephew says Trump Route could become target for Iran
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has accused the opposition of intending to ‘revise’ the peace settlement with Azerbaijan, saying it would lead to war.
Chechnya
Chechen security forces reportedly kill man in car crash while chasing drone
It was also reported that security forces opened fire at an aircraft while attempting to shoot down a drone.
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijani opposition leader Karimli denied permission to attend father’s funeral
He now awaits permission to attend his father’s wake scheduled for 15 May.
Georgia
Report finds Georgian Dream’s 2025 income, including donations, far outstrip all other parties combined
As in previous years, donations remained the main source of political parties’ income in 2025 as well.
Armenia–Russia Relations
Pashinyan rejects Putin’s ‘divorce’ offer
Russian President Vladimir Putin urged Armenia to choose between the EU and the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU).
