2026 Armenian parliamentary elections
Armenian election commission rejects appeal to deregister main opposition group
Samvel Karapetyan’s Strong Armenia alliance was the main challenger to the ruling Civil Contract party.
News Stories
Yesterday, 05 June 2026
Yesterday, 05 June 2026
Georgia
Georgia expels activist ‘at risk of death penalty in Iran’ to unspecified country
While in Georgia, Hadi Rostami has actively protested against the Iranian regime.
Azerbaijan
Russia hints at possible EAEU membership for Azerbaijan amidst rift with Armenia
Russian President Vladimir Putin has noted that Russia invested over $10 billion into projects in Azerbaijan.
2026 Armenian parliamentary elections
Opinion | The silent revolution: What happens when Armenia’s diverging generations meet at the polls?
Armenia’s youth have undergone different experiences than their elders, affecting what they consider important when voting in a new parliament.
Georgia
Georgia cracks down on cryptocurrency mining in Svaneti
The Interior Ministry announced the seizure of almost 150 mining devices from the Mestia Municipality.
Armenia
Armenia says citizens returning to vote may be called up for military training
The move comes following reports that Russia organised the bussing of ‘tens of thousands of Russian–Armenians’ to influence the election outcome.
Georgia–US Relations
Georgia denies asking US ‘what it would take’ to restart relations
Georgia said the US Secretary of State Marco Rubio may have understood and said ‘something based on their own interpretation’.
2026 Armenian parliamentary elections
Azerbaijan’s media apparatus goes all-in for Pashinyan
Ahead of elections, incumbent Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has found an unlikely cheerleader — Azerbaijani pro-government media.
Armenia
Armenia investigates nearly 40 people for money laundering linked to Karapetyan ally
The arrests follow nationwide raids targeting an alleged scheme to pay citizens to attend political rallies.
2026 Iran War
Israel sent troops to Azerbaijan during Iran War, sources tell CNN
The unit reportedly included members of Israel’s special operations forces, its heliborne combat and rescue force, and Mossad personnel.
Abkhazia
Russian court sentences Abkhazian opposition MP Kvarchiya to 10.5 years in prison in absentia
Abkhazian authorities had previously refused to strip Kan Kvarchiya of his parliamentary immunity.
Daily Brief
Friday, 5 June 2026
Armenia * Armenian Defence Minister Suren Papikyan did not rule out that Armenian citizens returning from abroad may be sent to 25-day military training camps. The news came amidst media reports of the organised transport of Russian–Armenians to vote in the 7 June parliamentary elections. * Armenia has issued arrest warrants against four major former officials of former President Serzh Sargsyan’s cabinet on charges of corruption and money laundering. * More affiliates of Strong Armenia and A
Thursday, 04 June 2026
Georgia
Kobakhidze announces plans to procure DMD medication
The announcement was made on Thursday after a meeting with the parents of children with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD).
Georgia
Ivanishvili’s detained ex-associate Udzilauri condemns Georgian Dream leadership
Giorgi Udzilauri, who was detained in May on espionage charges, believes he was charged over his government criticism.
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan and EU resume negotiations over partnership agreement
A preliminary draft document on partnership priorities for the period 2026–2030 was prepared during negotiations in Baku.
Adygea
Adygea man accused of murdering partner and daughter asks to be sent to Ukraine
Bislan Nekhai faces a possible life sentence for the double murder.
Armenia
Opinion | Does the concept of ‘peace’ change when the government monopolises the discourse?
What happens when words such as ‘peace’ and ‘peacebuilder’ become politically instrumentalised in Armenian discourse?
Economy
Georgian National Bank’s monetary tightening drives Georgia’s inflation down to 5.7%
The decline came after the bank raised its refinancing rate for the first time in four years.
Armenia
Armenia offers subsidies to exporters amidst Russian restrictions
Russia has restricted the imports of a number of Armenian products ahead of parliamentary elections on 7 June.
Daghestan
Former head of Daghestan’s Pension Fund sentenced to life for plotting murders of officials
The former official was convicted in absentia of financing terrorism and for organising the killing of a counter-extremism officer.
Daily Brief
Thursday, 4 June 2026
Regional * Today, six freight wagons with Russian wheat, barley, and fertilizer intended for Armenia will be shipped from Baku. Armenia * Today, Armenia and the US signed the framework agreement on strategic cooperation concerning the Trump Route. The document had been initialled in Yerevan in late May during US Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s visit. * Since early this morning, Armenian authorities have launched raids in more than 50 locations across the country over the ‘financial induc
Wednesday, 03 June 2026
2026 Armenian parliamentary elections
Is the Armenian election really about the West vs Russia?
While the West has relied on showing support through statements and summits, Russia has resorted to economic pressure and overt warnings.
Samvel Karapetyan
Senior figure from Karapetyan’s Strong Armenia Alliance detained on money laundering charges
Samvel Karapertyan claimed that none of his alliance members ‘know how to launder money’.
Chechnya
Verse novel about father of Ramzan Kadyrov published in Chechnya
The work about the first President of Chechnya was written by newspaper editor-in-chief Buvaisar Shamsudinov.
Georgia
Georgian Foreign Ministry moves to Saakashvili-era presidential palace
The former presidential palace has not been used for its original purpose since 2018.
Georgia
Seven 4 October protest detainees enter plea agreements with Georgian prosecution
The defendants, none of whom are political leaders, will receive suspended sentences.
Armenia–Russia Relations
EU ‘looks into’ increasing support for Yerevan as Moscow tightens restrictions on Armenian imports
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan suggested that Russia was taking ‘wrong steps’ by increasing restrictions.
Ingushetia
FSB detains Ingush resident over social media post
The operation involved officers from the Federal Security Service (FSB) and the National Guard, as well as an armoured vehicle.
Daily Brief
Wednesday, 3 June 2026
Regional * Azerbaijani Defence Minister Zakir Hasanov has visited military facilities in Georgia during a working visit. The Azerbaijani delegation studied the working conditions at the facilities and inspected the weaponry. Armenia * US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that ‘the Russians are less than happy about our engagement’ in Armenia, adding that ‘there’s evidence that they would like the current prime minister [Nikol Pashinyan] to lose his election’. * Starting from today, Ru
Tuesday, 02 June 2026
Azerbaijan
Almost 30 Azerbaijani prisoners declare 18 November ‘Political Prisoners’ Day’
The statement was signed by imprisoned journalists, human rights defenders, labour union activists, and politicians.
