Georgia
Kobakhidze confirms substance in water cannons following BBC investigation but rules out ‘camite’
Heated debate continues in Georgia over the BBC investigation into the winter 2024 protest crackdown.
News Stories
Yesterday, 03 December 2025
Yesterday, 03 December 2025
Kabarda–Balkaria
Water utility supervisor convicted over mass water poisoning in Kabarda–Balkaria
A total of 113 people were recognised as victims in the criminal case.
Armenia
Armenian government accused of ‘selectively’ publishing Nagorno-Karabakh negotiation documents
The released documents have further intensified the conflict between Armenia’s current and former leaders.
Adygea
Former Adygean police officer sentenced to 2 years for attacking journalists
Murat Adzhigiriev had struck a camera operator inside a courthouse.
Georgia
Georgian government unveils education reform project
The programme included a change in the textbook preparation process, as well as introducing uniforms.
Chechnya
Police threaten extremism charges against friend of Seda Suleymanova
Lena Patyaeva is currently serving a 10-day sentence for an alleged violation of the rules on holding a picket.
Reviews
Review | Stalin’s Cola — the story of Georgia’s famous Lagidze lemonades
In his latest documentary, award-winning director Stefan Tolz examines Georgia’s premier lemonade company — and why it failed to beat Coca-Cola.
Children’s Rights
Opinion | Armenia’s unbreakable and vicious cycle of violence against children
New reforms to protect children exist on paper — yet every minute the government delays in fully implementing them risks another child’s life.
Daily Brief
Wednesday, 3 December 2025
Armenia * On Tuesday, the Armenian Government published a number of documents related to the negotiation for the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. The published documents created heated discussions online, further intensifying the spate of mutual accusation current and former leaders have been levying at each other regarding the negotiations. The documents were published a day after the OSCE Minsk group ceased its activities. Azerbaijan * The trial of the imprisoned Meydan TV jo
Tuesday, 02 December 2025
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijani Eurovision star Samira Efendi criticised for praising Armenian artist in Kazakh contest
Samira Efendi gave Armenian contestant Saro Gevorgyan the highest score in the Star of the Silk Road competition.
Georgia
Local judge in southern Georgia rebels against Georgian Dream’s legislative changes
Judge Vladimer Khuchua has halted some cases and appealed to the Constitutional Court.
Chechnya
FSB building, police station, and Akhmat regiment site hit by Ukrainian drones in Chechnya
While videos were published on social media, Chechen authorities have not made any official comments.
Armenia–EU Relations
Armenia adopts new strategic agenda with the EU
The EU announced an allocation of €15 million ($17 million) ‘towards sustaining peace and a more resilient Armenia’.
Georgia
‘False information harmful to the state’: Georgian authorities react to BBC investigation
Following the BBC report into the use of toxic WWI chemicals, the State Security Service has opened a probe, while the government threatens to sue.
Azerbaijan
Arrest of Azerbaijani Popular Front Party chair Ali Karimli triggers international criticism
Frank Schwabe, a German member of PACE, stated that Azerbaijan is moving ‘further away’ from European values.
Ingushetia
Ingush law banning glorification of Stalin’s memory secretly withdrawn from consideration
Historian Ibragim Kostoev reported that the law was secretly withdrawn from consideration eight years ago.
Daily Brief
Tuesday, 2 December 2025
Armenia * Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan will pay a visit to Brussels, where the Armenia–EU Partnership Council meeting will be held. The sides are expected to sign a new partnership agreement. Azerbaijan * Yesterday, Amnesty International condemned the detention of Ali Karimli, chair of the opposition Popular Front Party. Denis Krivosheev, the organisation’s Deputy Director for Eastern Europe and Central Asia, stated that this is ‘further evidence’ of the strengthening of the authoritar
Monday, 01 December 2025
Georgia
BBC suggests Georgia used WWI-era chemical on protesters, sparking SSG probe
Georgia’s State Security Service (SSG) launched an investigation into the documentary on two charges.
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan detains Popular Front Party chair Ali Karimli amidst crackdown on party
Ali Karimli and Mammad Ibrahim were accused of committing actions aimed at the violent seizure of power.
Chechnya
Russia designates son of former Ichkerian president as foreign agent
Anzor Maskhadov had previously been declared a ‘terrorist’ and an ‘extremist’.
Armenia–Azerbaijan Relations
Armenia and Azerbaijan hold border delimitation talks in Azerbaijan
The commissions agreed to set the date of the next meeting in an Armenian city.
Armenia
High-ranking priests call on Armenian Catholicos Karekin II to step down
The majority of the priests who signed the statement had met with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan last week.
Georgia
Georgian opposition politician Elisashvili faces terrorism charges for court arson attempt
Aleko Elisashvili faces a long prison term, with the ruling party using the case to launch fresh criticism at the EU.
Daghestan
12-year-old girl injured in drone attack on Daghestan
A possible target of the attack was the Dagdizel plant, which is involved in developing and producing underwater weapons for the Russian Navy.
Daghestan
Man killed in Daghestan after attacking police officers with a knife
The motives for the man’s actions remain unknown.
Daily Brief
Monday, 1 December 2025
Regional * On 28 November, the Armenian and Azerbaijani commissions on border delimitation held a meeting in the city of Gabala, Azerbaijan, marking their first such meeting inside either country. They agreed to set the date of the next meeting in an Armenian city. Armenia * Ten high-ranking priests have released a statement saying they expected Catholicos Karekin II ‘will voluntarily go on leave, and in this way, it will be possible to organise new elections’. The statement follows their
Saturday, 29 November 2025
Georgia
‘Till the end!’ — Georgia’s embattled protesters reflect on one year of daily demonstrations
One year on, demonstrators speak to OC Media about why they continue to protest despite increasing government repression.
Friday, 28 November 2025
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijani teen sentenced to 7.5 years in prison over road accident that killed three children
The traffic police officer who drove the car that hit the children, killing them, has gone unpunished.
Georgia–Poland Relations
Poland to end simplified employment for Georgians in December
Tens of thousands of Georgian citizens were granted access to the Polish labour market last year through the preferential rules.
OC Insider
Marking the anniversary of Georgian protests (and accelerated authoritarianism)
A year has passed since Georgia’s ruling Georgian Dream party halted the country’s bid for EU membership — a move that immediately sparked a massive, nationwide protest movement that, despite relentless state pressure and shrinking in size, continues to this day. Honestly speaking, without any theatrics: I can’t really believe I’m writing this. Partly because it’s hard to realise that such a long, heavy year has gone by so quickly. And second, it’s astonishing to see how the country has changed
