Georgian Parliament passes updated foreign agents law
The Georgian Parliament passed the final reading of a new “foreign agents” law, Sova reported on April 1.
South Caucasus
Armenia's parliament passes bill on EU accession
The Armenian parliament passed a bill "On starting the process of accession of the Republic of Armenia to the European Union" in its second and final reading on March 26, the News.am news agency reported.
Russia pushing disinformation to damage Ukraine's ties with Armenia, Azerbaijan, intel claims
The intelligence agency referred to a fake document presented as a report from HUR to Ukraine's Deputy Defense Minister Ivan Havryliuk, which has been disseminated in Armenian Telegram channels.
Azerbaijan suspends local BBC News office
The British broadcaster confirmed that it had taken the "reluctant decision" to close the office following verbal instructions from the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry.
US, Armenia sign strategic partnership agreement
The charter establishes a framework for expanded bilateral cooperation between the U.S. and Armenia in the areas of economic cooperation, security and defense, and democracy.
Azerbaijan's President Aliyev calls Armenia 'fascist state, threat to region'
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev on Jan. 7 called Armenia effectively a "fascist state," adding that Baku might have no other choice but to "destroy" its neighbor's so-called "fascist ideology."
Anti-Western Kavelashvili sworn in as Georgia's president, pro-EU Zourabichvili disputes legitimacy
Georgian anti-Western politician Mikheil Kavelashvili, an ally of the ruling Georgian Dream party, was inaugurated as the country's sixth president on Dec. 29 in a move seen as illegitimate by the opposition.
Azerbaijan to change rules for temporary stay of Russian citizens
Azerbaijan will change the rules for the temporary stay of Russian citizens on its territory in the coming days after Russia announces stricter rules for the stay of foreigners, the Azerbaijan State News Agency reported on Dec. 28.
Georgian opposition politician detained by police, crackdown continues on ninth day of mass protests
Georgian police detained Tsotne Koberidze, a politician and member of the Coalition for Change opposition group, on Dec. 6 amid government crackdowns as pro-EU protests in the country continue.
Georgian police detain opposition leader amid protests
Georgian police detained Nika Gvaramia, the leader of the Coalition for Change opposition party, on Dec. 4 amid government crackdowns as pro-EU protests in the country continue.
Protests in Georgia, explained
For the fifth day in a row, Georgians are holding massive protests against their government in the country's capital, Tbilisi. The brewing dissatisfaction was ignited by the country's democratic backsliding under the leadership of the pro-Russian, increasingly illiberal government. The final straw appeared to be the parliament elections won by
Georgian opposition leader briefly detained amid crackdown on pro-EU rally
Over 220 protesters have been detained over the past few days, the country's Interior Ministry said. This included several journalists and Zurab Japaridze, leader of the opposition Girchi – More Freedom party, who was detained on Dec. 2 before being released the same day.
Georgian elections accompanied by vote buying, intimidation, European monitors say
"During our observation, we noted the cases of vote buying and double voting before and during elections, especially in rural areas," said Ioan Bulai, the head of the delegation of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE).
Georgia's parliament will approve government despite opposition's protests, PM says after elections
Former Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia, the chair of the opposition Gakharia For Georgia party, said that the announced results "do not reflect the will of the Georgian people" and called for "reasonable forms of protest" to "defend the European future and the institution of elections."
EU considering ending Georgia's visa-free access over ruling party's democratic backsliding
"All options are on the table" if Georgia does not reverse its trend toward authoritarianism, "including the potential temporary suspension of the visa liberalization scheme," a spokesperson for the European Commission told Politico.
Armenia uncovers alleged coup plot with Russian trace
Yerevan on Sept. 18 accused five Armenian citizens and two former residents of Nagorno-Karabakh of undergoing military training in Russia in order to stage an armed coup in Armenia.
Georgian parliament passes anti-LGBTQ legislation
The bills would ban gender transition, adoption by same-sex couples, and forbid gatherings or the distribution of information "aimed at promoting" LGBTQ relationships.
US announces sanctions against Georgian officials for human rights abuses
"Today's action underscores our concern about the consequences of anti-democratic actions in Georgia and efforts by key individuals to use violence and intimidation to achieve their aims," said Treasury official Bradley Smith.
Lukashenko's derisive remarks on Armenia spark protests, condemnation
Speaking on Russian state television, Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko said earlier in the week, "Who needs Armenians? Nobody. Let them develop their economy and rely on their own resources.
Putin in Azerbaijan: Depleted by Ukraine, Russia plays a weaker hand in the South Caucasus
Russian President Vladimir Putin visited Azerbaijan for the first time since the beginning of its full-scale war on Ukraine on Aug. 18, the latest significant development in the South Caucasus country's delicate balancing act between East and West. The visit comes amid a larger, historic realignment between the three countries
Georgia's ruling party to seek constitutional ban of chief opposition party
In an appeal posted on Facebook, Georgian Dream emphasized that it needs to obtain a "constitutional majority in order to qualitatively improve the political system, which cannot be achieved without removing the collective 'United National Movement' from politics."
Russia willing to participate in South Caucasus peace settlement amid 'crisis' in Ukraine, Putin says
Putin arrived in Baku for talks with his Azerbaijani counterpart Ilham Aliyev for the first time since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Georgia's foreign agent law comes into effect
Failure to register as a foreign agent by Sept. 1, when the official monitoring period begins, could result in fines of 25,000 Georgian lari ($9,200).
Russian soldiers depart Yerevan airport, ending 32-year presence
The process of their withdrawal was completed with a formal ceremony, during which Edgar Hunanian, the newly appointed head of Armenia's border guard, thanked the Russian detachment for their service.
Tbilisi accuses ex-officials from Georgia and Ukraine of plotting to kill ruling party chairman Ivanishvili
Georgia's State Security Service (SUS) "is investigating the facts of the preparation of the murder of Bidzina Ivanishvili, the honorary chairman of the Georgian Dream party, organized and financed by former high-ranking officials of the Georgian government and former employees of law enforcement agencies in Ukraine," the SUS wrote on Facebook.
Georgian security service reportedly begins investigating fighters returning from Ukraine
The opposition media outlet Mtavari reported on July 21 that at least four Georgians who fought in Ukraine have been sought for interrogation by Georgia's State Security Service (SUS).
Russian forces illegally detain Georgian citizen near occupation line, authorities report
"Russian occupation forces are responsible for all destructive actions committed on the occupied territories of Georgia, as well as along the occupation line," Georgia's State Security Service (SUS) said.
Georgian Su-25 jet crashes during military exercises, killing pilot
The pilot, Kakhaber Zurabishvili, was killed in the crash. The Georgian Defense Ministry said the cause of the crash was being determined.
US wants to invite Armenia, Azerbaijan to upcoming NATO summit, sources tell Azerbaijani media
The news came as U.S. Assistant Secretary of State James O'Brien is scheduled to arrive in Baku on June 27, in what will be his third trip to the South Caucasus in two months.
France signs deal to sell Caesar howitzers to Armenia
The announcement did not say how many Caesar howitzers would be included in the deal, or when they might start arriving in the country.
Georgian parliament speaker signs 'foreign agents' law
The speaker of the Georgian parliament, Shalva Papuashvili, signed the controversial "foreign agents" bill into law, the local media reported on June 3.
Georgia's opposition party says masked men attacked its Tbilisi office
A Tbilisi office of United National Movement (UNM), a Georgian opposition party, was attacked by up to 100 masked men overnight on June 1, the party said in a statement.
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