Top stories in Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Georgia from 28 April-2 May, 2025

● The Georgian foreign ministry expressed concern over the illegal operation of an airport in Abkhazia and the launch of regular flights between Sukhumi and Russia. “The agreement between the government of the Russian Federation on the transfer and operation of the Sukhumi airport constitutes a blatant violation of Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, Georgian legislation on occupied territories, and fundamental principles of international law, including the UN Charter and the Convention of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), of which both Georgia and the Russian Federation are members,” the ministry said in a statement.

● Gia Khubua, the rector of Kutaisi International University founded by oligarch Bidzina Ivanishvili, has resigned. He cited a desire to devote more time to his personal academic and scientific work as the reason for stepping down.

● Miranda Bagaturia and Ana Kurashvili, press officers of the opposition parties Ahali and Girchi — More Freedom, were fined 4,000 lari each (about $1,500) for insulting a police officer. The interior ministry is requesting that they be placed in pretrial detention. “The regime continues its attempts to silence and intimidate the opposition in Georgia,” wrote MEP Petras Auštrevičius on social media in response.

● A court has again ruled to keep 11 protest participants in custody, claiming they pose a “threat to society.”

● Georgian Dream MP Irakli Zarkua made a sexist and offensive comment about MEP Rasa Juknevičienė, who has criticized the ruling party. “This happens to many people when they reach a certain age — they become inadequate. Maybe she’s having an episode, some kind of menopause problem,” said Zarkua. He also called the European Union a “non-authoritative, degraded organization.”

● In Kutaisi, a court sentenced four protest participants — miners Merab Saralidze, Giorgi Neparidze, Achiko Chumburidze, and Tengo Gvelesiani — to pretrial detention on charges of intentionally inflicting bodily harm.

● One of Georgia’s most popular independent TV channels, Mtavari Arkhi, has completely ceased broadcasting. The channel’s director general Giorgi Gabunia previously claimed that co-founder Zaza Okuashvili had artificially created a financial crisis.

● A court has ordered former Co-Investment Fund head Giorgi Bachiashvili to pay oligarch Bidzina Ivanishvili up to 9,000 bitcoins (approximately $860 million). Bachiashvili, who had already been on trial, managed to secretly flee Georgia, stating that there was an assassination attempt planned against him at Ivanishvili’s behest. In March, he was sentenced in absentia to 11 years in prison on charges of embezzlement and money laundering. He is now wanted and denies all charges, claiming political persecution. The court stated that the bitcoin value will be recovered from Bachiashvili’s frozen assets in Georgia.

Video by JAMnews: “We are building a country” — under this slogan, another day of continuous pro-European protests is taking place in Georgia today. The demonstration is organized by 10 independent trade unions, various civic groups, and the Movement for Social Democracy:

“We are building a country” — under this slogan, another day of continuous pro-European protests is taking place in Georgia today. The demonstration is organized by 10 independent trade unions, various civic groups, and the Movement for Social Democracy.

The rally in Tbilisi… pic.twitter.com/1FfYsAS6Lj

— JAMnews (@JAMnewsCaucasus) May 1, 2025

● Ombudsperson Sabina Aliyeva sent an open letter to the Secretary General of Amnesty International, protesting against the sharply critical assessments of the human rights situation in Azerbaijan included in the organization’s 2024 report. “This is one-sided and distorted information. The ombudsperson’s office is focused on ensuring the rights of detainees, the conditions of their detention, and their health status, and the results of all investigations are made public. None of this is mentioned in the report,” Aliyeva’s statement read. Amnesty International’s report claimed a sharp deterioration in human rights in Azerbaijan last year, with independent NGOs and media facing restrictions and dozens of human rights defenders, activists, and journalists arrested for their legitimate activities.

● “In countries like Azerbaijan, where the legislative and judicial branches are fully controlled by the executive, independent media act as a second form of authority,” wrote jailed Radio Free Europe journalist Farid Mehralizade. “The mass arrests of journalists in the past two years, along with new legislative initiatives on media, are aimed at shutting down this role and sterilizing public life in the country,” he added. Mehralizade was detained in a criminal case against the investigative outlet AbzasMedia, which focuses on exposing corruption. He and seven other staff members have been charged with smuggling and financial crimes, accusations they categorically deny, saying they are being persecuted for criticizing the authorities.

● Sevinc Vagifgizi, the imprisoned editor-in-chief of AbzasMedia, has been included in the international list of “10 journalists under persecution in their countries.” The list was compiled by a global press freedom coalition ahead of World Press Freedom Day on May 3. The coalition includes 32 media organizations, such as the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), the International Women’s Media Foundation (IWMF), and Reporters Without Borders (RSF). CPJ announced that by the end of 2024, 361 journalists will be behind bars worldwide, up from 320 in 2023.

● The trial of a group of former leaders of the unrecognized Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR) continued in Baku. They are charged with war crimes, terrorism, attempting to overthrow the government, and other serious offenses. The pro-government AZERTAC agency reported that the May 1 hearing focused on the killing of Azerbaijani civilians in the village of Garadaghly by Armenian fighters in the late 1980s and early 1990s, and the downing of an Azerbaijani helicopter in Garakend on November 20, 1991, which killed all 22 people on board. Victims and witnesses gave testimony.

● The Milli Majlis approved Kamran Aliyev’s candidacy for a second term as prosecutor general, following a nomination by president Ilham Aliyev.

● The Baku branch of Iran’s Bank Melli Iran resumed operations after being closed since May 2023. Experts link the reopening to the April 28 visit of Iranian president Masoud Pezeshkian to Baku and his talks with Azerbaijani president Ilham Aliyev.

● The foreign ministry expressed concern over growing tensions between India and Pakistan following the attack in Pahalgam, India, and called on both sides to exercise restraint and engage in constructive dialogue.

● The foreign ministry congratulated Israel on its Independence Day.

● A group of Italian parliamentarians visited Karabakh, including the cities of Aghdam, Khankendi, and Shusha (pictured below). The delegation included members of the Azerbaijan friendship group from the Inter-Parliamentary Union of the Italian parliament. According to local media, they visited restoration works at the Imaret complex in Aghdam and the new Victory Square in Khankendi.

Photo by Report

● Under the slogan “We want decent work,” a May Day march in support of workers’ rights took place in Yerevan. Head of the Confederation of Trade Unions of Armenia, Elen Manaseryan, told journalists the march was non-political and aimed at once again raising issues related to improving labor conditions.

● “Baku carried out four hours of continuous shelling last night in the direction of Khna-tsakh,” opposition MP Tigran Abrahamyan wrote on social media. “In other areas – Aravus, Khoznavar, and Jermuk – firing followed the usual pattern, every two hours from 10:30 p.m. to 4:30 a.m. But Khna-tsakh was shelled with pauses of no more than five minutes, and from several Azerbaijani positions,” Abrahamyan reported.

● Karabakh general Vitaly Balasanyan, marking the 80th anniversary of Victory Day, addressed a letter to Russian president Vladimir Putin requesting support for the return of Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh to their native homes. In the open letter, Balasanyan recalled that over 90,000 Karabakh Armenians served in the Soviet army during World War II. “Of them, 29 were named Heroes of the Soviet Union. Karabakh Armenians commanded fronts, armies, corps, and divisions,” Balasanyan wrote.

● Two people were injured in an explosion on Saryan Street in central Yerevan. Preliminary reports suggest the blast was caused by a gas cylinder explosion inside a car. One of the victims received medical help on-site, while the other was hospitalized.

● Former Yerevan mayor Hayk Marutyan called the beating of an activist in the office of the Nor Nork district head a “shameful incident.” The head of the district administration himself took part in the brawl. “We saw officials behaving like street thugs, and parties justifying and even encouraging such conduct. Our society deserves more mature and rational governance in these difficult times,” Marutyan wrote.

● A new scandalous video has circulated online showing police officers beating a man. Sergey Abrahamyan, a 38-year-old resident of Armavir, told NEWS.am: “They took me to the station with my hands and feet cuffed, taped my mouth shut, threw me to the ground, and then 10–15 officers started beating me.” The Ministry of Internal Affairs presented its version of events, claiming Abrahamyan was to be detained under a court order but acted inappropriately and resisted lawful police demands. As a result, they used physical force and brought him in by force.

JAMnews video: Yerevan celebrated International Jazz Day:

● Republican Congressman Joe Wilson: “The fake ‘Georgian Dream’ regime hates America and President Trump. It spreads anti-American conspiracy theories and is selling the country to the Chinese Communist Party. Enough! We must support the Georgian people demanding free and fair elections.”

● The MEGOBARI Act, introduced earlier this year by US Helsinki Commission Chair Joe Wilson and Congressman Steve Cohen, will go to a vote in the US House of Representatives next week. The bill proposes sanctions against those undermining democracy in Georgia. Read more here

● A new fund has been created to help participants of the months-long pro-European protests in Georgia who received massive fines (2–3 times the average salary). Freedom Square’s David Jincharadze said the “Freedom Fund” will be opened in the UK to avoid account seizures like those faced by similar funds inside Georgia. Read more here

● Families of arrested protesters issued a joint appeal to Georgia’s Public Broadcaster, demanding full live coverage of all trials of the “prisoners of conscience.”

● The “Resistance Platform,” launched by Georgia’s 5th president Salome Zourabichvili, held a briefing with the EU ambassador and European diplomats. Zourabichvili said the platform remains in regular contact with international partners.

● The State Security Service’s 2024 report on occupied territories mentions Russia’s officially announced plan to build a military port in Abkhazia’s Ochamchire district. However, the report says only “container terminal construction activities” are currently taking place.

● Georgian Dream’s political council announced a party congress will be held on May 7 to elect a new chair and update the council’s composition. Former prime minister Irakli Garibashvili, who chaired the party, has declared his retirement from politics.

● The Interior Ministry launched an investigation into a large fire yesterday at a market near Tbilisi’s railway station. Tbilisi Central confirmed that around 12,000 square meters of commercial and warehouse space were destroyed.

● Foreign minister Maka Bochorishvili of Georgian Dream announced reforms aimed at strengthening Georgia’s diplomatic missions abroad and opening new ones. The ministry will establish four political departments uniting 10 divisions and 25 sections, and plans to launch an institution of non-resident ambassadors.

● Oligarch Bidzina Ivanishvili, widely seen as Georgia’s shadow ruler, has been removed from Bloomberg’s billionaire index after his assets fell below $6.34 billion, according to a Bloomberg Studio response to Georgia’s Monitor Studio. Ivanishvili was on the list until April 23.

● Georgia welcomed 970,500 international visitors in Q1 2025, a 1.3% increase compared to the same period last year.

PHOTO JAMnews: Pro-European protests in Georgia have continued non-stop for over five months:

● A criminal case has been launched over an incident in the administration of Yerevan’s Nor Nork district, where municipal employees, including the head of the district, beat an activist who was later hospitalized (see video below).

● Deputy foreign minister Robert Abisoghomonyan met with UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk in Geneva to discuss the fate of missing persons and the release of Armenian prisoners of war and civilians held in Azerbaijan.

● Armenia received the symbolic baton of the Russian “Victory Relay” military-patriotic campaign, marking May 9 and the 80th anniversary of victory in World War II. The baton, a stylized border post marked “80,” was received by servicemen of the Leninakan border detachment. It will be carried across several border units over the next two weeks before being handed over to the security service.

● A book of condolences was opened at the Iranian Embassy in Yerevan to honor the victims of the explosion at Iran’s Shahid Rajaee port. Armenia’s foreign ministry earlier expressed condolences to Iran over the tragedy.

● The U.S. Congress’s Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission is preparing the “Azerbaijan Democracy Act,” which proposes sanctions against Azerbaijani authorities over the worsening human rights situation. At a hearing titled “Human Rights in Azerbaijan after COP29,” Commission Chair Rep. Chris Smith called Azerbaijan a dictatorship and said President Ilham Aliyev runs the country like a feudal estate. Smith cited reports from rights groups saying there are now 357 political prisoners in Azerbaijan.

● Smith also referred to the group of former “leaders” of the unrecognized Nagorno-Karabakh Republic currently on trial in Baku as political prisoners. He accused Aliyev of taking captives from Karabakh to redirect public anger away from the ruling clan and toward an external enemy. Witnesses at the hearing included former Karabakh ombudsman Artak Beglaryan, Ruben Vardanyan’s lawyer Jared Genser, NED’s Miriam Lanskoy, and Freedom Now’s Andrea Prasow.

● Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will visit Baku on May 7–8, focusing on two priorities: Azerbaijan’s mediation in Israeli-Turkish relations to avoid conflict in Syria, and potentially including Azerbaijan in the Abraham Accords, according to The Times of Israel. Newsweek noted the rarity of Netanyahu’s foreign visits since the war with Hamas and emphasized the strategic importance of this trip.

● Israel has requested help from 13 countries, including Azerbaijan, to battle large wildfires around Jerusalem.

● “The reconstruction of Azerbaijan’s liberated territories could serve as a future model for Ukraine,” said Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister Oleksandr Mishchenko. He praised Azerbaijan’s assistance in rebuilding energy infrastructure, rehabilitating children, and restoring damaged areas — all reportedly done on President Aliyev’s personal orders.

● Uzbekistan’s parliament has ratified a treaty on allied relations with Azerbaijan.

● During a visit to Kuwait, Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov highlighted significant potential for deeper bilateral cooperation.

● An international rowing regatta, the “President’s Cup 2025,” has begun in Sugovushan, Karabakh, with over 200 athletes from 20 countries (pictured below). The event marks the 102nd anniversary of former president Heydar Aliyev, who is honored in Azerbaijan as the “national leader.” The second day of the regatta will take place in Mingachevir on May 2.

● The State Security Service published a report on developments in Georgia in 2024, claiming, among other things, that Georgian journalists and politicians have ties with foreign intelligence services; that Georgian citizens fighting on Ukraine’s side plan to return and commit violence against police; and that there are plots to assassinate ruling party officials. More here

● The Prosecutor’s Office released a statement regarding the coordinated searches carried out on April 29 in the homes of several NGO leaders and activists, including Nanuka Zhorzholiani, Mariam Badzhelidze, Guga Khelaia, and Aleko Tskitishvili. The statement cites Articles 318 and 319 of the Criminal Code, meaning the investigation relates to sabotage and “assisting a foreign state, organization, or foreign-controlled entity in hostile activities.” More here

● Georgian NGOs called on international partners to clearly state their positions regarding the raids. “The targets of these actions are people at the forefront of humanitarian work, providing assistance to the most vulnerable, including persons with disabilities, internally displaced people, low-income families, and survivors of violence,” the statement said.

● The Social Justice Center called the searches “yet another aggressive act targeting civic solidarity, aimed at intimidating and terrorizing protest participants.” The group noted that authorities are seizing all electronic devices from activists’ homes, while no concrete results from any investigation have been made public.

● Popular nightclub BASSIANI released a strong statement condemning the ongoing arrests, pressure on opponents, repressive laws adopted by Georgian Dream, and the party’s anti-European course. The statement followed the recent raids, including one in the home of activist Mariam Badzhelidze, wife of BASSIANI’s founder. She is pregnant, and the search was conducted in the presence of her underage child. “Such actions are unacceptable. The club expresses solidarity with all victims of the regime, prisoners of conscience, their families, and members of civil society, media, education, arts, and culture – all those resisting repression,” the statement said.

● The “Resistance Platform,” initiated by 5th president Salome Zourabichvili, issued a statement on the searches: “This is further proof that the regime is concerned by the citizens’ protests. The platform is collecting all data and will do everything possible to ensure sanctions are imposed on those who adopt and implement unlawful decisions.”

● Parliament members from Georgian Dream supported a draft law in the second reading that would allow banning opposition parties. Under the proposed amendments, the Constitutional Court would be able to prohibit the formation of a new party if it resembles an already banned one in its stated goals, activities, or personnel.

● EU Commissioner for Enlargement Olivér Várhelyi said Brussels is considering revising Georgia’s visa-free regime in response to democratic backsliding but is proceeding “cautiously,” as such a move would harm most of the Georgian population. More here

● Tbilisi’s police department plans to spend 100,000 GEL (about $40,000) on meals for officers deployed at the large-scale daily protests that have been ongoing for six months.

● Nika Melia, a leader of the opposition “Coalition for Change,” was fined for refusing to appear before a parliamentary investigative commission on the actions of former authorities under Mikheil Saakashvili. He was released on 50,000 GEL bail (about $18,000).

Day 153 of nonstop pro-European protests on Rustaveli Avenue in Tbilisi. #GeorgiaProtests
📸 Photo: Ilia Ratiani / Radio Liberty pic.twitter.com/bDvHnyOUtS

— JAMnews (@JAMnewsCaucasus) April 29, 2025

● Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights Michael O’Flaherty has called on Azerbaijani authorities to release dozens of imprisoned human rights defenders, journalists, and activists. Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry responded immediately: “O’Flaherty’s statement is an unsuccessful attempt to interfere in our internal affairs. We categorically reject this unacceptable, baseless, and biased statement.” More details about both statements here

● Amnesty International reported a sharp deterioration in the human rights situation in Azerbaijan in its annual report released yesterday. “Independent NGOs and media faced unlawful restrictions, while journalists, human rights defenders, and activists were arrested for their legitimate work. Peaceful protests are suppressed, torture and ill-treatment are widespread, and the authorities are blocking oversight efforts and refusing to cooperate with international intergovernmental organizations. Azerbaijan also declared its intention to withdraw from the Council of Europe and the European Convention on Human Rights,” the report states. Amnesty listed dozens of individuals it considers political prisoners. In early April, President Ilham Aliyev claimed that fundamental rights and freedoms are fully protected in the country and accused organizations like Human Rights Watch, Freedom House, Amnesty International, and Transparency International of running slander campaigns against Azerbaijan.

● Farid Mehralizade, a detained journalist from Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, has demanded an apology from a prosecutor who called him a “clown” during a court session on April 29. “If no apology is made, I reserve the right to use similar metaphorical expressions in return,” he said. Mehralizade is on trial as part of the “AbzasMedia case,” which involves seven employees of the independent outlet arrested on smuggling charges. All deny the accusations and claim they are being persecuted for their critical reporting.

● Witnesses testified in court during the AbzasMedia trial. One of them, Anvar Jafarov, a former contributor to the outlet, said he was abducted from the street and taken to a police station. He described being pressured, having his phone accessed, and undergoing more than five hours of interrogation. Some witnesses summoned to court are currently abroad. Defense lawyers requested that one of them – Aishan Muradova of the Center for Social Rights – testify online, citing questions about her earlier statements.

● Lawyers for Farid Mehralizade and Hafiz Babali, editor of the Turan News Agency (also arrested in the same case), have again requested that their clients be placed under house arrest. They argued that the prosecution’s main reason for keeping them in custody—the potential to influence witnesses – is no longer valid, as witness testimony has concluded.

● Sevinc Vagifgizi (Abbasova), editor-in-chief of AbzasMedia and in detention since November 2023, voiced support during a court hearing for opposition politician Tofig Yagublu, who has been on hunger strike in prison for 29 days, protesting false charges and unlawful imprisonment. The AbzasMedia trial is set to resume on May 6.

● Seven opposition activists have launched a hunger strike in solidarity with Tofig Yagublu (pictured below). Natig Israfil (Musavat Party), Guseyn Malik (Azerbaijan Democratic Prosperity Party), and Ceyhun Novruzov, Zakarulla Nagiyev, Tavakkul Hasanov, Ismayaddin Gasymov, and Rovshan Safarov (Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan) are striking at the Musavat Party headquarters in Baku, demanding the release of Yagublu and other political prisoners. More details about Tofig Yagublu can be found here

● The pretrial detention of prominent human rights defender Rufat Safarov has been extended until June 3. He was arrested in December on fraud and hooliganism charges, which he denies, claiming the arrest is politically motivated due to his human rights work. Read more here

● The trial of former state minister of the unrecognized Nagorno-Karabakh Republic and Armenian citizen Ruben Vardanyan continues. He faces charges of torture, mercenarism, war crimes, terrorism, and more. According to AzerTac, Vardanyan challenged the composition of the judicial panel, but his complaint was rejected due to a lack of evidence. Victims and witnesses testified in court. The next hearing is scheduled for May 6.

● Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov has departed on an official visit to Kuwait.

● Bayramov also held a phone call with the UK’s Minister of State for Europe, North America, and the Overseas Territories, Stephen Doughty. According to the Foreign Ministry, the two discussed the signing of a peace agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia. Bayramov emphasized that lasting peace in the South Caucasus depends on Armenia renouncing territorial claims found in its constitution and legal acts.

● Iran International has published an analysis of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian’s recent visit to Azerbaijan. “The visit signals Tehran’s cautious attempt to mend ties with Baku after tensions spiked following the 2023 attack on Azerbaijan’s embassy in Tehran. Another source of friction remains the Zangezur corridor, a proposed route linking mainland Azerbaijan to its Nakhchivan exclave via Armenia. Iran opposes the corridor, viewing it as a threat to its regional influence and access to Armenia. While disputes over Zangezur persist, Pezeshkian’s visit focused on practical cooperation—particularly in energy—rather than territorial issues. Signs of détente include joint Iran-Azerbaijan naval drills in the Caspian Sea in late 2024 and progress on the North-South transport corridor with Russia,” the outlet reported.

● The Azerbaijani delegation attempted to disrupt a speech by Eduard Sharmazanov, a representative of Armenia’s opposition Republican Party (considered pro-Russian), during the United Russia party’s international conference in Moscow marking the 80th anniversary of victory in World War II. Sharmazanov began speaking about violations of the right to self-determination and modern forms of fascism, using the example of events in Karabakh. Members of the Azerbaijani delegation shouted “Stop! Stop!” but Sharmazanov continued. He claimed that following the 44-day war in Karabakh in 2020, Armenian World War II monuments—those of Marshals Bagramyan and Khampferyants, and twice Hero of the Soviet Union Nelson Stepanyan—were targeted by Azerbaijani “vandalism.” He added: “Russia is an ally of Armenia. In its special military operation in Ukraine, it refers to the internationally recognized right of peoples to self-determination. The people of Karabakh have that same right. Azerbaijan’s actions are xenophobic and a manifestation of neo-Nazi policy.”

● Archbishop Vazgen Mirzakhanyan prayed alongside Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan during his visit to Estonia, blessing his programs and praising his pro-EU and peace-oriented agenda. The archbishop’s remarks caused a backlash on social media, as Pashinyan is in open confrontation with Armenian Catholicos Garegin II. The Armenian Apostolic Church responded, stating: “Some of the thoughts and judgments expressed by the head of the diocese are highly subjective, personal, and do not reflect the Church’s position. When there is no official Church stance, its representatives must act with caution to avoid misinterpretations.”

● Activist Artur Chakhoyan claimed that after his live broadcast criticizing poor renovation work at a kindergarten in Yerevan, the head of the city’s Nor Nork district, Tigran Ter-Markaryan, called and insulted the participants of the stream. Yerevan’s mayor later responded, accusing Chakhoyan of misinformation, saying: “The municipality has not yet accepted the work, and you’re already reporting problems.”

● Karabakh Armenians dismantled their protest tent on Freedom Square in Yerevan after authorities agreed to extend financial support for displaced persons from Karabakh. Other demands were also acknowledged, including aspects of the housing program, which will be discussed further in cabinet meetings, according to Nzhdeh Iskandaryan of the Union for the Protection of the Rights of the People of Artsakh.

● South Caucasus countries are mobilized and motivated for long-term peace, said Georgian President Mikheil Kavelashvili to reporters following his visit to Yerevan.

● The “Hay Dat” office of the opposition “Dashnaktsutyun” movement appealed to the OSCE to pressure Azerbaijan and President Ilham Aliyev to release 23 Armenian detainees, including former leaders of Nagorno-Karabakh. The movement launched an online petition that has already gathered over 6,000 signatures.

● Armenian youth marked International Dance Day with a flash mob of national dances on the main squares of Yerevan.

● On the morning of April 29, police conducted searches in the apartments of several well-known activists in Tbilisi. Officers entered the homes of TV host Nanuka Zhorzholiani, the founder of a foundation that aids the poor and injured, and Mariam Badzhelidze, a former member of the protest group “Sirtskhvilia” (“Shame”). Searches are reportedly being carried out at the residences of other foundation founders who raised funds for people fined or harmed during the ongoing pro-European protests. A search also took place at the home of Aleko Tsikitishvili, director of the Human Rights Center. His personal belongings, including his phone, were confiscated, and his apartment was sealed.

● A court in Batumi has once again upheld the detention of Mzia Amaghlobeli, founder of the popular outlets Batumelebi and Netgazeti. “We believe the real risk of a new offense has increased, so Mzia Amaghlobeli’s pre-trial detention must remain in effect,” said Judge Nino Ismashvili. The “offense” for which Amaghlobeli faces up to seven years in prison is slapping the head of the Batumi police after he insulted her during a protest.

● Starting May 1, one of Georgia’s most prominent independent TV channels, Mtavari Arkhi, will cease broadcasting. On April 28, channel staff received a notice from General Director Giorgi Gabunia. The channel’s founder and one of the leaders of the “Coalition for Change,” Nika Gvaramia, announced that “a new TV channel will be launched.” “There is no other option. The main thing is that the country doesn’t shut down—otherwise, there’s no point in any channels existing,” Gvaramia wrote on social media. Read more here

● Globalnews.ge asked the US Department of State about its recent meeting with Georgian Dream’s Deputy Prime Minister Levan Davitashvili: “This was the first meeting with Georgian authorities under the current US administration. What issues were discussed, and what was the State Department’s position?” The State Department responded: “We do not comment on closed diplomatic discussions. The United States has clearly communicated the steps the Georgian government can take to demonstrate the seriousness of its intentions to improve relations with the United States.”

● Italian lawmakers met with Georgia’s 5th president, Salome Zourabichvili. MP Lia Quartapelle shared footage from the meeting on X. “We support the leadership and courage of Salome Zourabichvili, as well as the bravery of the protesters who have been peacefully demonstrating for 150 days for Georgia’s European future,” Quartapelle wrote.

● Mamuka Mdinaradze, leader of the Georgian Dream parliamentary faction, announced that a new chairman will be elected and the party’s political council will be renewed at an upcoming congress. The current chairman, former prime minister Irakli Garibashvili, has announced his departure from politics. Read more here

● The Court of Appeals upheld the five-year prison sentence for activist Giorgi Okmelashvili, who was arrested during the May 13, 2024 protest against the “foreign agents” law. According to the charges, Okmelashvili used physical force against Ministry of Internal Affairs officers during the protest outside the parliament building.

● Oligarch Bidzina Ivanishvili is no longer listed among Bloomberg’s billionaires. The reason for this is currently unknown. As of March 31, 2025, Bloomberg estimated Ivanishvili’s net worth at $7.45 billion, placing him 421st in the ranking.

Police have just entered the homes of several well-known activists in #Tbilisi. A search is underway at the residence of Nanuka Zhorzholiani, founder of the fund supporting the poor and injured, as well as at the apartment of Mariam Badzhelidze, a former member of the protest… pic.twitter.com/fdoawZSh55

— JAMnews (@JAMnewsCaucasus) April 29, 2025

● “Iran is accelerating construction of a corridor linking Azerbaijan to its Nakhchivan exclave to help normalize relations between Yerevan and Baku,” Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said during his visit to Baku. He expressed optimism that issues between Armenia and Azerbaijan will be resolved through political and trade normalization that respects both sides’ rights.

● Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan is on an official visit to Estonia. At a joint press conference with Estonian PM Kristen Michal, he was asked how his decision to initiate EU accession aligns with his plans to attend the May 9 parade in Moscow. Pashinyan responded: “Our approach is this: we aim to deepen relations in all necessary directions. Armenia–EU relations are just that. Of course, there may be tensions between our different foreign policy directions. But we are committed to maximum transparency and honesty with all our partners so that there are no hidden corners in our policymaking.”

●  During his Estonia visit, Pashinyan also visited the Memorial to the Victims of Communism.

● “Any instability in the region will create major risks for Armenia, as Azerbaijan may be tempted to seize the border city of Syunik and part of Lake Sevan by force,” former president Robert Kocharyan warned during a talk at the Armenian University. He was referring to the so-called “Zangezur corridor,” a proposed road to connect mainland Azerbaijan to Nakhchivan via Armenia. Yerevan insists it must retain control of the road within its territory, while Baku demands it be extraterritorial. Kocharyan also criticized Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s handling of relations with Russia, saying: “They pulled the chair out from under Russia as a mediator, but Russia is not a country you can treat that way.”

● Georgian President Mikheil Kavelashvili arrived in Yerevan, where he was welcomed at the airport by Deputy Prime Minister Tigran Khachatryan. Meetings are scheduled with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and President Vahagn Khachaturyan.

●  Armenia’s first domestically-produced satellite, Hayasat-1, has ended its mission earlier than planned but managed to transmit valuable data, according to the Bazoomq Space Research Lab. The satellite was launched in December 2023 with a planned five-year lifespan, but due to atmospheric drag, Hayasat-1 and other satellites in orbit around Earth began descending prematurely. Increased solar activity in recent years has heated the atmosphere and intensified drag. On April 26, Hayasat-1 crossed the Kármán line for the last time, marking the end of its mission.

● A project to restore the mosaic of the ancient Garni Temple bathhouse has begun, with Armenian authorities collaborating with leading restoration experts from Italy (pictured below).

● Due to protests by Azerbaijani students and efforts by the Azerbaijani embassy, the University of California, Berkeley canceled a planned screening of the film My Sweet Land, which focuses on Karabakh. The film’s author, US-based journalist Goar Veziryan, announced the cancellation on her Facebook page.

● Another attack on emergency medical workers occurred in Armenia. The incident took place in Ashtarak, where a knife-wielding man assaulted a medical team responding to a call. The ambulance driver was injured, according to Health Minister Anahit Avanesyan. She noted that Parliament is already discussing legal measures to address violence against medical personnel.

● Residents of the villages of Kasakh and Proshyan continue to protest and demand the reinstatement of bus services connecting their communities to Yerevan. They met with Deputy Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure Armen Simonyan, but told reporters afterward they have “little hope the issue will be resolved.”

● During his visit to Baku on April 28, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian took part in the Azerbaijan-Iran Business Forum. There, he stated: “Iran is ready to cooperate with Azerbaijan in all areas for the peace, security, and prosperity of the region. Our countries can become a crossroads connecting East and West, North and South.” More on his visit here.

● In Baku, the trial of a group of former leaders of the unrecognized Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR) continued (pictured below). They are accused of war crimes, terrorism, attempts to overthrow the government, and other serious offenses. The pro-government agency AZERTAC reported that the April 28 session focused on the occupation of the city of Shusha during the First Karabakh War. Video footage was shown featuring Armenian generals naming those involved in the operation to seize the city. It was claimed that the plan was directly approved by Vazgen Sargsyan, then Armenia’s defense minister. The report also alleged that former Armenian presidents Robert Kocharyan and Serzh Sargsyan were directly involved in planning and executing the Shusha operation. The next court session is scheduled for May 1.

● The Ministry of Defense reported another incident of Azerbaijani positions coming under fire from Armenia, naming the Chambarak district in the statement.

● China’s new ambassador, Lu Mei, stated at a briefing that “Beijing has major business plans in Azerbaijan.” She highlighted the growing volume of freight train shipments from China to Europe via Azerbaijan and new agreements to expand the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route. Another important area of cooperation, she said, is green energy. The ambassador also announced China’s intent to invest in Azerbaijan’s approved plan to build 10 new metro stations in Baku by 2030.

● Jailed journalist Aytaj Tapdig of the popular outlet MeydanTV is protesting the prison administration’s refusal to allow her to complete the necessary procedures to get married. “As if it wasn’t enough to arrest me on false charges — now they won’t let me get married either,” she said. Her fiancé is animal rights activist Kamran Mammadli, who made headlines after staging a protest in November against the killing of stray dogs outside the venue of the COP29 climate forum. Since then, he has been banned from leaving the country — authorities informed him of the travel ban at the airport. Since December 6, six MeydanTV staff members have been in custody. Ulvi Tahirov, deputy director of the Baku School of Journalism, and three other journalists have also been arrested in the same case. All are charged with smuggling in collusion. The journalists deny the accusations and say they are being punished for their professional work. Read more here

● Prime Minister from “Georgian Dream” Irakli Kobakhidze said: “For years, we had to live under a forced cohabitation and coordination regime with others. To some extent, this regime still exists, but today Georgia is more independent and sovereign than ever before. This is one of the main achievements of our country since 2012 (when ‘Georgian Dream’ came to power – JAMnews). Before that, the country had completely lost its sovereignty. For nine years, Georgia was governed by foreign agents (referring to the period of Mikheil Saakashvili’s presidency – JAMnews).”

● “I do not think Bidzina Ivanishvili (oligarch, founder of ‘Georgian Dream,’ considered the shadow ruler of Georgia – JAMnews) has any desire to resign or completely step aside, as some experts suggest,” said Victor Kipiani, head of the Geocase analytical center and former close associate of Ivanishvili. Kipiani previously represented Ivanishvili’s interests in the lawsuit against Swiss bank Credit Suisse, which Ivanishvili eventually won. “In reality, the recent noise about the resignation of ‘Georgian Dream’ chairman Irakli Garibashvili (a close associate of Ivanishvili – JAMnews) probably doesn’t matter much. It seems ‘Georgian Dream’ is tired of playing the Western game; it has become uncomfortable for them,” Kipiani said.

● The senior hierarch of the Georgian Orthodox Church, Archbishop Iakob of Bodbe, dedicated his Sunday sermon to criticizing the pro-European protests that have been ongoing in Georgia since November 28 of last year, when “Georgian Dream” announced it was suspending Georgia’s EU integration process. He called the protests “meaningless” and described the demonstrators as “passionate and foolish, speaking with the mouths of foreigners.” “If the demonstrators had truly been attacked during a peaceful rally, I would have intervened and defended them, but I have seen no such thing. They say nothing except two things: ‘new elections and the release of prisoners of conscience, political prisoners.’ But what led to their imprisonment? Would they be in jail if they had not started fights? We must think about preventing anything from happening inside Georgia. Foreigners will not be able to help you. We will intervene, we will not threaten you, but you will not be able to do whatever you want,” the archbishop said. He also referred to the “MEGOBARI Act” being discussed in the United States — which envisions tough sanctions against high-ranking “Georgian Dream” officials for obstructing democracy and using violence against pro-European protesters — as “an attack on Georgia’s freedom.”

● Former “Georgian Dream” MP Kakhaber Kakhishvili has called for filing international lawsuits to challenge the sanctions imposed by Western countries on high-ranking officials, including security service members. The sanctions were introduced for harming the development of democracy in Georgia, participating in the adoption of repressive laws, and using violence against participants of massive pro-European protests. “We must consolidate those who have been unjustly sanctioned. Prepare solid lawsuits with good lawyers. First, go through national courts, then definitely appeal to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg. Otherwise, this will continue. They (Western countries, the EU) are trying to stir up unrest within the country. They want families of those under sanctions to start condemning them and urging them to leave the party. This must not be allowed.”

● TV host Nanuka Zhorzholiani has drawn attention to the fact that pro-European protest activists Omar Okribelashvili and Saba Meparishvili, who signed plea deals, were not included in the Easter pardon list, despite their cases.

Today marks five months of continuous pro-European protests in Georgia. Photo by the Georgian editorial team of Radio Free Europe from the protest in front of the parliament on April 27:

● “Iran and Azerbaijan are discussing the implementation of transport projects for the repair and restoration of land roads. Thanks to these projects, Azerbaijan could play a unifying role in cargo transportation between Iran and Russia,” said Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian in an interview with AzTV ahead of his visit to Azerbaijan, which begins today.

● Masoud Pezeshkian: “We have always defended the rights of Azerbaijan and defended Armenia within the framework of its rights. We strive for both countries to live in peace based on the principles of good neighborliness and to support each other. Today, our assistance includes taking the initiative to establish a land connection between mainland Azerbaijan and its Nakhchivan autonomy. The project is moving very quickly.”

● Masoud Pezeshkian: “I am very pleased to be visiting Azerbaijan. We do not consider it a foreign country and do not feel like strangers there. I hope this will be reflected in my meeting with President Ilham Aliyev. In the past, we shared a common history, but today we are separated by a border. Yet we have always shared both sorrow and joy with each other, and this will continue.”

● The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and President Ilham Aliyev sent letters of condolence to Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian following the deaths of at least 40 people in a powerful explosion at the Shahid Rajaee Port in the city of Bandar Abbas. Over 600 people were reportedly injured.

● “The European Union provides and will continue to provide support for achieving a sustainable peace agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia,” said the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission, Kaja Kallas, at a press conference following her visit to Baku on April 25. Azerbaijan’s Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov noted that this was the first visit at the level of the EU High Representative to Azerbaijan in the past nine years and called it “an important opportunity to develop cooperation between Azerbaijan and the EU.”

● The Ministry of Foreign Affairs welcomed the decision of the International Court of Justice in The Hague, which rejected a number of Armenia’s claims regarding the treatment of Ruben Vardanyan, the former state minister of the unrecognized Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, and 15 other ethnic Armenians held in Baku. “After reviewing Azerbaijan’s response and evidence regarding the application of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, the Court decided not to request additional information or demand an independent investigation or expert opinion regarding the detainees’ conditions. This once again demonstrates that Armenia’s baseless claims aimed at disrupting judicial proceedings and diverting attention from the separatist regime’s criminal actions will not succeed,” the ministry said.

● On the 27th day of his hunger strike in prison, prominent opposition figure Tofig Yagublu, a member of the National Council and the Musavat Party, has been transferred to a hospital, according to his daughter Nigar Hazi. The family-appointed doctor, Adil Geybulla, reported that Yagublu continues to lose weight due to the hunger strike, suffers from general weakness and sleep disturbances, but remains conscious. Yagublu was sentenced to nine years in prison on fraud charges, which he claims are fabricated. He says he is a victim of political persecution and is on hunger strike in protest. Leading international human rights organizations have recognized him as a political prisoner and are demanding his release.

● The Norwegian Helsinki Committee has called on the Azerbaijani government to immediately release Tofig Yagublu, citing his serious health problems, age, and decades of peaceful activism. “Each day of hunger strike brings him closer to irreversible health damage — his life is in danger,” the committee said. German MP and Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe member Frank Schwabe also demanded Yagublu’s release.

● Journalist Avaz Zeynalli, who has been diagnosed with cancer, has been released from prison early. Zeynalli had been in prison since September 9, 2022, accused of accepting a large bribe and fraud. He denies the charges, stating that he is being persecuted for his critical publications about the authorities.

● Ali Zeynal, an employee of the Institute for Democratic Initiatives detained in the “Toplum TV case,” has been placed in solitary confinement, his relatives reported. They believe this punishment was imposed because he demanded the replacement of the prosecutor during a court hearing on April 24. Zeynal stated that prosecutor Rauf Malishov openly sides with the prosecution and mistreats journalists in the cases against Toplum TV and Abzas Media.

● Akif Gurbanov, head of the Institute for Democratic Initiatives and speaker of the “Third Republic” platform, who is also detained in the “Toplum TV case,” has been deprived of his right to phone calls, his relatives reported. They believe the restriction was imposed after he and other defendants demanded at the April 24 hearing that President Ilham Aliyev be summoned as a witness. The “Toplum TV case” began with arrests on March 6, 2023, and a total of nine people are implicated. They have all been charged with smuggling and other serious crimes, which they categorically deny, stating that the arrests are politically motivated and intended to silence independent media.

Photo by JAMnews: Pedestrian-friendly infrastructure is actively developing in Baku. More areas of the city are receiving dedicated bus and bike lanes, with strict fines introduced for crossing these lines. Public spaces around metro stations are expanding, with cars and parking lots removed. In their place, new parks have been created:

● Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan is on an official visit to Estonia. Meetings are scheduled with the president, the prime minister, and the speaker of parliament. Pashinyan has already met with representatives of the Armenian community in Estonia.

● From now on, all stores in Armenia must display dairy products with and without substitutes on shelves of different colors: natural products on green shelves, and products with substitutes on orange shelves. Stores that violate this rule will face fines.

● The Foreign Ministry expressed “its deepest condolences to Iran, the friendly people of Iran, and the families and loved ones of the victims” following the deadly explosion at the port of Bandar Abbas.

● Armenian gymnasts won gold medals in the final of the sixth stage of the World Cup in Cairo. Hamlet Manukyan delivered a brilliant performance on the pommel horse, scoring 14.800 points and winning three out of the six stages. Artur Avetisyan dominated the rings event.

● 1,000 dancers performed Armenian national dances on the Cascade to mark International Dance Day. While many praised the organizers and celebrated the event, some raised concerns on social media about safety — questioning whether synchronized movements by so many people in one place could cause cracks. No expert opinions have been provided on the matter.

National dances in the center of #Yerevan , #Armenia today, on International Dance Day pic.twitter.com/gHI5wDeWBI

— JAMnews (@JAMnewsCaucasus) April 27, 2025

Top stories in Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Georgia from 21-25 April, 2025