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Anger in Georgia after Ivanishvili vows to apologise to South Ossetians for 2008 War
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Anger in Georgia after Ivanishvili vows to apologise to South Ossetians for 2008 War

Georgian Dream founder Bidzina Ivanishvili has promised to ‘apologise’ to South Ossetians for the actions of the previous government during the 2008 August War, prompting anger and condemnation from relatives of soldiers killed during the war. Ivanishvili made his campaign promise during a meeting on Saturday with residents of Gori, a city located around 10 kilometres from South Ossetia. During the 2008 August War, Gori was repeatedly bombed by Russia, in addition to being occupied by Russi

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• • 5 min read
Ilgar Mammadov. Via social media.2024 Azerbaijan Parliamentary Elections

Azerbaijan’s opposition REAL party to elect new chair

Azerbaijan’s opposition Republican Alternative Party (REAL) has announced that it will elect a new chair by the end of the month, following the resignation of its chair Ilgar Mammadov for failing to secure a seat in the parliamentary elections. Mammadov resigned from his position on 11 September following the the Central Election Commission’s (CEC) decision to reject his appeal over electoral fraud in the 1 September snap parliamentary elections.  He had earlier vowed to resign from his posi

Liya Argba and David Gobechiya. Images via RFE/RL and a screengrab from Telegram.Abkhazia

Journalist and activist attacked by ‘masked men’ in Abkhazia

An independent journalist, David Gobechiya, and a member of an anti-government activist group, Liya Agrba, were attacked by a masked group outside Sukhumi (Sukhum) on Sunday, an incident opposition groups claim was politically motivated.  Gobechiya is the editor of Dnews and Abkhaz Portal, independent Abkhazian Telegram channels, while Agrba is a member of the Hara H-Pitsunda (‘Our Pitsunda’) movement, formed in 2022 to protest the transfer of a Soviet state dacha to Russia.  According to

Photo: Mariam Nikuradze/OC Media.Evolution Gaming

Swedish Embassy sparks outcry after praising Evolution Georgia’s ‘supportive workplace’

The Swedish Embassy in Georgia has praised the online gaming company Evolution Georgia against the backdrop of an ongoing strike at the company in demand of better working conditions. On Thursday, the embassy began a Facebook series highlighting Swedish companies operating in Georgia. The first company they showcased was Evolution Georgia. ‘Evolution prioritises a healthy and supportive workplace, fostering professional growth, and personal well-being. Employees have free access to an on-sit

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Armenia

Podcast | Brics and the South Caucasus

BRICS, an intergovernmental organisation named after its core members, Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, appears to be making inroads in the South Caucasus, with Azerbaijan applying for its membership, and Armenia accepting an invitation to participate in a BRICS summit in Russia, despite its deteriorating relations with Moscow. This week, we speak to Azerbaijani independent researcher Shujaat Ahmadzada about Azerbaijan’s prospects for joining the organisatio

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2008 August War

Anger in Georgia after Ivanishvili vows to apologise to South Ossetians for 2008 War

Georgian Dream founder Bidzina Ivanishvili has promised to ‘apologise’ to South Ossetians for the actions of the previous government during the 2008 August War, prompting anger and condemnation from relatives of soldiers killed during the war. Ivanishvili made his campaign promise during a meeting on Saturday with residents of Gori, a city located around 10 kilometres from South Ossetia. During the 2008 August War, Gori was repeatedly bombed by Russia, in addition to being occupied by Russi

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Opinion

Erdogan and Aliyev. Illustration: Tamar Shvelidze/OC Media
Azerbaijan–Israel Relations

Opinion | Azerbaijan’s cooling relations with Turkey

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by Bahruz Samadov

Bahruz Samadov submitted this article shortly before his arrest on 21 August. He was charged with treason on 23 August, and could face 12–20 years in prison or a life sentence if found guilty. Despite long being ‘brotherly’ nations, the Israel-Gaza war appears to have exacerbated existing tensions between Turkey and Azerbaijan, potentially pushing the two countries apart irrevocably.  In recent months, relations between Azerbaijan and Turkey have been uncharacteristically cool. To observers

Illustration: Tamar Shvelidze/OC Media
2024 Georgian Parliamentary Elections

Opinion | Georgia’s queerphobic laws are a clear step towards authoritarianism

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by Aia Beraia

Following in well-established authoritarian footsteps, Georgia’s introduction of anti-queer laws are set to have dire consequences for the country’s democracy.  In June 2024, Georgia’s ruling party introduced a package of anti-queer laws, passing the bill in its first of three parliamentary readings.  The package prohibits gay marriage, gender transition, and queer adoption, as well as ‘LGBT propaganda’, the latter an onerously vague term.   [Read more: Explainer | What’s in Georgia’s new

Illustration: Tamar Shvelidze/OC Media
China

Opinion | Georgia’s one-sided relationship with China comes with significant risks

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by Tinatin Khidasheli

The Georgian Government has increasingly moved to strengthen relations with China, hailing the economic potential of the partnership including high-profile infrastructure projects. But despite the optimism, the relationship has so far remained almost entirely one-sided, and in fact, opens the country up to substantial new risks. Georgia’s foreign strategic alignment has been profoundly influenced by its geopolitical location, historical context, and aspirations for closer integration with West