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Georgian Dream: Turns from the West, Invests in the EU
A new report by Transparency International Georgia reveals that leading figures of the ruling Georgian Dream party, including senior officials and their families, are increasingly investing in European Union (EU) countries by acquiring real estate, registering businesses, and securing EU citizenship for family members. The report identifies 18 individuals linked to the ruling party with…
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EU’s Latest Energy Sanctions on Russia: Impact or Illusion?
In response to the ongoing War in Donbas, the European Union (EU) implemented its 18th sanctions package in July, introducing further restrictions on Russian oil exports. The new measures include a revised price cap—15% below market value—and the blacklisting of 100 additional tankers. These steps aim to reduce revenues from Russian oil and disrupt the…
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Kyiv Passes Law Limiting Anti-Corruption Agencies’ Independence
On July 22, Ukraine’s parliament, the Verkhovna Rada, adopted a law reducing the independence of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO). The official justification is to strengthen national security by removing alleged Russian infiltration and to centralize control over anti-corruption bodies during wartime for more effective oversight. Passed with…
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Georgian Teen Jailed Over EU Protests as Prosecutor Vacations in Spain
A 19-year-old Georgian student, Saba Jikia, has been sentenced to four years and six months in prison for assaulting a police officer during protests in December 2024. The demonstrations were sparked by the ruling Georgian Dream party’s announcement that it was suspending efforts toward European Union integration. Jikia was convicted of kicking a Special Task…
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Dalai Lama Outlines Succession Plan, Rejects Chinese Plan
As he turns 90 on July 6, the 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, has outlined plans for the continuation of his spiritual office. In a mid-February memoir, A Voice for Those Who Have None, the Dalai Lama affirms that his successor will be born outside China, “in the free world,” and that the institution will…
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Russia-Azerbaijan: Tensions Rise Amid Criminal Probe
JAMnews reported that Baku has launched a criminal investigation against Russian security agencies following the deaths of two Azerbaijani citizens, Ziyaddin and Huseyn Safarov, during a police operation in Yekaterinburg, Russia on June 27. Azerbaijani officials allege that the brothers died due to torture inflicted by Russian law enforcement. Forensic reports indicated severe trauma, including…
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Armenian Legacy: Church vs. State
Armenian Catholicos Karekin II.In June 2025, Armenian authorities arrested Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan and several associates over an alleged coup plot linked to the Church-affiliated Holy Struggle movement. The incident marks a deepening confrontation between Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s government and the Armenian Apostolic Church, rooted in ideological, institutional, and geopolitical divergence. As Armenia reorients away from Russian influence…
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Armenian PM Offers Physical Proof to Refute Circumcision Allegation
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has stated he is willing to show his genitals to Catholicos Karekin II, head of the Armenian Apostolic Church, to refute a claim made by a priest regarding his circumcision. The statement came in response to a Facebook post by Father Zareh Ashuryan, who alleged that Pashinyan was circumcised, comparing…
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Georgia Demands Sensible Data from Civil Society Groups
The Anti-Corruption Bureau of Georgia has requested extensive documentation from seven civil society organisations, citing financial transparency and potential political activity. The latest court orders, directed at the Media Development Foundation (MDF) and the Social Justice Center (SJC), follow similar demands made to five other groups: the Civil Society Foundation, Safari, Transparency International — Georgia,…
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Armenia to Host Nvidia-Firebird AI Supercomputer
United States-based technology firm Nvidia and Artificial Intelligence (AI) cloud platform Firebird have announced a joint plan to establish a $500 million AI supercomputing center in Armenia. According to statements by Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and High-Tech Industry Minister Mkhitar Hayrapetyan, the project originated following a visit to Yerevan by Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang…