Day: September 18, 2023
Caviar Diplomacy
South Caucasus News #SouthCaucasus #News #SouthCaucasusNews: #CaviarDiplomacy #AZERBAIJANCONNECTION#Azerbaijan
AZERBAIJAN CONNECTION: Wined and dined, Arizona lawmakers pass resolutions putting themselves in the middle of international conflict | Arizona Capitol Times… pic.twitter.com/SkIN7rKBSN— Michael Novakhov (@mikenov) September 18, 2023
South Caucasus News #SouthCaucasus #News #SouthCaucasusNews:
#Azerbaijan
AZERBAIJAN CONNECTION: Wined and dined, Arizona lawmakers pass resolutions putting themselves in the middle of international conflict | Arizona Capitol Times https://azcapitoltimes.com/news/2015/06/19/azerbaijan-connection-wined-and-dined-arizona-lawmakers-pass-resolutions-putting-themselves-in-the-middle-of-international-conflict/…
But the resolutions don’t mention Azerbaijan’s objectionable record on human, political and religious rights, allegations of stolen elections, or accusations of buying the favor of European officials through what critics call “caviar diplomacy.”
US State Department Pledges Aid to Nagorno-Karabakh
We welcome today’s simultaneous shipment of humanitarian goods along the Lachin corridor and the Aghdam roadway into Nagorno-Karabakh, an approach President Aliyev and I recently discussed. These deliveries of critically needed supplies are an important step forward, and we encourage the sides to engage in direct talks and focus on ways to increase the flow of humanitarian supplies to the population of the region. The United States remains committed to supporting efforts between Armenia and Azerbaijan to resolve long-standing issues and achieve a dignified and durable peace.
Georgia accuses ex-official of plotting from Ukraine to oust Tbilisi government
Men wearing traditional clothes stand next to the Georgian flag during the Independence Day celebrations in Tbilisi, Georgia May 26, 2022. REUTERS/Irakli Gedenidze Acquire Licensing Rights
TBILISI, Sept 18 (Reuters) – Georgia on Monday accused a former deputy interior minister of plotting from Ukraine to overthrow the Tbilisi government, testing ties with Kyiv as Georgia deepens its relations with Russia.
The State Security Service said it had been monitoring a group led by Giorgi Lortkipanidze, who it alleged was working as deputy head of Ukrainian military intelligence and is a former member of a strongly pro-Western Georgian government.
“According to confirmed and verified information, the implementation of the plan – developed by Giorgi Lortkipanidze – would involve a rather large group of Georgian fighters in Ukraine and a part of Georgian youth,” the service said in a statement.
It did not provide evidence, and in Kyiv, foreign ministry spokesperson Oleg Nikolenko said Tbilisi was “trying to demonise Ukraine” for domestic reasons.
“The Ukrainian state did not interfere, does not interfere and does not plan to interfere in the internal affairs of Georgia,” he wrote on Facebook.
Andriy Yusov, spokesman for Ukrainian military intelligence, said it had never had a Giorgi Lortkipanidze as deputy head, though he declined to say whether it employed such a person.
The Georgian statement said the alleged plotters planned to channel frustration among young Georgians if the European Union failed to grant their country candidate status at an EU summit in mid-December.
Georgia says it is committed to joining the EU. But it was denied candidate status last year, with Brussels saying it must reduce political polarisation and improve state institutions. Since then, EU officials say it has, if anything, slid back.
Relations with Europe have also suffered since the beginning of the war in Ukraine as Tbilisi has avoided blaming Moscow, even though Georgia’s population is heavily pro-Ukraine.
Many Georgians resent Russia’s backing for the breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, and Georgians are well-represented among foreigners fighting for Ukraine.
Though Tbilisi has shipped humanitarian aid to Ukraine, it has declined to impose sanctions on Russia, and in May allowed direct flights to and from its vast neighbour for the first time since 2019.
The same month, Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili blamed the expansion of the western NATO alliance for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. In December, the chair of the ruling party suggested that Georgians fighting in Ukraine could lose their citizenship.
Kyiv has also criticised Georgia for imprisoning Mikheil Saakashvili, a pro-Western former president who acquired Ukrainian nationality.
The Georgian State Security Service named a former bodyguard to Saakashvili as one of the alleged conspirators, along with the commander of a Georgian unit fighting in Ukraine.
Reporting by Felix Light; Editing by Kevin Liffey
Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
We welcome today’s simultaneous shipment of humanitarian goods along the Lachin corridor and the Aghdam roadway into Nagorno-Karabakh, an approach President Aliyev and I recently discussed. These deliveries of critically needed supplies are an important step forward, and we encourage the sides to engage in direct talks and focus on ways to increase the flow of humanitarian supplies to the population of the region. The United States remains committed to supporting efforts between Armenia and Azerbaijan to resolve long-standing issues and achieve a dignified and durable peace.
5 Americans freed from Iran headed to US – ABC News
Azerbaijan
According to Aikhan Israfilov, he is held together with 21 arrested persons in a cell for ten people
Daily roundup of local media from three South Caucasus countries, opinions, photo, video
Political observer Haji Namazov called Maria Zakharova’s statement on Azerbaijan’s non-recognition of the elections “Russia’s pink dream”
Head of the mission Markus Ritter said that in the near future an operational office will also be opened in the Ararat region to monitor the territories bordering Nakhichevan
According to former Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov, it could be a short-term clash, or it could be a war
The situation in the part of Karabakh where the Russian peacekeeping contingent is temporarily located and on the border between Azerbaijan and Armenia remains tense.
A cultural worker with many years of experience says it is possible to restore culture in the regions, but it all depends on the economy
What the Armenian Prime Minister said on the air of Public TV about the aggravation of the situation on the borders, recognition of MK as part of Azerbaijan, conversation with Erdogan, as well as his wife’s trip to Kyiv
All details known about the exercises, clarifications from Armenia – in response to the outrage of the Russian authorities over their conduct, as well as comments from analysts
All that is known about the upcoming elections so far, as well as a commentary by a political scientist
The NGO representative believes that this is a blow to the platform of cooperation between the authorities and civil society
Daily roundup of local media from three South Caucasus countries
Fidan Aliyeva was among the participants of the protest action that lasted 138 days on the Lachin-Khankendi section of the road
Russia is discussing the critical statements made by the Armenian authorities and steps that are seen as a change in the country’s course towards the West. All details
The Lemkin Institute for the Prevention of Genocide has published an emergency report on the danger of ethnic cleansing in the unrecognized NKR. What the document says, as well as data on the situation – from the ground
Azay Kerimov: “If you give information [about mass graves] to the Azerbaijani side, you will make it much easier to punish Vagif”
Red Cross are not allowed to visit detainee Gubad Ibadoglu
Azerbaijani MP Erkin Gadirli analyzed France’s policy in the South Caucasus
The main points in Armenian Prime Minister Pashinyan’s interview with La Repubblica newspaper