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South Caucasus News

Armenia’s Top Investigator Cleared Of Torture Claims – Ազատություն Ռադիոկայան


Armenia’s Top Investigator Cleared Of Torture Claims  Ազատություն Ռադիոկայան

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South Caucasus News

Armenia’s Top Investigator Cleared Of Torture Claims – Ազատություն Ռադիոկայան


Armenia’s Top Investigator Cleared Of Torture Claims  Ազատություն Ռադիոկայան

Categories
South Caucasus News

Armenia’s Top Investigator Cleared Of Torture Claims – Ազատություն Ռադիոկայան


Armenia’s Top Investigator Cleared Of Torture Claims  Ազատություն Ռադիոկայան

Categories
South Caucasus News

Azerbaijan triples cigarette exports in first eight months of 2024


Azerbaijan has shown a record in the foreign exports of cigarettes in 2024.

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South Caucasus News

Bloomberg: Russia Hacked Entire Georgia Between 2017-2020


On October 21, an international news agency, Bloomberg, reported that Russia had hacked almost all of Georgian government agencies and major companies between 2017 and 2020.

According to Bloomberg, among those hacked were Georgia’s Foreign Ministry, Finance Ministry, National Bank, and major energy and telecommunications providers, including the pro-government Imedi TV and Maestro. Among the hacked entities, Bloomberg also mentions the Central Election Commission. Most of the agencies and companies mentioned in the Bloomberg news article declined to comment.

“Claims of Russian hacking in an attempt to influence electoral outcomes hit the mainstream after the country was accused of meddling in the U.S. election in 2016,” the Bloomberg report notes, adding, “The spying campaign that ran for years before the 2020 elections allowed Russia to eavesdrop on a nation it wants to control.”

Based on documents seen by Bloomberg and some European politicians, the report says the spying also gave Moscow the ability to tamper with Georgia’s key infrastructure, including power and communications networks, should it have chosen to do so if Tbilisi drifted in unwanted directions.

According to the publication, the Russian intelligence agency looked for vulnerabilities in critical infrastructure, such as in the network of the Batumi Oil Terminal, according to one document. By October 2019, several systems, including smart cameras, had been compromised, Bloomberg writes.

Bloomberg notes that Russia’s Chief Intelligence Office (GRU) also hacked Georgia’s Central Election Commission (CEC), “likely gaining access to some email accounts.” The CEC has not responded to Bloomberg.

One of the documents seen by Bloomberg also showed that hackers linked to Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB), carried out a months-long covert operation at Georgia’s Foreign Ministry “to spy on top officials’ emails and scoop up data held by Georgian embassies around the world.” According to Bloomberg: “From April 2020 to January 2021, according to a report of network logs, the hackers focused on pilfering data from seven Georgian officials, including a current deputy foreign minister and its ambassadors to the US and the EU.” The Ministry’s spokesperson told Bloomberg that the MFA cannot assess the situation until relevant expert evaluations.

According to some European government officials, whom Bloomberg does not identify, “Georgian authorities were informed by Western counterparts about some Russian hacking. But it’s unclear if they took any action.”

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South Caucasus News

Brussels airport sees all departing flights cancelled on October 22


Brussels South Charleroi Airport announced the cancellation of all departing flights on 22 October due to an ongoing action by the security sector. The strike has resulted in a shortage of staff necessary to ensure safe security operations at the airport,


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South Caucasus News

Azerbaijan sees increase in air travelers in 2023, led by Russia and Turkiye


The number of people who travelled to and from Azerbaijan by air transport has been reported, Azernews reports, citing the State Tourism Agency.

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South Caucasus News

Azerbaijani ambassador presents his credentials to president of Bangladesh


Azerbaijan’s newly appointed non-resident Ambassador to Bangladesh Elchin Huseynli presented on Monday his letter of credence to Mohammed Shahabuddin, President of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, Huseynli said on X, Report informs.


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South Caucasus News

Embassy: US supports Armenia in its efforts to secure country’s borders – NEWS.am


Embassy: US supports Armenia in its efforts to secure country’s borders  NEWS.am

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South Caucasus News

Over 32,000 participants registered for COP29 in Baku as global interest grows


According to current information, the number of participants who completed the relevant registration process for the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, which will be held in Baku from November 11 to 22 this year, has exceeded 32,000, Azernews reports citing the COP29 Azerbaijan Operating Company.