Day: January 3, 2025

The price of a barrel of Azerbaijani Azeri Light oil rose by 1.78 US dollars, or 2.3%, reaching 78.78 US dollars on the world market, Azernews reports.

In a move that has sparked both concern and discussion among civil society organizations, Kazakhstan and Russia have announced an expansion of their cooperation aimed at managing non-governmental organization (NGO) activities. This development comes on the heels of a memorandum of understanding signed late last year between the justice ministries of both nations, setting the stage for what could be a significant shift in NGO operations within Kazakhstan.

The agreement, which is set to take effect from January 1, 2025, focuses on regulating the activities of NGOs, potentially aligning Kazakhstan’s policies more closely with Russia’s stringent control mechanisms over civil society. While the specifics of the bilateral cooperation remain somewhat opaque, discussions on the web and social media platforms indicate a worry among activists that this could mean adopting practices akin to Russia’s controversial ‘foreign agents’ law, which has been criticized for stifling dissent and limiting foreign funding for NGOs .

Kazakhstan’s Justice Ministry has been quick to clarify that national legislation will take precedence over the measures in the memo, hinting at a cautious approach to the implementation of this cooperation . However, the lack of detailed information about how this partnership will manifest has left many in the NGO sector apprehensive. Critics fear that this could lead to increased scrutiny, surveillance, and perhaps even harassment of NGOs, especially those dealing with sensitive issues like human rights, political transparency, and social advocacy.

On the other hand, some see this as an opportunity for a more structured and perhaps more effective regulation of the NGO sector, arguing that increased cooperation could lead to better governance and transparency if managed correctly.

This development is particularly noteworthy as Kazakhstan has traditionally allowed NGOs a degree of freedom compared to some of its post-Soviet neighbors, although with significant governmental oversight on sensitive issues. The implications of this enhanced cooperation could reshape the landscape for civil society in Kazakhstan, potentially aligning it closer to the more restrictive environment seen in Russia.

As this story unfolds, it will be critical to monitor how these new regulations affect the operational freedom of NGOs in Kazakhstan and whether this will lead to a broader trend of regional cooperation in managing civil society. Both local and international communities will be watching closely to see how these changes are implemented and their impact on the vibrancy and independence of civil society in Kazakhstan.

Credit investment in Azerbaijan’s financial sector has risen, Azernews reports citing the Central Bank of Azerbaijan (CBA).

Weimar Triangle: “The elections in Georgia did not meet the standards of an EU candidate country” https://t.co/8AUSITIXmL via @JAMnewsCaucasus

— Notes from Georgia/South Caucasus (Hälbig, Ralph) (@SouthCaucasus) January 3, 2025

A meeting was held between representatives of the State Committee for Work with Diaspora and diaspora activists in Austria at the Azerbaijan House in Salzburg, the cultural capital of Austria

Net foreign assets of Azerbaijani banks increased, while domestic assets decreased, Azernews reports citing the Central Bank of Azerbaijan (CBA).

The list of designated meeting places for pre-election campaigning in the municipal elections scheduled for January 29, 2025, has been announced, Azernews reports.

Moldova to ban Armenian airline’s operation in country?  Armenia News

From January to September 2024, the volume of money transfers from individuals in Azerbaijan to Uzbekistan totaled 3.881 million US dollars, Azernews reports.

Two police officers were injured in an explosion near a police station in Berlin, Azernews reports citing Spiegel.