Day: May 14, 2025

As part of the “Great Return” program, the Azerbaijani government is expanding the scope of civilian travel to the country’s liberated territories, facilitating broader access for citizens to historically significant regions, Azernews reports.

“Azerbaijan is a state that has always tried to maintain its active role in the multilateral system. The activities within the framework of the Non-Aligned Movement, hosting COP29 and our current chairmanship are important steps taken in this direction. In the coming years, we will witness a number of important events to maintain this position,” said Deputy Foreign Minister Yalchin Rafiyev, Azernews reports.

The Committee on Foreign Interparliamentary Relations of Azerbaijan’s Milli Majlis held an expanded meeting Wednesday titled “Rise of the Global South and the West: Role of Azerbaijan, new opportunities for cooperation and development.”

Former Defense Minister under the United National Movement government, Irakli Okruashvili, has been sent to pre-trial detention after Tbilisi City Court Judge Nino Tarashvili granted the prosecutor’s request. This follows his non-compliance with paying bail after he refused to appear before the GD parliament’s temporary investigative commission.

Okruashvili, who served as Defense Minister from 2004 to 2006 under the United National Movement government, faces charges filed under Article 349 of the Criminal Code for “failure to comply with the request of the temporary investigative commission of the Parliament of Georgia.”

He was summoned to appear before the commission, chaired by Georgian Dream MP Tea Tsulukiani, on March 26 but he refused to attend. He later answered investigators’ questions before a magistrate judge at the Tbilisi City Court. He was granted bail of GEL 20,000 and was prohibited from leaving the country.

The same charges have also been brought and bail imposed against other opposition politicians, including Nika Melia, Nika Gvaramia, and Zurab Girchi Japaridze of the opposition Coalition for Change, as well as Mamuka Khazaradze and Badri Japaridze, leaders of the Strong Georgia coalition, and Unity–UNM members Givi Targamadze and Giorgi Vashadze.

The temporary investigative commission was created in the Georgian Dream parliament on February 5 to probe alleged crimes under the UNM government. On April 14, the commission’s mandate has been extended to cover not only 2003-2012, but also 2003 to the present day. It is part of the GD’s push to ban what it describes as the “collective UNM” – a term used to label major pro-Western opposition parties that passed the threshold in the 2024 elections. On May 13, the GD parliament passed the legislative package that further paves the way for banning opposition parties.

Also Read:

• 02/04/2025 – Opposition Politician Mamuka Khazaradze Ordered to Pay GEL 50,000 Bail
• 14/02/2025 – Tea Tsulukiani to Chair Parliamentary Commission Investigating UNM Government

The third Baku Contemporary Music Days Festival will be held from May 19 to 25, Azernews reports.

A new substation will be constructed in the city of Khankendi, Azernews reports, citing the “Azerishig” Open Joint Stock Company (OJSC).

In line with a decree by the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, extensive repair and reconstruction work is being carried out on a critical section of the Çovdar–Çaykənd road to improve transportation infrastructure and ensure safer, more convenient travel for citizens, Azernews reports, citing the State Agency of Azerbaijan Automobile Roads (AAYDA).