Month: June 2025

According to an analysis conducted by the Media Analysis Center (MTM) based on official figures from the State Customs Committee and the State Statistics Committee, Azerbaijan’s non-oil and gas exports in the first quarter of 2025. Despite this growth, the highest first-quarter figure for the past five years was still recorded in 2023, when non-oil and gas exports totaled…

Azerbaijan boosts non-oil exports, outpacing Georgia in domestic production share  AzerNews

Azerbaijan: Young economics journalist facing prison  DW

A Chinese company is exploring the implementation of a 200 MW offshore wind power project in Azerbaijan.

Chinese company plans 200 MW offshore wind project in Azerbaijan  AzerNews

June 2 marks 12 years since the passing of People’s Artist Togrul Narimanbayov, a true giant of 20th-century art whose creativity continues to inspire, Azernews reports.

Public Defender Levan Ioseliani said the recently enacted Georgian version of the U.S. Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) can’t be regarded as inherently undemocratic since it’s “American,” but promised to monitor the law’s implementation for possible abuse.

“The legislation itself is American and, therefore, in my opinion, talking about its undemocratic nature is excessive,” Ioseliani told Georgian Public Broadcaster on June 2. “However […] we will observe whether the implementation of this legislation in Georgia will cause restrictions or human rights issues for those subjects to whom this law applies.”

The public defender recalled the lack of strict enforcement of another foreign agents law, “Law on Transparency of Foreign Influence”, adopted last spring. He said that expectations over this legislation enforcement “were significantly exaggerated.”

The Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA), adopted by Georgian Dream’s one-party parliament this spring, took effect on May 31. The ambiguous legislation requires individuals qualified as “foreign principal’s agents” to register in the respective FARA registry. The law provides for criminal liability, including imprisonment and/or a fine, for noncompliance.

This is the third foreign agents law initiated by the Georgian Dream party in three years and the second to become law. It will remain in effect alongside last year’s “Law on Transparency of Foreign Influence,” which has yet to be strictly enforced. Critics are concerned that, since the Georgian FARA lacks the interpretive precedents of U.S. common law, it might be applied selectively against groups typically exempted in the American context, such as independent media outlets, watchdog groups, and individuals critical of the authorities.

Also Read:

• 31/05/2025 – Georgian Dream’s FARA Takes Effect 
  

The “Idea Incubation Program,” a joint initiative by ADA University Foundation and long-time partner “Azercell Telecom” LLC, has successfully concluded its second year, continuing to foster innovation and startup development among Azerbaijani youth, Azernews reports.