From January to August 2025, Azerbaijan produced 574,000 pairs of shoes, marking a 6.9% increase compared to the same period last year, Azernews reports the State Statistics Committee.
Month: September 2025
The opposition Lelo/Strong Georgia coalition, which is running in the October 4 local elections, has alleged “pressure, violence, threats, and bribery” after several of its candidates withdrew from local council and mayoral races in favor of the ruling Georgian Dream nominees.
Authorities launched an investigation into campaign-related violence and threats on September 29, after the opposition party Lelo released an audio recording that it says proves the pressure.
In the recording, Kara Orujev, the party’s majoritarian local council candidate in the Marneuli Municipality village of Kizilajlo, is heard speaking in Russian, saying, “They made me state” about the withdrawal. He names “big businessmen,” so-called “thieves-in-law” (criminal underground bosses), involved in his ultimate decision to step down. He also says he was told he “would be appointed” in new parliamentary elections, which he was told are to be scheduled for March. However, the exact year was not specified.
Commenting on the audio recording, Irakli Kupradze, secretary general of Lelo and the coalition’s mayoral candidate in Tbilisi, accused Georgian Dream, Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze, and the State Security Service (SSSG) of pressuring party members in the regions.
“He [Kara Orujev] names GD-linked businesses. He names the criminal underground – the ‘thieves-in-law’ with whom Georgian Dream is cooperating. He says he was pressured with the involvement of the SSSG and local police officers to withdraw his candidacy through specific threats and intimidation,” Kupradze said at a September 29 briefing.
Georgia’s October 4 elections are being partially boycotted, with part of the mainstream opposition refusing to participate, citing ongoing protests and state repression and arguing that taking part would legitimize Georgian Dream’s rule. Lelo/Strong Georgia, however, together with former Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia’s For Georgia party, chose to participate and joined forces by fielding joint candidates. The elections also take place amid a lack of credible local and international observation, continued repression, and jailings of several opposition party leaders.
Orujev’s withdrawal followed several similar cases of Lelo/Strong Georgia and For Georgia members in the regions pulling out of the race, leaving Georgian Dream uncontested. The earlier cases included the September 25 withdrawals of the coalition’s majoritarian local council (Sakrebulo) candidates in three other Marneuli Municipality villages – Kulari, Pirveli Kesalo, and Kizilajlo – an ethnically diverse area and a traditional ruling party stronghold. Earlier, on September 22, Asef Chiragov, Lelo’s mayoral candidate in Bolnisi, also in Kvemo Kartli, withdrew in favor of the GD.
Georgian Dream’s mayoral candidates are running unchallenged in nearly half of the municipalities nationwide, after the Lelo-For Georgia alliance failed to field candidates.
Also Read:
- 05/09/2025 – Police Detain 30 Over Links with ‘Thieves’ World’
- 26/08/2025 – Georgian Dream, Lelo/Gakharia’s Tbilisi Majoritarian Candidates for October 4 Local Vote
- 18/08/2025 – Pro-GD Media Claims UK Trains Georgian Activists in Lithuania Ahead of Elections
- 11/08/2025 – Georgian Dream Names 63 Mayoral Candidates for October Local Elections
I warmly congratulate @sandumaiamd & people of Moldova on the occasion of the results of parliamentary elections & strong dedication to advancing the European future of the country.
— Nikol Pashinyan (@NikolPashinyan) Sep 29, 2025
French minister for European affairs on Georgia
France’s minister for European affairs, Benjamin Haddad, told the Warsaw Security Forum that candidate countries must carry out reforms regardless of whether or not the EU’s enlargement process moves forward.
Benjamin Haddad:
“Reforms must continue no matter what. We cannot say that if we don’t see immediate progress, we will simply stop. Reforms are valuable in themselves and beneficial for a country, regardless of whether EU enlargement begins right away or not.
At a time when many in Europe may be weary of the European Union, it is enough to go to Ukraine, Moldova or Georgia and see young people attacked for waving European flags, as happened on the Maidan 11 years ago. Or to the Western Balkans, where countries are moving forward with European reforms.
The spirit of Europe is sometimes felt more strongly in candidate countries than in Brussels offices. I believe this is a source of encouragement and inspiration for us, reminding us that while some take a cynical view of the EU, there are people actually risking their lives to join it. That is why we must find ways to put pressure on Hungary and other countries that […] are undermining the process of European integration.”
French minister for European affairs on Georgia
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As of September 1, 2025, Azerbaijan’s banking sector demonstrated a striking trajectory of growth, underscoring both the resilience of the country’s financial system and the broader economic stability of the nation. The total assets of banks operating in Azerbaijan reached AZN 55.67 billion ($32.8 billion), marking an increase of AZN 6.1 billion ($3.6 billion), or 12.3%, compared to the same period last year.
This robust expansion is noteworthy not only for its scale but also for its balanced nature. While total bank assets climbed significantly, total liabilities rose in tandem, reaching…
This robust expansion is noteworthy not only for its scale but also for its balanced nature. While total bank assets climbed significantly, total liabilities rose in tandem, reaching…