As Azerbaijan and Armenia Reset Relations, Baku Looks to the Middle East The Armenian Mirror-Spectator
Month: October 2025
Georgian Shani lion cub
Since December last year, Georgia has been following the fate of lion cub Shani, who was “taken away” from judo champion Lasha Bekauri. The cub was very weak and had to be nursed back to health by veterinarians. For a long time, Shani lived — or rather, she lived, as the cub is female — in the office of the director of Tbilisi Zoo. But now that she has grown, keeping her there has become dangerous, and a special enclosure is being built at speed for Shani at the new zoo site.
“This is her place, not mine — I’m not the master of this office,” joked zoo director Zurab Gurielidze.
Over seven months, Shani has managed not only to chew up all the furniture, but also to bite the director himself.
“These are the last trousers I have left. Shani’s favourite pastime is playing with people’s legs,” Gurielidze said.
JAMnews journalist Nino Memanishvili filmed a video about Shani’s “office life.”
In December 2024, Olympic champion Lasha Bekauri posted a video on social media showing himself driving with a tiny lion cub sitting in the front seat.
The clip sparked outrage among some members of the public, with many pointing out that keeping wild animals as pets is both illegal and cruel.
The uproar forced the Olympic champion to hand the cub over to the zoo. At that time, Shani was still effectively a “baby”. The zoo did not yet have a suitable enclosure, and it was too dangerous to place her with the adult lions. That is why Shani ended up living in the director’s office.
In Copenhagen, met President of Montenegro @JakovMilatovic during the #EPC Summit. We discussed strengthening 🇦🇲-🇲🇪 ties in trade & tourism and advancing regional peace.
Looking forward to continued cooperation.— Nikol Pashinyan (@NikolPashinyan) Oct 2, 2025
German MP on crisis in Georgia
German Bundestag member Knut Abraham has given an interview to Formula on the current situation in Georgia. He said Germany is actively discussing how to respond to the crisis of democracy in the country.
Abraham stressed that this is not about persecuting the people, but about holding accountable those who threaten democracy. In his view, the Georgian Dream government is acting against the values that once united Georgia and Germany.
Knut Abraham: “We believed that Georgia and Germany were united by shared values and outlooks, and now the government stands against them. On the one hand, this is shocking, but on the other, it obliges us to act and to support Georgian democracy.
The situation is very troubling. It is completely unacceptable that there are political prisoners in a member state of the Council of Europe. The detention of opposition leaders is purely political. As for the so-called [municipal] elections on 4 October: a democratic process requires a political environment where competition exists. When you detain opposition party leaders, you destroy the possibility of holding fair and free elections.
Germany is actively discussing how to respond to the crisis of democracy in Georgia. We are considering what the next steps should be in order to hold individuals — not the people — accountable. We must target only those responsible for anti-democratic actions. They are legitimate targets. Ending visa-free travel with the EU would be a very risky step for the Georgian population.
As for the attacks on the German ambassador [by Georgian Dream], I would advise everyone to avoid such actions. But I was very pleased to see the response of ordinary people who joined the Georgia–Germany friendship march.”
The Heydar Aliyev Foundation’s initiatives to improve the quality of education extend beyond the capital to include Azerbaijan’s regions. In Samux district, the renovation of Aliuşağı village secondary school had become necessary, as the original building, constructed in 1953, had fallen into disrepair over the decades.
Ivanishvili will go after Putin goes
“Putin will leave sooner than we think, and once he does, Mr Ivanishvili will also go, despite having moved his money out of Russia. And the whole situation in Georgia will change,” said Frederick Starr, chairman of the Central Asia–Caucasus Institute, speaking before the US Senate Subcommittee on European and Regional Security Cooperation.
The discussion at the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee focused on the future of US strategy in the Black Sea region.
Frederick Starr: “First of all, I want to express my respect to the Georgian people for what they have achieved over the decades of independence. It has not been an easy path. Remember, Putin attacked them in 2008 and we did almost nothing. Our authority there was undermined by that neglect — just as it was in Ukraine, by our inaction after Putin robbed Ukraine in 2014.”
“But Putin is not a permanent figure. He lacks resources, he lacks people, he no longer has the exports he once did, and society is deeply divided — not because of the war, but because of the economic hardship now felt by everyone outside Russia’s two largest cities.
Putin will leave sooner than we think, and once he does, Mr Ivanishvili will also go, despite having moved his money out of Russia. And the whole situation in Georgia will change.”
US senator writes letter to Ulviyya Ali
US Senator Jeanne Shaheen, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, has sent a letter to journalist Ulviyya Guliyeva (also known as Ulviyya Ali), who was arrested in Azerbaijan in connection with the so-called “Meydan TV case.”
The senator wrote that supporting political prisoners in Azerbaijan, including Ulviyya Ali, remains her priority:
“I will raise my voice on your case wherever possible and work to secure your release.”
Journalist Ulviyya Ali (Guliyeva) was forcibly detained by officers of the Baku Main Police Department on the night of 7 May as part of the so-called “Meydan TV case.” A search was carried out at her home. On the same day, the Khatai District Court placed her under pre-trial detention for 1 month and 29 days.
On 6 December 2024, Meydan TV staff members Ramin Deko (Jabrailzade), Aynur Ganbarova (Elgunesh), Aysel Umudova, Aytaj Ahmadova (Tapdyg), Hayala Aghayeva and Natig Javadli were detained. They were charged under Article 206.3.2 of the Criminal Code (smuggling committed by a group with prior collusion), and the criminal proceedings against them became known as the “Meydan TV case.” Later, journalists Shamshad Agha, Nurlan Libre, Fatima Movlamli and Ahmed Mukhtar were also arrested under the same case.
In August this year, the charges against Ali were toughened and additional articles were brought against her.
Meydan TV says the arrests are linked to its critical reporting.
In her letter, Shaheen highlighted that she had read an interview with the journalist’s mother in The Washington Post and noted that Ulviyya Ali’s statement, made before her arrest, about staying true to journalistic ethics and her commitment to reporting the truth, had resonated with the international community.
The senator also recalled that Voice of America, where Ali previously worked, is going through a challenging period, and emphasised that she continues to work with colleagues to support the mission and its team of journalists.
“I am confident the day will come when I can welcome you to the US Senate to celebrate your freedom. Until then, stay strong and remember that your courage does not go unnoticed.”
US senator writes letter to Ulviyya Ali
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