Day: November 18, 2025

Azerbaijan is staking its claim on the world’s digital map, not just as a participant but as a leading force. As Baku welcomed participants of the World Telecommunication Development Conference of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the capital reaffirmed its ambition to build an inclusive, secure and sustainable digital future.

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John E. Herbst, Senior Director of the Atlantic Council’s Eurasia Center, praised the growing strategic cooperation between Baku and Washington during the first Azerbaijan–United States Think Tank Forum held in Baku on November 18, Azernews reports.

Azerbaijan Film-Makers Union has announced a new project as part of its key initiatives: the “Create Your Own Film!” Short Film Laboratory, aimed at providing both theoretical knowledge and practical skills for aspiring and developing directors, screenwriters, and producers, Azernews reports.

The Azerbaijan Metrology Institute (AzMI), operating under the State Service for Antimonopoly and Consumer Market Control under the President of Azerbaijan, has achieved a major milestone in developing the country’s national time infrastructure, Azernews reports, citing the agency.

Azerbaijan’s Greco-Roman wrestlers begin their contests today at the 6th Islamic Solidarity Games in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Azernews reports.

New rules for Georgian emigrants

“The aim of the ruling Georgian Dream party is to ensure that emigrants no longer take part in elections, because they do not support the party,” says Nino Dolidze, former head of the Fair Elections organisation. She was responding to a statement by Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili, who announced that under new legislative amendments, Georgian citizens will be able to vote in parliamentary and municipal elections only while physically present in Georgia.

This means that polling stations will no longer be set up at Georgian embassies and consulates abroad. To cast their ballots, Georgian citizens living overseas will have to travel back to the country.

New Georgian government initiatives: abolishing several agencies and banning voting from abroad

Georgian citizens living abroad will only be able to vote if they return to the country

Nino Dolidze said: “This is a backward step, both legally and politically. In effect, Georgian Dream is excluding our citizens [living abroad] from the country’s political life, even though the state should be taking steps to integrate them, not push them away.

Georgian Dream is effectively punishing emigrants, because statistics show that the party has almost never won at polling stations abroad. In other words, emigrants do not support it. And this support was especially low in the last parliamentary elections in 2024 — just 13%.

As a result, in the next parliamentary elections, even if they are called early, emigrants will not be able to take part in the electoral process.”

Opinion: ‘How will Georgian Dream supporters accept their wives, mothers and sisters losing right to vote?’

Tamta Mikeladze, director of the Centre for Social Justice, on restrictions to the voting rights of Georgian citizens living abroad

New rules for Georgian emigrants

The continued growth reflects stable energy exports to Europe, strengthened economic ties, and enhanced cooperation across trade, investment, and strategic sectors.

Jonathan Askonas, Senior Advisor at the U.S. State Department, is visiting Georgia, the U.S. Embassy in Tbilisi reported on November 18.

“He is here for discussions about how Georgia can support the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP), a transportation route resulting from the August 8 peace summit between Armenia and Azerbaijan that was mediated by the United States,” the Embassy said.

“This morning, Dr. Askonas visited the Sadakhlo border crossing, which was constructed and largely equipped through U.S. support,” it added.

“He will also meet with representatives of Georgia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Government Administration, as well as representatives of international financial institutions.”

The visit comes amid strained relations between Washington and Tbilisi. Georgian Dream says it is in a mode of “strategic patience” with the Trump administration, which has remained largely silent toward Georgia’s ruling party. Georgian Dream insists it wants to restore the strategic partnership with the United States and claims Trump is in a battle with the “deep state,” with prospects for repairing ties hinging on the outcome of that fight.

More to follow…

Also Read:

• 06/11/2025 – U.S. Lawmakers Urge Secretary Rubio to Defend Former U.S.-Employed Personnel Amid GD Attacks
• 04/10/2025 – Georgian Ambassador Summoned to the U.S. State Department, PM Says “a Lie”
• 19/09/2025 – U.S. House Committee Approves GD Non-Recognition Amendment for Inclusion in State Dep. Bill
• 09/08/2025 – Georgia Reacts to U.S.-Brokered Armenia-Azerbaijan Peace Deal
• 15/05/2025 – Kobakhidze Describes Current US-Georgia Relations as “Active-Negative”