Day: January 12, 2026

China’s Ministry of Commerce announced that it has reached an agreement with the European Union (EU) on establishing rules for Chinese electric vehicle (EV) exporters to access the EU market, Azernews reports, citing foreign media.

“Over the past twenty years, several regional development programs have been adopted. Each program covered a five-year period, and the programs were successfully implemented,” President Ilham Aliyev said during his speech at the meeting dedicated to the 2026-2035 State Program on improving water supply, wastewater, and stormwater systems in the city of Baku and the Absheron Peninsula.

On January 12, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev presided over a meeting …

“The construction of two more large reservoirs in the liberated territories – the “Hakarichay” and “Bargushadchay” reservoirs – is planned, and preparatory work is already underway,” President Ilham Aliyev said during his speech at a meeting dedicated to the State Program for 2026-2035 on improving water supply, wastewater, and stormwater systems in the city of Baku and the Absheron Peninsula.

Georgia’s former Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili will serve five years in prison after the Prosecutor General’s Office announced a plea deal on January 12 in a serious money laundering case.

He was also fined GEL 1 million (about USD 270,000), while money seized from his home that authorities said was illegally obtained will be confiscated.

Garibashvili, who initially faced nine to twelve years in prison without a plea deal, was charged with serious money laundering in October. At the time, the court set bail at GEL 1 million (about USD 370,000) after the State Security Service said he admitted receiving illegal income. He was also barred from leaving Georgia as his passport was seized. The January 12 court hearing to apply the detention came a month ahead of the scheduled hearing.

Garibashvili, who served as Georgian prime minister twice, from 2013 to 2015 and again from 2021 to 2024, was one of the closest aides to Georgian Dream founder Bidzina Ivanishvili. Current Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze succeeded him in February 2024. Garibashvili, who then served as GD chairman, left the party and politics in April 2025.

The launch of a criminal investigation against Garibashvili came amid a series of prosecutions and an anti-corruption drive by Georgian Dream targeting former officials and business associates linked to the ruling party. Officials said to have seized over USD 7 million in cash and valuables from dozens of homes belonging to former officials, including Garibashvili.

On December 23, authorities arrested another former top official, Grigol Liluashvili, who served as State Security Service chief until April 2025. Accused of bribery, Liluashvili faces 11 to 15 years in prison.

Government critics, however, say the authorities are pretending to fight corruption, arguing that the arrests and prosecutions of former officials expose Georgian Dream’s alleged infighting, retribution, and power struggles.

Also Read:

• 29/12/2025 – MIA Says Ex-Prosecutor General Partskhaladze Organized High-Profile Contract Killing
• 22/10/2025 – SSSG: Former PM Irakli Garibashvili Admitted Receiving Illicit Income
• 23/07/2025 – Georgian Dream Resignation Streak: Who Left and Why
• 14/07/2025 – Georgian Dream’s Ex-Officials and Business Associates in Hot Water

In the first nine months of 2025, the assets of the State Oil Fund of Azerbaijan (SOFAZ) equity sub-portfolio rose to $18.119 billion, driven by reclassifications, net cash outflows, and positive investment returns. The portfolio’s performance indicators were largely aligned with the benchmark.