Day: March 6, 2026

President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has expressed his gratitude to Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama for the post on X, in which he supported Azerbaijan after the drone strike by Iran on Azerbaijan’s Nakhchivan.

The United States and Venezuela have agreed to re-establish diplomatic and consular relations, marking a significant step toward restoring ties after years of political tensions, AzerNEWS reports, citing foreign media.

Following Resolution No. 66 dated March 5, 2026, of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Azerbaijan, all cargo transport across the Azerbaijan–Iran border, including transit, had been temporarily suspended.

Visitor numbers from Central Asian countries to Azerbaijan have continued to rise overall, according to figures released by the State Tourism Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan and regional tourism data, AzerNEWS reports.

EU High Representative/Vice President Kaja Kallas and Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos said Georgia’s newly adopted legislation on foreign funding and political activity establishes a “system of state control over political activity in the country” and is part of the authorities’ “systematic” effort to restrict “democratic and civic space.”

The Georgian Dream-led disputed parliament has adopted in the final hearing a restrictive package on March 4 that imposes additional curbs on receiving foreign funding, criminalizes “external lobbying,” restricts political activities, imposes limits on businesses, and penalizes “systematic acts” directed “at establishing the perception” of the government’s illegitimacy.

“The adoption of the legislative package on foreign funding and political activity by the Georgian Parliament on 4 March is part of a systematic effort of the Georgian authorities to restrict the country’s democratic and civic space,” the two EU officials said in a March 6 joint statement.

“The new legislation establishes an extensive system of state control over political activity in the country. It introduces potential criminal liability for individuals or entities receiving support from foreign sources. Its vague provisions create profound legal uncertainty and major risks of arbitrary and selective enforcement,” the statement said.

Kallas and Kos said the adoption of the changes shows that Georgian authorities “further disregard their international human rights obligations,” their commitments under the EU-Georgia Association Agreement, and “move further away from the objective of EU membership enshrined in the Constitution of Georgia.”

The statement also referred to what it described as “the unjust detention of politicians, journalists and activists,” calling for their immediate release.

“Georgian authorities’ actions have consequences,” the statement warned, adding that “in response to Georgia’s deliberate and persisting violation of the commitments in key areas of democracy and fundamental rights under its visa-free regime,” the EU has suspended visa-free travel for Georgian holders of diplomatic, service, or official passports under the Visa Suspension Mechanism.

The officials recalled “the depth and substance of the cooperation” between the EU and Georgia, noting that the bloc, along with its member states, “have consistently shown their commitment to Georgia’s prosperity and stability, offering reliable support during critical moments, including through its monitoring mission EUMM [European Union Monitoring Mission in Georgia] since 2008.”

The statement also highlighted EU assistance during times of “economic crisis, providing financial support,” and noted that following “Russian restrictions affecting Georgian exports, the EU expanded trade opportunities for Georgian producers.”

It added that, unlike holders of diplomatic passports, Georgian citizens can still travel to the EU visa-free. “Young people from Georgia are welcomed in the EU through hundreds of scholarships,” the statement said.

Reaffirming that EU support for Georgia’s security, territorial integrity, and sovereignty within its internationally recognized borders is “unwavering,” the statement recalled that the bloc granted Georgia EU candidate status in 2023 and remains ready to support “the Georgian people on their European path.”

“The Georgian authorities put this longstanding partnership at very serious risk and are regrettably moving Georgia further away from the EU path, a goal enjoying the support of the vast majority of Georgian people,” the statement concluded.

“At this point in time, we note with deep regret that Georgia is a candidate country in name only.”

Also Read:

• 05/10/2025 – EU’s Kallas, Kos Comment on Georgia’s Local Vote, Speak of ‘Extensive Crackdown on Dissent’
• 25/07/2025 – EU Condemns GD’s ‘Disinformation and Baseless Accusations,’ Attacks on Ambassador