Day: May 30, 2026

Azerbaijan received 38,414 tourists from Middle Eastern countries during the first three months of this year, marking a 13.9 percent decline compared to the same period last year, AzerNEWS reports.

1. Russia recalls envoy to Armenia over EU ties ahead of vote  Reuters
2. Russia Pulls Ambassador From Armenia After Putin Warns Against EU Alignment  The Moscow Times
3. Armenian PM rejects Russia’s demand for EU referendum as relations nosedive  Al Jazeera
4. Putin threatens Armenia with “Ukrainian scenario” over its EU integration aims  Українська правда
5. Russia recalls Armenia ambassador over EU ties  DW.com
6. Pashinyan Rejects Referendum on Armenia’s EU vs Eurasian Union Future  Kyiv Post
7. As Armenia Looks West, Could Uzbekistan Move Closer to the EAEU?  The Times Of Central Asia
8. Russia pulls Armenia envoy over EU ties days before decisive elections  Euronews.com
9. Russia Recalls Ambassador From Armenia as Tensions Continue  Bloomberg.com

Russia has imposed temporary restrictions on the import of certain fruit and vegetable products from Armenia, citing identified phytosanitary violations, AzerNEWS reports.

The State Security Service of Georgia (SSSG) said it arrested a Georgian citizen, whom it identified as the “founder and head of one of the non-governmental organizations,” on allegations of spying for the intelligence services of two foreign countries. The agency did not disclose the individual’s identity or the countries it alleges were involved.

In a May 30 briefing, the First Deputy Head of the SSSG, Lasha Maghradze, said the suspect “had for years systematically carried out the collection and transmission of intelligence-related information to the special services of foreign countries, for the purpose of obtaining material benefit and pursuing the interests of a foreign state.”

“The detainee had highly organized, conspiratorial, systematic contacts with representatives of foreign intelligence services,” Maghradze said, adding, “The transfer of information was carried out both through face-to-face meetings and electronic means. In addition, meetings were periodically held outside the country for the purpose of maintaining secrecy and conducting instructions.”

The suspect “had created information platforms on the instructions and with the funding of foreign intelligence services to carry out related activities, and had also organized various events across the country,” the SSSG official added, stressing that the detainee “simultaneously cooperated” with the intelligence services of two countries, carrying out what he described as “parallel intelligence activities.”

The investigation is ongoing under Article 314 of the Criminal Code of Georgia, which concerns “espionage” and is punishable by eight to twelve years’ imprisonment.

The announcement follows several similar cases in recent weeks. On April 22, the SSSG said it arrested a Georgian man later identified as a resident of occupied Akhalgori, Tamaz Goloev, who, according to pro-government media and official allusions, allegedly spied for Russian intelligence. On May 5, the SSSG announced the arrest of an official, Giorgi Udzilauri, whom the agency said spied for “one of the European countries,” without naming it. Udzilauri had previously worked for Bidzina Ivanishvili’s Cartu Group.

Also Read:

• 25/04/2026 – Tskhinvali Condemns SSSG’s Arrest of Akhalgori Resident on Spying Charges
  

Georgia’s Iran Embrace Is Costing It Washington  Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty

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