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Day: June 10, 2026
Briefing on Georgia’s foreign policy
Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili said members of the opposition alliance were acting against Georgia’s national interests and promoting narratives that damage the country’s international reputation. He argued that particularly troubling was what he described as a “detached from reality” attempt to portray Georgia as an ally of Russia and Iran in the region.
Papuashvili criticised recent statements made by opposition leaders Giga Tsereteli, Giga Bokeria and Zurab Japaridze during a special briefing. According to him, they are trying to convince the public that Georgia’s main priority should not be the defence of its own national interests but rather the promotion of American interests.
On 9 June 2026, Georgia’s opposition alliance held a briefing on the country’s foreign policy and current geopolitical developments. The alliance argued that Bidzina Ivanishvili, the honorary chairman of Georgian Dream, had made the wrong strategic choice by placing his bet on Russia, Iran and China.
The parliament speaker said Georgia is an independent and sovereign state, and that the country’s development path, choice of government and strategic decisions are determined solely by the Georgian people. According to him, neither political speculation nor external pressure can override that principle.
Papuashvili argued that political statements have increasingly moved beyond the bounds of democratic competition in recent months and have turned into a campaign against Georgia’s international image and national interests.
He focused in particular on claims linking Georgia to Russia and Iran. According to Papuashvili, Russia occupies 20% of Georgia’s territory and the two countries have no diplomatic relations, which, in his view, clearly reflects the nature of their relationship.
Speaking about Iran, the parliament speaker said that although Iran is an important regional state, political and economic ties between Tbilisi and Tehran remain significantly weaker than Iran’s relations with other countries in the region.
According to him, the purpose of such narratives is to create false perceptions about Georgia and damage the country’s international reputation.
Papuashvili also spoke about cooperation between Georgia and China and said some actors are trying to discredit that partnership. According to him, any international cooperation should be judged by the extent to which it serves Georgia’s national interests.
The parliament speaker described the pursuit of foreign powers’ interests as unacceptable. He argued that it does not matter which country is involved, because no state, including the United States, should benefit at the expense of Georgia’s interests.
At the end of the briefing, Papuashvili urged the public to critically assess any information that, in his view, contributes to attitudes that run counter to Georgia’s national interests. He said partnerships between countries should rest on shared national interests rather than on one state serving the interests of another.
БриBriefing on Georgia’s foreign policy
The international free speech organization “Index on Censorship,” based in the United Kingdom, has issued a statement regarding the death of ICT specialist Ilgar Aliyev in custody.
The organization said that Ilgar Aliyev’s death raises serious concerns and demanded a full investigation into all details surrounding the incident.
The statement noted that Ilgar Aliyev had been detained during the wave of arrests targeting independent media in Azerbaijan in 2023. The organization stressed that his death must not go unanswered and called for an independent and transparent investigation.
It was reported that Ilgar Aliyev died on May 1 at Correctional Facility No. 13.
Official statements cited acute cardiovascular failure as the cause of death. Pro-government media outlets also reported that he died due to health complications.
However, it had been reported that Ilgar Aliyev had not complained of any serious illness during his imprisonment.
Ilgar Aliyev was arrested in November 2023. He was initially charged with large-scale illegal drug trafficking, but the charges were later changed to possession of narcotics without intent to sell.
In January 2025, the Baku Court for Serious Crimes sentenced him to four years in prison. The sentence was later reduced to three years.
Ilgar Aliyev denied the charges and stated in court that he did not consider himself guilty.
Reports also claim that his rights were violated during detention, that he was subjected to physical abuse, and that he was pressured to confess to drug use.
In recent years, international organizations have repeatedly expressed concern over the arrests of media representatives and civil society activists in Azerbaijan.
Some journalists and staff associated with AbzasMedia, Toplum TV, Meydan TV, and Meclis.info have been arrested on various financial and smuggling charges.
Those individuals say the charges are politically motivated. Azerbaijani authorities, however, maintain that there is no persecution based on political views in the country and that the arrests are connected to specific legal violations.
The post “Index on Censorship” calls for an investigation into death of Azerbaijani ICT expert Ilgar Aliyev in custody appeared first on MEYDAN.TV.
The post “Index on Censorship” calls for an investigation into death of Azerbaijani ICT expert Ilgar Aliyev in custody appeared first on azeritimes.com.
How are the boundaries between what is permitted and what is prohibited shifting in Azerbaijan? Who is coming under pressure, and why? How is public space being transformed, and what are the consequences for society?
We examine key developments in social and political life through facts, expert opinions, and a range of perspectives.
Our video report focuses on the tightening of social media content regulation and its impact on freedom of expression.
The post “Protecting Morality”: How Azerbaijan is Tightening Control appeared first on MEYDAN.TV.
The post “Protecting Morality”: How Azerbaijan is Tightening Control appeared first on azeritimes.com.
Heavy rain that fell on May 17, the same day as the World Urban Forum (WUF13) being held in Baku, once again caused serious problems across the city. Roads in various parts of Baku were flooded, traffic movement was severely disrupted, and long traffic jams formed. Several residential buildings were flooded again, leaving residents and drivers in difficult conditions.
This scene is no longer new for Baku. Almost every year, torrential rains create similar problems in the capital. The last similar situation occurred during March and April of this year. Each time, the relevant authorities attribute the consequences to rainfall exceeding normal levels.
Consequences of the rain in Baku – Photo: Social Media
According to a statement released by the Ministry of Emergency Situations, efforts are underway to pump water out of flooded areas and carry out other safety measures in different parts of Baku, as well as in Sumgait and the Absheron district.
Screenshot
One of the most widely discussed aspects of the rain was that it coincided with the World Urban Forum (WUF13) taking place in Baku. Foreign guests attending the forum witnessed the situation firsthand. Videos shared on social media showed flooded streets and immobilized vehicles. Users criticized the relevant authorities for failing to solve the problem for years.
Consequences of the rain in Baku – Photo: Social Media
The torrential rain also created serious difficulties for students heading to the master’s entrance examination. Some students posted on social media saying they were unable to reach exam buildings on time due to weather conditions and road closures. According to them, traffic restrictions on several streets and avenues made it even harder to get to the exam centers. As a result, a number of students were unable to take the exam.
The State Examination Center issued a statement saying that, considering the weather conditions, accommodations were made to allow some delayed individuals to participate in the exam. However, some parents and students later wrote on social media that the official statement did not reflect all cases. According to them, late-arriving candidates were not allowed into some exam centers.
Following the complaints, the State Examination Center released an additional statement on May 18, announcing that students who were late or unable to participate due to the rain would be given another opportunity to take the master’s admission exam on June 14.
The post Heavy rain floods Baku during WUF13, disrupting traffic and exams appeared first on MEYDAN.TV.
The post Heavy rain floods Baku during WUF13, disrupting traffic and exams appeared first on azeritimes.com.
Journalist Nurlan Libre (Gahramanli), who is being held in custody in connection with the “Meydan TV case,” was beaten by prison officer Ismat Aliyev at the Baku Investigative Detention Center, where he is being detained.
This information was provided to Meydan TV by the journalist’s wife, Asli Alizade.
According to her, the incident occurred on May 2. However, because Nurlan Libre had been prohibited from making phone calls, she only learned about it on May 12.
According to his wife, a detention center employee provoked Nurlan Libre, which led to an argument between them. Officer Ismat Aliyev allegedly beat him, trapped his arms in the “accordion” (the small window located in the iron door of the cell), and then handcuffed his hands behind his back and twisted them upward. The journalist said that the handcuffs left marks on his arms.
Nurlan Libre was detained on February 20, 2025. On February 21, the Khatai District Court ordered his pretrial detention.
He and other journalists detained as part of the “Meydan TV case” have been charged under seven articles of the Criminal Code. The arrested journalists deny the accusations and believe they were imprisoned on political orders, with the aim of silencing independent media and free voices in the country.
It has not been possible to obtain additional comment on the matter, as the Penitentiary Service of the Ministry of Justice did not respond to Meydan TV’s inquiries.
The post Journalist Nurlan Libre says he was beaten in detention appeared first on MEYDAN.TV.
The post Journalist Nurlan Libre says he was beaten in detention appeared first on azeritimes.com.
The fast development of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies is increasingly accompanied by rising demand for natural resources. According to a recent international report, by 2030 global data centers—forming the backbone of AI infrastructure, could consume up to 945 terawatt-hours of electricity annually, AzerNEWS reports.