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Day: July 17, 2026
Maria Zakharova on Georgia and OSCE
Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze‘s assessment of Western institutions required no further confirmation from Moscow, adding that the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly had long pursued a course of “aggression, aggressive rhetoric and destructive actions”.
Zakharova’s remarks came in response to a question at a news conference on whether the Russian Foreign Ministry shared Kobakhidze’s assessment. Kobakhidze had earlier accused the OSCE and European institutions of involvement in attempts to bring about a violent change of government in Georgia.
Maria Zakharova: “The Georgian prime minister’s remarks require no confirmation from us. We are talking about the leader of a sovereign state who knows and loves his country and represents its people.
Modern Georgia is a clear example of brazen, and at times unprecedented, external interference in the affairs of a state that possesses all the attributes of sovereignty
Tbilisi’s determination to pursue an independent and nationally oriented policy — meaning one focused on its own people, who are themselves multi-ethnic — is perceived by the ‘collective West’ as a direct challenge. To put it in plain Russian, it sticks in their throat.
This irritates Western representatives so much that they are prepared to use every lever at their disposal to remove the current government simply because it serves the interests of its own people, thinks about them, understands them and their history, and builds the country’s future on that basis, rather than serving those who have nothing to do with the Georgian people or their history.
The Georgian prime minister’s remarks apparently relate to the adoption of the Hague Declaration at the annual session of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly. The declaration includes a number of resolutions, including one concerning Georgia’s ‘undemocratic’ elections.
Such destructive activity by the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly comes as no surprise to us. The assembly long ago chose the path of aggression. A number of states use the OSCE platform to launch unrestrained criticism not only of Russia but also of other countries, including through the use of the ‘Moscow Mechanism’ — an outdated, pseudo-human-rights and non-consensual instrument.
Everything they allege against Georgia, including the accusations you have asked about, is false.”
OSCE resolution
On 8 July, the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly adopted a critical resolution on Georgia calling on the country’s authorities to release political prisoners, repeal legislation restricting civil liberties and uphold democratic standards.
The resolution, entitled Protecting Electoral Integrity and Fundamental Freedoms in Georgia, forms part of the Hague Declaration, the final document adopted at the assembly’s 33rd annual session, held in the Netherlands from 4 to 8 July.
Representatives of Georgia’s ruling Georgian Dream party attended the session but walked out in protest at the adoption of the resolution.
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Gold edges higher on COMEX
В Азербайджане расширены способы оплаты за природный газ.
#новости #mediaaz #Азербайджан #газ #оплата #коммуналка #тариф
Iran’s role in the transport and logistics architecture of the South Caucasus cannot be assessed solely through economic indicators or the length of railway routes. For Tehran, transport corridors have long been more than infrastructure projects. They are instruments of geopolitics, used to preserve regional influence, overcome international isolation and contain strategic competitors.
Slovakia considers Azerbaijan a key partner in gas supplies, Slovak President Peter Pellegrini said in an interview with AnewZ TV, Report informs.
Pellegrini said that after the start of the conflict in Eastern Europe between Russia and Ukraine and the ensuing energy crisis, Baku immediately offered Bratislava part of its capacity through various routes.
“It was Azerbaijan that immediately offered us part of the capacity, both through TurkStream and other routes via Bulgaria and Italy to Austria. We received gas from Azerbaijan, but now we are looking for a long-term solution, because there is an offer from Azerbaijan to supply gas to Central Europe,” he said.
Pellegrini said Slovakia views Azerbaijan as a key partner in diversifying its energy supplies.
“After 2027, the European Union would like to stop buying Russian gas. So we need to diversify, and we see Azerbaijan as one of the key players in this matter,” the Slovak president said.
He noted that equal partnership relations have developed between Baku and Bratislava.
“We are not trying to look at Azerbaijan as a buyer, as many others do, thinking: Azerbaijan is a rich country, let us try to sell something to them. In Slovakia, we prefer to treat each other as partners,” Pellegrini said.
He added that this means cooperation in various areas, including the defense industry.
“I have discussed with our defense minister a joint project to produce new military equipment that will be manufactured by companies from both countries and will then be able to enter new markets through Azerbaijan, bringing benefits to both sides,” Pellegrini said.
Earlier, it was stated that Slovakia intends to buy about 1.2 billion cubic meters of gas per year from Azerbaijan after 2027.