Georgians have once again come out to protest the foreign agents bill after the ruling Georgian Dream party reintroduced the draft law a year after aborting it. This week, we spoke with OC Media’s Mariam Nikuradze and Shota Kincha about the daily mass protests against the bill, the government’s reactions, and how the coming weeks might unfold. Read…

Chechnya’s Culture Ministry said earlier this month that the Russian republic would issue restrictions on music slower than 80 bpm and faster than 116 bpm. At the time, the ministry stated that the Chechen Head Ramzan Kadyrov had instructed them to introduce the restrictions, however, last week, Kadyrov said that the restrictions were meant to be ‘…

The ruling Georgian Dream party has reintroduced its controversial foreign agents law, a bill that the party was forced to abort after two nights of mass protests in the Georgian capital Tbilisi. The ruling party’s reintroduction of the bill was met with wide condemnation both domestically and internationally due to its similarity to legislation th…

Last week, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg toured the South Caucasus to visit the leaders of Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia. This week, we speak to political analyst and head of the Regional Center for Democracy Tigran Grigoryan about the significance of a new partnership agreement between Armenia and NATO, to independent researcher Shuja…

In early March, Azerbaijani police raided the offices of Toplum TV and arrested several of their journalists on charges of smuggling. The targeting of the independent outlet was the latest in Azerbaijan’s ongoing crackdown on media in the country. This week, we speak to Toplum TV journalist Alya Aghayeva about Azerbaijan’s crackdown on their outlet…

In recent weeks, senior Armenian officials have expressed an intent and interest in the country growing closer to Europe, and perhaps even joining the European Union, particularly in light of recent security concerns and a move away from Moscow. In this week’s episode, we speak to MEP Viola von Cramon about Armenia’s EU prospects, and to Babken Der…

Georgia’s minimum wage has been stuck at $8 a month since 1999, but in recent years, unions and civil society organisations have called on the government to raise the country’s minimum wage to match standards of decent living in Georgia. This week in the Caucasus Digest, we speak to Jeff Vize from Human Rights Watch about the background of the curr…

Last week, Armenia’s Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan warned that Azerbaijan might be preparing to launch a full-scale war. His warning came amidst peace negotiations between the two countries that have been ongoing since the end of the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War of 2020. This week, we speak to Crisis Group’s Olesya Vartanyan, to independent researc…

Last week, a bill on domestic violence passed its first hearing in Armenia’s parliament. The changes would classify virginity tests, a controversial practice meant to determine whether a person’s hymen is intact, as a form of domestic violence. This week, we speak to Ani Jilosian of the Women’s Support Centre about what these amendments could mean …

President Ilham Aliyev has prolonged his decades-long rule of Azerbaijan, securing a fifth term after winning the presidential elections this week — elections that were marred by the absence of any real opposition and blatant electoral fraud. On this week’s episode of the Caucasus Digest, we speak to Meydan TV editor Orkhan Mammad about the role of…

The eviction of the Khatiashvili family from their home in Tbilisi last week has led to outrage in Georgia and accusations that the government is taking an ‘inhumane’ approach towards debt and housing. This week, we hear from Marina Khatiashvili, who was evicted alongside her family, and we speak to OC Media journalist and co-director Mariam Nikura…

After over a decade of controversy over environmental, labour, and economic concerns, the Armenian government has finally greenlit the operation of the Amulsar gold mine in Jermuk. Since the project’s announcement, local communities in and around Jermuk have expressed concern about the mine’s potential impact on their lives and livelihoods, while e…

Georgia may finally have secured EU candidate status, but some in Georgia still question just how committed the ruling Georgian Dream party is to taking the country’s EU integration to the next stage. This week, we spoke to OC Media journalist and co-director Mariam Nikuradze about Georgian Dream’s apparent change of heart towards the EU and to the…

Georgia’s defence code is stamping out loopholes that young Georgians use to get out of military service, as rights activists in the country warn that new amendments to the code could lead to discrimination against religious minorities. This week, we spoke to a Georgian student about why he chose to evade conscription, to Ioseb Edisherashvili from …

Last week, Azerbaijani authorities raided the offices of AbzasMedia, an independent news outlet covering corruption in the country. They arrested four of its employees, including its director, Ulvi Hasanli, and editor-in-chief, Sevinj Vagifgizi, on charges of smuggling foreign currency into the country. They denied the charges and accused the gover…

The recent suicide of a queer Armenian teenager shook many in Armenia, with activists accusing the authorities of lacking the sensitivity or willingness to help queer victims of abuse or bullying. In the absence of any legislation to protect them, queer people in Armenia are frequently subjected to discrimination and violence in Armenia, including …

Georgia generates a staggering 85% of its electricity through hydropower plants; however, while further exploitation of Georgia’s hydropower potential sounds promising on paper, local activists and researchers say that a lack of feasibility and safety research before the construction of hydropower plants could pose significant risks. This week on t…

The Second Nagorno-Karabakh War has had a lasting impact on the South Caucasus, leading to a massive geopolitical shift. Azerbaijan emerged victorious, taking control of large swathes of territory in 2020, and eventually what remained of Nagorno-Karabakh in September 2023. Nagorno-Karabakh’s Armenian population was forced to flee the region into Ar…

The EU Commission is expected to deliver its recommendation on whether or not the European Union should now grant Georgia candidate status on 8 November. The decision to grant Georgia candidate status hinges on 12 priorities set out by the EU for the country to fulfil before its status could be reconsidered. While the Georgian Dream-led government …

The Kadyrov regime, installed by Moscow in Grozny after the fall of Ichkeria, a short-lived independent Chechen state that existed after the collapse of the Soviet Union, has led to a severe deterioration of human rights in Chechnya, as reports of police brutality, disappearances, torture, and the persecution of people formerly associated with Ichk…

In early October, Aitaj Shakhmarova, 14, was murdered by a man who kidnapped her and forced her into marriage as she was trying to flee his home. The crime shook Georgia, where child marriage rates are relatively high. This week, we spoke to Samira Bayramova, a human rights activist from Kvemo Kartli, about the murder and prevalence of early marria…

Georgia’s Parliament adopted on Thursday evening amendments to the law on protests that would ban the erection of temporary structures – tents and stages included. Critics of the amendments have argued that the new regulations would stifle freedom of assembly in the country and have already begun dubbing it the ‘new Russian law’ in reference to the…

More than half of Nagorno-Karabakh’s Armenian population have already sought refuge in Armenia less than a week after Stepanakert’s surrender to Azerbaijan. This week on the Caucasus Digest, OC Media’s Armenian staff writer Arshaluys Barseghyan talks about Armenia’s reception of Nagorno-Karabakh refugees and anti-government protests in Armenia. Lau…

On Tuesday, Azerbaijan launched a massive offensive against Nagorno-Karabakh. The aim was to ‘restore constitutional order’ and force the dissolution of the government in Stepanakert. Nagorno-Karabakh surrendered 24 hours later. This week on the Caucasus Digest, Thomas De Waal, a senior fellow at Carnegie Europe, talks about the short-lived fightin…

Since its conquest by Russia in the 19th century, the North Caucasus has been the scene of genocides, forced deportations, wars for independence, and insurgency. The dozens of nations indigenous to the region continue to be repressed socially and culturally by the Russian Federation. However, Russia’s brutal invasion of Ukraine has once again raise…

Georgia’s Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Youth has seen a lot of changes since Tea Tsulukiani’s appointment as minister, with Tsulukiani, a veteran member of the ruling Georgian Dream party, overseeing the ‘reorganisation’ of the ministry and its agencies. This week on the Caucasus Digest, we spoke to Lika Zakashvili, editor-in-chief of Publika, …

On 3 August, a fatal mudslide hit Shovi, a resort in the northwest of Georgia. At least 21 people were confirmed to have been killed as a result of the mudslide. This week on the Caucasus Digest, OC Media journalist and co-director Mariam Nikuradze talks about the mudslide and its aftermath. Aleko Sardanashvili, an activist and winemaker from Racha…

On 23 July, Azerbaijani police detained Gubad Ibadoghlu, a prominent critic of the Azerbaijani Government and chair of the Azerbaijan Democracy and Welfare Party. Ibadoghlu was detained while visiting Azerbaijan from his home in London, and was charged with making, acquiring, or selling counterfeit money. On this week’s episode, we spoke to Ibadogh…

Last week, a group of North Caucasian immigrants in Tbilisi gathered at the Centre for Contemporary Art to celebrate their culture and discuss the experience of North Caucasians in Georgia. On this week’s episode of the Caucasus Digest, we are joined by the organisers of the event: the founders of Ored Recordings, Bulat Khalilov and Timur Kodzoko, …

Nagorno-Karabakh has been under various degrees of blockade for over seven months now as Azerbaijan continues to prevent the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh from leaving or entering the region. Russian peacekeepers stationed there have been barred from accessing the region since mid-June, while the International Committee of the Red Cross was blocked…

This week, Tbilisi is celebrating Pride Week. But unlike most Prides, this one is being held behind closed doors. The fight for the right to be queer in public in Georgia is not new. This week, we spoke to Natia Ghvianishvili, one of a handful of activists who gathered on 17 May 2013 only to be attacked by thousands of people led by priests. We spo…

The village of Soyudlu in western Azerbaijan was locked down by the police in late June after its residents protested environmental damage caused by a goldmine. The police’s response to the protests provoked outrage in Azerbaijan, with many activists criticising for being disproportionate. This week, we spoke to Roya Malikzada a lawyer at Ecobill, …

OC Media staff writer Ani Avetisyan and Daniel Ioannisyan, the programmes director of the Union of Informed Citizens, talk about the latest cases of police brutality and violence in Armenia and the progress made to reform the police since the 2018 revolution. Read more: Backlash after Pashinyan appoints ‘childhood friend’ as Armenia’s Interior Mini…

‘Thousands’ of miners employed by Georgian Manganese in the mining town of Chiatura went on strike to protest working conditions in the mines. The miners demanded better pay, paid holiday and sick leaves, and the full resumption of production of mines after it had been put on hold for months. On this week’s episode, Robin Fabbro speaks to Mariam Ni…

Last week, seven protesters were detained outside the Georgian Parliament for holding signs and posters the police deemed ‘offensive’. Three of those detained are being charged with petty hooliganism and disobeying police, as civil society groups questioned the legality of their detention and warned of a worrying deterioration of the state of democ…

Armenia and Azerbaijan have recently been engaged in a series of frequent meetings between the country’s leaders and foreign ministers in an attempt to reach a peace agreement. Despite hopes that the two countries would sign new agreements in at least one of Moscow on 26 June or Chisinau on 1 June, neither meeting broke new ground. This week in the…

Elizaveta Chukahrova, an independent journalist from the North Caucasus, phones in to talk about the impact of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on the North Caucasus and how Russian authorities attempt to hide the number of dead. Read more: Coffins from Ukraine in the North Caucasus OC Media editor Yousef Bardouka talks about the commemoration of the C…

As Turkey holds a runoff presidential election after Recep Tayyip Erdogan failed to gather 50% of the vote, many inside and outside of Turkey are left wondering what the future might hold for them. This week on the Caucasus Digest, we spoke to Ahmad Alili, director of the Caucasus Policy Analysis Center, and Richard Giragosian, director of the Regi…

Azerbaijan has ranked 151st on this year’s World Press Freedom Index — the 29th worst in the world. On this week’s episode of the Caucasus Digest, OC Media speaks to Arzu Geybulla, a journalist and media expert, and Orkhan Mammad, an editor at Meydan TV, about how Baku’s policies serve to constrict media freedom in Azerbaijan or even force journali…

Tigran Grigoryan, a political analyst and head of the Regional Centre for Democracy and Security, joins Robin Fabbro to talk about the establishment of an Azerbaijani checkpoint at the start of the Lachin Corridor and what it might mean for the future of Nagorno-Karabakh. Lala Darchinova from the Imagine Centre for Conflict Transformation discusses…

Luiza Mchedlishvili talks about how Tumso Abdurakhmanov, a popular Chechen opposition blogger, reportedly his own death to fool Chechnya Head Ramzan Kadyrov. Read more: Chechen blogger claims he ‘staged own death’ to fool Kadyrov Mariam Nikuradze talks about this year’s leloburti game — a rugby-like sport played on Easter in the western Georgian co…

Mark Youngman, the executive director of Threatologist and a senior lecturer at the University of Portsmouth, sheds light on the latest insurgent attacks in Ingushetia and Chechnya. Read more: Three police officers killed in latest battle with gunmen in Ingushetia Ismi Aghayev talks about the latest clashes between on the Azerbaijan–Armenia border …

Mariam Nikuradze talks about the US sanctions against four senior Georgian judges for ‘undermining the rule of law’ in the country. She breaks down the judges’ ties to an alleged ‘clan’ in Georgia’s judicial system that is associated with the ruling Georgian Dream party. Read more: US sanctions senior Georgian judges for ‘undermining rule of law’ A…

Bahruz Samadov, a researcher at Charles University in Prague, talks about nationalism in Azerbaijan and the reactions to his opinion piece about the Azerbaijani regime’s exclusionary and militant nationalism. Read more: Opinion | Azerbaijan needs an alternative to nationalist militarism Mariam Nikuradze shares the latest on the sexual harassment ac…

Tigran Grigoryan, a political analyst and the head of the Regional Centre for Democracy and Security, phones in to talk about the growing tensions between Armenia and Azerbaijan as fears grow of a new war between the two countries. Read more: Week of ceasefire violations in Nagorno-Karabakh as tensions mount Tata Shoshiashvili talks about a newborn…

Nodar Rukhadze, the co-founder of the liberal activist Shame movement, discusses the participation of millennials and Gen Z in the foreign agent protests of 7–8 March in Tbilisi, and the future political prospects of Georgia’s youth. Read more: In pictures | Tear gas and water cannons: Georgia’s foreign agent protests In pictures | Georgians defeat…

Robin Fabbro and Mariam Nikuradze break down the 7–8 March protests against the Georgian foreign agent law, from the moments leading up to the massive demonstrations to Georgian Dream’s announcement to drop the controversial bill. Tens of thousands gathered outside parliament to protest the law but were dispersed by riot police equipped with tearga…

Chai Khana’s Executive Director, Lika Antadze, talks about her outlet’s decision to boycott the foreign agent bill in Georgia, and what the bill could mean for independent media and civil society organisations. Both Chai Khana, OC Media, and over 60 other media organisations signed a petition vowing to disobey the draft law if it is adopted by parl…

OC Media’s staff get together to discuss the impact of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on the South Caucasus. Mariam Nikuradze talks about how the war became a catalyst for the growing rift between Georgia and the west. Read more: Georgian Dream hits out at ‘spies’ and Western-funded ‘extremism’ Georgia’s (in)human rights strategy Russia’s top diploma…

Mariam Nikuradze discusses the foreign agent bill that is about to be submitted to parliament by the People’s Power — a group of MPs who formally left the ruling Georgian Dream party to ‘speak openly’ about a supposed Western conspiracy to drag Georgia into war with Russia. She talks about what the bill could mean for OC Media and other media and c…