The Caucasus Digest
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, and to Leyla Mustafayeva, who became the interim editor-in-chief of AbzasMedia in exile. AbzasMedia was the first outlet to be targeted by the authorities in November. Read more: Become a supporter at , or on .
info_outline Is Armenia going to join the European Union?The Caucasus Digest
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 DerGrigorian, a former official in the post-revolutionary government about Armenia’s ties with Rusia and its readiness to potentially apply for EU membership. Read more: Become a supporter at , or on .
info_outline Surviving on $8 a month: is Georgia on track for a real living wage?The Caucasus Digest
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 current minimum wage, and Raisa Liparteliani from the Georgian Trade Union Confederation, about a new draft law that could potentially institute a liveable minimum wage. Read more: Become a supporter at , or on .
info_outline Are Armenia and Azerbaijan heading towards war?The Caucasus Digest
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 researcher Shujaat Ahmadzada, and to writer and Carnegie Senior Fellow Thomas de Waal about the likelihood of a war breaking out between Armenia and Azerbaijan, and the current status of the peace talks. Read more: Become a supporter at , or...
info_outline Against shame culture: virginity tests and sex education in ArmeniaThe Caucasus Digest
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 and to Tereza Panchoyan, or Girlunmuted an Instagram blogger, about attitudes towards sex in Armenia and the importance of better sex education. Read more: Become a supporter at , or on .
info_outline The elections that had no one on the edge of their seatThe Caucasus Digest
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 media in covering the elections, to political analyst and PhD candidate Bahruz Samadov about the mainstream opposition’s boycott of the vote, and to Javid Agha, a journalist and social media researcher, about his previous . Read...
info_outline Georgians take on predatory lendingThe Caucasus Digest
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 Nikuradze about the protests surrounding the eviction, and to the Social Justice Centre’s Salome Shubladze about predatory lending and the government’s handling of the situation. Read more: Become a supporter at , or on .
info_outline The Amulsar mine returnsThe Caucasus Digest
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 environmental activists have warned about the catastrophic environmental effects the mines could have on the region. This week, we spoke to Knar Khudoyan, a journalist who has been closely following the protests surrounding the mine, to Anna...
info_outline What's next for Georgia on its path to Europe?The Caucasus Digest
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 Social Justice Centre’s director of the democracy and justice programme, Guram Imnadze, about the remaining reforms Georgia must undertake in its path to becoming a member of the bloc. Read more: Become a supporter at , or on .
info_outline Mandatory military service and ‘fictional’ priests in GeorgiaThe Caucasus Digest
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 the Georgian Young Lawyers Association about the controversy surrounding the defence code, and to Giorgi Shaishmelashvili, the Head of Research at Civic IDEA, about what the code was intended to achieve, and what it has done instead. Read...
info_outlineIn this week's episode of the Caucasus Digest, OC Media’s Editor in Chief, Robin Fabbro, talks to Ismi Aghayev about Azerbaijan's efforts to rehabilitate war veterans of the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War.
Ani Avetisyan talks about Armenia's skyrocketing inflation and its economic ties to Russia.
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And Mariam Nikuradze talks about the viral TikTok posted by an assistant nurse at a Tbilisi clinic condoning rape, and the mismanagement of PR in Georgia.
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