The Caucasus Digest

Your weekly view into the Caucasus region with the OC Media team.

Can OC Media survive in a new global reality? 03/19/2025

Can OC Media survive in a new global reality? The recent cuts to US foreign aid have affected media outlets across the Caucasus and the world — including OC Media. This week, OC Media editor-in-chief Robin Fabbro and co-directors Mariam Nikuradze and Dominik Cagara sit down to discuss how OC Media’s plans to survive and thrive in the new global reality through its membership programme and the support of its readers. Read more: Support independent journalism in the Caucasus and become an OC Media Member: . /episode/index/show/f59a01ea-d423-4704-9c1a-30fa207da38f/id/35775510

Mzia Amaghlobeli’s arrest 01/27/2025

Mzia Amaghlobeli’s arrest Mzia Amaghlobeli, the director of Georgian news sites Batumelebi and Netgazeti, has been arrested on charges of assaulting a police officer after slapping Batumi’s police chief during a heated exchange. Journalists, legal experts, and media watchdogs have criticised the arrest, saying that the charges, under which she could face four to seven years in prison, are wildly disproportionate to what she had done. This week, we spoke with Batumelebi’s Irma Dimitradze about the circumstances surrounding the arrest, to journalist Tamar Rukhadze, about the current media environment in Georgia, and to OC Media’s Mariam Nikuradze about the legal debate around her prosecution. Read more: Support independent journalism in the Caucasus and become an OC Media Member: . …or donate to the collective Georgian media . /episode/index/show/f59a01ea-d423-4704-9c1a-30fa207da38f/id/35029280

Ukraine’s recognition of the Circassian Genocide 01/20/2025

Ukraine’s recognition of the Circassian Genocide On 9 January, Ukraine’s Parliament has recognised the Russian Empire’s 19th century genocide of the Circassians, during which Russian forced killed or deported hundreds of thousands of Circassians from their homeland in the Caucasus. This week, OC Media’s Yousef Bardouka talks about the genocide and its impact on the Circassians and the Caucasus and the significance of the resolution, while Ukrainian MP Oleksiy Goncharenko, a co-author of the resolution, talks about how the bill came to be and Ukraine’s role in supporting the people of the North Caucasus. Read more: Support independent journalism in the Caucasus and become an OC Media Member: . …or donate to the collective Georgian media . /episode/index/show/f59a01ea-d423-4704-9c1a-30fa207da38f/id/34921055

Georgia marks holiday season with daily protests 12/25/2024

Georgia marks holiday season with daily protests OC Media's Robin Fabbro, Mariam Nikuradze, and Shota Kincha sit down and chat about the protests against the Georgian government’s decision to halt EU integration, going on for almost a month now as the holiday season descends on Georgia. Support independent journalism in the Caucasus and become an OC Media Member: . …or donate to the collective Georgian media . /episode/index/show/f59a01ea-d423-4704-9c1a-30fa207da38f/id/34613710

The Caucasus and the regime change in Syria 12/12/2024

The Caucasus and the regime change in Syria OC Media's Robin Fabbro, Nate Ostiller, Arshaluys Barseghyan, and Yousef Bardouka talk about the regime change in Syria and what it means for the Caucasian diaspora communities in the country and what it says about Russia’s influence and power globally. Read more: Support independent journalism in the Caucasus and become an OC Media Member: . …or donate to the collective Georgian media . /episode/index/show/f59a01ea-d423-4704-9c1a-30fa207da38f/id/34410785

Georgia’s EU U-turn and spontaneous protests 12/05/2024

Georgia’s EU U-turn and spontaneous protests OC Media’s Robin Fabbro and Mariam Nikuradze talk about the spontaneous protest movement which erupted after the Georgian government’s announcement that the country would ‘halt’ its EU integration. Mariam shares her experience covering the protests and details how the police injured her and damaged her cameras as she was covering their violent dispersal of the protests. Read more: Support independent journalism in the Caucasus and become an OC Media Member: . …or donate to the collective Georgian media . /episode/index/show/f59a01ea-d423-4704-9c1a-30fa207da38f/id/34304110

Georgian Dream launch parliament — what’s next? 11/28/2024

Georgian Dream launch parliament — what’s next? Georgian Dream have launched the new parliament without any opposition, amidst continued calls for an investigation into irregularities in the same parliamentary elections that helped them secure their fourth term as the majority. A month after the elections, OC Media’s Robin Fabbro, Mariam Nikuradze, and Shota Kincha sit down and talk about the developments surrounding the protests against electoral fraud and Georgian Dream’s plans for the future. Read more: Support independent journalism in the Caucasus and become an OC Media Member: . …or donate to the collective Georgian media . /episode/index/show/f59a01ea-d423-4704-9c1a-30fa207da38f/id/34194450

Donald Trump and the South Caucasus 11/14/2024

Donald Trump and the South Caucasus Last week, Donald Trump was re-elected for a second term as president of the United States. This week, Robin Fabbro and OC Media editors Alexandra Kuenning and Nate Ostiller discuss what Trump’s re-election as president might mean for the Caucasus as he appoints a new administration and the outcome of the war in Ukraine becomes more uncertain. Read more: Support independent journalism in the Caucasus and become an OC Media Member: . …or donate to the collective Georgian media . /episode/index/show/f59a01ea-d423-4704-9c1a-30fa207da38f/id/33928347

Greta Thunberg on COP29 in Azerbaijan 11/08/2024

Greta Thunberg on COP29 in Azerbaijan With the UN COP conference soon kicking off in Baku, we sat down with Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg to talk about the choice of Azerbaijan, an oil-producing state with a questionable human rights record, as host. Read more: Support independent journalism in the Caucasus and become an OC Media Member: . …or donate to the collective Georgian media . /episode/index/show/f59a01ea-d423-4704-9c1a-30fa207da38f/id/33852012

Georgia gears up for the 2024 parliamentary elections 10/18/2024

Georgia gears up for the 2024 parliamentary elections With Georgia’s parliamentary elections inching closer, both the ruling Georgian Dream party and the many groups representing the opposition are scrambling to prepare for the critical vote on 26 October. This week, OC Media’s Robin Fabbro, Mariam Nikuradze, and Shota Kincha discuss how the pre-election campaign period has been going, claims of electoral violations by Georgian Dream, and the atmosphere in Georgia ahead of the vote. Read more: Support independent journalism in the Caucasus and become an OC Media Member: . …or donate to the collective Georgian media . /episode/index/show/f59a01ea-d423-4704-9c1a-30fa207da38f/id/33512887

Shukruti’s last stand against Georgian Manganese 10/04/2024

Shukruti’s last stand against Georgian Manganese The residents of Shukruti, a village in Georgia’s western Chiatura region, have been protesting mining under their village carried out by Georgian Manganese for years. In September, they relocated their protest to Georgia’s Parliament in Tbilisi, demanding that the government intervene in their dispute with the mining company. Those protesting around the clock in front of parliament are constantly exposed to the elements as the weather grows colder, with at least six of them on hunger strike. This week, we spoke with OC Media’s co-director and journalist Mariam Nikuradze about the conditions of the protesters and how the authorities have been treating them in Tbilisi, and to the Social Justice Center’s Salome Shubladze about their demands and the ongoing legal dispute between the protesters and Georgian Manganese. Read more: Support independent journalism in the Caucasus and become an OC Media Member: . …or donate to the collective Georgian media . /episode/index/show/f59a01ea-d423-4704-9c1a-30fa207da38f/id/33327282

Kesaria Abramidze’s murder and transphobia in Georgia 09/27/2024

Kesaria Abramidze’s murder and transphobia in Georgia The high-profile murder of Kesaria Abramidze, a prominent Georgian trans model and media personality, has sent shockwaves through Georgia’s queer community, with many accusing the government of enabling her murder through their transphobic and homophobic rhetoric and their ‘LGBT propaganda’ law. Abramidze’s suspected murder, her former partner, was charged with committing a hate crime based on gender, and not one based on Abramidze’s gender identity. This week, we spoke to activist Monika Tigishvili about Abramidze’s murder and being trans in Georgia, and to the Rule of Law Centre’s hate crime researcher Nati Gelovani and Parntership for Human Rights criminal lawyer Tamara Zarkua about how Georgia’s legal system handles transphobic hate crimes. Read more: Support independent journalism in the Caucasus and become an OC Media Member: . …or donate to the collective Georgian media . /episode/index/show/f59a01ea-d423-4704-9c1a-30fa207da38f/id/33235047

‘A year of uncertainty’ since Nagorno-Karabakh’s surrender 09/19/2024

‘A year of uncertainty’ since Nagorno-Karabakh’s surrender It has been a year since Nagorno-Karabakh’s surrender and dissolution following an Azerbaijani assault on the region. The assault pushed the vast majority of the region’s population to flee their homes and to seek refuge in Armenia, where they were met with bureaucratic hurdles and insufficient support from the Armenian government. This week, we spoke with Tigran Grigoryan, a political analyst and the head of the Regional Center for Democracy and Security, about Armenia’s handling of the influx of refugees from Nagorno-Karabakh, and to journalist Marut Vanyan about the challenges the refugees have been facing since their arrival to Armenia. Read more: Hear more about Nagorno-Karabakh’s surrender: Support independent journalism in the Caucasus and become an OC Media Member: . …or donate to the collective Georgian media . /episode/index/show/f59a01ea-d423-4704-9c1a-30fa207da38f/id/33124692

Brics and the South Caucasus 09/13/2024

Brics and the South Caucasus BRICS, an intergovernmental organisation named after its core members, Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, appears to be making inroads in the South Caucasus, with Azerbaijan applying for its membership, and Armenia accepting an invitation to participate in a BRICS summit in Russia, despite its deteriorating relations with Moscow. This week, we speak to Azerbaijani independent researcher Shujaat Ahmadzada about Azerbaijan’s prospects for joining the organisation, and to Narek Sukiasyan, an Adjunct Lecturer at the American University of Armenia and a Researcher at the Center for Culture and Civilization Studies, about Armenia’s efforts to diversify its foreign policy. Read more: Support independent journalism in the Caucasus and become an OC Media Member: . …or donate to the collective Georgian media . /episode/index/show/f59a01ea-d423-4704-9c1a-30fa207da38f/id/33040602

Podcast | The Bahruz Samadov case 09/06/2024

Podcast | The Bahruz Samadov case Bahruz Samadov, a political analyst, OC Media contributor, and outspoken advocate for peace with Armenia has been arrested in Azerbaijan and charged with treason. His arrest was preceded by the arrest of another researcher, Iqbal Abilov, on the same charges, leading many to fear that Azerbaijan has begun targeting researchers and peace activists. This week, we spoke with journalist Arzu Geybulla about the significance of Samadov’s arrest and the charges pressed against him, and to Sossi Tatikyan a foreign policy and security analyst about how his arrest could impact independent peacebuilding between Armenia and Azerabaijan, and how the charges against Samadov were based on his communications with Armenian peers alleged by Azerbaijan, without evidence, to be members of the Armenian secret services. Read more: Support independent journalism in the Caucasus and become an OC Media Member: . …or donate to the collective Georgian media . /episode/index/show/f59a01ea-d423-4704-9c1a-30fa207da38f/id/32944127

The Beslan siege: 20 years on 08/31/2024

The Beslan siege: 20 years on The siege of Beslan has left a scar on both North Ossetia and Russia. Twenty years on, many in North Ossetia still await the results of an investigation into the Russian authorities’ handling of the crisis, which they believe might have contributed to the deaths of over 300 people — among them 186 children. This week, we spoke with Zalina Bogazova, a survivor of Beslan, about how those events have continued to shape the lives of her and hundreds of others, and with Ossetian political journalist Rooslán Totrov about Russia’s handling of the attack and how Russia’s war against Ukraine has changed how Beslan is remembered. Support independent journalism in the Caucasus and become an OC Media Member: . …or donate to the collective Georgian media . /episode/index/show/f59a01ea-d423-4704-9c1a-30fa207da38f/id/32842972

Why are Evolution Georgia’s employees on strike? 08/15/2024

Why are Evolution Georgia’s employees on strike? On 12 July, employees of Evolution Georgia, an online gambling platform, began a strike demanding better working conditions and pay and an end to abusive behaviour by the company’s management. Evolution Georgia, which positions itself as a leading employer of students, is a subsidiary of a company headquartered in Sweden. This week, we spoke to Giorgi Kajaia, an Evolution Georgia employee on strike, about why he chose to go on strike and the employees’ demands, and to the Social Justice Center’s Salome Shubladze about the legal aspects of the strike, and the Evolution Georgia’s obligations towards the striking employees. Read more: Support independent journalism in the Caucasus and become an OC Media Member: . …or donate to the collective Georgian media . /episode/index/show/f59a01ea-d423-4704-9c1a-30fa207da38f/id/32589162

Who or what’s to blame for the Daghestan attacks? 07/15/2024

Who or what’s to blame for the Daghestan attacks? June’s deadly and coordinated attacks on synagogues, churches, and police posts in Daghestan’s Makhachkala and Derbent have led to the deaths of 22 people, as well as five attackers. The authorities in the Russian republic and in Moscow have since scrambled to find someone or something to blame, including Ukraine, niqab, and MMA. This week, we speak to North Caucasus analyst and PhD student at Indiana university, Harold Chambers, about the Daghestan attacks and those that preceded them in neighbouring North Caucasian republics, and to Zemfira Gogui, a human rights consultant from Karachay-Cherkessia, about about people’s relation with the Federal Russian Government and what could be driving people towards radicalism in the region. Read more: Support independent journalism in the Caucasus and become an OC Media Member: . …or donate to the collective Georgian media . /episode/index/show/f59a01ea-d423-4704-9c1a-30fa207da38f/id/32144917

Is Azerbaijan a champion of anti-colonialism? 06/27/2024

Is Azerbaijan a champion of anti-colonialism? Azerbaijan appears to be trying to position itself as a champion of the anti-colonial movement by criticising France’s colonial past and supporting independence movements in its overseas territories. This week, we speak to political analyst and PhD candidate at Charles University in Prague Bahruz Samadov about the Baku Initiative Group, a group linked to the Azerbaijani government, and its anti-colonial conference, and how Azerbaijan appears to be appropriating anti-colonial movements for their own geopolitical and authoritarian ends. Read more: Support independent journalism in the Caucasus and become an OC Media Member: . …or donate to the collective Georgian media . /episode/index/show/f59a01ea-d423-4704-9c1a-30fa207da38f/id/31913867

Georgian Dream’s assault on queer rights 06/18/2024

Georgian Dream’s assault on queer rights The ruling Georgian Dream party has introduced a legislative package that would ban ‘LGBT propaganda’, potentially setting back decades of progress on queer rights in the country. This week, we speak to OC Media staff writer Shota Kincha about the contents of the law, to Tbilisi Pride’s director Tamar Jakeli about the future of the queer rights movement in light of the law, and to filmmaker Eka Tsotsoria about how the law could censor the arts. Read more: Support independent journalism in the Caucasus and become an OC Media Member: . …or donate to the collective Georgian media . /episode/index/show/f59a01ea-d423-4704-9c1a-30fa207da38f/id/31787607

‘Greenwashing’ in Azerbaijan and COP29 06/10/2024

‘Greenwashing’ in Azerbaijan and COP29 Azerbaijan, a country whose economy depends heavily on fossil fuels, is set to host the United Nations' annual climate change conference, COP29, in November this year, amidst rampant human rights abuses and terrible environmental practices. This week, we speak to journalist Arzu Geybulla talks about human rights abuses in Azerbaijan and her expectations for COP29, while environmental activist Javid Gara talks environmental activism in the country and what Baku’s plans to phase down its reliance on fossil fuels. Read more: Support independent journalism in the Caucasus and become an OC Media Member: . …or donate to the collective Georgian media . /episode/index/show/f59a01ea-d423-4704-9c1a-30fa207da38f/id/31681932

Is it too late for Georgia’s democracy? 05/31/2024

Is it too late for Georgia’s democracy? OC Media’s Robin Fabbro, Mariam Nikuradze, and Shota Kincha sit down to discuss whether Georgia’s democracy could survive with the passing of the draconic foreign agent law, and October’s critical parliamentary elections. Read more: Support independent journalism in the Caucasus and become an OC Media Member: . …or donate to the collective Georgian media . /episode/index/show/f59a01ea-d423-4704-9c1a-30fa207da38f/id/31551032

Why is an Armenian priest leading a crusade against the government? 05/23/2024

Why is an Armenian priest leading a crusade against the government? Tavush for the Motherland, a movement fronted by Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan, has made headlines protesting in Armenia’s north and in the capital Yerevan against the delimitation process with Azerbaijan. This week, we speak to OC Media’s Armenian staff writer Arshaluys Barseghyan about how the protest movement shifted from protesting border delimitation to calling for the government’s resignation, and to analyst Narek Sukiasyan about the border delimitation process and the popular discontent towards it. Read more: Become a supporter at , or on . /episode/index/show/f59a01ea-d423-4704-9c1a-30fa207da38f/id/31434087

Georgia’s foreign agent law passes — what’s next? 05/16/2024

Georgia’s foreign agent law passes — what’s next? The foreign agent law has passed its third and final reading in the Georgian parliament despite mass protests against the law throughout the country. This week, OC Media’s Robin Fabbro, Mariam Nikuradze, and Shota Kincha talk about President Salome Zourabichvili’s expected veto of the law, the possibility of Western sanctions against members of the ruling Georgian Dream party, and the future of the protest movement against the law. Read more: Become a supporter at /episode/index/show/f59a01ea-d423-4704-9c1a-30fa207da38f/id/31338162

A week of protests against Georgia’s foreign agent law 04/19/2024

A week of protests against Georgia’s foreign agent law 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 more: Become a supporter at , or on . /episode/index/show/f59a01ea-d423-4704-9c1a-30fa207da38f/id/30903498

Is Chechnya banning lezginka? 04/15/2024

Is Chechnya banning lezginka? 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 ‘recommendations’ for performers and composers of folk music in Chechnya. This week, OC Media’s Luiza Mchedlishvili talks about Chechnya’s repression of musicians and culture, and musicologist Ben Wheeler breaks down the apparent contradictions of the new restrictions. Read more: Become a supporter at , or on . /episode/index/show/f59a01ea-d423-4704-9c1a-30fa207da38f/id/30826793

The ‘Russian Law’ returns to Georgia 04/05/2024

The ‘Russian Law’ returns to Georgia 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 that was used to crush civil society and media in Russia. This week, OC Media’s Robin Fabbro, Mariam Nikuradze, and Shota Kincha talk about why Georgian Dream brought the law back and the potential response to the law in Georgia. Read more: Become a supporter at , or on . /episode/index/show/f59a01ea-d423-4704-9c1a-30fa207da38f/id/30697118

NATO’s stakes in the South Caucasus 03/28/2024

NATO’s stakes in the South Caucasus 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 Shujaat Ahmadzada about the importance of Azerbaijani gas after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and to Giorgi Shaishmelashvili about the latest developments surrounding Georgia’s protracted bid for NATO membership. Read more: Become a supporter at , or on . /episode/index/show/f59a01ea-d423-4704-9c1a-30fa207da38f/id/30582358

Azerbaijan’s media crackdown continues 03/21/2024

Azerbaijan’s media crackdown continues 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 . /episode/index/show/f59a01ea-d423-4704-9c1a-30fa207da38f/id/30477118

Is Armenia going to join the European Union? 03/07/2024

Is Armenia going to join the European Union? 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 . /episode/index/show/f59a01ea-d423-4704-9c1a-30fa207da38f/id/30274933

The Caucasus Digest

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