TBILISI, DFWatch–A group of up to 25 armed militants occupying a police building in Yerevan released all their hostages Saturday but refused to surrender, demanding the president’s resignation and the formation of an interim government.
Caucasus region
Azerbaijani Insiders Benefited from Currency Collapse
by Dave Bloss, Miranda Patrucic, Khadija Ismayilova and OCCRP Azerbaijan
06 June 2016
The First Family of Azerbaijan and a close business partner made a series of financial transactions in the days and weeks before a crippling 2015 devaluation of the national currency that eventually earned them at least 100 million manat (US$ 64 million) in just two deals while additionally protecting their banks and companies.
Azeri activist tortured, humiliated for drawign graffiti on Haydar Alyev’s statue
Tbilisi, DFWatch – On evening of May 10 two activists disappeared in Baku, Meydan TV reported. Then on May 12, the Khatai District Court placed Bayram Mammadov and Qiyas Ibrahimov under a four-month arrest for drug-related charges.
Abkhazia’s parliament: MP’s car explosion was an ‘act of terrorism’
TBILISI, DFWatch–The opposition suggests that the explosion could be connected to the government’s plans to allow foreign nationals to buy property in Abkhazia, while major political actors call for cross-political solidarity.
Members of Abkhazia’s de facto parliament,
Putin gives yellow light to South Ossetian unification project
TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia accuses Russia of instrumental use of a South Ossetian initiative to conduct a referendum on joining Russia, while Russia continues sending mixed signals to the Tskhinvali leadership.
South Ossetian hopes for unification with the Russian Federation
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict: Georgia may offer to host negotiations
TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia is considering offering Azerbaijan and Armenia to negotiate about the conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh, where at least 33 people have died and more than 200 have been injured during the last few days, according to the United Nations.
One more human rights activist released from Azerbaijan prison
TBILISI, DFWatch–Azerbaijani authorities released from prison Intigam Aliyev, a lawyer and human rights activist, on March 28, as the court in Baku commuted his 7.5 years-long term to a suspended 5 year sentence, Radio Liberty Azerbaijan reported.
MP criticizes Georgia's support for 'anti-Armenian' water resolution in CoE
TBILISI, DFWatch–An ethnic Armenian member of the Georgian parliament criticized some of his colleagues on Wednesday for voting for a controversial Council of Europe resolution regarding access to water in Nagorno-Karabakh.
Samvel Petrosyan,