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Open Caucasus Media — the Caucasus with depth. News, commentary, and multimedia from the North and South Caucasus.
Azerbaijani jury member Samira Efendi gave the highest score of 12 points to Armenian participant Saro Gevorgyan at the ‘Star of the Silk Road’ competition on 23 November in Astana, sparking a wave of criticism on social media.
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Azerbaijani contest judge faces criticism after praising Armenian artist
Samira Efendi gave Armenian contestant Saro Gevorgyan the highest score in the Star of the Silk Road competition.
oc-media.org
December 3, 2025 at 8:07 AM
Azerbaijani jury member Samira Efendi gave the highest score of 12 points to Armenian participant Saro Gevorgyan at the ‘Star of the Silk Road’ competition on 23 November in Astana, sparking a wave of criticism on social media.
oc-media.org/azerbaijani-...
oc-media.org/azerbaijani-...
In defiance of some legislative changes recently adopted by the ruling Georgian Dream party, a local judge in southern Georgia has suspended several administrative cases and sent them to the Constitutional Court to be reviewed.
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Local judge in southern Georgia rebels against Georgian Dream’s legislative changes
Judge Vladimer Khuchua has halted some cases and appealed to the Constitutional Court.
oc-media.org
December 2, 2025 at 2:34 PM
In defiance of some legislative changes recently adopted by the ruling Georgian Dream party, a local judge in southern Georgia has suspended several administrative cases and sent them to the Constitutional Court to be reviewed.
oc-media.org/local-judge-...
oc-media.org/local-judge-...
Armenia and the EU have adopted a new strategic agenda, bringing their partnership to a strategic level. The EU also announced an allocation of €15 million ($17 million) ‘towards sustaining peace and a more resilient Armenia’.
Armenia adopts new strategic agenda with the EU
The EU announced an allocation of €15 million ($17 million) ‘towards sustaining peace and a more resilient Armenia’.
oc-media.org
December 2, 2025 at 2:28 PM
Armenia and the EU have adopted a new strategic agenda, bringing their partnership to a strategic level. The EU also announced an allocation of €15 million ($17 million) ‘towards sustaining peace and a more resilient Armenia’.
The BBC’s recent investigation, suggesting Georgian police used a WWI-era chemical against protesters in November–December 2024, has triggered strong reactions across ruling and opposition circles.
🔗 Read more: oc-media.org/false-inform...
🔗 Read more: oc-media.org/false-inform...
December 2, 2025 at 2:23 PM
The BBC’s recent investigation, suggesting Georgian police used a WWI-era chemical against protesters in November–December 2024, has triggered strong reactions across ruling and opposition circles.
🔗 Read more: oc-media.org/false-inform...
🔗 Read more: oc-media.org/false-inform...
Local residents and several Telegram channels reported strikes by unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) on military sites and security service facilities in Chechnya on Tuesday night. No Chechen officials have commented.
oc-media.org/fsb-building...
oc-media.org/fsb-building...
FSB building, police station, and Akhmat regiment site hit by Ukrainian drones in Chechnya
While videos were published on social media, Chechen authorities have not made any official comments.
oc-media.org
December 2, 2025 at 2:17 PM
Local residents and several Telegram channels reported strikes by unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) on military sites and security service facilities in Chechnya on Tuesday night. No Chechen officials have commented.
oc-media.org/fsb-building...
oc-media.org/fsb-building...
Amnesty International has condemned Azerbaijan’s arrest of Karimli, the chair of the opposition Azerbaijan PFP, saying that there ‘appear to be no limits to the government’s campaign to crush all political opposition’.
Arrest of Azerbaijani Popular Front Party chair Ali Karimli triggers international criticism
Frank Schwabe, a German member of PACE, stated that Azerbaijan is moving ‘further away’ from European values.
oc-media.org
December 2, 2025 at 1:41 PM
Amnesty International has condemned Azerbaijan’s arrest of Karimli, the chair of the opposition Azerbaijan PFP, saying that there ‘appear to be no limits to the government’s campaign to crush all political opposition’.
Historian Ibragim Kostoev has reported that eight years ago, the Ingush Parliament secretly withdrew from consideration a draft law that would have banned the ‘glorification of the memory of Joseph Stalin’ in Ingushetia.
Ingush law banning glorification of Stalin’s memory secretly withdrawn from consideration
Historian Ibragim Kostoev reported that the law was secretly withdrawn from consideration eight years ago.
oc-media.org
December 2, 2025 at 1:38 PM
Historian Ibragim Kostoev has reported that eight years ago, the Ingush Parliament secretly withdrew from consideration a draft law that would have banned the ‘glorification of the memory of Joseph Stalin’ in Ingushetia.
From the next academic year, school uniforms will once again become mandatory in all public schools from grades 1-6.
🔺 This was announced by the Education Minister Givi Mikanadze during a presentation of the National Concept for General Education Reform.
🔺 This was announced by the Education Minister Givi Mikanadze during a presentation of the National Concept for General Education Reform.
December 2, 2025 at 1:14 PM
From the next academic year, school uniforms will once again become mandatory in all public schools from grades 1-6.
🔺 This was announced by the Education Minister Givi Mikanadze during a presentation of the National Concept for General Education Reform.
🔺 This was announced by the Education Minister Givi Mikanadze during a presentation of the National Concept for General Education Reform.
A BBC documentary released Monday alleged that a WW1-era toxic agent was used against protesters in Georgia last winter, prompting opposition outrage and government backlash. The State Security Service has opened an investigation into the claims.
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oc-media.org/bbc-suggests...
BBC suggests Georgia used WWI-era chemical on protesters, sparking SSG probe
Georgia’s State Security Service (SSG) launched an investigation into the documentary on two charges.
oc-media.org
December 1, 2025 at 4:30 PM
A BBC documentary released Monday alleged that a WW1-era toxic agent was used against protesters in Georgia last winter, prompting opposition outrage and government backlash. The State Security Service has opened an investigation into the claims.
oc-media.org/bbc-suggests...
oc-media.org/bbc-suggests...
Azerbaijan’s State Security Service has detained Popular Front Party chair Ali Karimli and several other members, with pro-government media linking the arrests to the treason case against former presidential administration head Ramiz Mehdiyev.
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Azerbaijan detains Popular Front Party chair Ali Karimli amidst crackdown on party
Ali Karimli and Mammad Ibrahim were accused of committing actions aimed at the violent seizure of power.
oc-media.org
December 1, 2025 at 2:56 PM
Azerbaijan’s State Security Service has detained Popular Front Party chair Ali Karimli and several other members, with pro-government media linking the arrests to the treason case against former presidential administration head Ramiz Mehdiyev.
oc-media.org/azerbaijan-d...
oc-media.org/azerbaijan-d...
Ten high-ranking priests issued a statement expressing their expectation that Catholicos Karekin II, the head of Armenian Apostalic Church, would ‘voluntarily go on leave’ amidst the ongoing rift between the state and the Church.
🔗 Read more: oc-media.org/high-ranking...
🔗 Read more: oc-media.org/high-ranking...
December 1, 2025 at 2:26 PM
Ten high-ranking priests issued a statement expressing their expectation that Catholicos Karekin II, the head of Armenian Apostalic Church, would ‘voluntarily go on leave’ amidst the ongoing rift between the state and the Church.
🔗 Read more: oc-media.org/high-ranking...
🔗 Read more: oc-media.org/high-ranking...
The Armenian and Azerbaijani commissions on border delimitation have held a meeting in the city of Gabala, marking their first such meeting inside either country. During the discussions, they agreed to host their next meeting in an Armenian city.
Armenia and Azerbaijan hold border delimitation talks in Azerbaijan
The commissions agreed to set the date of the next meeting in an Armenian city.
oc-media.org
December 1, 2025 at 2:19 PM
The Armenian and Azerbaijani commissions on border delimitation have held a meeting in the city of Gabala, marking their first such meeting inside either country. During the discussions, they agreed to host their next meeting in an Armenian city.
Russia’s Justice Ministry has listed Anzor Maskhadov, the son of Ichkeria’s third president, as a foreign agent.
⭕ Ichkeria was an independent Chechen state crushed by the Russian Federation over the course of the First and Second Chechen Wars.
⭕ Ichkeria was an independent Chechen state crushed by the Russian Federation over the course of the First and Second Chechen Wars.
Russia designates son of former Ichkerian president as foreign agent
Anzor Maskhadov had previously been declared a ‘terrorist’ and an ‘extremist’.
oc-media.org
December 1, 2025 at 2:16 PM
Russia’s Justice Ministry has listed Anzor Maskhadov, the son of Ichkeria’s third president, as a foreign agent.
⭕ Ichkeria was an independent Chechen state crushed by the Russian Federation over the course of the First and Second Chechen Wars.
⭕ Ichkeria was an independent Chechen state crushed by the Russian Federation over the course of the First and Second Chechen Wars.
Georgian opposition figure Aleko Elisashvili has been arrested for attempting to set fire to the Tbilisi City Court’s chancellery. If found guilty on terrorism charges, he could face 10–15 years in prison.
➡️ Read more: oc-media.org/georgian-opp...
➡️ Read more: oc-media.org/georgian-opp...
December 1, 2025 at 2:06 PM
Georgian opposition figure Aleko Elisashvili has been arrested for attempting to set fire to the Tbilisi City Court’s chancellery. If found guilty on terrorism charges, he could face 10–15 years in prison.
➡️ Read more: oc-media.org/georgian-opp...
➡️ Read more: oc-media.org/georgian-opp...
A 12-year-old girl has been injured as a result of a drone attack on Daghestan on Monday morning. She was hospitalised with non-threatening injuries and was discharged shortly after.
12-year-old girl injured in drone attack on Daghestan
A possible target of the attack was the Dagdizel plant, which is involved in developing and producing underwater weapons for the Russian Navy.
oc-media.org
December 1, 2025 at 12:44 PM
A 12-year-old girl has been injured as a result of a drone attack on Daghestan on Monday morning. She was hospitalised with non-threatening injuries and was discharged shortly after.
A man has died from police fire after attacking officers at the Dzhemikentsky checkpoint in the Derbent district of Daghestan. No police officers were harmed during the attack.
oc-media.org/man-killed-i...
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Man killed in Daghestan after attacking police officers with a knife
The motives for the man’s actions remain unknown.
oc-media.org
December 1, 2025 at 10:44 AM
A man has died from police fire after attacking officers at the Dzhemikentsky checkpoint in the Derbent district of Daghestan. No police officers were harmed during the attack.
oc-media.org/man-killed-i...
oc-media.org/man-killed-i...
⭕ OPINION: Narek Karapetyan distorts reality on the Tucker Carlson show, helping create yet another pro-Russian piece of propaganda.
🔗 Read more: oc-media.org/opinion-nare...
🔗 Read more: oc-media.org/opinion-nare...
November 30, 2025 at 6:24 AM
⭕ OPINION: Narek Karapetyan distorts reality on the Tucker Carlson show, helping create yet another pro-Russian piece of propaganda.
🔗 Read more: oc-media.org/opinion-nare...
🔗 Read more: oc-media.org/opinion-nare...
A mega-mall with few shoppers: the unfulfilled promise of Tbilisi’s Hualing Sea Plaza
oc-media.org/a-mega-mall-...
oc-media.org/a-mega-mall-...
A mega-mall with few shoppers: the unfulfilled promise of Tbilisi’s Hualing Sea Plaza
Georgia gave Hualing extraordinary privileges, but what did the public get?
oc-media.org
November 30, 2025 at 6:06 AM
A mega-mall with few shoppers: the unfulfilled promise of Tbilisi’s Hualing Sea Plaza
oc-media.org/a-mega-mall-...
oc-media.org/a-mega-mall-...
‘Till the end!’ — Georgia’s embattled protesters reflect on one year of daily demonstrations.
oc-media.org/till-the-end...
oc-media.org/till-the-end...
‘Till the end!’ — Georgia’s embattled protesters reflect on one year of daily demonstrations
One year on, demonstrators speak to OC Media about why they continue to protest despite increasing government repression.
oc-media.org
November 29, 2025 at 2:39 PM
‘Till the end!’ — Georgia’s embattled protesters reflect on one year of daily demonstrations.
oc-media.org/till-the-end...
oc-media.org/till-the-end...
Is Azerbaijan sincere with its peace rhetoric or just bargaining with the West?
oc-media.org/opinion-is-a...
oc-media.org/opinion-is-a...
Opinion | Is Azerbaijan sincere with its peace rhetoric or just bargaining with the West?
Despite Azerbaijan’s increasing repression against civil society and media, its relations with Western states have grown increasingly positive.
oc-media.org
November 29, 2025 at 7:04 AM
Is Azerbaijan sincere with its peace rhetoric or just bargaining with the West?
oc-media.org/opinion-is-a...
oc-media.org/opinion-is-a...
🎬OC Reviews: The Northeast Winds and Goodnight, Mister Stalin — two films on Gori, Stalin, and loss
oc-media.org/review-the-n...
oc-media.org/review-the-n...
Review | The Northeast Winds and Goodnight, Mister Stalin — two films on Gori, Stalin, and loss
These two documentaries set in Stalin’s home of Gori offer two tonally different reflections on his enduring cult of personality in modern Georgia.
oc-media.org
November 29, 2025 at 6:46 AM
🎬OC Reviews: The Northeast Winds and Goodnight, Mister Stalin — two films on Gori, Stalin, and loss
oc-media.org/review-the-n...
oc-media.org/review-the-n...
A teenager who was accused of causing a traffic accident that took the lives of three schoolchildren in the town of Yalavaj in Imishli has been sentenced to seven years and six months in prison.
Azerbaijani teen sentenced to 7.5 years in prison over road accident that killed three children
The traffic police officer who drove the car that hit the children, killing them, has gone unpunished.
oc-media.org
November 28, 2025 at 3:47 PM
A teenager who was accused of causing a traffic accident that took the lives of three schoolchildren in the town of Yalavaj in Imishli has been sentenced to seven years and six months in prison.
Poland’s Labour Minister Agnieszka Dziemianowicz-Bąk has issued a regulation that will revoke the current simplified employment procedure for Georgian citizens, making a popular EU destination for Georgian workers harder to access.
🔗 Read more: oc-media.org/poland-to-en...
🔗 Read more: oc-media.org/poland-to-en...
November 28, 2025 at 3:30 PM
Poland’s Labour Minister Agnieszka Dziemianowicz-Bąk has issued a regulation that will revoke the current simplified employment procedure for Georgian citizens, making a popular EU destination for Georgian workers harder to access.
🔗 Read more: oc-media.org/poland-to-en...
🔗 Read more: oc-media.org/poland-to-en...
Following the publication of a photograph showing students from SOGMA performing an Islamic prayer in the courtyard of the institution, officials have reacted sharply, including calling on the academic administration to engage in ‘preventative work’.
North Ossetian officials react sharply to a public student prayer
The officials called on the school administration to engage in ‘preventive work’.
oc-media.org
November 28, 2025 at 3:00 PM
Following the publication of a photograph showing students from SOGMA performing an Islamic prayer in the courtyard of the institution, officials have reacted sharply, including calling on the academic administration to engage in ‘preventative work’.