Tbilisi considered the UK Embassy’s statement regarding sanctions ‘unacceptable’.

Some of the statements were made towards opposition politicians, who themselves were not interested in seeing the individuals in question punished.

The EU called for sanctions on key ruling party figures, state officials, and pro-government media.

TBC has been recognised for its gender equality and leadership strategy, receiving the Best Strategy award at the 2026 Balance in Business Awards, organised annually by INSEAD Alumni.

Elene Khoshtaria is serving a 1.5 year prison sentence in Rustavi.

Georgian MP Nikoloz Samkharadze said the ruling party was ready to discuss ‘critical issues’ with the EU, including controversial legislation.

Marat Kambolov has been viewed by some as being the Kremlin’s appointee, given his lack of connections with South Ossetia.

In one publicly known case, the court fined lawyer Shota Tutberidze ₾4,000 ($1,500) over a comment addressing a ruling party MP.

Armenia * The head of Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service, Sergei Naryshkin, has called the Armenian election ‘in a certain sense, questionable’. He further stressed the importance of maintaining bilateral ‘good relations’ between the two countries. * Yesterday, Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan, at the invitation of the EU top diplomat Kaja Kallas, attended the EU Foreign Affairs Council. Kallas stated that they had observed ‘really increased pressure by Russia to actually change [Armenia’s

Chechnya’s First Deputy Interior Minister Deni Aidamirov previously faced accusations of involvement in abductions and torture.

This marks the second time a high-ranking Azerbaijani official has visited Armenia since the initialling of a peace deal in August 2025.

Mantas Kvedaravičius’s 2011 documentary traces a system of disappearances in post-war Grozny that the Russian state would later deploy in Ukraine.

Karapetyan was previously placed under investigation over allegations he concealed his foreign citizenship status while registering for the elections.

Russia has imposed further restrictions on the import and transit of Armenian goods. As restrictions continue streaming in, the Armenian government has rolled out a support package for exporters, adding that goods originally intended for Russia and the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) had been diverted to the EU. The restrictions, which came into effect on Friday, affect nuts, dried peaches, and dried tomatoes imported from Armenia, Russia’s Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance S

The new figure is an upward revision from the 5.3% the IMF projected in April.

Important Update OC Insider is moving to email only From July, OC Insider will no longer be published on the website. Subscribe below to keep receiving it straight to your inbox. Subscribe Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan emerged from Armenia’s 7 June parliamentary elections with a decisive victory, securing another term for his ruling Civil Contract party after he came to power through the 2018 Velvet Revolution. While often portrayed as pro-Western, Pashinyan’s government h

According to sources, the Kremlin wants to strengthen a common Russian civic identity among the region’s residents.

Regional * Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze has said he ‘respects’ China’s ‘specific reasons’ for abstaining from UN votes on the annual resolution concerning IDPs from Abkhazia and South Ossetia. He added that China ‘firmly supports Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity’. Armenia * US president Donald Trump has congratulated Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan for his ‘decisive victory’ in the elections. Russian President Vladimir Putin has still not yet done so. * Armenian

Some of the defendants have also been convicted in other countries for similar offences.

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze has welcomed the latest figures from the country’s National Statistics Bureau (Geostat) showing nearly 50% growth in foreign direct investment (FDI), while promising further economic measures to sustain the trend. Geostat reported that FDI reached $271 million in the first quarter of 2026 — 48% higher than the preliminary figure for the same period in 2025. ‘Very large investors are entering our country, and there have been numerous such cases over the

Azerbaijani Presidential Aide Hikmet Hajiyev and Armenian Secretary of the Security Council Armen Grigoryan met in Armenia on 14 June.

As pressure on civil society intensifies, feminist activists describe a growing atmosphere of fear and quiet survival.

Aliya Yangulbaeva published an open letter to the eldest daughter of Chechen Head Ramzan Kadyrov.

On covering the elections on the ground, the lead-up to the vote, and its aftermath.

The Federal Security Service (FSB) says the man had planned attacks on military personnel, volunteers, and infrastructure facilities.

Investigators have accused Akhmedpasha Umakhanov of organising a criminal organisation linked to illegal arms trafficking and several murders.

The authorities said that they had learned about the process as early as 2025.

Robert Kuzovkov, who worked under the pseudonym Semyon Skrepetsky, was shot dead in the city of Biała Podlaska.

The youth organisation’s head, ex-judoca Varlam Liparteliani, gave a speech.

The authorities spoke about the detention of those involved, while critics claimed the violence was systemic.

In Georgia, where the cost of protest rises almost daily, a student-led movement found a safer form of resistance: a fundraising campaign.

Armenia–Azerbaijan relations played a key role in the pre-election campaign, with Azerbaijani media appearing to back the incumbent prime minister.

Chechen Head Ramzan Kadyrov’s son has become the holder of the region’s highest award for the second time.

Regional * The foreign ministers of Abkhazia, South Ossetia, and Transnistria have adopted a joint declaration during a video conference. ‘All our foreign policy activities are carried out with the direct, partnership-based, friendly, and allied support of the main guarantor of our states’ security, our ally and partner, the Russian Federation. We maintain our cooperation at a high level’, Abkhazian Foreign Minister Oleg Bartsits said. Armenia * Today, the Strong Armenia Alliance will appl

The ‘patrol’ harassed locals for consuming alcohol or allegedly using drugs.

So far, 22 of the more than 60 people detained in the case have been released through plea agreements.

Giorgi Bakhuashvili reportedly worked in Georgian Dream founder and billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili’s security detail for at least a decade.

Moscow has not yet congratulated Pashinyan on his victory.

The court refused to place her under house arrest despite her having two young children.

Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze spent nearly eight minutes praising and defending the founder of the ruling party, Bidzina Ivanishvili.

The missiles have repeatedly been used by Russian Sukhoi jets in Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine.

The CEC approved the request just days after opposition Armenia Alliance leader Robert Kocharyan was prevented from crossing the border.

Regional * Georgian citizen Shalva Khizanishvili has been sentenced to six years and nine months in prison for espionage, according to an Abkhazian Supreme Court ruling. Khizanishvili was originally detained in October 2025 in the Gali District after Abkhazian State Security Service (SGB) officers found weapons, ammunition, and Georgian documents, including currency and bank cards, in his home in the village of Shashikuara. Explosives were also found in a dog kennel on the property. * Prime M

Russia restricted Armenian imports and transit for weeks ahead of the 7 June elections.

The Maya Pill, by Chechen writer German Sadulaev, starts off somewhat promising but ends up frustratingly scatterbrained.

Regional * Joint training of Azerbaijani, Georgian, and Turkish special forces — known as Caucasian Eagle 2026 — has begun at the Mukhrovani military base near Tbilisi. This comes at the same time the Eagle Partner drills are taking place in Armenia, which will be the first time France and Greece will attend, in addition to the usual US participation. Armenia * Armenia has exported its first batch of 9,500 flowers to Ukraine, with a second shipment on the way. * The Financial Times has re

Across Shirak, houses have been left empty, the sounds of children are slowly disappearing, and the villages’ former lively spirit is fading.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has not yet extended congratulations to Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on his party’s results.

It remains unclear whether the opposition groups that secured seats in parliament will ultimately take up their mandates.

Investigators say Khasan Altemirov helped obtain forged documents for a person who supplied weapons to the attackers.

Regional * Azerbaijani Presidential Aide Hikmet Hajiyev has conducted his first working visit to Armenia, during which he met with Secretary of the Armenian Security Council Armen Grigoryan. According to an identical statement shared by both sides, the two discussed the peace agenda between Armenia and Azerbaijan as well as exchanged views on how to strengthen mutual trust within civil society. They also agreed the next meeting would take place in Azerbaijan. Armenia * The final results of

David Tarkhan-Mouravi also claimed that Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan had manipulated the vote.

This is not the first time Ambassador Ali Moujani has had to issue clarifications in the context of historical Georgia–Iran relations.

Exiled blogger Mahammad Mirzali had been attacked on 14 March 2021 in Nantes.

Azerbaijan insists that Armenia amend its constitution before the two countries sign their peace treaty.

They are reportedly being denied access to medical care, medicines, and basic necessities.

According to the republic’s authorities, there were no casualties or injuries.

Mamuka Artmeladze, 45, was found ‘unresponsive’ in ICE custody.

For Georgia criticised the ruling Georgian Dream party for its ‘complete inaction’.

Regional * Georgian citizen Mamuka Bagauri has been expelled from South Ossetia for ‘illegally crossing’ the boundary line on 6 June, South Ossetia’s security service reported. Bagauri also received a fine. * Azerbaijan Railways will add one carriage wagon to the Baku-Tbilisi train from 11 June to meet passenger demand. * The opposition For Georgia party has stated that Russia has begun a ‘new phase of annexation’ in South Ossetia. The party’s statement followed the nomination of former Russ