South Caucasus

Armenian Defense Chief Says Detained Azerbaijani Soldier Is Not a Saboteur

Armenian Defense Minister Suren Papikyan said detained Azerbaijani serviceman Nasimi Musayev did not resist arrest, indicating that he was not acting as a saboteur.

Georgia Secures 20-Year Guarantees for Azerbaijani Gas

Georgia has secured 20-year guarantees on the volume and price of Azerbaijani gas under a new contract due to begin Dec. 16, 2026.

Georgia to End Intermediary Role in Azerbaijani Electricity Imports

Georgia plans to buy electricity from Azerbaijan without intermediary companies, a change Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze said could save several million lari annually.

Aliyev Calls for UN Mechanism on Missing Persons

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev called for a dedicated United Nations mechanism to strengthen international efforts to locate missing people and support their families.

Pashinyan Says Detained Azerbaijani Soldier Will Remain in Armenia for Now

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan says Azerbaijani serviceman Nasimi Musayev will remain in Armenia while a criminal investigation continues, with no exchange decision announced.

Armenia Briefs Iran on TRIPP as Tehran Talks Cover Bridge and Power Link

Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan briefed Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on work to implement the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity, or TRIPP,...

Aliyev Says Azerbaijan Halted Military Operations Twice to Pursue Peace

President Ilham Aliyev says Azerbaijan stopped military operations at decisive moments in 2020 and 2023 because it sought a political result and an end to bloodshed.

Georgia Says TRIPP Will Complement, Not Threaten, Transit Routes

Georgia says the TRIPP route through Armenia will complement rather than threaten its transit corridors as Middle Corridor freight volumes rise.

Baku Expects Concrete Peace Steps From Yerevan, Analyst Says

Analyst Ilgar Velizade says Baku wants Yerevan to translate its peace commitments into concrete action on border delimitation and transport links.

The Price of Security: Why a Strong Army Is Not Enough for Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan's military advantage must be reinforced by enforceable peace mechanisms, reliable transport rules, commercial energy partnerships and a stronger domestic economy.

Expert Says Soldier’s Detention Exposed Gaps in Armenian Border Surveillance

Military expert Sakhavat Mammad says the detained Azerbaijani serviceman’s reported route through Armenia raises questions about surveillance and patrols.

Russia Proposes Restoring Rail Links From Armenia to Nakhchivan and Türkiye

MOSCOW - Russia has proposed that Armenia restore two railway sections near its borders with Azerbaijan’s Nakhchivan exclave and Türkiye, Russian Deputy Prime Minister...

Armenian Court Orders Azerbaijani Serviceman Held for Two Months

YEREVAN, Armenia - An Armenian court has ordered Azerbaijani serviceman Nasimi Musayev held in pretrial detention for two months after he was detained on...

Baku Calls Armenian Constitutional Change Final Step Toward Peace Deal

Azerbaijan says removing provisions it interprets as territorial claims from Armenia’s Constitution is the final unresolved issue before a peace agreement.

Putin’s Valdai Speech Mixes Escalation Warning With Offer to Bargain

Russian President Vladimir Putin used his Oct. 1 address to the Valdai Discussion Club to deliver two messages at once: Moscow is prepared to...

Baku and Yerevan Must Learn to Manage Disagreements, Isazade Says

A dispute over historical heritage and the cancellation of a planned visit by Azerbaijani civil-society representatives to Yerevan do not mean the peace process...

Experts Urge Practical Steps to Sustain Baku-Yerevan Dialogue

Historical disputes and mutual accusations are filling the public agenda while people in Armenia and Azerbaijan wait for tangible results from normalization, two regional...

Azerbaijani Serviceman Detained in Armenia After Alleged Shooting

Azerbaijani serviceman Nasimi Musayev, missing from his unit since Sept. 26, has been detained in Armenia, as authorities on both sides investigate how he crossed the border and an alleged shooting in Syunik.

Baku-Tbilisi Train Service to Expand to Four Daily Trips Nov. 1

BAKU - Passenger rail service on the Baku-Tbilisi-Baku route will expand to four daily departures from Nov. 1, increasing available seats from 386 to...

UK Announces 31 Russia Sanctions, Including Four Georgian Nationals

LONDON - Britain announced 31 new sanctions measures on Oct. 1 targeting sources of financing for Russia’s war, pro-Kremlin disinformation networks and people accused...

Shafiyev Outlines Four Tracks for Azerbaijan-Armenia Peace

Farid Shafiyev says the Azerbaijan-Armenia peace process is advancing through a treaty, border delimitation, transport links and civil-society contacts.

Azerbaijani Flag Display Toppled and Scratched Near Tbilisi

A display bearing the Azerbaijani flag was toppled and scratched in Krtsanisi National Forest Park near Tbilisi, while a neighboring Georgian flag display was undamaged.

Armenia Is Losing Priority in Baku’s Foreign Policy, Analyst Says

Azerbaijani analyst Farhad Mammadov says Armenia is becoming less central as Baku’s foreign-policy agenda expands beyond the South Caucasus.

EU Delegation Discusses TRIPP and Nakhchivan Energy Projects

European Commission and EBRD officials discussed transport corridors, energy projects and financing options in Nakhchivan.

Azerbaijan-Armenia Trade Turns Two-Way as Barriers Persist

The first Armenian shipment to Azerbaijan points to two-way trade, but analysts say direct payments, insurance and product checks remain major barriers.

From Gandzasar to Usmanov: Shafiyev Rejects Claims Against Baku

AIR Center Chairman Farid Shafiyev addressed disputes over Karabakh’s religious heritage, Azerbaijan’s conduct at the U.N. and claims involving sanctions on Alisher Usmanov.

Azerbaijan Could Import Armenian Fish and Dairy, Economist Says

Azerbaijan could consider importing Armenian fish and dairy products if they meet national safety standards and can compete on price and quality, economist Asif Ibrahimov says.

World Bank Says Middle Corridor Could Add $1.3 Billion to Azerbaijan’s GDP

Fully developing the Middle Corridor could add about $1.3 billion, or 1.84%, to Azerbaijan’s GDP, but the World Bank says major infrastructure and logistics reforms are needed.

€316.8 Million Middle Corridor Project Advances as Customs Go Digital

Georgia secured new financing for a €316.8 million Middle Corridor road project as Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey moved to accelerate customs processing and data exchange.

Border Closed, Too Early to Speak of Full Peace, Iskandaryan Says

The border remains closed despite meetings and trade contacts between Azerbaijan and Armenia, Caucasus Institute director Alexander Iskandaryan said in an Echo Baku interview.

Trump and Xi Bought Time. Why It Matters for the South Caucasus

The Washington summit did not resolve the central U.S.-China disputes, but it created breathing room that could shape trade, investment and the Middle Corridor through the South Caucasus.

Gandzasar Dispute Halted Experts’ Visit to Yerevan, Mammadov Says

Azerbaijani analyst Farhad Mammadov explains why a planned Peace Bridge visit to Yerevan was postponed while official talks continue.

Azerbaijan and Armenia Have Achieved De Facto Peace, Bayramov Says

Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov said Baku and Yerevan have entered a phase of practical normalization, with trade and transit links already operating.

Azerbaijan’s Five Principles Set Terms for Armenia Peace Talks, Velizade Says

Azerbaijan’s five principles formed the basis of negotiations with Armenia after the 2020 war, Azerbaijani political analyst Ilgar Velizade said. Velizade, who heads the South...

Russia’s New Duma Will Not Change Its South Caucasus Policy, Eggert Says

By AZE.US Russia’s parliamentary election will not change Moscow’s approach to Azerbaijan and Armenia because decisions on foreign policy remain concentrated around President Vladimir Putin,...

Azerbaijan Accuses Georgian Patriarchate of Territorial Claims Over Kurmuk Church

Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry called a Georgian Patriarchate statement on the Kurmuk church unacceptable and said its approach amounted to territorial claims.

U.S. Backs TRIPP With $201 Million Fund as Security Ties Expand

Washington says a $201 million TRIPP fund will help attract private capital, reduce investor risk and support broader U.S.-Azerbaijan cooperation.

Azerbaijan Says Corridor Road Is 95% Complete, Remaining Work Due in 2027

The road on the Azerbaijani section of the Zangezur corridor is 95% complete and the railway 75%, while engineering work has begun on Armenia’s TRIPP section.

Aliyev Says TRIPP Will Strengthen Baku’s Role as Forum Produces 12 Deals

Twelve documents were signed at the Second Azerbaijan International Investment Forum as President Ilham Aliyev highlighted TRIPP, the Middle Corridor and new investment opportunities.

Middle Corridor Freight Could Triple by 2030, Jabbarov Says

The World Bank estimates that the Middle Corridor could triple freight volumes and halve travel time by 2030 with the right policies and investment.

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