Kavkaz

What’s Behind Russia’s Overture to Georgia?

Even if Georgia knew nothing about Russia’s decision beforehand, the current arrangement suits both the Kremlin and official Tbilisi: it helps Georgian Dream to hold on to power, while Russia is building on barely existent ties with Georgia that may lead to greater gains for Moscow in the future.Russian President …

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Kazakhstan Has Become a Pathway for the Supply of Russia’s War Machine. Here’s How It Works.

Western sanctions are meant to prevent Russia from supplying its military from abroad, but sensitive electronics are still getting through. Reporters traced several of these supply chains through Kazakhstan — and found that they run through companies newly established by Russians. Key Findings Trade statistics show large increases of drone …

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Who Is Afraid of Georgian Democracy?

The Georgian government’s attempt to pass restrictive legislation on foreign influence provoked mass protests that ultimately led to the withdrawal of the bill. To anchor Georgia to Western values, the EU should support the country’s transition to institutional democracy. Georgia hit the headlines in March when thousands of people took …

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Karakalpakstan’s Sovereignty in Mirziyoyev’s Uzbekistan

Karakalpakstan has a constitutional right to secede from Uzbekistan via referendum, but calling for such a vote results in immense pressure and often prison terms. “Karakalpakstan is not Uzbekistan,” Aman Sagidullayev, the leader of the Alga Karakalpakstan movement stressed to The Diplomat. Sagidullayev fled his homeland in 2012 for Kyrgyzstan …

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Pashinian Says Armenia Is Ready To Recognize Nagorno-Karabakh As Part Of Azerbaijan Under Certain Conditions

Armenia said it is ready to recognize the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh as part of neighboring Azerbaijan under certain conditions, a compromise that could help end a decades-old conflict and revive an impoverished region. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian told a press conference on May 22 that any recognition by …

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New Troubles in Nagorno-Karabakh: Understanding the Lachin Corridor Crisis

What is happening? There is a growing risk of major violence in and around Nagorno-Karabakh, the mountainous enclave over which Armenia and Azerbaijan have fought two wars since the end of Soviet rule. On 23 April, Baku opened a checkpoint on the Lachin corridor, a highway traversing Azerbaijani territory that …

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Lifting of Russia Flight, Visa Restrictions Deepens Georgia’s Geopolitical Dilemma

Russia’s surprise move to restore visa-free access for Georgian citizens and direct flights between the two countries signals a continued warming of relations between Tbilisi and Moscow, potentially at the cost of Georgia’s integration with the West, analysts and Russian government officials told The Moscow Times. Some observers have described …

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Calculation or miscalculation. How far will the thaw in relations between Georgia and Russia go?

The benefits for the Georgian Dream from rapprochement with Moscow are vague and uncertain, while the risks are more than real. But this does not mean that the situation is assessed in the same way by the Georgian Dream itself, which has miscalculations one after another.Vladimir Putin’s decision to abolish …

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The Israel Factor as a ‘Third Party’ in Growing Tensions Between Iran and Azerbaijan

Israel is usually mentioned as a “third party” in the political literature of Iranian leaders and officials, especially when talking about Tel Aviv’s influence on relations between Tehran and Baku. Even so, Azerbaijan remains adamant that Israel is not using its territory for military and intelligence purposes. For example, in …

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Armenia Is Ready to Relinquish Nagorno-Karabakh: What Next?

Relations with Russia will have to be overhauled, since the main subject of discussion—Karabakh—will disappear. For most Armenians, the Kremlin will be seen as an unreliable ally that abandoned them in their hour of need. A turning point has been reached in the long-running conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Last …

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