JAMnews. Top stories in local media
Monday, February 9, Armenia. U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance arrives in Yerevan today
● U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance arrives in Yerevan today. His secretary told Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty that the visit will last two days. On February 10, Vance will travel from Yerevan to Baku. The U.S. State Department previously said that Vance will be accompanied on the trip by U.S. Deputy Secretary of State for Economic Affairs Jacob Helberg. The statement also noted that the visit is intended to support President Donald Trump’s peace efforts and promote the regional transit project “Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity” (TRIPP).
● Armenia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has confirmed the visit of the U.S. vice president but did not comment on its agenda. A press release said that there would be “events that will deepen relations with Washington and open new avenues of cooperation.”
● The parliamentary opposition faction of the Armenia bloc has sent a letter to J.D. Vance urging him to “actively engage in the return of at least 19 of our compatriots, including the military-political leadership of Nagorno-Karabakh, who are being illegally held in Baku.”
“These individuals are deprived of protection of their fundamental human rights and are subjected to torture solely because of their national and religious identity,” the letter says. Armenia’s opposition is largely regarded as pro-Russian.
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● Russia’s state corporation Rosatom has offered Armenian partners comprehensive cooperation in the construction of large-, medium-, or small-capacity nuclear power plants in Armenia, as well as the implementation of related projects, including non-nuclear ones. This was stated by Rosatom CEO Alexey Likhachev during a meeting in Moscow with Armenian National Assembly Speaker Alen Simonyan.
● During a visit to Armenia, Chief of the General Staff of the Indian Armed Forces Anil Chauhan was shown samples of weapons produced in both countries, Armenian Defense Minister Suren Papikyan reported (video belo).
● Former Foreign Minister Ara Ayvazyan criticized the conditions of the evolving peace process between Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Turkey. “These two countries are not seeking peaceful coexistence with Armenia; their strategic goals remain unchanged. Armenia may lose the ability to make independent decisions, deepen its dependence on the Turkic world, and, under favorable conditions for them, may be absorbed within the framework of the Greater Turan project. The backbone of this strategy is the so-called Zangezur Corridor (a transit route from Azerbaijan through Armenia, referred to as the ‘Trump Route,’ or TRIPP – JAMnews). This project is aimed at undermining Armenia’s territorial integrity and shifting the regional balance of power in favor of Baku and Ankara,” Ayvazyan said.
● Belarusian blogger Alexander Lapshin has issued an open letter demanding that persecution against him in Armenia based on requests from Belarus be stopped. “For the purpose of legal terror, the Belarusian authorities have placed me on a CIS wanted list for criticizing human rights violations in Belarus. As a result, every time I enter or leave Armenia, I am detained and held at a police station for hours,” Lapshin wrote. He says the charges brought against him by Belarusian authorities are entirely fabricated and violate international law.
● Residents of the Komitas Park residential complex in Yerevan are holding a protest, demanding that the developer fulfill its obligations. They say the apartments were supposed to be handed over in December 2023 and that gas supply was to be connected.
Monday, February 9, Azerbaijan. Armenia’s Foreign Intelligence Service: There have never been any ties with peace activist Bahruz Samadov, who was convicted in Azerbaijan
● U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance will visit Azerbaijan on February 10–11, his press secretary told Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. Prior to that, on February 9–10, Vance will visit Armenia. He will be accompanied by U.S. Deputy Secretary of State for Economic Affairs Jacob Helberg. It is reported that both visits are aimed at promoting the U.S. administration’s peace efforts, as well as the regional transit project “Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity” (TRIPP).
● U.S. Democratic Congressman Jim McGovern has written a letter to U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance, urging him to raise the issue of the release of political prisoners during his visit to Azerbaijan. The letter states that in recent years, the Azerbaijani authorities have intensified pressure on journalists, opposition activists, and representatives of civil society. McGovern names economist and professor Gubad Ibadoglu, his brother Galib Bayramov, who is charged in the so-called “NGO case,” imprisoned opposition figure Tofig Yagublu, Ali Karimli, leader of the Azerbaijan Popular Front Party, Mamed Ibrahim from the same party, civic activist Bakhtiyar Hajiyev, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty journalist Farid Mehralizadeh and his wife Nargiz Mukhtarova, Shamshad Agha, Aynur Elgunesh, and Ulviya Guliyeva, who were arrested as part of a criminal case against MeydanTV, as well as human rights defenders Rufat Safarov and Anar Mammadli.
● Azerbaijan and other countries in the region have made serious efforts to resume negotiations between Tehran and Washington on the nuclear program, according to Azerbaijani media quoting Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. “If previously Europeans were involved in the negotiations, this time regional countries have joined in. They intend to help, and we respect their good intentions,” the minister said, local media reported, citing Iran’s Tasnim News Agency.
● Armenia’s Foreign Intelligence Service has stated that it has never had any ties with Azerbaijani researcher and peace activist Bahruz Samadov (pictured), who was sentenced to 15 years in prison on charges of treason. Armenian journalist Zhirayr Voskanyan reported this on his Telegram channel. According to Voskanyan, he received this response after contacting the Foreign Intelligence Service with a request to officially confirm or deny the accusations brought against Samadov, which allege cooperation with Armenian special services. Samadov continues to deny any wrongdoing. In April of last year, Samadov wrote an open letter to Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, asking him to publicly state that Samadov does not cooperate with Armenian intelligence services. The statement by Armenia’s Foreign Intelligence Service, reported by Zhirayr Voskanyan, is the first public comment from Yerevan on this issue.
Bahruz Samadov is a doctoral PhD candidate at Charles University in the Czech Republic. He was detained on August 21, 2024, when he arrived in Baku. More details here
● A tenth-grade student accused of shooting a female teacher at İdrak Lyceum in Baku has been arrested for four months. He has been charged with attempted premeditated murder. The hunting rifle used in the shooting belonged to his father.
● The international badminton tournament Azerbaijan International 2026 has concluded in Baku. 347 athletes from 33 countries took part. The awards ceremony was attended by the Minister of Youth and Sports and the President of the Azerbaijan Badminton Federation.
Monday, February 9, Georgia. The leading pro-government TV channel Imedi has changed ownership
● The leading pro-government TV channel Imedi has changed ownership. Businessman Irakli Rukhadze said that he and his partners representing Honeywell Partners sold the company for a “symbolic price” of 1,000 lari (about $400). The GDS television company, also owned by the group, was sold as well. Rukhadze said the buyer will be Prime Media Global, a company that has worked with Imedi for many years in advertising sales. Prime Media Global will acquire 50% of the channel, while the remaining 50% will go to Imedi CEO Maka Lomidze and her four deputies.
● The Ministry of Foreign Affairs released information about a meeting in Washington between Deputy Foreign Minister Lasha Darsalia and U.S. State Department official Brendan Hanrahan. According to the statement, Georgia expressed its readiness to “reset” strategic relations with the United States. Earlier information from the State Department said the discussion covered issues of mutual interest and opportunities for cooperation in the South Caucasus, including the situation following the peace agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan, initialed by the leaders of both countries with the participation of Donald Trump in Washington in August last year.
● By the end of 2030, construction of nearly all sections of Georgia’s East–West Highway—part of the Middle Corridor connecting Asia and Europe, from the Turkish border to the borders with Azerbaijan and Armenia—will be completed, Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze said. He stressed that “the government is taking consistent steps to fully utilize the country’s strategic location, with significant investments being directed into major infrastructure projects.”
● Opposition groups Freedom Square and the Georgian Public Assembly have organized a joint forum titled “A New Social Contract for Georgia.” According to the organizers, the forum brings together civic leaders and public figures to discuss the future and is aimed not only at resolving the country’s political crisis but also at forming a viable alternative, a shared direction, and new civic opportunities.
● A protest rally continues outside the first building of Tbilisi State University against the government’s decision to merge the university with the Georgian Technical University. Both students and faculty members are taking part in the protest.
● Georgia’s national figure skating team achieved a historic fourth place at the Winter Olympic Games, finishing behind the United States, Japan, and Italy.
● Georgian Olympic medalists will receive cash awards from the government. It is reported that, following the model used at the Summer Olympics, the reward will be 1 million lari (about $400,000) for a gold medal, 500,000 lari (about $190,000) for silver, and 300,000 lari (about $190,000) for bronze. Georgian athletes are competing at the Winter Olympics in figure skating and alpine skiing.
