JAMnews. Top stories in local media.
Thursday, 5 March, Armenia. Starlink has donated a new batch of 100 terminals to Armenia
● 110 Armenian citizens have returned home on flights organized due to the escalation in Iran and the start of military operations. However, not everyone can afford tickets for private flights, with prices reportedly starting at $1,200. Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan said the government covers travel costs from the UAE to Muscat, while the rest is handled by a private airline. “The plane cannot use normal routes because airspace is closed and must take a longer path from Muscat to Yerevan. That means a two- or three-times longer route, which increases costs,” Mirzoyan explained.
● Many political and public figures in Armenia have been visiting the Iranian embassy in Yerevan to sign a book of condolences opened there, local media report.
● Russia is grateful to the authorities of Azerbaijan, Armenia and Turkmenistan for helping ensure the smooth departure of Russian citizens from Iran through land borders, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said. She also advised Russians to “leave Iran as soon as possible.”
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● Reports on X claiming that Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan owns property in Dubai that was allegedly damaged by an Iranian missile strike are “completely fabricated,” his spokesperson Nazeli Baghdasaryan said. The posts falsely cited Al Jazeera and Euronews, she added. “Nikol Pashinyan has no property in the UAE, and any claims to the contrary, including supposed comments from me, are untrue,” Baghdasaryan said.
● “Georgia is one of the most favorite destinations for Armenian tourists,” Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said at a press conference in Tbilisi following his working visit and the 15th session of the Armenia-Georgia intergovernmental commission on economic cooperation. He thanked Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze for his personal support for the peace process. “Economic ties between Armenia and Azerbaijan are being established with Georgia’s assistance. This deserves the highest appreciation from our side,” Pashinyan said. Kobakhidze said Tbilisi highly values the signing of a historic agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan and stands ready to continue supporting peacebuilding and stability.
● “The Trump Route” is not an obstacle to Georgian transit, Nikol Pashinyan said in response to a remark by ruling party MP Shirak Torosyan, who noted that many in Georgia view the project as a serious threat to Georgian transit, which could supposedly become peripheral. The “Trump Route,” or TRIPP, is a transit corridor that will run from Azerbaijan to its autonomous region of Nakhchivan through the territory of Armenia and then onward to Turkey. According to the prime minister, the situation should be viewed more broadly, specifically in the context of transporting goods from China to the European Union through the South Caucasus. “We are talking about goods worth trillions of dollars, and even 20 railway and road links through the countries of the South Caucasus would not be able to handle such a flow,” he said. Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan should view regional communications as a shared opportunity, Nikol Pashinyan stated.
● There has been a significant increase in domestic crimes, murders and suicides in Armenia, an opposition lawmaker from the Dashnaktsutyun party said during government question time in parliament. She also said that over the past four months four cases of brutal beatings among minors by their peers have been recorded. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan acknowledged that the problem exists and is being discussed within the government. However, he then sharply criticized Dashnaktsutyun. “This party exists in Armenia, where people are admitted by swearing an oath on a weapon. Shooting their own members is a common occurrence for them. You should first be concerned about that, not about problems in schools. One of the political responsibilities is to ensure that such parties do not exist in Armenia. This is not the main, but an important part of the strategy to combat crime,” Pashinyan said.
● The opposition Republican Party announced the start of political dialogue and consultations ahead of the parliamentary elections on June 7. “We are open to all forces ready to jointly form a transitional government, reach agreement on a new single candidate for prime minister who will be able to restore democratic values and stop the current non-independent foreign policy. The future of Armenia cannot remain dependent on a regime that tramples on its own history and faith, leaves its sons in foreign captivity, undermines the country’s security and fears the will of its own people,” the statement said. Most of the opposition in Armenia has a reputation for being pro-Russian.
● The Republican Party’s idea of impeaching Nikol Pashinyan was “dead from the start” because the ruling party holds an absolute majority in parliament, said Hayk Konjoryan, head of the ruling faction.
● A new batch of 100 terminals has been donated to the government of Armenia as a result of cooperation between the American company Starlink and the Ministry of High-Tech Industry. The terminals have already arrived in Armenia and will be installed in schools. Minister Mkhitar Hayrapetyan wrote about this on Facebook. “Together with the Ministry of Education, we are starting the installation of the equipment in those schools where it is most needed to ensure fast and stable access to the internet. Our goal is clear — every student, even in the most remote community, should have equal access to modern educational tools and digital platforms,” the minister said.
● There have been new cases of incursions into Armenia’s sovereign territory, but the authorities are hiding them from the public, Arman Tatoyan, head of the opposition initiative Wings of Unity, said at a press conference. According to Tatoyan, an Azerbaijani military post has been set up in the Vardenis area on Armenian territory. Satellite images show the position did not exist before July 31, 2025, he said. The post reportedly includes firing points for heavy weapons such as grenade launchers and mortars, as well as rifle positions with separate communications. Tatoyan said the position lies 4 km from the Sotk gold mine, putting it directly within range. The nearby village of Kut in the Vardenis region is also under threat, while Armenian pastures, farmland and hayfields are located about 2 km away. A local road is just 200 meters from the post. “This position poses a serious threat to our servicemen as well — they are under direct fire,” Tatoyan said, adding that the site is heavily fortified and even equipped with solar panels. The authorities have not yet commented on the claim.
● Armenia’s minimum pension has increased more than 3.5 times over the past 7–8 years, from 16,000 drams (about $43) to 56,120 drams (about $150), Economy Minister Gevorg Papoyan said. The ruling Civil Contract party has been in power since 2018.
Thursday, 5 March, Azerbaijan. Boston Consulting Group: By supplying gas through the Southern Gas Corridor, Azerbaijan plays an important role in Europe’s energy security
● By supplying gas through the Southern Gas Corridor, Azerbaijan can play an important role in strengthening Europe’s energy security, as the EU requires additional volumes of pipeline gas. This was stated to the pro-government publication Report by Marco Tonegutti, Managing Director and Senior Partner at Boston Consulting Group. “The problem is that this demand is not supported by a reliable supply structure. About 90% of the consumed gas is imported. Almost 45% comes from liquefied natural gas, mainly supplied from the US and Qatar. The US is a reliable source but is affected by Asian demand and price volatility. Qatar is actively expanding capacity but is largely focused on Asian markets.
To attract investment, key conditions are necessary […] including that projects must be not only industrially but also financially attractive. International oil and gas companies, national companies, and infrastructure funds must be confident in the stability of the financial environment and the return on their investments. And all of this requires serious political coordination, both at the regional level and in cooperation with the European Union and neighboring countries, including Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Georgia, Turkey, etc.,” said Tonegutti.
In 2025, Azerbaijan’s share of gas supplies to the EU was 4%. Supplies from Russia, according to EU plans, are expected to be reduced to zero by 2027.
● The first international seminar on the feasibility study of the first phase of the “Central Asia–Azerbaijan Green Energy Corridor” project (Trans-Caspian Green Energy Corridor) was held in Baku. This part of the work is jointly financed by the Asian Development Bank and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank under the Memorandum of Understanding signed in April 2025. The corridor will connect the Caspian and Black Sea regions and provide transmission of clean renewable energy from Central Asia to European markets. Deputy Minister of Energy Orkhan Zeynalov stated that “in addition to the countries already participating in the project, other states in the region have also shown interest in the initiative.”
● The prosecutor requested eight years of imprisonment for social worker Zamin Zaki, who was arrested in connection with a criminal case involving local and international non-governmental organizations. Charges include legalization of property obtained by criminal means, abuse of office, and fraud. The case materials mention the non-registration of grant funds received to protect the rights of people from various social groups. Zaki denies guilt, stating that he was being punished for his public activity. The court hearing has been postponed until March 11, as his lawyer requested time to prepare a defense. In her statement, she emphasized that it is absurd to present a grant as property obtained by criminal means. “Non-registration of a grant can, at best, be considered an administrative offense,” said the lawyer.
Arrests in the “NGO case” began in March of last year. More than 15 civil society activists and employees of local and international organizations are listed as defendants.
● Minister of Digital Development and Transport Rashad Nabiyev discussed possibilities for cooperation in the transport sector with the United Kingdom during a meeting in London with the CEO of the British state export finance agency (UK Export Finance).
● President Ilham Aliyev visited the Embassy of Iran, expressed condolences over the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and many civilians, and left a note in the condolence book.
● More than 1,400 foreign nationals from 40 countries and over 300 Azerbaijani citizens were evacuated from Iran through the Azerbaijani land border due to military operations launched by the US and Israel on February 28.
● Azerbaijan evacuated over 200 of its citizens on a special flight from Jeddah (Saudi Arabia) after their scheduled flights were canceled due to the situation in the Middle East. Evacuation flights to Baku and from other locations in the Middle East are planned in the coming days.
Thursday, 5 March, Georgia. The parliament passed a package of legislative acts tightening control over foreign funding and political activities
● Parliament has adopted in the third reading a package of legislative acts that significantly tightens control over foreign funding and political activity. The amendments expand the definition of the term “grant,” including in it almost any financial or non-financial assistance that could influence the country’s politics, require government approval before a grant is issued, and предусматривают long prison terms for violations. Many independent experts believe that this strengthens repressive state control over the political and civic space. More details here.
● Member of the German Bundestag Robin Wagener called the legislative changes adopted in Georgia “a direct attack on democratic civil society and the opposition.” He said the new laws will exclude civil society organizations from political life.
● The Supreme Court did not accept the cassation appeal of Mzia Amaglobeli. The founder of the popular independent outlets Netgazeti and Batumelebi was sentenced to two years for slapping a police officer who had insulted her during a protest. The lawsuit sought to overturn the appellate court’s verdict and asked for the journalist to be acquitted. The prosecutor, in turn, asked for a harsher punishment.
● According to sources of the publication Middle East Eye, Iran may strike the Baku–Tbilisi–Ceyhan oil pipeline. The target of the attack could be the territory of Azerbaijan. On March 4, NATO shot down an Iranian missile heading toward Turkish airspace.
● Clergy in mosques in Georgia declared mourning after the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as a result of a US-Israeli strike. Khamenei has been declared a “martyr.” According to local media, a prayer and sermon about the “martyrdom of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei” took place at the Imam Ali mosque in Marneuli (Kvemo Kartli region).
● Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili made new critical statements about the United Kingdom in connection with sanctions announced by London against two pro-government Georgian television channels. “What ties do we have with the United Kingdom, other than that 100 years ago there was a British army here that left, and its legacy was used by the 11th Russian army, annexing Georgia? Being in a sphere of special interests? None. The only explanation for their actions is that certain forces are trying to use British structures against Georgia. These forces understand that British sanctions have a certain power, they allow a person to disappear from the financial system.”
● In the sky over Abkhazia on the night of March 5 and early this morning, air defense systems were active. There are reports of drones being shot down in the Ochamchira district – presumably, this was an attack by Ukrainian drones. Sounds of gunfire can be heard – presumably, people are trying to shoot them down with automatic weapons, but it is unclear who is firing. It is also unclear whether there are any damages or casualties. Authorities have called on the population to remain calm.
● Former director of the pro-government TV company Rustavi 2, Vako Avaliani, received a salary of more than 39,000 lari (about $15,000) per month. He owns several apartments and land plots in Georgia — in Tbilisi, Dusheti and Batumi — and a house in Italy worth 185,000 euros, investigative journalists report.
● Georgia will not boycott the opening ceremony of the 14th Winter Paralympic Games in Verona, Italy, on March 6 and will take part in it. Eleven countries have announced a boycott: Ukraine, Canada, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, and Poland. This is because the International Paralympic Committee allowed Russian and Belarusian para-athletes to use state symbols — the flag and the anthem.
