OC MEDIA | FIERCE, INDEPENDENT JOURNALISM FROM THE NORTHFEATURE STORIESANALYSISOPINIONEDITORIALVOICESIN PICTURES The shelter saving bears from exploitation in Georgia. Many bears in Georgia are kept in captivity — often as ‘decorations’ to attract tourists. One shelter near Tbilisi is trying to save such bears from a similar fate. animal rights. The shelter saving bears from exploitation in Georgia. By Tata Shoshiashvili. OC MEDIA | WHO WE ARE Who we are. Open Caucasus Media brings you news, commentary, multimedia, and investigations from the North and South Caucasus, with in-depth analysis of the issues, movements, conflicts, and people

shaping the region.

VIDEO SPARKS DEBATE ABOUT SEXUAL HARASSMENT IN AZERBAIJAN Video sparks debate about sexual harassment in Azerbaijan. Azerbaijani ex-MP and university professor Huseynbala Miralamov was fired after being caught on camera inappropriately touching his woman employee. In the video the woman smiles at first, but when she realizes that they are being recorded, covers her face in shock and runs away. EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT CALLS FOR ‘IMMEDIATE’ AND According to the resolution, the European Parliament ‘demands the immediate and unconditional release of all Armenian prisoners, both military and civilian, detained during and after the conflict, and that Azerbaijan refrains from making arbitrary detentions in the future’. The resolution also stressed that there’s a need for new

efforts

GEORGIAN GOVERNMENT WINS ARBITRATION WITH US OIL AND GAS The International Arbitration Tribunal has upheld the vast majority of claims filed by the Georgian Government against the US oil and gas firm Frontera Resources, the government says. Georgia had accused the company of violating the terms of their contract, signed in 1997. They claimed that Frontera refused to return to the state land they were ARMENIA’S PSYCHOLOGISTS SCRAMBLE TO HEAL POST-WAR TRAUMA Armenia’s psychologists scramble to heal post-war trauma. Illustration: Mariam Nikuradze/OC Media. The second Nagorno-Karabakh war has left tens of thousands in need of psychological help. OC Media spoke with two Armenian psychologists about their work in trying to heal the psychological wounds left by the conflict. SON OF FORMER ARMENIAN FINANCE MINISTER GOES ON THE RUN Son of former Armenian Finance Minister goes on the run. Gurgen Khachatryan. Official picture. The son of former Finance Minister of Armenia Gagik Khachatryan has refused to turn himself in after being charged with money laundering and corruption. Gurgen Khachatryan, who denies the charges, remains at large and the National Security

Services

PROTESTERS DEMAND ABORTION BAN IN DAGHESTAN Protesters demand abortion ban in Daghestan. Around 150 people gathered in Makhachkala on 14 July calling for a ban on abortion. The protest was followed by heated exchanges on social media over the issue. The Give Me Life rally was organised by the Daghestan’s

Ministry of Health.

ARMENIA’S NEW EDUCATION STANDARDS UNDER FIRE FOR LACK OF Armenia’s Ministry of Education has come under intense heat after circulating a draft regulation on New Standards for General Education that would overhaul the country’s public education system. Some critics have accused the ministry of trying to oppose the country’s ‘national values’. The new standards, compiled in a 50-page draft STRASBOURG COURT RULES RUSSIA HAS ‘EFFECTIVE CONTROL’ OVER Strasbourg court rules Russia has ‘effective control’ over Abkhazia and South Ossetia. The European Court of Human Rights has ruled that following the 2008 August War, the Russian Federation has exercised ‘effective control’ over Abkhazia and South Ossetia. In the hotly awaited verdict in the Georgia v Russia case, the Grand

Chamber of

OC MEDIA | FIERCE, INDEPENDENT JOURNALISM FROM THE NORTHFEATURE STORIESANALYSISOPINIONEDITORIALVOICESIN PICTURES The shelter saving bears from exploitation in Georgia. Many bears in Georgia are kept in captivity — often as ‘decorations’ to attract tourists. One shelter near Tbilisi is trying to save such bears from a similar fate. animal rights. The shelter saving bears from exploitation in Georgia. By Tata Shoshiashvili. OC MEDIA | WHO WE ARE Who we are. Open Caucasus Media brings you news, commentary, multimedia, and investigations from the North and South Caucasus, with in-depth analysis of the issues, movements, conflicts, and people

shaping the region.

VIDEO SPARKS DEBATE ABOUT SEXUAL HARASSMENT IN AZERBAIJAN Video sparks debate about sexual harassment in Azerbaijan. Azerbaijani ex-MP and university professor Huseynbala Miralamov was fired after being caught on camera inappropriately touching his woman employee. In the video the woman smiles at first, but when she realizes that they are being recorded, covers her face in shock and runs away. EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT CALLS FOR ‘IMMEDIATE’ AND According to the resolution, the European Parliament ‘demands the immediate and unconditional release of all Armenian prisoners, both military and civilian, detained during and after the conflict, and that Azerbaijan refrains from making arbitrary detentions in the future’. The resolution also stressed that there’s a need for new

efforts

GEORGIAN GOVERNMENT WINS ARBITRATION WITH US OIL AND GAS The International Arbitration Tribunal has upheld the vast majority of claims filed by the Georgian Government against the US oil and gas firm Frontera Resources, the government says. Georgia had accused the company of violating the terms of their contract, signed in 1997. They claimed that Frontera refused to return to the state land they were ARMENIA’S PSYCHOLOGISTS SCRAMBLE TO HEAL POST-WAR TRAUMA Armenia’s psychologists scramble to heal post-war trauma. Illustration: Mariam Nikuradze/OC Media. The second Nagorno-Karabakh war has left tens of thousands in need of psychological help. OC Media spoke with two Armenian psychologists about their work in trying to heal the psychological wounds left by the conflict. SON OF FORMER ARMENIAN FINANCE MINISTER GOES ON THE RUN Son of former Armenian Finance Minister goes on the run. Gurgen Khachatryan. Official picture. The son of former Finance Minister of Armenia Gagik Khachatryan has refused to turn himself in after being charged with money laundering and corruption. Gurgen Khachatryan, who denies the charges, remains at large and the National Security

Services

PROTESTERS DEMAND ABORTION BAN IN DAGHESTAN Protesters demand abortion ban in Daghestan. Around 150 people gathered in Makhachkala on 14 July calling for a ban on abortion. The protest was followed by heated exchanges on social media over the issue. The Give Me Life rally was organised by the Daghestan’s

Ministry of Health.

ARMENIA’S NEW EDUCATION STANDARDS UNDER FIRE FOR LACK OF Armenia’s Ministry of Education has come under intense heat after circulating a draft regulation on New Standards for General Education that would overhaul the country’s public education system. Some critics have accused the ministry of trying to oppose the country’s ‘national values’. The new standards, compiled in a 50-page draft STRASBOURG COURT RULES RUSSIA HAS ‘EFFECTIVE CONTROL’ OVER Strasbourg court rules Russia has ‘effective control’ over Abkhazia and South Ossetia. The European Court of Human Rights has ruled that following the 2008 August War, the Russian Federation has exercised ‘effective control’ over Abkhazia and South Ossetia. In the hotly awaited verdict in the Georgia v Russia case, the Grand

Chamber of

OC MEDIA | WHO WE ARE It’s our priority for 2021 to consolidate our funding sources, to increase our independence from donors, and to finance a portion of our budget from monetisation, i.e. donations, meeting space rental, training services, merchandise.All monetisation initiatives except COVID-19 VACCINATION PROCEEDS SLOWLY IN ABKHAZIA Vaccination against COVID-19 is progressing slowly in Abkhazia, with under 1% having received one dose and 79 people being fully vaccinated

so far.

‘DUTCH-MADE’ RAPID TESTS SOLD TO GEORGIA WERE RELABELLED Support Us. Thirty thousand ‘Dutch-made’ COVID-19 rapid antibody tests purchased by the Georgian Government were actually relabelled tests produced in China, it has emerged. Doubts have also been raised about whether the accuracy of the tests, sold by Dutch biotechnology firm Inzek, match Inzek’s claims. On 15 April, TBC Bank gifted 5,000 OC MEDIA | 19 APRIL AGREEMENT The latest news, opinion, and analysis on 19 April Agreement from OC

Media.

AMNESTY CONTROVERSY THREATENS TO DERAIL EU-BROKERED DEAL Months before the local elections, disagreements over a proposed amnesty law are threatening to derail a deal brokered by the EU to bring an end to the political crisis in the country. MASS FELLING OF TREES IN NORTH AZERBAIJAN CONTINUE Activists estimate that nearly 5 hectares of trees have already been chopped down in the village of Farzalioba. OPINION | HOW AZERBAIJAN’S MEDIA IGNORES ANTI-QUEER VIOLENCE The media’s silence in the face of a surge of anti-queer violence is nothing less than complicity with it. SHUKRUTIANS END HUNGER STRIKE AFTER REACHING DEAL WITH Mining company Georgian Manganese has struck a deal with residents of Shukruti to bring an end to their hunger strike after 30 days. Residents of Shukruti, a village near Chiatura which sits above active mining tunnels, have been protesting on and off for almost two years over the collapse of houses in the village due to mining. NEW REPORT DETAILS GROSS VIOLATIONS OF HUMANITARIAN LAW IN A new report published by IPHR/Truth Hounds has detailed extensive violations by Armenian and Azerbaijani forces of international humanitarian law during the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War, including unlawful bombing, extrajudicial killings, and torture. OC MEDIA, AUTHOR AT OC MEDIA OC Media. Open Caucasus Media brings you news, commentary, multimedia, and investigations from the North and South Caucasus. OC MEDIA | FIERCE, INDEPENDENT JOURNALISM FROM THE NORTHFEATURE STORIESANALYSISOPINIONEDITORIALVOICESIN PICTURES The shelter saving bears from exploitation in Georgia. Many bears in Georgia are kept in captivity — often as ‘decorations’ to attract tourists. One shelter near Tbilisi is trying to save such bears from a similar fate. animal rights. The shelter saving bears from exploitation in Georgia. By Tata Shoshiashvili. VIDEO SPARKS DEBATE ABOUT SEXUAL HARASSMENT IN AZERBAIJAN Video sparks debate about sexual harassment in Azerbaijan. Azerbaijani ex-MP and university professor Huseynbala Miralamov was fired after being caught on camera inappropriately touching his woman employee. In the video the woman smiles at first, but when she realizes that they are being recorded, covers her face in shock and runs away. IVANISHVILI’S TREE COLLECTING HOBBY Ivanishvili’s tree collecting hobby. Georgia’s billionaire ex prime minister Bidzina Ivanishvili has been ripping up ancient and rare trees from across the country and transporting them to his private arboretum in Ureki. While the government claims it is for their own protection, activists continue to challenge the move. CORONAVIRUS LIVE UPDATES Ramzan Kadyrov reportedly hospitalised in Moscow, COVID-19 suspected. Russian state-run news agency Interfax cited a source from the medical community in Moscow saying that Head of Chechnya Ramzan Kadyrov is being closely watched in Russia’s capital city as he is suspected to have contracted COVID-19.. Earlier reports came from Russian Telegram channel Baza saying today that he GEORGIAN GOVERNMENT WINS ARBITRATION WITH US OIL AND GAS The International Arbitration Tribunal has upheld the vast majority of claims filed by the Georgian Government against the US oil and gas firm Frontera Resources, the government says. Georgia had accused the company of violating the terms of their contract, signed in 1997. They claimed that Frontera refused to return to the state land they were SON OF FORMER ARMENIAN FINANCE MINISTER GOES ON THE RUN Son of former Armenian Finance Minister goes on the run. Gurgen Khachatryan. Official picture. The son of former Finance Minister of Armenia Gagik Khachatryan has refused to turn himself in after being charged with money laundering and corruption. Gurgen Khachatryan, who denies the charges, remains at large and the National Security

Services

GEORGIA TOUGHENS RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS FOR FOREIGN CITIZENS The amendment passed by the ruling Georgian Dream party also toughened regulations for labour-based residency by requiring foreign citizens to have a monthly income of no less than five times the subsistence minimum, currently ₾190 ($68). They must also be employed by a company with an annual turnover of at least ₾50,000 ($18,000) per ARMENIA’S ORPHANS COME HOME Armenia’s orphans come home. The school bag of 12 year old Goharik, a student at the Fridtjof Nansen boarding school. Photo: Armine Avetisyan. The Armenian government has closed and repurposed orphanages and boarding schools, which care for orphans and children living in difficult conditions, as part of a process of deinstitutionalisation. ARMENIA’S NEW EDUCATION STANDARDS UNDER FIRE FOR LACK OF Armenia’s Ministry of Education has come under intense heat after circulating a draft regulation on New Standards for General Education that would overhaul the country’s public education system. Some critics have accused the ministry of trying to oppose the country’s ‘national values’. The new standards, compiled in a 50-page draft PROTESTERS DEMAND ABORTION BAN IN DAGHESTAN Protesters demand abortion ban in Daghestan. Around 150 people gathered in Makhachkala on 14 July calling for a ban on abortion. The protest was followed by heated exchanges on social media over the issue. The Give Me Life rally was organised by the Daghestan’s

Ministry of Health.

OC MEDIA | FIERCE, INDEPENDENT JOURNALISM FROM THE NORTHFEATURE STORIESANALYSISOPINIONEDITORIALVOICESIN PICTURES The shelter saving bears from exploitation in Georgia. Many bears in Georgia are kept in captivity — often as ‘decorations’ to attract tourists. One shelter near Tbilisi is trying to save such bears from a similar fate. animal rights. The shelter saving bears from exploitation in Georgia. By Tata Shoshiashvili. VIDEO SPARKS DEBATE ABOUT SEXUAL HARASSMENT IN AZERBAIJAN Video sparks debate about sexual harassment in Azerbaijan. Azerbaijani ex-MP and university professor Huseynbala Miralamov was fired after being caught on camera inappropriately touching his woman employee. In the video the woman smiles at first, but when she realizes that they are being recorded, covers her face in shock and runs away. IVANISHVILI’S TREE COLLECTING HOBBY Ivanishvili’s tree collecting hobby. Georgia’s billionaire ex prime minister Bidzina Ivanishvili has been ripping up ancient and rare trees from across the country and transporting them to his private arboretum in Ureki. While the government claims it is for their own protection, activists continue to challenge the move. CORONAVIRUS LIVE UPDATES Ramzan Kadyrov reportedly hospitalised in Moscow, COVID-19 suspected. Russian state-run news agency Interfax cited a source from the medical community in Moscow saying that Head of Chechnya Ramzan Kadyrov is being closely watched in Russia’s capital city as he is suspected to have contracted COVID-19.. Earlier reports came from Russian Telegram channel Baza saying today that he GEORGIAN GOVERNMENT WINS ARBITRATION WITH US OIL AND GAS The International Arbitration Tribunal has upheld the vast majority of claims filed by the Georgian Government against the US oil and gas firm Frontera Resources, the government says. Georgia had accused the company of violating the terms of their contract, signed in 1997. They claimed that Frontera refused to return to the state land they were SON OF FORMER ARMENIAN FINANCE MINISTER GOES ON THE RUN Son of former Armenian Finance Minister goes on the run. Gurgen Khachatryan. Official picture. The son of former Finance Minister of Armenia Gagik Khachatryan has refused to turn himself in after being charged with money laundering and corruption. Gurgen Khachatryan, who denies the charges, remains at large and the National Security

Services

GEORGIA TOUGHENS RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS FOR FOREIGN CITIZENS The amendment passed by the ruling Georgian Dream party also toughened regulations for labour-based residency by requiring foreign citizens to have a monthly income of no less than five times the subsistence minimum, currently ₾190 ($68). They must also be employed by a company with an annual turnover of at least ₾50,000 ($18,000) per ARMENIA’S ORPHANS COME HOME Armenia’s orphans come home. The school bag of 12 year old Goharik, a student at the Fridtjof Nansen boarding school. Photo: Armine Avetisyan. The Armenian government has closed and repurposed orphanages and boarding schools, which care for orphans and children living in difficult conditions, as part of a process of deinstitutionalisation. ARMENIA’S NEW EDUCATION STANDARDS UNDER FIRE FOR LACK OF Armenia’s Ministry of Education has come under intense heat after circulating a draft regulation on New Standards for General Education that would overhaul the country’s public education system. Some critics have accused the ministry of trying to oppose the country’s ‘national values’. The new standards, compiled in a 50-page draft PROTESTERS DEMAND ABORTION BAN IN DAGHESTAN Protesters demand abortion ban in Daghestan. Around 150 people gathered in Makhachkala on 14 July calling for a ban on abortion. The protest was followed by heated exchanges on social media over the issue. The Give Me Life rally was organised by the Daghestan’s

Ministry of Health.

COVID-19 VACCINATION PROCEEDS SLOWLY IN ABKHAZIA Vaccination against COVID-19 is progressing slowly in Abkhazia, with under 1% having received one dose and 79 people being fully vaccinated

so far.

OC MEDIA | 19 APRIL AGREEMENT The latest news, opinion, and analysis on 19 April Agreement from OC

Media.

AMNESTY CONTROVERSY THREATENS TO DERAIL EU-BROKERED DEAL Months before the local elections, disagreements over a proposed amnesty law are threatening to derail a deal brokered by the EU to bring an end to the political crisis in the country. DATABLOG | WHO DOESN’T WATCH TV IN GEORGIA? Television is the primary source of information for most in Georgia, and it has been for at least the last decade.Yet, as internet penetration expands in Georgia, so too has the share of people using the internet as their primary source of information, and data from CRRC Georgia’s 2020 Caucasus Barometer survey suggests that many people have simply stopped watching TV. MASS FELLING OF TREES IN NORTH AZERBAIJAN CONTINUE Activists estimate that nearly 5 hectares of trees have already been chopped down in the village of Farzalioba. SHUKRUTIANS END HUNGER STRIKE AFTER REACHING DEAL WITH Mining company Georgian Manganese has struck a deal with residents of Shukruti to bring an end to their hunger strike after 30 days. Residents of Shukruti, a village near Chiatura which sits above active mining tunnels, have been protesting on and off for almost two years over the collapse of houses in the village due to mining. OPINION | HOW AZERBAIJAN’S MEDIA IGNORES ANTI-QUEER VIOLENCE The media’s silence in the face of a surge of anti-queer violence is nothing less than complicity with it. NEW REPORT DETAILS GROSS VIOLATIONS OF HUMANITARIAN LAW IN A new report published by IPHR/Truth Hounds has detailed extensive violations by Armenian and Azerbaijani forces of international humanitarian law during the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War, including unlawful bombing, extrajudicial killings, and torture. VOICE | I'M LOOKING FOR MY CHILD In the wake of the revelations about the trafficking of newborns in Armenia, Haykuhi Khachatryan began to believe that her late newborn

was still alive.

OC MEDIA, AUTHOR AT OC MEDIA OC Media. Open Caucasus Media brings you news, commentary, multimedia, and investigations from the North and South Caucasus. OC MEDIA | FIERCE, INDEPENDENT JOURNALISM FROM THE NORTHFEATURE STORIESANALYSISOPINIONEDITORIALVOICESIN PICTURES The shelter saving bears from exploitation in Georgia. Many bears in Georgia are kept in captivity — often as ‘decorations’ to attract tourists. One shelter near Tbilisi is trying to save such bears from a similar fate. animal rights. The shelter saving bears from exploitation in Georgia. By Tata Shoshiashvili. OC MEDIA | WHO WE ARE Who we are. Open Caucasus Media brings you news, commentary, multimedia, and investigations from the North and South Caucasus, with in-depth analysis of the issues, movements, conflicts, and people

shaping the region.

VIDEO SPARKS DEBATE ABOUT SEXUAL HARASSMENT IN AZERBAIJAN Video sparks debate about sexual harassment in Azerbaijan. Azerbaijani ex-MP and university professor Huseynbala Miralamov was fired after being caught on camera inappropriately touching his woman employee. In the video the woman smiles at first, but when she realizes that they are being recorded, covers her face in shock and runs away. EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT CALLS FOR ‘IMMEDIATE’ AND According to the resolution, the European Parliament ‘demands the immediate and unconditional release of all Armenian prisoners, both military and civilian, detained during and after the conflict, and that Azerbaijan refrains from making arbitrary detentions in the future’. The resolution also stressed that there’s a need for new

efforts

GEORGIAN GOVERNMENT WINS ARBITRATION WITH US OIL AND GAS The International Arbitration Tribunal has upheld the vast majority of claims filed by the Georgian Government against the US oil and gas firm Frontera Resources, the government says. Georgia had accused the company of violating the terms of their contract, signed in 1997. They claimed that Frontera refused to return to the state land they were SON OF FORMER ARMENIAN FINANCE MINISTER GOES ON THE RUN Son of former Armenian Finance Minister goes on the run. Gurgen Khachatryan. Official picture. The son of former Finance Minister of Armenia Gagik Khachatryan has refused to turn himself in after being charged with money laundering and corruption. Gurgen Khachatryan, who denies the charges, remains at large and the National Security

Services

GEORGIA TOUGHENS RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS FOR FOREIGN CITIZENS The amendment passed by the ruling Georgian Dream party also toughened regulations for labour-based residency by requiring foreign citizens to have a monthly income of no less than five times the subsistence minimum, currently ₾190 ($68). They must also be employed by a company with an annual turnover of at least ₾50,000 ($18,000) per ARMENIA’S NEW EDUCATION STANDARDS UNDER FIRE FOR LACK OF Armenia’s Ministry of Education has come under intense heat after circulating a draft regulation on New Standards for General Education that would overhaul the country’s public education system. Some critics have accused the ministry of trying to oppose the country’s ‘national values’. The new standards, compiled in a 50-page draft STRASBOURG COURT RULES RUSSIA HAS ‘EFFECTIVE CONTROL’ OVER Strasbourg court rules Russia has ‘effective control’ over Abkhazia and South Ossetia. The European Court of Human Rights has ruled that following the 2008 August War, the Russian Federation has exercised ‘effective control’ over Abkhazia and South Ossetia. In the hotly awaited verdict in the Georgia v Russia case, the Grand

Chamber of

PROTESTERS DEMAND ABORTION BAN IN DAGHESTAN Protesters demand abortion ban in Daghestan. Around 150 people gathered in Makhachkala on 14 July calling for a ban on abortion. The protest was followed by heated exchanges on social media over the issue. The Give Me Life rally was organised by the Daghestan’s

Ministry of Health.

OC MEDIA | FIERCE, INDEPENDENT JOURNALISM FROM THE NORTHFEATURE STORIESANALYSISOPINIONEDITORIALVOICESIN PICTURES The shelter saving bears from exploitation in Georgia. Many bears in Georgia are kept in captivity — often as ‘decorations’ to attract tourists. One shelter near Tbilisi is trying to save such bears from a similar fate. animal rights. The shelter saving bears from exploitation in Georgia. By Tata Shoshiashvili. OC MEDIA | WHO WE ARE Who we are. Open Caucasus Media brings you news, commentary, multimedia, and investigations from the North and South Caucasus, with in-depth analysis of the issues, movements, conflicts, and people

shaping the region.

VIDEO SPARKS DEBATE ABOUT SEXUAL HARASSMENT IN AZERBAIJAN Video sparks debate about sexual harassment in Azerbaijan. Azerbaijani ex-MP and university professor Huseynbala Miralamov was fired after being caught on camera inappropriately touching his woman employee. In the video the woman smiles at first, but when she realizes that they are being recorded, covers her face in shock and runs away. EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT CALLS FOR ‘IMMEDIATE’ AND According to the resolution, the European Parliament ‘demands the immediate and unconditional release of all Armenian prisoners, both military and civilian, detained during and after the conflict, and that Azerbaijan refrains from making arbitrary detentions in the future’. The resolution also stressed that there’s a need for new

efforts

GEORGIAN GOVERNMENT WINS ARBITRATION WITH US OIL AND GAS The International Arbitration Tribunal has upheld the vast majority of claims filed by the Georgian Government against the US oil and gas firm Frontera Resources, the government says. Georgia had accused the company of violating the terms of their contract, signed in 1997. They claimed that Frontera refused to return to the state land they were SON OF FORMER ARMENIAN FINANCE MINISTER GOES ON THE RUN Son of former Armenian Finance Minister goes on the run. Gurgen Khachatryan. Official picture. The son of former Finance Minister of Armenia Gagik Khachatryan has refused to turn himself in after being charged with money laundering and corruption. Gurgen Khachatryan, who denies the charges, remains at large and the National Security

Services

GEORGIA TOUGHENS RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS FOR FOREIGN CITIZENS The amendment passed by the ruling Georgian Dream party also toughened regulations for labour-based residency by requiring foreign citizens to have a monthly income of no less than five times the subsistence minimum, currently ₾190 ($68). They must also be employed by a company with an annual turnover of at least ₾50,000 ($18,000) per ARMENIA’S NEW EDUCATION STANDARDS UNDER FIRE FOR LACK OF Armenia’s Ministry of Education has come under intense heat after circulating a draft regulation on New Standards for General Education that would overhaul the country’s public education system. Some critics have accused the ministry of trying to oppose the country’s ‘national values’. The new standards, compiled in a 50-page draft STRASBOURG COURT RULES RUSSIA HAS ‘EFFECTIVE CONTROL’ OVER Strasbourg court rules Russia has ‘effective control’ over Abkhazia and South Ossetia. The European Court of Human Rights has ruled that following the 2008 August War, the Russian Federation has exercised ‘effective control’ over Abkhazia and South Ossetia. In the hotly awaited verdict in the Georgia v Russia case, the Grand

Chamber of

PROTESTERS DEMAND ABORTION BAN IN DAGHESTAN Protesters demand abortion ban in Daghestan. Around 150 people gathered in Makhachkala on 14 July calling for a ban on abortion. The protest was followed by heated exchanges on social media over the issue. The Give Me Life rally was organised by the Daghestan’s

Ministry of Health.

OC MEDIA | WHO WE ARE It’s our priority for 2021 to consolidate our funding sources, to increase our independence from donors, and to finance a portion of our budget from monetisation, i.e. donations, meeting space rental, training services, merchandise.All monetisation initiatives except TERESA DI MAURO, AUTHOR AT OC MEDIA Teresa Di Mauro. Teresa is a freelance journalist who holds a Bachelor degree in "Development and International Cooperation" at the University of Bologna. She has a keen interest in social issues, migrations, minorities and conflicts. Recently, she moved to Denmark for the Erasmus Mundus Master's Degree in Journalism. Georgia. DATABLOG | WHO DOESN’T WATCH TV IN GEORGIA? Television is the primary source of information for most in Georgia, and it has been for at least the last decade.Yet, as internet penetration expands in Georgia, so too has the share of people using the internet as their primary source of information, and data from CRRC Georgia’s 2020 Caucasus Barometer survey suggests that many people have simply stopped watching TV. MASS FELLING OF TREES IN NORTH AZERBAIJAN CONTINUE Activists estimate that nearly 5 hectares of trees have already been chopped down in the village of Farzalioba. OPINION | HOW AZERBAIJAN’S MEDIA IGNORES ANTI-QUEER VIOLENCE The media’s silence in the face of a surge of anti-queer violence is nothing less than complicity with it. SHUKRUTIANS END HUNGER STRIKE AFTER REACHING DEAL WITH Mining company Georgian Manganese has struck a deal with residents of Shukruti to bring an end to their hunger strike after 30 days. Residents of Shukruti, a village near Chiatura which sits above active mining tunnels, have been protesting on and off for almost two years over the collapse of houses in the village due to mining. VOICE | I'M LOOKING FOR MY CHILD In the wake of the revelations about the trafficking of newborns in Armenia, Haykuhi Khachatryan began to believe that her late newborn

was still alive.

OC MEDIA, AUTHOR AT OC MEDIA OC Media. Open Caucasus Media brings you news, commentary, multimedia, and investigations from the North and South Caucasus. NEW REPORT DETAILS GROSS VIOLATIONS OF HUMANITARIAN LAW IN A new report published by IPHR/Truth Hounds has detailed extensive violations by Armenian and Azerbaijani forces of international humanitarian law during the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War, including unlawful bombing, extrajudicial killings, and torture. OC MEDIA | NAGORNO-KARABAKH The latest news, opinion, and analysis on Nagorno-Karabakh from OC

Media.

OC MEDIA | FIERCE, INDEPENDENT JOURNALISM FROM THE NORTHFEATURE STORIESANALYSISOPINIONEDITORIALVOICESIN PICTURES The shelter saving bears from exploitation in Georgia. Many bears in Georgia are kept in captivity — often as ‘decorations’ to attract tourists. One shelter near Tbilisi is trying to save such bears from a similar fate. animal rights. The shelter saving bears from exploitation in Georgia. By Tata Shoshiashvili. OC MEDIA | WHO WE ARE Who we are. Open Caucasus Media brings you news, commentary, multimedia, and investigations from the North and South Caucasus, with in-depth analysis of the issues, movements, conflicts, and people

shaping the region.

VIDEO SPARKS DEBATE ABOUT SEXUAL HARASSMENT IN AZERBAIJAN Video sparks debate about sexual harassment in Azerbaijan. Azerbaijani ex-MP and university professor Huseynbala Miralamov was fired after being caught on camera inappropriately touching his woman employee. In the video the woman smiles at first, but when she realizes that they are being recorded, covers her face in shock and runs away. EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT CALLS FOR ‘IMMEDIATE’ AND According to the resolution, the European Parliament ‘demands the immediate and unconditional release of all Armenian prisoners, both military and civilian, detained during and after the conflict, and that Azerbaijan refrains from making arbitrary detentions in the future’. The resolution also stressed that there’s a need for new

efforts

GEORGIA TOUGHENS RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS FOR FOREIGN CITIZENS The amendment passed by the ruling Georgian Dream party also toughened regulations for labour-based residency by requiring foreign citizens to have a monthly income of no less than five times the subsistence minimum, currently ₾190 ($68). They must also be employed by a company with an annual turnover of at least ₾50,000 ($18,000) per SON OF FORMER ARMENIAN FINANCE MINISTER GOES ON THE RUN Son of former Armenian Finance Minister goes on the run. Gurgen Khachatryan. Official picture. The son of former Finance Minister of Armenia Gagik Khachatryan has refused to turn himself in after being charged with money laundering and corruption. Gurgen Khachatryan, who denies the charges, remains at large and the National Security

Services

ALIYEV THREATENS TO ESTABLISH ‘CORRIDOR’ IN ARMENIA BY FORCE Ilham Aliyev. Photo via Azertag. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has threatened to use force to establish a ‘corridor’ through southern Armenia connecting western Azerbaijan with the Autonomous Nakhchivan Republic. The comments were met with outrage in Armenia. ‘The creation of the Zangezur corridor fully meets our national,

historical

PROTESTERS DEMAND ABORTION BAN IN DAGHESTAN Protesters demand abortion ban in Daghestan. Around 150 people gathered in Makhachkala on 14 July calling for a ban on abortion. The protest was followed by heated exchanges on social media over the issue. The Give Me Life rally was organised by the Daghestan’s

Ministry of Health.

STRASBOURG COURT RULES RUSSIA HAS ‘EFFECTIVE CONTROL’ OVER Strasbourg court rules Russia has ‘effective control’ over Abkhazia and South Ossetia. The European Court of Human Rights has ruled that following the 2008 August War, the Russian Federation has exercised ‘effective control’ over Abkhazia and South Ossetia. In the hotly awaited verdict in the Georgia v Russia case, the Grand

Chamber of

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OC MEDIA | FIERCE, INDEPENDENT JOURNALISM FROM THE NORTHFEATURE STORIESANALYSISOPINIONEDITORIALVOICESIN PICTURES The shelter saving bears from exploitation in Georgia. Many bears in Georgia are kept in captivity — often as ‘decorations’ to attract tourists. One shelter near Tbilisi is trying to save such bears from a similar fate. animal rights. The shelter saving bears from exploitation in Georgia. By Tata Shoshiashvili. OC MEDIA | WHO WE ARE Who we are. Open Caucasus Media brings you news, commentary, multimedia, and investigations from the North and South Caucasus, with in-depth analysis of the issues, movements, conflicts, and people

shaping the region.

VIDEO SPARKS DEBATE ABOUT SEXUAL HARASSMENT IN AZERBAIJAN Video sparks debate about sexual harassment in Azerbaijan. Azerbaijani ex-MP and university professor Huseynbala Miralamov was fired after being caught on camera inappropriately touching his woman employee. In the video the woman smiles at first, but when she realizes that they are being recorded, covers her face in shock and runs away. EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT CALLS FOR ‘IMMEDIATE’ AND According to the resolution, the European Parliament ‘demands the immediate and unconditional release of all Armenian prisoners, both military and civilian, detained during and after the conflict, and that Azerbaijan refrains from making arbitrary detentions in the future’. The resolution also stressed that there’s a need for new

efforts

GEORGIA TOUGHENS RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS FOR FOREIGN CITIZENS The amendment passed by the ruling Georgian Dream party also toughened regulations for labour-based residency by requiring foreign citizens to have a monthly income of no less than five times the subsistence minimum, currently ₾190 ($68). They must also be employed by a company with an annual turnover of at least ₾50,000 ($18,000) per SON OF FORMER ARMENIAN FINANCE MINISTER GOES ON THE RUN Son of former Armenian Finance Minister goes on the run. Gurgen Khachatryan. Official picture. The son of former Finance Minister of Armenia Gagik Khachatryan has refused to turn himself in after being charged with money laundering and corruption. Gurgen Khachatryan, who denies the charges, remains at large and the National Security

Services

ALIYEV THREATENS TO ESTABLISH ‘CORRIDOR’ IN ARMENIA BY FORCE Ilham Aliyev. Photo via Azertag. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has threatened to use force to establish a ‘corridor’ through southern Armenia connecting western Azerbaijan with the Autonomous Nakhchivan Republic. The comments were met with outrage in Armenia. ‘The creation of the Zangezur corridor fully meets our national,

historical

PROTESTERS DEMAND ABORTION BAN IN DAGHESTAN Protesters demand abortion ban in Daghestan. Around 150 people gathered in Makhachkala on 14 July calling for a ban on abortion. The protest was followed by heated exchanges on social media over the issue. The Give Me Life rally was organised by the Daghestan’s

Ministry of Health.

STRASBOURG COURT RULES RUSSIA HAS ‘EFFECTIVE CONTROL’ OVER Strasbourg court rules Russia has ‘effective control’ over Abkhazia and South Ossetia. The European Court of Human Rights has ruled that following the 2008 August War, the Russian Federation has exercised ‘effective control’ over Abkhazia and South Ossetia. In the hotly awaited verdict in the Georgia v Russia case, the Grand

Chamber of

CONTROVERSIAL GEORGIAN EX-CHIEF PROSECUTOR RECONFIRMED TOSEE MORE ON

OC-MEDIA.ORG

OC MEDIA | WHO WE ARE It’s our priority for 2021 to consolidate our funding sources, to increase our independence from donors, and to finance a portion of our budget from monetisation, i.e. donations, meeting space rental, training services, merchandise.All monetisation initiatives except DATABLOG | WHO DOESN’T WATCH TV IN GEORGIA? Television is the primary source of information for most in Georgia, and it has been for at least the last decade.Yet, as internet penetration expands in Georgia, so too has the share of people using the internet as their primary source of information, and data from CRRC Georgia’s 2020 Caucasus Barometer survey suggests that many people have simply stopped watching TV. MASS FELLING OF TREES IN NORTH AZERBAIJAN CONTINUE Activists estimate that nearly 5 hectares of trees have already been chopped down in the village of Farzalioba. SHUKRUTIANS END HUNGER STRIKE AFTER REACHING DEAL WITH Mining company Georgian Manganese has struck a deal with residents of Shukruti to bring an end to their hunger strike after 30 days. Residents of Shukruti, a village near Chiatura which sits above active mining tunnels, have been protesting on and off for almost two years over the collapse of houses in the village due to mining. NEW REPORT DETAILS GROSS VIOLATIONS OF HUMANITARIAN LAW IN A new report published by IPHR/Truth Hounds has detailed extensive violations by Armenian and Azerbaijani forces of international humanitarian law during the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War, including unlawful bombing, extrajudicial killings, and torture. OC MEDIA, AUTHOR AT OC MEDIA OC Media. Open Caucasus Media brings you news, commentary, multimedia, and investigations from the North and South Caucasus. VOICE | I'M LOOKING FOR MY CHILD In the wake of the revelations about the trafficking of newborns in Armenia, Haykuhi Khachatryan began to believe that her late newborn

was still alive.

OC MEDIA, AUTHOR AT OC MEDIA Gakharia failed to act but did not give order to use rubber bullets, Public Defender reports. The recent report by Georgia’s public defender calls police actions on 20 June unlawful, and also calls criticises the subsequent investigation as flawed. SPATE OF HOMOPHOBIC ATTACKS IN AZERBAIJAN In the last week, there were three separate attacks against members of the queer community in Azerbaijan. The victims have stated that they were attacked because of their sexuality.

FEATURE ARCHIVES

5. New report details gross violations of humanitarian law in Second Nagorno-Karabakh War OC MEDIA | FIERCE, INDEPENDENT JOURNALISM FROM THE NORTHFEATURE STORIESANALYSISOPINIONEDITORIALVOICESIN PICTURES Georgian state officials to relocate over a dozen from controversial Church-run orphanage. An estimated 16 minors have been immediately slated for relocation after a monitoring visit by state officials. VIDEO SPARKS DEBATE ABOUT SEXUAL HARASSMENT IN AZERBAIJAN Video of the incident crossed the Atlantic and was featured on the American late night show Jimmy Kimmel Live! IVANISHVILI’S TREE COLLECTING HOBBY Georgia’s billionaire ex prime minister Bidzina Ivanishvili has been ripping up ancient and rare trees from across the country and transporting them to his private arboretum in Ureki. While the government claims it is for their own protection, activists continue to challenge the move. ‘It’s my hobby and I really love big trees, giant trees Continued CORONAVIRUS LIVE UPDATES Ramzan Kadyrov reportedly hospitalised in Moscow, COVID-19 suspected. Russian state-run news agency Interfax cited a source from the medical community in Moscow saying that Head of Chechnya Ramzan Kadyrov is being closely watched in Russia’s capital city as he is suspected to have contracted COVID-19.. Earlier reports came from Russian Telegram channel Baza saying today that he SON OF FORMER ARMENIAN FINANCE MINISTER GOES ON THE RUN The son of former Finance Minister of Armenia Gagik Khachatryan has refused to turn himself in after being charged with money laundering

and corruption.

ARMENIA’S ORPHANS COME HOME Armine Avetisyan is a print and broadcast journalist from Armenia who has covered social and political issues in the country since 2007. She holds a Master’s Degree from the Georgian Institute of Public

Affairs (GIPA).

PROTESTERS DEMAND ABORTION BAN IN DAGHESTAN Around 150 people gathered in Makhachkala on 14 July calling for a ban on abortion. The protest was followed by heated exchanges on social media over the issue. The Give Me Life rally was organised by the Daghestan’s Ministry of Health. According to a spokesperson of the ministry, Zarina Murtuzaliyeva, it is held annually. Employees

Continued

ARMENIA’S NEW EDUCATION STANDARDS UNDER FIRE FOR LACK OF Armenia’s Ministry of Education has come under intense heat after circulating a draft regulation on New Standards for General Education that would overhaul the country’s public education system. Some critics have accused the ministry of trying to oppose the country’s ‘national values’. GEORGIA TOUGHENS RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS FOR FOREIGN CITIZENS The House of Justice. (Mari Nikuradze / OC Media) Georgia has introduced tough new residency requirements for foreign citizens in what authorities say is a bid to close a loophole enabling ‘residency reselling’. KADYROV CAUSES OUTRAGE IN DAGHESTAN WITH COMMENTS ON IMAM Ramzan Kadyrov (RFE/RL North Caucasus Service) The head of Chechnya, Ramzan Kadyrov, has provoked outrage in neighbouring Daghestan by criticising Imam Shamil, the leader of the resistance to the Russian Empire’s 19th-century conquest of the North-east Caucasus. OC MEDIA | FIERCE, INDEPENDENT JOURNALISM FROM THE NORTHFEATURE STORIESANALYSISOPINIONEDITORIALVOICESIN PICTURES Georgian state officials to relocate over a dozen from controversial Church-run orphanage. An estimated 16 minors have been immediately slated for relocation after a monitoring visit by state officials. VIDEO SPARKS DEBATE ABOUT SEXUAL HARASSMENT IN AZERBAIJAN Video of the incident crossed the Atlantic and was featured on the American late night show Jimmy Kimmel Live! IVANISHVILI’S TREE COLLECTING HOBBY Georgia’s billionaire ex prime minister Bidzina Ivanishvili has been ripping up ancient and rare trees from across the country and transporting them to his private arboretum in Ureki. While the government claims it is for their own protection, activists continue to challenge the move. ‘It’s my hobby and I really love big trees, giant trees Continued CORONAVIRUS LIVE UPDATES Ramzan Kadyrov reportedly hospitalised in Moscow, COVID-19 suspected. Russian state-run news agency Interfax cited a source from the medical community in Moscow saying that Head of Chechnya Ramzan Kadyrov is being closely watched in Russia’s capital city as he is suspected to have contracted COVID-19.. Earlier reports came from Russian Telegram channel Baza saying today that he SON OF FORMER ARMENIAN FINANCE MINISTER GOES ON THE RUN The son of former Finance Minister of Armenia Gagik Khachatryan has refused to turn himself in after being charged with money laundering

and corruption.

ARMENIA’S ORPHANS COME HOME Armine Avetisyan is a print and broadcast journalist from Armenia who has covered social and political issues in the country since 2007. She holds a Master’s Degree from the Georgian Institute of Public

Affairs (GIPA).

PROTESTERS DEMAND ABORTION BAN IN DAGHESTAN Around 150 people gathered in Makhachkala on 14 July calling for a ban on abortion. The protest was followed by heated exchanges on social media over the issue. The Give Me Life rally was organised by the Daghestan’s Ministry of Health. According to a spokesperson of the ministry, Zarina Murtuzaliyeva, it is held annually. Employees

Continued

ARMENIA’S NEW EDUCATION STANDARDS UNDER FIRE FOR LACK OF Armenia’s Ministry of Education has come under intense heat after circulating a draft regulation on New Standards for General Education that would overhaul the country’s public education system. Some critics have accused the ministry of trying to oppose the country’s ‘national values’. GEORGIA TOUGHENS RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS FOR FOREIGN CITIZENS The House of Justice. (Mari Nikuradze / OC Media) Georgia has introduced tough new residency requirements for foreign citizens in what authorities say is a bid to close a loophole enabling ‘residency reselling’. KADYROV CAUSES OUTRAGE IN DAGHESTAN WITH COMMENTS ON IMAM Ramzan Kadyrov (RFE/RL North Caucasus Service) The head of Chechnya, Ramzan Kadyrov, has provoked outrage in neighbouring Daghestan by criticising Imam Shamil, the leader of the resistance to the Russian Empire’s 19th-century conquest of the North-east Caucasus. OC MEDIA | WHO WE ARE It’s our priority for 2021 to consolidate our funding sources, to increase our independence from donors, and to finance a portion of our budget from monetisation, i.e. donations, meeting space rental, training services, merchandise.All monetisation initiatives except DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN HAVE The financial difficulties of the pandemic, combined with social isolation measures during Azerbaijan’s anti-coronavirus lockdown have led to a sharp spike in domestic violence cases, anti-domestic violence advocates warn. DATABLOG | WHO DOESN’T WATCH TV IN GEORGIA? Television is the primary source of information for most in Georgia, and it has been for at least the last decade.Yet, as internet penetration expands in Georgia, so too has the share of people using the internet as their primary source of information, and data from CRRC Georgia’s 2020 Caucasus Barometer survey suggests that many people have simply stopped watching TV. ‘DUTCH-MADE’ RAPID TESTS SOLD TO GEORGIA WERE RELABELLED The Georgian Government purchased 30,000 COVID-19 rapid tests supposedly made by Dutch biotechnology firm Inzek. OC MEDIA, AUTHOR AT OC MEDIA Georgian social workers forced to pay for taxis to visit domestic abuse victims. The long running issue of work-related travel expenses has become more acute after the SPATE OF HOMOPHOBIC ATTACKS IN AZERBAIJAN In the last week, there were three separate attacks against members of the queer community in Azerbaijan. The victims have stated that they were attacked because of their sexuality. OC MEDIA, AUTHOR AT OC MEDIA Gakharia failed to act but did not give order to use rubber bullets, Public Defender reports. The recent report by Georgia’s public defender calls police actions on 20 June unlawful, and also calls criticises the subsequent investigation as flawed. OC MEDIA | NINOTSMINDA ORPHANAGE Georgian state officials to relocate over a dozen from controversial Church-run orphanage. An estimated 16 minors have been immediately slated for relocation after a monitoring visit by state officials. OC MEDIA, AUTHOR AT OC MEDIA Former Georgian Defence Minister Irakli Okruashvili given 5 years for 20 June violence. Opposition groups say the verdict endangers a deal with the ruling Georgian Dream party OC MEDIA, AUTHOR AT OC MEDIA OC Media. Open Caucasus Media brings you news, commentary, multimedia, and investigations from the North and South Caucasus. OC MEDIA | FIERCE, INDEPENDENT JOURNALISM FROM THE NORTHFEATURE STORIESANALYSISOPINIONEDITORIALVOICESIN PICTURESCOLORADO MEDIA GROUP Georgian state officials to relocate over a dozen from controversial Church-run orphanage. An estimated 16 minors have been immediately slated for relocation after a monitoring visit by state officials. OC MEDIA | WHO WE ARE It’s our priority for 2021 to consolidate our funding sources, to increase our independence from donors, and to finance a portion of our budget from monetisation, i.e. donations, meeting space rental, training services, merchandise.All monetisation initiatives except VIDEO SPARKS DEBATE ABOUT SEXUAL HARASSMENT IN AZERBAIJAN Video of the incident crossed the Atlantic and was featured on the American late night show Jimmy Kimmel Live! TERESA DI MAURO, AUTHOR AT OC MEDIA Teresa Di Mauro. Teresa is a freelance journalist who holds a Bachelor degree in "Development and International Cooperation" at the University of Bologna. ARMENIA’S NEW EDUCATION STANDARDS UNDER FIRE FOR LACK OFSTATE STANDARDS FOR EDUCATIONNATIONAL STANDARDS FOR ELEMENTARY EDUCATIONPA EDUCATION STANDARDSFLORIDA STANDARDS EDUCATIONHEALTH EDUCATION STANDARDS NYSNATIONAL HEALTH EDUCATION STANDARDS Armenia’s Ministry of Education has come under intense heat after circulating a draft regulation on New Standards for General Education that would overhaul the country’s public education system. Some critics have accused the ministry of trying to oppose the country’s ‘national values’. SON OF FORMER ARMENIAN FINANCE MINISTER GOES ON THE RUN The son of former Finance Minister of Armenia Gagik Khachatryan has refused to turn himself in after being charged with money laundering

and corruption.

PROTESTERS DEMAND ABORTION BAN IN DAGHESTAN Around 150 people gathered in Makhachkala on 14 July calling for a ban on abortion. The protest was followed by heated exchanges on social media over the issue. The Give Me Life rally was organised by the Daghestan’s Ministry of Health. According to a spokesperson of the ministry, Zarina Murtuzaliyeva, it is held annually. Employees

Continued

GEORGIA TOUGHENS RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS FOR FOREIGN CITIZENSGEORGIA RESIDENCY FOR COLLEGEGEORGIA RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTSGEORGIA RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS VOTINGGEORGIA STATE RESIDENCY RULESGEORGIA RESIDENCY LAWGEORGIA RESIDENCY VOTING The House of Justice. (Mari Nikuradze / OC Media) Georgia has introduced tough new residency requirements for foreign citizens in what authorities say is a bid to close a loophole enabling ‘residency reselling’. AZERBAIJANI OPPOSITION CANDIDATES ‘PREVENTED FROM Photo: Trend News Agency. Several opposition and independent candidates have claimed to have been prevented from registering for 9 February’s snap parliamentary elections. KADYROV CAUSES OUTRAGE IN DAGHESTAN WITH COMMENTS ON IMAM Ramzan Kadyrov (RFE/RL North Caucasus Service) The head of Chechnya, Ramzan Kadyrov, has provoked outrage in neighbouring Daghestan by criticising Imam Shamil, the leader of the resistance to the Russian Empire’s 19th-century conquest of the North-east Caucasus. OC MEDIA | FIERCE, INDEPENDENT JOURNALISM FROM THE NORTHFEATURE STORIESANALYSISOPINIONEDITORIALVOICESIN PICTURESCOLORADO MEDIA GROUP Georgian state officials to relocate over a dozen from controversial Church-run orphanage. An estimated 16 minors have been immediately slated for relocation after a monitoring visit by state officials. OC MEDIA | WHO WE ARE It’s our priority for 2021 to consolidate our funding sources, to increase our independence from donors, and to finance a portion of our budget from monetisation, i.e. donations, meeting space rental, training services, merchandise.All monetisation initiatives except VIDEO SPARKS DEBATE ABOUT SEXUAL HARASSMENT IN AZERBAIJAN Video of the incident crossed the Atlantic and was featured on the American late night show Jimmy Kimmel Live! TERESA DI MAURO, AUTHOR AT OC MEDIA Teresa Di Mauro. Teresa is a freelance journalist who holds a Bachelor degree in "Development and International Cooperation" at the University of Bologna. ARMENIA’S NEW EDUCATION STANDARDS UNDER FIRE FOR LACK OFSTATE STANDARDS FOR EDUCATIONNATIONAL STANDARDS FOR ELEMENTARY EDUCATIONPA EDUCATION STANDARDSFLORIDA STANDARDS EDUCATIONHEALTH EDUCATION STANDARDS NYSNATIONAL HEALTH EDUCATION STANDARDS Armenia’s Ministry of Education has come under intense heat after circulating a draft regulation on New Standards for General Education that would overhaul the country’s public education system. Some critics have accused the ministry of trying to oppose the country’s ‘national values’. SON OF FORMER ARMENIAN FINANCE MINISTER GOES ON THE RUN The son of former Finance Minister of Armenia Gagik Khachatryan has refused to turn himself in after being charged with money laundering

and corruption.

PROTESTERS DEMAND ABORTION BAN IN DAGHESTAN Around 150 people gathered in Makhachkala on 14 July calling for a ban on abortion. The protest was followed by heated exchanges on social media over the issue. The Give Me Life rally was organised by the Daghestan’s Ministry of Health. According to a spokesperson of the ministry, Zarina Murtuzaliyeva, it is held annually. Employees

Continued

GEORGIA TOUGHENS RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS FOR FOREIGN CITIZENSGEORGIA RESIDENCY FOR COLLEGEGEORGIA RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTSGEORGIA RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS VOTINGGEORGIA STATE RESIDENCY RULESGEORGIA RESIDENCY LAWGEORGIA RESIDENCY VOTING The House of Justice. (Mari Nikuradze / OC Media) Georgia has introduced tough new residency requirements for foreign citizens in what authorities say is a bid to close a loophole enabling ‘residency reselling’. AZERBAIJANI OPPOSITION CANDIDATES ‘PREVENTED FROM Photo: Trend News Agency. Several opposition and independent candidates have claimed to have been prevented from registering for 9 February’s snap parliamentary elections. KADYROV CAUSES OUTRAGE IN DAGHESTAN WITH COMMENTS ON IMAM Ramzan Kadyrov (RFE/RL North Caucasus Service) The head of Chechnya, Ramzan Kadyrov, has provoked outrage in neighbouring Daghestan by criticising Imam Shamil, the leader of the resistance to the Russian Empire’s 19th-century conquest of the North-east Caucasus. OC MEDIA | WHO WE ARE It’s our priority for 2021 to consolidate our funding sources, to increase our independence from donors, and to finance a portion of our budget from monetisation, i.e. donations, meeting space rental, training services, merchandise.All monetisation initiatives except ‘DUTCH-MADE’ RAPID TESTS SOLD TO GEORGIA WERE RELABELLED The Georgian Government purchased 30,000 COVID-19 rapid tests supposedly made by Dutch biotechnology firm Inzek. TWO AZERBAIJANI JOURNALISTS AND ONE OFFICIAL DIE IN Two Azerbaijani journalists and one local official died after an anti-tank mine exploded in Azerbaijan’s Kalbajar district, near the Azerbaijan-Armenia border. OC MEDIA, AUTHOR AT OC MEDIA Georgian social workers forced to pay for taxis to visit domestic abuse victims. The long running issue of work-related travel expenses has become more acute after the SPATE OF HOMOPHOBIC ATTACKS IN AZERBAIJAN In the last week, there were three separate attacks against members of the queer community in Azerbaijan. The victims have stated that they were attacked because of their sexuality. OC MEDIA, AUTHOR AT OC MEDIA Gakharia failed to act but did not give order to use rubber bullets, Public Defender reports. The recent report by Georgia’s public defender calls police actions on 20 June unlawful, and also calls criticises the subsequent investigation as flawed. OC MEDIA, AUTHOR AT OC MEDIA Former Georgian Defence Minister Irakli Okruashvili given 5 years for 20 June violence. Opposition groups say the verdict endangers a deal with the ruling Georgian Dream party OC MEDIA | NINOTSMINDA ORPHANAGE Georgian state officials to relocate over a dozen from controversial Church-run orphanage. An estimated 16 minors have been immediately slated for relocation after a monitoring visit by state officials. OC MEDIA | ARTAK BEGLARYAN The latest news, opinion, and analysis on Artak Beglaryan from OC

Media.

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gali

ABKHAZIAN FLAG ARSONIST SENTENCED TO NINE YEARS IN PRISON Georgian citizen Irakli Bebua, 27, was convicted by a court in Gali

District.

Read more

2020 nagorno-karabakh conflict AZERBAIJAN ANNOUNCES PAYOUTS FOR FAMILIES OF WAR DEAD The families of soldiers and civilians killed in the Second Nagorno Karabakh War will receive payments of ₼11,000 ($6,500) as well as

other benefits.

2020 nagorno-karabakh conflict AZERBAIJAN ANNOUNCES PAYOUTS FOR FAMILIES OF WAR DEAD The families of soldiers and civilians killed in the Second Nagorno Karabakh War will receive payments of ₼11,000 ($6,500) as well as

other benefits.

georgia

GIRCHI FACES SPLIT FOLLOWING CHILD PORN SCANDAL The Georgian libertarian party has been in chaos since one of its elected MPs criticised the prosecution of a man for possession of

child pornography.

georgia

GIRCHI FACES SPLIT FOLLOWING CHILD PORN SCANDAL The Georgian libertarian party has been in chaos since one of its elected MPs criticised the prosecution of a man for possession of

child pornography.

2020 nagorno-karabakh conflict FRUSTRATION IN ARMENIA AS POWS REMAIN IN CAPTIVITY Delays in the exchange of prisoners of war (POWs) and a large number of soldiers missing in action have led to increasing frustration in

Armenia.

2020 nagorno-karabakh conflict FRUSTRATION IN ARMENIA AS POWS REMAIN IN CAPTIVITY Delays in the exchange of prisoners of war (POWs) and a large number of soldiers missing in action have led to increasing frustration in

Armenia.

chechnya

CHECHEN WOMEN SCOLDED AND FORCED TO REMOVE NIQABS ON STATE TV The women were reprimanded on Grozny TV by the Mufti of Chechnya and the head of Grozny’s Department of Interior.

chechnya

CHECHEN WOMEN SCOLDED AND FORCED TO REMOVE NIQABS ON STATE TV The women were reprimanded on Grozny TV by the Mufti of Chechnya and the head of Grozny’s Department of Interior.

georgia

POLICE FACE OFF WITH ZEBRA AND SHARK BALLOONS IN BATUMI PROTEST Several opposition protesters have been detained during protests in recent days in the Georgian Black Sea City of Batumi.

georgia

POLICE FACE OFF WITH ZEBRA AND SHARK BALLOONS IN BATUMI PROTEST Several opposition protesters have been detained during protests in recent days in the Georgian Black Sea City of Batumi.

Azerbaijan

BAKU STATE UNIVERSITY EXPELS STUDENT FOR DANCE WITH AZERBAIJANI FLAG Classes in Azerbaijani universities are being held online due to COVID-19 quarantine regulations.

Covid-19

HOW THE SOUTH CAUCASUS STACKS UP IN THE CORONAVIRUS SECOND WAVE After an initial outbreak in Spring, Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia are once again facing rising coronavirus case numbers.

FEATURES & ANALYSIS

By Lorenz Hilfiker

Covid-19

ANALYSIS | GEORGIA’S COVID-19 REPRODUCTION NUMBER BODES WELL FOR

THE LOCKDOWN

The virus’ effective reproduction number, ‘R’ dropped to 1.03 already before new lockdown measures were introduced.

Read more

By Dustin Gilbreath

Datablog

DATABLOG | GEORGIAN VOTERS: PERSONALITIES, POLICIES, OR A BIT OF

BOTH?

Personality trumps policy in Georgian voter preference, but the economy is still an important factor.

Datablog

DATABLOG | GEORGIAN VOTERS: PERSONALITIES, POLICIES, OR A BIT OF

BOTH?

By Dustin Gilbreath

Personality trumps policy in Georgian voter preference, but the economy is still an important factor. By Nellie Petrossian

Armenia

FROM BEIRUT TO YEREVAN: A SURVIVOR’S STORY Shoghik Hekimyan-Godalazian, 73, moved to Armenia after a massive explosion in August 2020 ripped through her home in downtown Beirut.

Armenia

FROM BEIRUT TO YEREVAN: A SURVIVOR’S STORY By Nellie Petrossian Shoghik Hekimyan-Godalazian, 73, moved to Armenia after a massive explosion in August 2020 ripped through her home in downtown Beirut.

By Dvin Titizian

2020 nagorno-karabakh conflict ‘WE’VE LEFT OUR HEARTS THERE’: DISPLACED BY WAR IN

NAGORNO-KARABAKH

The war forced tens of thousands of Nagorno-Karabakh residents to flee their homes, now some of them are ready to share their stories. 2020 nagorno-karabakh conflict ‘WE’VE LEFT OUR HEARTS THERE’: DISPLACED BY WAR IN

NAGORNO-KARABAKH

By Dvin Titizian

The war forced tens of thousands of Nagorno-Karabakh residents to flee their homes, now some of them are ready to share their stories.

By Tamuna Chkareuli

Covid-19

VIOLETS FOR MEGABYTES: ONLINE LEARNING IN GEORGIA LEAVES STUDENTS

DISCONNECTED

A lack of internet access in the high mountains of Adjara and the financial burden on teachers and families mean many children are losing out on their education.

Covid-19

VIOLETS FOR MEGABYTES: ONLINE LEARNING IN GEORGIA LEAVES STUDENTS

DISCONNECTED

By Tamuna Chkareuli

A lack of internet access in the high mountains of Adjara and the financial burden on teachers and families mean many children are losing out on their education.

By Tamuna Chkareuli

Georgia’s un-universal healthcare HOW GEORGIA’S EMERGENCY SERVICES ABANDONED A PARAMEDIC LEFT

PARALYSED AT WORK

Left paralysed after an ambulance crash, paramedic Inga Dundua has been forced to fight the Emergency Services at every step of her

rehabilitation.

Georgia’s un-universal healthcare HOW GEORGIA’S EMERGENCY SERVICES ABANDONED A PARAMEDIC LEFT

PARALYSED AT WORK

By Tamuna Chkareuli

Left paralysed after an ambulance crash, paramedic Inga Dundua has been forced to fight the Emergency Services at every step of her

rehabilitation.

OPINION

By Arpi Bekaryan

Voices for Peace

OPINION | ‘WE DID NOT SPEAK, WE ONLY WHISPERED’ As peacemakers, we have remained much too quiet and so failed in our mission. This war is proof that we must raise our voices. By Leyla Sayfutdinova 2020 nagorno-karabakh conflict OPINION | ON THE IMPORTANCE OF LOSING The only way forward between Armenia and Azerbaijan is to reflect on what has been lost and what is left to lose.

By Bahruz Samadov

2020 nagorno-karabakh conflict OPINION | TO STAND FOR PEACE, IN SPITE OF EVERYTHING Historical trauma is at the root of Azerbaijani national identity and the present conflict, and without understanding and engaging with it, we will not build peace.

VOICES

*

VOICE | ‘WE ARE ALL TIRED, BUT WE SHOULDN’T GIVE UP’ Georgian doctor Nino Kvirtia talks about fighting both the coronavirus and the accompanying disinformation.

*

VITALI SAFAROV’S MOTHER: I MUST KNOW WHY THEY KILLED MY SON The mother is appealing the court’s verdict which said the murder wasn’t a hate crime.

*

VOICE | ‘WHETHER I HAVE A DISABILITY OR NOT, I AM STILL ME’ Jamila Mammadli, 26, talks about love, her passion for the theatre, and the preconceptions about disability that are pervasive in

Azerbaijan.

*

VOICE | ‘THEY SAY GEORGIA IS A TOLERANT AND DIVERSE COUNTRY; THESE

ARE JUST WORDS’

Gulgun Mamadli, 22, talks about experiencing xenophobia and hate speech during the pandemic.

*

VOICE | THE BITTERNESS OF THE KVANKHIDATLI SALT — THE WOMEN SALT

MINERS OF DAGHESTAN

In the mountain village of Kvankhidatli, women recall ‘going to the salt’ since the beginning of the 20th century.

*

VOICE | TAMARA MEARAKISHVILI: ‘IF I’M FOUND GUILTY, I WILL NOT

RUN AWAY’

The veteran activist and journalist reflects on life in Akhalgori, her ongoing prosecution, and the Georgian Government’s approach to South

Ossetia.

*

VOICE | ‘PEOPLE SHOULD NOT LOSE THEIR SENSE OF RESPONSIBILITY’ When Armenia confirmed its first case of COVID-19, Naira Stepanyan, a doctor specialising in infectious diseases, was the first to treat

him.

*

VOICE | ‘THE OCCUPATION OF ABKHAZIA MAKES US OCCUPIED TOO’ Nona Bukia tells of the social ills that have been caused by Abkhazia’s closure of crossing points three years ago.

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VOICE | ‘EVERY AFTERNOON I CAME HOME FROM SCHOOL BROKEN’ Narek, 29, from Stepanakert, describes how he was tormented at school while teachers often protected the abusers.

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VOICE | ‘I LEFT PRISON WITH A DOUBLE STIGMA — I WAS A CONVICT AND

HIV-POSITIVE’

Tamuna Gakhokidze, 37, is HIV-positive woman from Tbilisi who speaks about her diagnosis, about stigma, as well as how she discovered her diagnosis and learnt to live with it.

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VOICE | THE WOMEN ON THE FRONTLINE OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC Three women employed in women-led fields share their experiences of life and work in a pandemic.

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VOICE | ‘MY FAMILY URGED ME TO RETURN TO ARMENIA; BUT I DECIDED TO

STAY IN CHINA’

When the coronavirus hit, Emma Petrosyan, 28, from Alaverdi, chose to stay in China, the country she has lived and worked in for a year and

a half.

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VOICE | ‘JUST GIVE ME BACK MY CHILDREN’ Chechen tradition dictates that children of divorce belong to the man and his family. Jamilya shares her story of being separated from her

children.

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VOICE | ‘I’M NOT A GIRL, I’M AN ATHLETE’ Despite all odds, in just one year, Patima Ayshalova has become one of Daghestan’s top boxers.

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VOICE | ‘I DID ALL THESE THINGS SO THAT THE WOMEN WOULD NOT LOSE

HOPE’

Vafa Naghi tells the story of how she left behind a promising career to return to her village and help its women gain their independence.

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VOICE | ‘MY PART IN EXPOSING THIS SYSTEM’ Sasha Kalmakhelidze, 24, was arrested for possession of MDMA. He tells the nightmarish story of his arrest and detention.

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VOICE | ‘HELP COMES FROM THOSE WHO THEMSELVES NEED HELP’ Eighty-six year-old Syrian refugee Shaziya Nukh has found nothing but poverty and isolation in Kabardino-Balkaria, the land of her

ancestors.

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VOICE | ‘LIFE IS TOUGH FOR A YOUNG WIDOW’ A woman from Duisi, Pankisi Valley, speaks of being married too young, losing a husband and the hardships of being a widow in a conservative

society.

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VOICE FROM THE GEORGIAN–SOUTH OSSETIAN CONFLICT | ‘THERE IS NOTHING WORSE THAN WAR’ ‘When they started setting houses on fire, and burned down my cousins’ houses, we were forced to run away. We were afraid that they would burn us all. So we ran.’

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VOICE | ‘WHAT I HATE THE MOST IS THE INJUSTICE OF IT’ Supermarket cashier Mako Gomuri, 20, is one of several people to lose an eye on 20 June during anti-Russia protests in Tbilisi.

IN PICTURES

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georgia

IN PICTURES | BORJOMI’S YEAR-LONG WINTER Residents of the legendary spa town have banded together to try to survive the disappearance of the summer tourism boom. By Ekaterina Anchevskaya

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georgia

IN PICTURES | WOMEN’S VOICES IN FORESTRY The women who live off Georgia’s forests, and the women who tend to them tell their stories.

By Salome Kinkladze

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IN PICTURES | TBILISI’S ‘JARTI’ COLLECTORS A look at Georgia’s uneasy scrap industry shows how Georgia’s present situation reflects in the piles of tin, copper, and brass.

By Tamuna Chkareuli

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Azerbaijan

IN PICTURES | STRATEGIC OBJECT: BAKU’S YEARS OF TRANSFORMATION In a four year project, Chloe Borkett captured images of Baku’s metamorphosis in the 2010s from a different angle.

By Chloe Borkett

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IN PICTURES | RUSTAVI: THE CITY OF FACTORIES Rustavi’s factories have led to ‘alarming’ levels of air pollution in the city — local activists, backed by the city council,

are getting fed up.

By Tamuna Chkareuli

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racism

IN PICTURES | BLACK LIVES MATTER PROTEST IN TBILISI Several dozen protestors gathered in central Tbilisi in support of the ongoing demonstrations in the United States.

By OC Media

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IN PICTURES | TBILISI’S NIGHT BUS — A SHELTER ON WHEELS Tbilisi introduced a night bus two years ago between the city centre and the airport. Now, it serves as overnight accommodation for the

homeless.

By Tamuna Chkareuli

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Covid-19

IN PICTURES | LIFE UNDER QUARANTINE IN GYUMRI Hopes for a bumper tourist season in Armenia’s second-largest city have been put on hold by the coronavirus pandemic. By Anahit Harutyunyan

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IN PICTURES | GHOST APARTMENTS AND HYPERBUILDING IN BATUMI Soaring tourism in the popular casino town has brought with it a construction boom — one that seemingly has no end in sight. By Ian McNaught Davis

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Covid-19

IN PICTURES | TBILISI’S FIRST NIGHT UNDER CURFEW On 31 March at 21:00, the streets of Tbilisi emptied as the country entered its first night of curfew.

By Mariam Nikuradze

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Covid-19

IN PICTURES | TBILISI IN A STATE OF EMERGENCY The new restrictions on businesses and freedom of movement have left the streets of Tbilisi eerily empty.

By Mariam Nikuradze

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international women's day IN PICTURES | INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY AT TBILISI’S LARGEST

FLOWER MARKET

Despite the panoply of colours and the sweet smells, for some of Tbilisi’s flower sellers, it is not an entirely festive affair.

By Giorgi Rodionov

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georgia

IN PICTURES | STRUGGLE IN THE OPEN-AIR: TBILISI’S NAVTLUGHI BAZAAR The open-air bazaars of Tbilisi began with the collapse of the Soviet Union in the early 1990s; they remain a vital lifeline for many. By Sophi Mdivnishvili

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IN PICTURES | LIFE ALONG THE AZERBAIJANI BORDER REGIONS OF GAZAKH AND

TOVUZ

Along the Armenian Azerbaijani border, ceasefire violations occur frequently from both sides.

By Seymur Kazimov

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IN PICTURES | THE UNCERTAIN LIFE OF LORRY DRIVERS ALONG THE GEORGIAN

MILITARY ROAD

One of the most common sights along the Georgian Military Road, after the mountain views, is the lines of lorries queuing at the Russian

border.

By Tamuna Chkareuli

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IN PICTURES | TBILISI’S DYING EVERGREENS As the trees on Tbilisi’s periphery turn orange and die, environmental activists say more must be done to save Tbilisi’s last

green areas.

By Tamuna Chkareuli

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IN PICTURES | NOWHERE ELSE TO GO: THE STORIES OF YEREVAN’S HOMELESS There is one shelter in the city, with a capacity of 100, but it is not enough to house the hundreds living on Yerevan’s streets.

By Armine Avetisyan

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IN PICTURES | TBILISI’S LEMON VENDORS — THE HARDSHIPS OF SELLING

LEMONS TO SURVIVE

Selling lemons in the streets at ₾1 for a bag of 5, Tbilisi’s lemon vendors — almost exclusively elderly women — struggle to scrape out a living.

By Tamuna Chkareuli

FIERCE, INDEPENDENT JOURNALISM Let’s be honest, the media situation in the Caucasus is grim. Every day we are accused of ‘serving the enemy’ whoever that enemy may be. Our journalists have been harassed, arrested, beaten, and exiled. But nevertheless, we persevere. For us this is a labour of love. Unfortunately, we cannot run OC Media on love alone, journalism is expensive and funding is scarce. Our sole mission is to serve the interests of all peoples of the region. Support us today and join us in the fight for a better Caucasus.

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