On 11 November, we hosted a roundtable discussion in Tbilisi, featuring chairs of Foreign Affairs, Defence and European Affairs Committees from parliaments of eight European Union member states, alongside Georgian youth activists, students and KAS alumni.
The participants exchanged views and perceptions of the ongoing political crisis in Georgia, the illegitimacy of the results of the Parliamentary election of 26 October, European responses to the obvious rigging of the election and ways to support the pro-European forces in the country.

EU delegation arrives in Armenia - Discussions regarding visa liberalization
On 5 November an EU delegation arrived in Yerevan for negotiating a framework on visa liberalization. The respective dialogue is expected to focus on reforms in security, migration and asylum, travel documents, and border management among others. It will be conducted under the Visa Liberalisation Action Plan which is not to be seen as an automatic process. Only after the dialogue is successfully completed the EU will consider a visa-free travel agreement with Armenia.

Border deal between Armenia and Azerbaijan approved
Armenian President Vahagn Khachaturian and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev have validated an agreement on regulating the process for border delimitation and demarcation. The agreement sets a framework for the joint work of Armenian and Azerbaijani government commissions dealing with the delimitation process. The Armenian parliament had ratified the regulations amid strong criticism of the opposition that was pointing to the lack of specifics in them.

Changes for Russian TV channels broadcasting in Armenia

Georgian parliamentary elections results raise concerns of fraud

The official results from Georgia’s October 26 elections show Georgian Dream with 54% of the vote, but serious allegations of fraud marred the process. Widespread vote-buying, voter intimidation, and breaches in voter secrecy, including use of semi-transparent ballots, strongly suggest manipulation of the outcome. Irregularities in voter data, such as male turnout exceeding 100% in some precincts, raise further concerns. The opposition parties and President Zurabishvili have publicly rejected the results, citing unprecedented fraud and foreign interference, and called for public protests to defend Georgia’s democratic rights.

A dozen daggers - Georgia and the special election operation
A comprehensive report has provided sufficient evidence to conclude that the Georgian Parliamentary Election of 2024 was systematically rigged and does not represent the will of the Georgian people. The policy brief outlines the multi-pronged assault on electoral integrity, including unprecedented vote-buying, mass intimidation, and direct manipulation that led to the result announced by the Central Election Commission. 

No EU-accession talks if Georgia does not change political course

French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk issued a joint statement following protests in Georgia over alleged election fraud. Therein the leaders express concern over Georgia’s political situation, warning not to support the opening of EU accession talks and emphasizing the need for Georgia to repeal anti-European legislation. The statement urges transparent investigations into election irregularities..

Just weeks ahead of COP29 heavy rainfall caused severe flooding in Baku, damaging infrastructure and resulting in two fatalities. The rainfall, which reached 306% of the monthly norm, overwhelmed the city’s drainage system, leaving many roads impassable. While the government focusses on high-profile projects for international events, critics argue that essential infrastructure improvements, like stormwater management, were neglected. 

Aliyev voices support for Georgian Dream and Donald Trump

President Ilham Aliyev’s regime has taken a decidedly partisan approach to political developments in neighbouring Georgia as well as in the US. It was offering unqualified support for the incumbent Georgian Dream (GD) party’s efforts to retain power in Georgia, and had for months expressed a preference for Trump regaining the White House. After GD’s victory official media reported that the results of the elections “are a big blow to the policy of the West in Georgia and the policy of creating dividing lines in the region.”