If 2025 had a motto, it might well have been “fasten seatbelts.” Few regions felt the turbulence more keenly than the South Caucasus. Caught between an embattled Russia and a Middle East convulsed by wars in Iran and Gaza, the three states at Europe’s southeastern edge once again discovered that geography rarely grants them the luxury of observing global crises from afar.

For years, Georgia was the frontrunner on the road to Europe, while Armenia remained stuck in Moscow’s orbit. This year, the script flipped. Yerevan’s relations with the EU are warmer and more substantial than ever, while Tbilisi’s ties with Brussels and many member states have cooled to the point that the European Commission now describes Georgia as a “candidate country on paper.” The ruling Georgian Dream pushed through a battery of repressive laws—yet the public refused to play along. Georgians kept demonstrating, undeterred and unmissable.

To the east, Azerbaijan found itself in an unusually sharp confrontation with Moscow, as Baku and Yerevan—helped by active “Trump diplomacy”—made notable strides toward peace and future connectivity. Armenia’s and Germany’s declaration of intent for a strategic partnership in December 2025 further highlighted the region’s accelerating reorientation.

With 2026 promising more turning points than certainties, the South Caucasus will remain a landscape where local ambitions and global pressures collide. We will keep you, dear readers, closely informed as the next chapter unfolds.

Wishing you a peaceful and blessed Christmas season.

At Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung, together with our partners from the NGO “We Can,” we brought attention to an issue that doesn’t get talked about enough: the voting rights of persons with disabilities. The event combined expert discussions with practical examples, including a presentation of the “Aregak” app, and an exhibition showcasing works by persons with disabilities. Our goal was simple — to raise awareness and encourage more inclusive and accessible participation in elections.

Armenian Government Discloses Karabakh Peace Plans

Under pressure from the opposition, Armenia’s government has released past international proposals on resolving the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, reigniting debate over responsibility for the 2020 war. The documents, show talks focused on territorial concessions and a delayed, conditional process on status rather than independence, with opposition figures accusing Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan of rejecting a workable deal in 2019. While the government argues the plans upheld Azerbaijan’s sovereignty, analysts caution that the selective and incomplete publication clarifies little and risks reinforcing political blame rather than accountability.

Rift in Armenian Church escalates further

Air pollution levels in Yerevan have risen markedly with the onset of winter, with monitoring data showing repeated exceedances of safe thresholds for particulate matter. Authorities link the spike to seasonal temperature inversions, stagnant weather, increased heating, open burning, traffic, construction dust, and landfill fires, all amplified by the city’s basin-like geography. While City Hall has pointed to monitoring efforts and upcoming regulations, experts warn that limited data, weak enforcement, and structural sources of pollution continue to expose residents — especially vulnerable groups — to health risks. Growing public concern and protests have underscored calls for more consistent, long-term measures to address winter smog.

Georgian Government Accused of Using Posionous Gas in Water Cannons

Allegations that Georgian police used toxic chemical additives in water cannons during the 2024-25 protests have triggered a sharp confrontation between the government, media, and civil society. A BBC investigation suggested that a World War I–era agent may have been deployed, claims the authorities deny while admitting an undisclosed substance was used. The State Security Service has since launched investigations and summoned activists, doctors, and researchers cited in the report, prompting accusations that the process is aimed at silencing critics rather than establishing facts. The episode has heightened concerns over protest policing, transparency, and democratic backsliding as Georgia’s EU path remains frozen.

Husband of Georgian US ambassador allegedly linked to sanction circumvention

The husband of Georgia’s ambassador to the United States has come under scrutiny after an OC Media investigation reported links to a Moscow-based law firm advising clients on navigating EU and US sanctions on Russia. The reporting found that Davit Kukhalashvili founded and long led DTK Partners, which has represented sanctioned Russian institutions and promoted legal pathways to recover frozen assets, though no illegality has been established. The revelations prompted US lawmaker Joe Wilson to call for a Treasury investigation and raised questions about the timing of Kukhalashvili’s removal from the firm’s public profile after his wife’s appointment. 

Georgian Dream to Make Universities Free - Reforms under Scrutiny

Georgian Dream has announced plans to make tuition at state universities fully free from 2026, replacing the long-standing voucher system with direct state funding for public institutions. While the government presents the reform as expanding access, critics warn it could disadvantage students unable to enter public universities, raise costs at private institutions, and increase state leverage over academic autonomy. The proposal forms part of a broader and controversial education overhaul, including shortened degree programmes, restrictions on foreign students at state universities, and tighter central planning of academic offerings. Together, these measures have raised concerns within academia about quality, governance, and Georgia’s alignment with European education standards.

Azerbaijan to supply fuel to Armenia for the first time

Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia are preparing for a one-off transit of Azerbaijani fuel to Armenia. Officials in Yerevan and Tbilisi have confirmed discussions and approval of a tariff-free initial shipment, while Baku has kept public messaging deliberately low-key amid domestic sensitivities. The move follows earlier cross-border shipments of grain and is linked to the gradual reopening of transport and trade channels under the Armenia–Azerbaijan peace process. At the same time, sharp criticism from Azerbaijani pro-government media over Georgia’s transit policy highlights lingering regional tensions and the political sensitivity surrounding emerging economic ties.

Further Crackdown Against Opposition in Baku

Ali Karimli, the chair of Azerbaijan’s Popular Front Party, remains in pre-trial detention after an appeals court upheld his arrest on charges of attempting to violently seize power. The hearings were accompanied by heavy police presence, brief detentions of party members, and reported restrictions on access to the courts, prompting criticism from opposition groups. Amnesty International and other rights organisations say the case fits a broader pattern of politically motivated prosecutions, alongside a parallel campaign targeting journalists, activists, and bloggers abroad through in absentia arrests and trials. Observers warn that these measures further restrict already limited space for political opposition in Azerbaijan.

Baku gaining Favor in Washington

A series of recent moves suggest Azerbaijan’s position in Washington is improving, marked by renewed political and policy engagement. President Donald Trump’s pardon of US lawmaker Henry Cuellar, previously indicted over alleged bribery linked to Azerbaijani interests, coincided with congressional efforts to remove long-standing restrictions on US aid to Baku. The launch of the first Azerbaijan–US think-tank forum in Baku further signalled closer dialogue following the August Washington summit. Together, these developments point to warming ties, even as concerns remain over transparency and influence.