Whereas particularly Georgian voices want the transatlantic decision makers to keep a closer eye on their country’s democratic struggles and geopolitical shift, an Armenian parliamentarian remarked in a recent conversation, that “Given the headlines of conflict and crises dominating world news, perhaps it’s a good sign we’re not one of them.”

But the South Caucasus has hardly slipped out of view. Last week’s visit to Yerevan and Baku by U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance—Washington’s highest‑ranking envoy to Armenia to date—signals that strategic interest in the region is far from dormant.

Strikingly, Georgia was not part of his travel itinerary. After Tbilisi even welcomed a sitting U.S. president in the past, this time Donald Trump’s deputy didn’t even make a stopover for a handshake and khachapuri. The geopolitical winds—and the priorities they shape—are evidently shifting.

That is precisely why sustained, informed attention matters. We are pleased that yours remains on the South Caucasus.

We wish you stimulating reading in this edition of our newsletter.

JD Vance became the first sitting US vice president to visit Armenia, marking a milestone in bilateral relations. During the trip, the sides announced the conclusion of a “123 Agreement” on civilian nuclear cooperation and confirmed an $11 million sale of US-made reconnaissance drones, while advancing plans for the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP). Vance praised Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s role in regional peace efforts and stressed that deeper economic interdependence is key to sustaining the Armenia–Azerbaijan agreement. The visit, seen as a turning point in bilateral ties, highlighted Washington’s growing strategic footprint in the South Caucasus amid competing Russian interests in Armenia’s energy sector.

Armenia’s Constitutional Reform Council faces uncertainty over its timeline, with one member warning that a full draft of the new constitution may not be completed before the June 2026 elections. Justice Minister Srbuhi Galyan, however, reaffirmed that a draft text will be ready and published in March, even if the council has not formally approved all chapters. The reform, which the government frames as an internal process to be decided by referendum, comes amid ongoing debate over references to Armenia’s 1990 declaration of independence. While Baku links constitutional change to a final peace treaty, Yerevan maintains that the outcome will ultimately depend on a public vote.

In a further escalation of its tightening of political space, Georgia’s ruling Georgian Dream party has proposed criminalising public calls to deny the legitimacy of constitutional bodies, alongside sweeping new restrictions on foreign funding. The draft amendments would redefine most foreign financial inflows as “grants” requiring prior government approval and introduce prison sentences of up to 12 years for related violations, including broadly defined “external lobbying.” Additional provisions would limit political party membership for individuals linked to foreign-funded organisations and sanction businesses for public political activity. While the government frames the changes as safeguarding sovereignty and constitutional order, critics warn they represent another significant contraction of civic and political freedoms.

So-called Sabotage Case of Eight Opposition Politicians referred to court

A Tbilisi court has referred the high-profile “sabotage” case against eight opposition figures, including Mikheil Saakashvili and several party leaders, for substantive examination after deeming all submitted evidence admissible. The defendants face charges ranging from sabotage and assisting a foreign power to calls for overthrowing the constitutional order, carrying potential sentences of up to 15 years. Some have been released on bail, while others remain in custody on related or separate charges. The case unfolds against the backdrop of earlier prosecutions linked to the disputed parliamentary commission

OSCE states invoke “Moscow Mechanism” because of human rights deterioration

A group of 24 OSCE participating States has triggered the OSCE’s Moscow Mechanism to examine Georgia’s implementation of its human rights and democratic commitments. The procedure allows for the deployment of an independent expert mission to document alleged violations affecting civil society, media freedom, judicial independence and political pluralism. It marks the first time the Moscow Mechanism has been applied to Georgia. While the government has denounced the step as politically motivated interference, opposition figures and analysts view it as a significant signal of mounting international scrutiny.

Long sentences for former Karabakh Leaders

A military court in Baku has sentenced five former leaders of Nagorno-Karabakh to life imprisonment and two former presidents to 20-year terms, concluding a yearlong trial over alleged war crimes and other serious offences. The defendants, denied the charges, while rights groups and Armenian officials criticised the proceedings as politically motivated and lacking international oversight. Eight other Armenians received prison terms of 15 to 19 years, and a separate case against former state minister Ruben Vardanyan is ongoing. The rulings were delivered as Armenia and Azerbaijan continue efforts to formalise a peace agreement, adding a sensitive humanitarian dimension to an already fragile diplomatic process.

More arrests in Azerbaijan amid reports of Sexual harassment

Azerbaijani authorities have carried out a new wave of arrests targeting opposition activists and government critics, including social media commentators detained under recently amended legislation on “immorality” and “disrespectful actions” online. Several activists received 30-day administrative sentences, as lawyers warn that the broadly worded provisions enable swift punishment and encourage self-censorship. At the same time, nine international human rights organisations have called for an investigation into allegations of sexual harassment and ill-treatment of jailed journalists. The developments coincide with proposed legal amendments expanding investigators’ powers to conduct urgent searches and seize electronic devices without prior court approval, raising further concerns about due process and press freedom.

Azerbaijan to deliver LNG and goods to Armenia – talks about energy systems

Armenia and Azerbaijan have agreed to expand trade flows, including the rail transit of liquefied natural gas and bitumen to Armenia via Azerbaijani territory, alongside continued grain shipments from Russia. Nikol Pashinyan stated that the two countries’ energy systems “will definitely and unequivocally be interconnected,” framing the developments as mutually beneficial and pointing to falling fuel prices following recent imports. Economy Minister Gevorg Papoyan said businesses would decide whether to use the new LNG transit option, which could provide a cheaper alternative and increase market competition. While most trade still transits via Georgia, both sides signal that direct rail links could follow as infrastructure and political conditions evolve.