during last year’s Europe Day celebrations in Tbilisi, several people voiced the fear that this might be “the last Europe Day for us.” This year however, while Vladimir Putin presided over a sombre “Victory Day” parade in Moscow, the Europe Day mood at Tbilisi’s Expo was strikingly cheerful—despite the country’s political trajectory. The fact that Europe Day and WW2-commemoration coincide also became the subject of an open letter from Georgia’s parliamentary speaker to EU-ambassador Pawel Herczynski. Shalva Papuashvili accused the European Union of pursuing a “misguided” policy towards Georgia, underscoring the widening rift with Brussels.

Meanwhile, Azerbaijan announced to suspend cooperation with the European Parliament and withdraw from EURONEST after an EP declaration that criticised Baku on the destruction of Armenian heritage in Nagorno-Karabakh. But pragmatic engagement with Brussels continues as the EU’s chief diplomat Kaja Kallas travelled to Baku to discuss shared strategic interests.

If the European Stars currently align for any country in the South Caucasus, it is Armenia. After hosting both the European Political Community summit and the first-ever EU-Armenia summit, Yerevan enjoyed what amounted to an emphatically European week. With elections approaching, the symbolism is likely to bolster Nikol Pashinyan’s pro-European government. As Putin openly suggested an Armenian referendum to “divorce” from Moscow, Mr Pashinyan skipped Moscow’s Victory Day parade, opting instead to campaign in Armenia’s regions—a choice that spoke volumes about the country’s desired direction of travel.

Russia is stepping up pressure on Armenia over its EU ambitions, with President Vladimir Putin urging Yerevan to choose between Brussels and the Russian-led Eurasian Economic Union, proposing a “mutually beneficial divorce,” and issuing a thinly veiled threat by invoking the Kremlin’s false narrative that Ukraine’s EU path caused the war. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan rejected Moscow’s “divorce” framing, insisting Armenia will maintain ties with Russia while deepening relations with the EU until a formal choice becomes unavoidable. The warnings have been accompanied by growing economic pressure, including restrictions on Jermuk mineral water and Armenian sellers on Ozon and Wildberries, as well as Russian claims that EU accession could sharply damage Armenia’s economy.

Together, Moscow’s rhetoric and trade measures suggest a deliberate attempt to raise the cost of Armenia’s westward turn and frame it as a path toward Ukraine-style destabilisation.

Increase in Hybrid attacks - EU sends second civilian mission to Yerevan

The EU will deploy a second civilian mission to Armenia to help Yerevan counter hybrid threats ahead of the June parliamentary elections, including disinformation, cyberattacks, foreign interference, and illicit financial flows. The new EU Partnership Mission in Armenia, requested by Yerevan and expected to include 20–30 experts, is widely seen as aimed at strengthening resilience against external pressure, particularly amid concerns over Russian-linked interference.

The move comes as Armenia faces a growing wave of destabilising narratives, from coordinated Telegram “cyber war” performances targeting Armenian platforms to false claims that Armenia is discussing the return of 300,000 Azerbaijanis or transferring the village of Jiliza to Georgia. Together, the cases show how disinformation and hybrid tactics are becoming a central pressure tool around Armenia’s elections, peace talks, and European orientation.


Azerbaijani Delegation in Armenia
Azerbaijani Deputy Prime Minister Shahin Mustafayev made unprecedented direct visit to Armenia on 29 April, leading a delegation for border delimitation and trade talks with Armenian counterpart Mher Grigoryan. Meeting in Aghveran, the two sides reported progress on technical guidelines for future demarcation work and brought in business representatives to discuss cargo transit, mutual supplies, and emerging commercial links. 

GD promises better ties with US, Anti-EU rhetoric continues

Georgian Dream is seeking to present renewed U.S. engagement as evidence that its strained relationship with Washington can be repaired, following Deputy Assistant Secretary Sonata Coulter’s visit to Tbilisi. Government officials framed the talks around pragmatic cooperation, investment, connectivity, and the Middle Corridor, while opposition representatives used their meeting with Coulter to stress that Georgia’s security and democratic future depend on strong ties with both the U.S. and Europe.

Yet the tentative outreach to Washington contrasts sharply with Georgian Dream’s continuing hostile rhetoric toward the EU, with Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili accusing Brussels of ideological pressure, interference, and pushing Georgia toward conflict. His attacks on the European Parliament and claims that Georgia will not follow Ukraine or Moldova’s “path” reflect the ruling party’s broader effort to frame EU criticism as a threat to sovereignty rather than a response to democratic backsliding.

Georgia's media freedom deteriorates further

Georgia has recorded one of the steepest press freedom declines in Europe, falling to 135th place in Reporters Without Borders’ 2026 World Press Freedom Index. The decline comes amid growing pressure on independent outlets and journalists, including the continued imprisonment of Batumelebi and Netgazeti founder Mzia Amaghlobeli, documented attacks on reporters during protests, and the freezing of bank accounts over protest-related fines that several journalists say they were never properly notified about.

The UK, Finland, and other Media Freedom Coalition members warned of “troubling trends” and called for Amaghlobeli’s release, while Georgian Dream officials dismissed the criticism as politically motivated. The worsening media climate has also drawn wider European concern, with France’s National Assembly condemning Georgia’s “authoritarian drift” and calling for support to independent media and democratic forces.

Baku cuts Ties with European Parliament

Azerbaijan has suspended cooperation with the European Parliament after it adopted a resolution supporting deeper EU-Armenia ties while also calling for the safe return of Nagorno-Karabakh Armenians and the release of Armenian detainees held in Baku. Azerbaijan’s parliament denounced the resolution as biased and “Azerbaijanophobic,” moved to end its participation in the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly, and the EU ambassador in Baku was summoned in protest.

President Ilham Aliyev later accused the European Parliament of trying to “sabotage” the Armenia-Azerbaijan peace process, despite saying Baku remained committed to negotiations. The rupture follows similar Azerbaijani backlash against French, Belgian, and Dutch statements raising concerns over Armenian prisoners, cultural heritage destruction, and Azerbaijan’s presence on Armenian territory.

Azerbaijan apparently destroyed large church in Karabakh

Satellite imagery indicates that Azerbaijan has demolished the Holy Mother of God Cathedral in Stepanakert/Khankendi, the largest Armenian church in Nagorno-Karabakh, along with the nearby Saint Jacob church. The cathedral, consecrated in 2019 and used as a shelter during recent wars, appears to have disappeared between early March and early April, while Azerbaijani officials have either denied the destruction or framed such sites as illegally built during Armenian control.

Separate satellite documentation also shows the phased destruction of the Armenian Genocide Centennial Memorial in Stepanakert, including a bell tower containing remains from Deir ez-Zor. While Azerbaijani officials deny targeting religious heritage or frame the sites as illegally built, the demolitions increasingly point to a systematic effort to erase visible traces of Armenian presence from Karabakh.

Zelensky, other European Leaders visit Azerbaijan to increase Ties

Azerbaijan has seen a burst of high-level diplomacy, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas all visiting or engaging Baku to deepen ties. Zelensky and Aliyev signed six agreements centred on security, energy, and joint production, with Ukrainian experts already in Azerbaijan to share wartime experience on air defence and protecting critical infrastructure. Czech and Italian officials, meanwhile, focused on Azerbaijan’s growing role as an energy supplier and potential defence-industrial partner, including joint arms production and cooperation on aerospace, maritime security, and advanced technologies.

The diplomatic rush highlights Baku’s rising strategic value for Europe and Ukraine, even as its record on Nagorno-Karabakh, Armenian detainees, and cultural heritage destruction continues to fuel tensions with parts of the EU.