The Caucasus Digest

This week, editor-in-chief Robin Fabbro and OC Media co-founder Mariam Nikuradze spoke with OC Media contributor Javid Agha about Azerbaijan's recent blocking of the outlet's website and the recent establishment of a new National Cybersecurity Agency and the impact it could have on censorship in Azerbaijan. Read more: Azerbaijan blocks access to OC Media website Azerbaijan builds a single engine for online control Here are links to the Google Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia country profiles for data on government content removal requests mentioned in the episode. If you have any questions, thoughts, or tips, e-mail us at [email protected]. Support independent journalism in the Caucasus and become an OC Media Member: Join today.

OC Media's Caucasus Digest is back after a year-long hiatus! For our relaunch, editor-in-chief Robin Fabbro and his new co-host, OC Media co-founder Mariam Nikuradze, chat with Armenia staff writer Arshaluys Barseghyan about Armenia's big parliamentary elections.  The three discuss the lead-up to the 6 June elections, covering them on the ground in Armenia, and the aftermath of the vote. Read more: Armenian government faces uphill battle over new constitution following election results Pashinyan's Civil Contract wins parliamentary elections Russia calls Armenian elections 'questionable' If you have any questions, thoughts, or tips, e-mail us at [email protected]. Support independent journalism in the Caucasus and become an OC Media Member: Join today.

This Wednesday, 17 June, tune in to listen to listen OC Media editor-in-chief Robin Fabbro, his new co-host OC Media's co-founder Mariam Nikuradze, and Armenian staff writer Arshaluys Barseghyan break down the 7 June Armenian parliamentary elections and their aftermath. Be sure to subscribe to catch the latest episodes as soon as they are out. Support our work by becoming an OC Media member for as little as €5 a month!

The recent cuts to US foreign aid have affected media outlets across the Caucasus and the world — including OC Media. This week, OC Media editor-in-chief Robin Fabbro and co-directors Mariam Nikuradze and Dominik Cagara sit down to discuss how OC Media's plans to survive and thrive in the new global reality through its membership programme and the support of its readers. Read more: OC Media co-director Mariam Nikuradze fined twice for 'road blocking' while covering rallies OC Media donates crowdfunding proceeds to local media as Trump's aid cuts continue to hit OC Media faces closure after Trump–Musk aid cuts hit $250,000 in funding Support independent journalism in the Caucasus and become an OC Media Member: Join today.

Mzia Amaghlobeli, the director of Georgian news sites Batumelebi and Netgazeti, has been arrested on charges of assaulting a police officer after slapping Batumi's police chief during a heated exchange. Journalists, legal experts, and media watchdogs have criticised the arrest, saying that the charges, under which she could face four to seven years in prison, are wildly disproportionate to what she had done. This week, we spoke with Batumelebi's Irma Dimitradze about the circumstances surrounding the arrest, to journalist Tamar Rukhadze, about the current media environment in Georgia, and to OC Media's Mariam Nikuradze about the legal debate around her prosecution. Read more: Batumelebi and Netgazeti founder Amaghlobeli begins hunger strike while in pretrial detention Batumelebi employee accuses police of hacking and wiping phone following arrest Support independent journalism in the Caucasus and become an OC Media Member: Join today. …or donate to the collective Georgian media security fund.

On 9 January, Ukraine's Parliament has recognised the Russian Empire's 19th century genocide of the Circassians, during which Russian forced killed or deported hundreds of thousands of Circassians from their homeland in the Caucasus. This week, OC Media's Yousef Bardouka talks about the genocide and its impact on the Circassians and the Caucasus and the significance of the resolution, while Ukrainian MP Oleksiy Goncharenko, a co-author of the resolution, talks about how the bill came to be and Ukraine's role in supporting the people of the North Caucasus. Read more: Ukraine recognises Circassian Genocide Support independent journalism in the Caucasus and become an OC Media Member: Join today. …or donate to the collective Georgian media security fund.

OC Media's Robin Fabbro, Mariam Nikuradze, and Shota Kincha sit down and chat about the protests against the Georgian government's decision to halt EU integration, going on for almost a month now as the holiday season descends on Georgia.  Support independent journalism in the Caucasus and become an OC Media Member: Join today. …or donate to the collective Georgian media security fund.

OC Media's Robin Fabbro, Nate Ostiller, Arshaluys Barseghyan, and Yousef Bardouka talk about the regime change in Syria and what it means for the Caucasian diaspora communities in the country and what it says about Russia's influence and power globally. Read more: Armenia says 'no opportunity' to evacuate Syrian–Armenians Syrian rebel leader condemns Abkhazia and South Ossetia recognition Right of return? — The struggles of the Circassian diaspora to settle in Adygea   Support independent journalism in the Caucasus and become an OC Media Member: Join today. …or donate to the collective Georgian media security fund.

OC Media's Robin Fabbro and Mariam Nikuradze talk about the spontaneous protest movement which erupted after the Georgian government's announcement that the country would 'halt' its EU integration. Mariam shares her experience covering the protests and details how the police injured her and damaged her cameras as she was covering their violent dispersal of the protests. Read more: Anti-government protests spread to Georgia's regions: the case of Marneuli Explainer | After a month of simmering protests, Georgia erupted: why now? Support independent journalism in the Caucasus and become an OC Media Member: Join today. …or donate to the collective Georgian media security fund.

Georgian Dream have launched the new parliament without any opposition, amidst continued calls for an investigation into irregularities in the same parliamentary elections that helped them secure their fourth term as the majority. A month after the elections, OC Media's Robin Fabbro, Mariam Nikuradze, and Shota Kincha sit down and talk about the developments surrounding the protests against electoral fraud and Georgian Dream's plans for the future. Read more: Georgian Dream to halt EU membership bid European Parliament rejects Georgia's elections results, calls for a redo and sanctions Georgian Dream approves new government Editorial | Georgia's rigged election Support independent journalism in the Caucasus and become an OC Media Member: Join today. …or donate to the collective Georgian media security fund.