The Caucasus Digest

This week, Robin Fabbro and Mariam Nikuradze sat down with Georgia staff writer Mikheil Gvadzabia to talk about Georgia's oppositon, including the charges pressed against major opposition leaders and internal conflicts within the parties and the Opposition Alliance. Read more: Georgian opposition figure Elisashvili sentenced to 13 years in prison on terrorism-related charges Georgia brings charges of sabotage against main opposition leaders Saakashvili announces plans to 'reform' UNM Read more about the 'Rike Tubes' set to be demolished in Tbilisi here. Support independent journalism in the Caucasus and become an OC Media Member: Join today. If you have any questions, thoughts, or tips, e-mail us at [email protected].

This week, Mariam Nikuradze sat down with OC Media editors Yousef Bardouka and Nate Ostiller to talk about the delegations Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia sent out to Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei's funeral. The three talk about the three countries' dynamics with Iran and its ongoing conflict with Israel and the US. Read more: South Caucasus officials attend Tehran funeral of Iranian Supreme Leader Khamenei Israel sent troops to Azerbaijan during Iran War, sources tell CNN Waiting for a free Iran: the exiles who found a home in Armenia Israel says it uncovered Iranian terror network following failed attack on Baku pipeline How the Iran war is putting a dent in Georgia's tourism industry Additional topics mentioned during the episode: You can find the episode we have mentioned in the show about Georgian Dream founder Bidzina Ivanishvili's attempt to transport baobab trees from Kenya to Georgia here. You can find short report on the lion cub given to Tbilisi Zoo by judoka Lasha Bekauri here. Check out this Guardian article on how Chechen Head Ramzan Kadyrov turned to social media in a bid to find his lost cat, Toyger. Support independent journalism in the Caucasus and become an OC Media Member: Join today. If you have any questions, thoughts, or tips, e-mail us at [email protected].

This week, editor-in-chief Robin Fabbro and OC Media co-founder Mariam Nikuradze spoke with Georgia staff writer Mikheil Gvadzabia about the current state of repression in Georgia, over a year after daily protests erupted in the country against the ruling Georgian Dream party's policies. Read more: Two Georgian protesters released, one of them fined immediately Imprisoned Georgian opera singer's protest fines reach $270,000 Georgian activist fined for wishing Ivanishvili and loved ones death on Facebook Report says Georgia uses Russian surveillance software against anti-government protesters If you are interested in attending our screening of the Armenian documentary Tonratun in Yerevan or remotely through Discord, please fill out this form. if you are already an OC Media member, you can RSVP through the form to directly claim your spot. If you are not a member, you can still grab a seat for a symbolic €5 fee. Support independent journalism in the Caucasus and become an OC Media Member: Join today. If you have any questions, thoughts, or tips, e-mail us at [email protected].

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.