Moscow demands Armenia to prove its readiness to improve relations
The Russian authorities are waiting for Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan to provide “facts and evidence” regarding the desire to improve relations between the countries. This explains the postponement of the visit of the Russian Federation Council Chairwoman Valentina Matviyenko to Yerevan from February to June. This information was shared by the Armenian newspaper Hraparak, citing sources in Armenia’s ruling Civil Contract party.
 
“The Armenian authorities have been demanded to cancel the draft European referendum on the country’s accession to the EU. This is related to the postponement of the second reading on this issue in parliament, and it is possible that it will be cancelled altogether,” the publication writes.
 
Today, CSTO Secretary General Imangali Tasmagambetov noted that the organization maintains working contacts with Yerevan and its obligations remain.
 
“As for the signals of readiness to resume cooperation with the CSTO, the format of relations has not changed and remains the same,” he added.
 
On February 23, 2024, Pashinyan announced the freezing of Armenia's participation in the CSTO. On May 8, the Armenian Foreign Ministry reported that the country would not participate in the financing of the bloc. In early 2025, a report by the Foreign Intelligence Service of Armenia noted that the country does not intend to unfreeze its membership in the organization.
Последние новости
Azerbaijan reminded Iran of the investigation into the drone attack on Nakhchivan
Politics
Azerbaijan reminded Iran of the investigation into the drone attack on Nakhchivan
18 March 2026

A telephone conversation took place between the foreign ministers of Azerbaijan and Iran, Jeyhun Bayramov and Seyyed Abbas Araghchi. Bayramov insisted that Tehran fulfill its promise to investigate the drone attacks launched from its territory on the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic.

An Abkhazian resident was convicted for publishing texts about Shamil Basayev
Human rights
An Abkhazian resident was convicted for publishing texts about Shamil Basayev
18 March 2026

The Southern District Military Court of Rostov-on-Don sentenced Timur Agrba, a resident of Abkhazia, to five and a half years in a general regime penal colony. He was accused of justifying terrorism for his Telegram channel posts, which, according to investigators, glorified Chechen field commander Shamil Basayev.

Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia Dies
Society
Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia Dies
18 March 2026

Catholicos-Patriarch Ilia II of All Georgia, the spiritual leader who led the Georgian Orthodox Church since 1977, has passed away. News of his death at the age of 93 was announced on March 17 from the intensive care unit of the Caucasus Medical Center.

Georgia's former ombudsman considered his summons to the State Security Service (SSS) to be persecution and refused to appear
Human rights
Georgia's former ombudsman considered his summons to the State Security Service (SSS) to be persecution and refused to appear
17 March 2026

Georgia's former Public Defender, Ucha Nanuashvili, has been summoned to the country's State Security Service (SSS). One of the country's most senior human rights defenders, he now heads the NGO Democracy Research Institute (DRI).