The European Union is considering sanctions against three Georgian television channels: Imedi, POSTV, and Rustavi 2, following a proposal by European Parliament members. The initiative, spearheaded by Polish MEPs Krzysztof Brejza, Michał Szczerba, and Andrzej Halicki, seeks the privatization of these broadcasters. This amendment has been formally introduced into the European Parliament, and its success…
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Georgia’s national rugby team is facing a significant scandal following a joint investigation by the World Anti-Doping Agency and World Rugby. The investigation confirmed anti-doping rule violations involving several members of the team and a support staff member prior to the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France. Six players and one individual connected to the…
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan faced significant criticism following an exchange in the metro involving a Karabakh Armenian woman and her child. The incident sparked debate and accusations of stigmatizing refugees, with Pashinyan’s remarks deemed unacceptable by numerous observers. During the heated exchange, Pashinyan stated, “Do not dare, you refugees, to claim that I surrendered Karabakh,”…
The passing of Ilia II evoked a profound farewell for Georgia, marking the end of a nearly half-century leadership by the nation’s longest-serving patriarch. Mikheil Gvadzabia reported on March 22nd that immense crowds gathered to honor the deceased at Tbilisi’s Holy Trinity Cathedral (Sameba), where the final rites were conducted. Ilia II, who died at…
Azerbaijan has implemented a dramatic increase in salaries for its public officials. President Ilham Aliyev signed a decree resulting in monthly pay rises for some positions reaching three times their previous amounts. Existing bonuses and related benefits have been eliminated, aiming to reduce the gap between official salaries and previously undisclosed “gray salaries.” The decree,…
Armenia has dispatched humanitarian aid to Iran, marking the nation’s initial assistance following the conflict’s commencement on February 18th. Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan announced this action on Monday, specifying that the primary component of the aid consisted of medical supplies. He emphasized the longstanding, friendly connections between the two countries, stating that “it could not…
Diana Pogorelova, a dance instructor from Vladikavkaz, North Ossetia–Alania, is facing intense criticism and insults due to her attire in videos promoting her dance classes. The controversy began with comments on a local online community regarding her “revealing” dance costumes and her Latin American dance style. This quickly escalated, attracting widespread attention across numerous social…
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan faced significant backlash following an argument with a refugee from Nagorno-Karabakh, labeling the displaced Armenians “runaways.” The incident, captured on video and widely circulated, occurred during Pashinyan’s campaign tour in Yerevan, where he distributes Armenia’s internationally recognized border pins. This campaign centers on the “Real Armenia” narrative, advocating for acceptance within…
Germany’s Technical University of Munich (TUM) has continued to avoid addressing a research centre at its Georgian partner university, Kutaisi International University (KIU), whose founder linked his work to Nazi Germany. A prominent German academic privately expressed concern to OC Media regarding the coverage. OC Media previously reported that the Iberian Cultural Heritage Centre at…