"We are alarmed by the fact that Mehman Huseynov has embarked upon a hunger strike as the only means available to him to protest about his plight. We call upon the Azerbaijani authorities to review his case as a matter of absolute priority" said the co-rapporteurs of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) for the monitoring of Azerbaijan,
Beyond the political allegiances, the new parliament will be overwhelmingly dominated by new faces - many young - who have no experience of parliamentary politics, but are very enthusiastic, and keen to push forward reforms in many aspects of Armenian life.
The Star oil refinery is one of the largest foreign investments ever to be made in Turkey, and it is also becoming a symbol of friendship and co-operation between the two countries. Azerbaijan however also sees the investment as a sound business venture
The last decade has been a difficult one for the OSCE, with some even questioning the very existence of the organisation. It got a new lease of life after it played a role in stabilising the situation in Eastern Ukraine when fighting flared up there in 2014.
In the South Caucasus countries, leaders struck an optimistic note in messages to their compatriots gathered to celebrate the new year. Traditionally broadcast just before midnight, the messages are usually watched by millions, as families gather for the new year celebration.
Dennis Sammut looks back at an eventful 2018 in the South Caucasus and says 2019 will bring many new opportunities, but if these are squandered risks will be considerably higher