Region

South Caucasus

The South Caucasus – a region encompassing Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia - is one of strategic importance, not only for adjacent countries, such as Turkiye, Russia, Iran and the Central Asian states, but also for neighbours such as the European Union and the GCC states, and globally for the United States, India, China, Pakistan and Japan.

commonspace.eu team brings decades of experience of working in the South Caucasus and we are pleased to share our insights with our loyal readers through the website, and the sister newsletter, Caucasus Concise.

Editor's choice
Opinion
From Baku to Yerevan: A New Chapter for Multitrack Diplomacy

From Baku to Yerevan: A New Chapter for Multitrack Diplomacy

Towards the end of October, a lone Azerbaijani Airlines Gulfstream G650 landed in Yerevan, Armenia. It wasn’t the first to do so in over three decades of conflict but it could well change the future of multitrack diplomacy. Although mutual visits by Azerbaijanis to Armenia and Armenians to Azerbaijan are also not new, before October's flight they always occurred under the auspices of an international organisation or intergovernmental body including countries outside the region. Last month’s visit not only flew direct between the capitals but was bilaterally agreed.

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Editor's choice
Commentary
Commentary: Post-war Armenia – New remedies for old maladies

Commentary: Post-war Armenia – New remedies for old maladies

Armenia's asymmetric dependence on Russia has cost it dearly, especially during the recent Karabakh war, argues Alexander Petrosyan in this commentary for commonspace.eu. Two projects – the Iran-Armenia railway, and the Iran-Armenia-Georgia gas pipeline – can help restore the balance, he contends.
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Commentary
Azerbaijan to spend $59 billion to rehabilitate territories, but development also requires peace

Azerbaijan to spend $59 billion to rehabilitate territories, but development also requires peace

Azerbaijan plans to spend up to $59 billion over the next ten years to rehabilitate the territories it has recently taken back after being for decades under Armenian control. It is a huge sum even for an oil rich country, but for President Ilham Aliyev developing the new territories now has become the primary mission of his presidency.
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News
South Ossetian leader summoned to Moscow amid simmering political crisis in the territory (Updated)

South Ossetian leader summoned to Moscow amid simmering political crisis in the territory (Updated)

The leader of the self-declared Republic of South Ossetia has gone to Moscow amid a simmering political crisis in the territory, which seceded from Georgia. South Ossetia is currently gripped in a political crisis following the death in police detention of a young Ossetian, which sparked public protests and a boycott of parliament by some MPs.
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News
Trouble in Lilliput: South Ossetian politics in crisis

Trouble in Lilliput: South Ossetian politics in crisis

Politics in South Ossetia often takes a Lilliputian character. The tiny territory that seceded from Georgia after the collapse of the Soviet Union, and has existed as a Russian protectorate since, is small in size, with a population of around 50,000. Yet its internal politics are often dramatic, with long standing clan feuds playing out in modern political terms. One such crisis appears to be looming in a stand-off between president and opposition MPs