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Conflict and Peace

Stories related to violent conflicts, diplomatic tensions, and conflict prevention, mediation and resolution.

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Luhansk the first Ukrainian region fully occupied by Russia

Luhansk the first Ukrainian region fully occupied by Russia

A Russia-appointed official in Ukraine’s occupied Luhansk region was quoted by AP on Monday saying that Moscow’s forces have overrun all of it, one of four regions Russia annexed from Ukraine in September 2022. If confirmed, it would make Luhansk the first Ukrainian region fully occupied by Russia after more than three years of war with international peace efforts led by the US failing to make progress on halting the fighting. Russian President Vladimir Putin has effectively rejected a ceasefire and hasn’t budged from his demands, which include Moscow’s control over the four illegally annexed regions. 

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Georgian government plans tougher penalties for protesters

Georgian government plans tougher penalties for protesters

In the midst of a political crisis, the Georgian government is pushing forward with a legislative package that would increase penalties for protest-related offences including years in prison in some cases.   Georgians have been rallying nightly since November, when the ruling Georgian Dream party, now in its fourth term in power, said it was suspending discussions related to membership in the European Union until 2028.
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Georgian police arrest anti-government protesters at pro-EU demonstration

Georgian police arrest anti-government protesters at pro-EU demonstration

Police in Georgia arrested several anti-government protesters on Sunday as thousands of demonstrators demanding new parliamentary elections briefly blocked a motorway on the edge of the capital Tbilisi. Nika Melia, a leader of the country's largest opposition party, the Coalition for Change was among those arrested. He was later released on bail after detention for an administrative offence. Former Tbilisi mayor Gigi Ugulava, another prominent opposition figure was also arrested. Around thirty persons are reportedly still in detention.
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Georgian police arrest anti-government protesters at pro-EU protest

Georgian police arrest anti-government protesters at pro-EU protest

Police in Georgia arrested several anti-government protesters on Sunday as thousands of demonstrators demanding new parliamentary elections briefly blocked a motorway on the edge of the capital Tbilisi. Nika Melia, a leader of the country's largest opposition party, the Coalition for Change was among those arrested. He was later released on bail after detention for an administrative offence. Former Tbilisi mayor Gigi Ugulava, another prominent opposition figure was also arrested. Around thirty persons are reportedly still in detention.
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Prime Ministers of Georgia and Armenia meet in Yerevan

Prime Ministers of Georgia and Armenia meet in Yerevan

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze met with his Armenian counterpart Nikol Pashinyan in Yerevan on Thursday. According to media reports,  they discussed the importance of the strategic partnership between the two countries as well as the issues to be discussed at the 14th Meeting of the Intergovernmental Commission for Economic Cooperation. They also gave attention to the situation in the region including progress in the peace process.
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 Armenians and Azerbaijanis discuss how to shape a dialogue best suited for today's realities as LINKS Europe kicks off new initiative

Armenians and Azerbaijanis discuss how to shape a dialogue best suited for today's realities as LINKS Europe kicks off new initiative

LINKS Europe held its first event within the recently launched EU4Peace III programme in Tbilisi on Thursday 30 January. Armenian and Azerbaijani participants engaged in an open and constructive discussion on how to shape a dialogue best suited to today's realities. As part of the initiative, LINKS Europe will shortly launch five thematic groups: The thematic groups, with Armenian and Azerbaijani participants will discuss the following topics: (1) Climate Change & the Green Economy; (2) Peace & Security; (3) Governance; (4) Regional Connectivity; (5) Gender and Diversity . On 2nd April, at a meeting in The Hague, LINKS Europe will launch the Armenia-Azerbaijan Expert Political Dialogue Platform. The platform is a parallel, mutually reenforcing initiative bringing together experienced Armenian and Azerbaijani experts and stakeholders. It is expected that one of the main tasks of the platform in 2025 will be to support the thematic groups, particularly in the phase of preparation of their reports. The EU4Peace III action, supported and funded by the European Union, aims to contribute to the sustainable normalisation of relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan. By broadening the engagement of social groups, the initiative aims to link political processes to wider societal transformation.
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Opinion
Opinion: Trump’s new era and Azerbaijan - strategy and expectations

Opinion: Trump’s new era and Azerbaijan - strategy and expectations

In his interview to Azerbaijani media on January 7 this year, President Aliyev touched upon the issue of the upcoming Trump administration, notably speaking about his positive expectations, up to the prospects of establishing strategic partnership relations. This statement was rather unexpected, given many recent tensions between Baku and Washington, including the spat with the U.S. Embassy and the Azerbaijani side’s refusal to hold a US-mediated meeting of foreign ministers with Armenia during the OSCE Summit in Malta. Back then, Azerbaijani MFA issued a statement saying that the four years of the Biden administration were “lost years” for the Azerbaijan-US relations.
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Global leaders and Auschwitz survivors commemorate 80th anniversary of camp's liberation

Global leaders and Auschwitz survivors commemorate 80th anniversary of camp's liberation

A solemn ceremony marking the 80th anniversary of the Nazi Auschwitz death camp’s liberation was attended by global leaders on Monday. The ceremony at the site of the camp, which Nazi Germany set up in occupied Poland during World War II to murder European Jews on a huge scale, was attended by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, King Charles, French President Emmanuel Macron, Polish President Andrzej Duda and many other leaders. The International Holocaust Remembrance Day commemorates the date when the Nazi Germany-run concentration camp in the Polish town of Oswięcim was liberated by advancing forces of the USSR in 1945.
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Opinion
Opinion: In Armenia, Strategic Diversification Clashes With Geographic Realities

Opinion: In Armenia, Strategic Diversification Clashes With Geographic Realities

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has signalled plans to seek European Union (EU) membership. Though framed as an attempt to diversify away from decades of dependency on Russia, Moscow instead sees it as a western attempt to simply oust it from the region. Such a move is supported by some in Armenia amid disillusionment with Russia and the Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO) following the 2020 war with Azerbaijan and a 2022 incursion into Armenia itself.
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Pashinyan in Davos: Armenia’s foreign policy a balancing act between the West and Russia

Pashinyan in Davos: Armenia’s foreign policy a balancing act between the West and Russia

Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said Armenia has decided to adopt a foreign policy that is balanced between relations with the European Union and Russia. He added that balanced relations are also being created at the regional level notably with Iran, by establishing diplomatic relations with Turkey and concluding a peace deal with Azerbaijan. Pashinyan said this approach is not easy but also not impossible adding that Armenia is being transparent with all its international partners about its intentions. “Yes, we have decided to get closer to the European Union, but we are very intensively trying to share our position with Iran and Russia and with all our partners”, Pashinyan stated.