The Caucasus Digest OC Media

Georgians have once again come out to protest the foreign agents bill after the ruling Georgian Dream party reintroduced the draft law a year after aborting it.
This week, we spoke with OC Media’s Mariam Nikuradze and Shota Kincha about the daily mass protests against the bill, the government’s reactions, and how the coming weeks might unfold.
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Georgian foreign agent bill passes first reading in parliament amidst massive protests Georgian Dream eliminates taxes on offshore assets brought to Georgia Become a supporter at oc-media.org/support_us, or on Patreon.

Chechnya’s Culture Ministry said earlier this month that the Russian republic would issue restrictions on music slower than 80 bpm and faster than 116 bpm. At the time, the ministry stated that the Chechen Head Ramzan Kadyrov had instructed them to introduce the restrictions, however, last week, Kadyrov said that the restrictions were meant to be ‘recommendations’ for performers and composers of folk music in Chechnya.
This week, OC Media’s Luiza Mchedlishvili talks about Chechnya’s repression of musicians and culture, and musicologist Ben Wheeler breaks down the apparent contradictions of the new restrictions.
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Chechnya bans ‘fast and slow’ music Become a supporter at oc-media.org/support_us, or on Patreon.

The ruling Georgian Dream party has reintroduced its controversial foreign agents law, a bill that the party was forced to abort after two nights of mass protests in the Georgian capital Tbilisi.
The ruling party’s reintroduction of the bill was met with wide condemnation both domestically and internationally due to its similarity to legislation that was used to crush civil society and media in Russia.
This week, OC Media’s Robin Fabbro, Mariam Nikuradze, and Shota Kincha talk about why Georgian Dream brought the law back and the potential response to the law in Georgia.
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Why is Georgian Dream reviving the foreign agent law? Georgia’s foreign agents bill faces international condemnation Georgian Government to bring back aborted foreign agent law Become a supporter at oc-media.org/support_us, or on Patreon.

Last week, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg toured the South Caucasus to visit the leaders of Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia.
This week, we speak to political analyst and head of the Regional Center for Democracy Tigran Grigoryan about the significance of a new partnership agreement between Armenia and NATO, to independent researcher Shujaat Ahmadzada about the importance of Azerbaijani gas after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and to Giorgi Shaishmelashvili about the latest developments surrounding Georgia’s protracted bid for NATO membership.
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NATO and Armenia to finalise new agreement as Stoltenberg tours South Caucasus Become a supporter at oc-media.org/support_us, or on Patreon.

In early March, Azerbaijani police raided the offices of Toplum TV and arrested several of their journalists on charges of smuggling. The targeting of the independent outlet was the latest in Azerbaijan’s ongoing crackdown on media in the country.
This week, we speak to Toplum TV journalist Alya Aghayeva about Azerbaijan’s crackdown on their outlet, and to Leyla Mustafayeva, who became the interim editor-in-chief of AbzasMedia in exile. AbzasMedia was the first outlet to be targeted by the authorities in November.
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Azerbaijan charges journalists and activists following Toplum TV raid Editorial | Ilham Aliyev’s attempt to eradicate the free press cannot succeed Become a supporter at oc-media.org/support_us, or on Patreon.

In recent weeks, senior Armenian officials have expressed an intent and interest in the country growing closer to Europe, and perhaps even joining the European Union, particularly in light of recent security concerns and a move away from Moscow.
In this week’s episode, we speak to MEP Viola von Cramon about Armenia’s EU prospects, and to Babken DerGrigorian, a former official in the post-revolutionary government about Armenia’s ties with Rusia and its readiness to potentially apply for EU membership.
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Armenia’s parliamentary speaker: Armenia should seek EU candidacy Pashinyan: Armenia has ‘frozen’ its participation in the CSTO Opinion | The EU should step up its support for Armenia Become a supporter at oc-media.org/support_us, or on Patreon.