web-dossier

Read in Georgian

Undoubtedly the emergence of the Democratic Republic of Azerbaijan (ADR) was the by-product of a broad range of processes and dynamics in and around of the Caucasus, the developments in the Tsarist Russia as well as in the neighbouring countries of the Russian Caucasus, the Ottoman Empire and Persia. The elites of the ADR, both of Muslim and of non-Muslim faith were socialized in the late Romanov period. Azərbaycan dilində

For a people whose history covers a few millennia, the significance of the First Republic of Armenia far exceeds the number of years it lasted. Other than the Genocide that preceded it, I doubt that there is another period of two and one-half years that has received more attention by scholars, memoirists, and polemicists. հայերեն

Armenia and Georgia are destined by history and geography to exist side by side, for centuries uncomfortably squeezed between huge empires. Not always were their relations cloudless, but mostly were marked by prolonged periods of propinquity and cooperation. 

Nowadays South Caucasus is a sub-region bordering one great power and two regional powers.  It is considered as an important intersection of transnational infrastructure links. This turns it into a zone of superpowers’ vital interests, as well as arises growing interest by non-bordering great powers. The region is saturated with ethnic and confessional conflicts which provides openings for influence by all non-regional actors. հայերեն

Armenian-Georgian relations are grounded in many centuries of history. In South Caucasus, as well as in larger Middle East region, Armenians and Georgians are of those rare peoples sharing common history. Along with other factors, this situation has been shaped by the shared reality and need of facing global political, cultural and social dynamics and challenges. 

The power of Russia’s disinformation campaign via the media and Kremlin-financed and/or supported NGOs have been clearly seen in the West with the Ukraine crisis. However, for the post-Soviet republics, these tactics are familiar. հայերեն

Since the collapse of the Soviet Union, independence for Armenia has faced a daunting trade-off of sovereignty for security. With the insecurity from a war with neighbouring Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh that erupted even before independence, Armenia has long relied on Russia as its “strategic partner” and security provider. հայերեն

Five years have passed after the regime change in Georgia, which, many thought, would have diverted the country from its Western course and made it vulnerable to Russia’s influence. These five years saw a surge of Russia’s “soft power” around the world, including in the South Caucasus; however, on the ground, the soft power still remains of limited nature and has failed to achieve major breakthroughs. հայերեն

The success of Georgia’s Euroatlantic integration would greatly contribute to the protection of the sovereign rights of small states and to the restoration of European security.

Despite expectations for major gains, Abkhazia, squeezed between the Russian Federation and Georgia, has undergone no substantive changes in the run-up to the Olympics in nearby Sochi.

On 7 February 2014, the 22nd Winter Olympic Games will open in the Russian Black Sea resort of Sochi. These games will be the first Olympics hosted by Russia since the dissolution of the Soviet Union.

For the last several years, Russia has significantly increased and consolidated its power and influence in the South Caucasus. Although this process was most obvious in 2008, in the wake of the Russian-Georgian war, subsequent moves by Moscow have reinforced this trend.

The International Olympic Committee's (IOC) decision to hold the February 2014 Olympic Games in Sochi was met with an ambiguous reaction in Georgia.

With the Eastern Partnership Summit in Vilnius (Lithuania) approaching on November 28-29, 2013, the South Caucasus Regional Office of the Heinrich Böll Foundation (HBF) aims to give insiders’ views on state of Armenia's, Azerbaijan's and Georgia's integration into the European community.

The EU-Azerbaijan ENP agreement signed in 2006 was met with substantial enthusiasm from society and was followed by official statements on the commitment to integration in the EU.