Balcani Caucaso Archives - Onnik James Krikorian - Journalist, Photojournalist, Consultant

Tbilisoba 2024

Oct 17, 2024 | Balcani Caucaso, Caspian Post, Georgia, Minorities

Earlier this month, Tbilisi celebrated Tbilisoba, the city’s annual harvest festival. Over the years it has changed significantly and seems smaller than before. I first covered the event in 2011 but the best so far remains 2014 when there was more representation of traditional Georgian folk dance and music as well as by ethnic minorities such as the Armenian and Azerbaijani communities. This year, that was held relatively far away from Tbilisi’s Old Town and Rike Park with very little publicity or in some media any at all. Nonetheless, those that attended appeared to enjoy themselves sufficiently and I managed to photo stories.

Yerevan and Baku at a crossroads

Sep 24, 2024 | Armenia, Azerbaijan, Balcani Caucaso, Russia

Though there had been hopes that some kind of agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan could be initialled or signed by November this year, the situation looks increasingly uncertain as Russia once again enters the fray.

Baku insists on Constitutional change for Armenia peace accord

Jul 2, 2024 | Armenia, Azerbaijan, Balcani Caucaso

Early last month, Azerbaijan’s President, Ilham Aliyev, announced that an agreement to normalize relations with Armenia is unlikely to be signed unless it changes its constitution. Specifically, this would mean removing a controversial preamble that references the 1990 Declaration of Independence, which in turn is based on the 1989 Joint Statement on the “Reunification of the Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic and the Mountainous Region of Karabakh.”

European Union Mission in Armenia Marks First Anniversary

Feb 29, 2024 | Armenia, Azerbaijan, Balcani Caucaso, European Union

For a year, the European Union Mission in Armenia (EUMA) has been deployed on the border with Azerbaijan, which it patrols regularly: a measure considered necessary by Yerevan – which fears a new conflict – but viewed with suspicion by Baku.

Georgia celebrates EU candidate status

Dec 19, 2023 | Balcani Caucaso, European Union, Georgia

On December 14, the European Council granted EU candidate status to Georgia. An important step, celebrated the following day in the capital Tbilisi, both by the authorities and the population. However, the path towards the EU still remains ahead.

Armenia and Azerbaijan: Rare declaration rekindles hopes for peace

Dec 12, 2023 | Armenia, Azerbaijan, Balcani Caucaso, Nagorno Karabakh

Armenia and Azerbaijan issued a late-night joint statement that surprised even the most seasoned of commentators. Though it remains unclear whether this could be a long-awaited breakthrough in negotiations, the international community was united in welcoming the move.

Georgia: The Final Hurdle To EU Candidate Status

Nov 14, 2023 | Balcani Caucaso, European Union, Georgia

Last week’s decision by the European Commission to recommend Georgia receive European Union candidate status caught many by surprise. A survey conducted by the Tbilisi-based Caucasus Research Resource Centre (CRRC) in the previous days showed that, despite widespread support for EU membership, only 33% of respondents believed it would obtain it. Unlike Ukraine and Moldova, which became candidates in June last year, Georgia had instead been required to address 12 priorities first.

Armenian, Azerbaijani and Georgian Prime Ministers address Tbilisi Silk Road Forum

Nov 4, 2023 | Armenia, Azerbaijan, Balcani Caucaso, Georgia, Nagorno Karabakh

In recent days, Georgia once again hosted the Tbilisi Silk Road Forum, an event with an economic focus. What is new this year is that for the first time an Armenian leader spoke at such a high-level event in Tbilisi, and high-level officials from all three South Caucasus countries were also on the same stage.

Brussels Meeting Cancelled as Armenian, Azerbaijani, and Georgian PMs Share the Stage in Tbilisi

Oct 27, 2023 | Armenia, Azerbaijan, Balcani Caucaso, Caspian Post, European Union, Georgia, Nagorno Karabakh

Despite hopes that Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev would meet in Brussels towards the end of the month, the European Union’s Special Representative for the South Caucasus, Toivo Klaar, yesterday said that it will now not take place. Giving the reason as “time constraints,” he made the announcement while participating remotely in a conference held in Yerevan.

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