Five Azerbaijanis killed in Sea of Azov drone strikes

"Two cargo ships in the Sea of Azov were struck by drones, killing five Azerbaijani crew members and injuring three others.
Russia blamed Ukraine for the strikes, while Ukraine said it targeted vessels aiding Russian military supply chains.
Azerbaijan confirmed the casualties but refrained from naming the attacker, stressing the ships were not under its ownership." msn

Azerbaijan denies claims of Israel using its soil in operations against Iran

"Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry denied claims published by international media that Israeli military and intelligence personnel allegedly operated from its territory during the ongoing Iran war, calling the reports "completely groundless".

"We categorically reject those particular claims mentioned in the article," Aykhan Hajizada, spokesperson and head of the ministry's press service, told Euronews." msn

Trump's new Board of Peace could tackle Russia-Ukraine war

"U.S. President Donald Trump unveiled his new Board of Peace during a signing ceremony in Davos on Jan. 22, in an event attended by leaders and officials from 19 signatory states.
The new body is launched primarily to oversee the ceasefire in Gaza, but U.S. officials said it would be expanded to other conflict regions.

A White House official confirmed to the Kyiv Independent that the Board could play a role in other situations, subject to the chairman's discretion and the consent of the relevant states, without ruling out engagement on Russia's war in Ukraine.
"This is not just a 'Board of Peace,' this is a board of action," U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said after signing.
"It is going to be a successful effort, and you see it reflected here today among countries of different backgrounds from different parts of the world."
Countries represented at the opening ceremony included Turkey, Hungary, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Argentina, Pakistan, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia.
Others, including Belarus, Israel, and Vietnam, have also said they would join the Board, while France, Norway, and Sweden have rejected." KI

Trump Oversees Signing of Historic Azerbaijan-Armenia Peace Agreement

"President Donald Trump announced Friday that the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan officially signed a peace agreement he oversaw in the Oval Office, marking the seventh global conflict he has settled in as many months.

Trump announced the deal, which includes a key agreement

surrounding the Azerbaijan territory of Nakhichevan, in the State Dining Room while flanked by the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, and the Prime Minister of Armenia, Nikol Pashinyan.
“With this accord, we’ve finally succeeded in making peace, and we just left the Oval Office where we signed voluminous documents and very important elements to the agreement,” Trump shared.
The countries have agreed to what will be called the “Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity” to allow Azerbaijan “full access” to Nakhichevan, which sits to the southwest of Armenia.
Armenia and the United States will work in partnership to establish the route, Trump said, noting that it could be in place for up to 99 years with a potential extension nearly a century from now.
Trump, who has used trade as leverage to move along other peace deals like the one he brokered between Thailand and Cambodia, emphasized the economic opportunity at hand for all three nations, sharing that American companies are eager to invest in the region." Breitbart

Armenia & Azerbaijan To Ink Peace Memorandum Under Trump Mediation

"Azerbaijan and Armenia are expected to sign a memorandum of understanding in Washington on Friday, committing to the pursuit of peace, according to regional sources familiar with the

matter who spoke to Middle East Eye. The sources said that US President Donald Trump will host Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan at the White House for the signing ceremony.
Although Armenia and Azerbaijan reached consensus on a draft peace agreement in March, Baku continues to insist on several additional conditions before finalizing the deal. Chief among Azerbaijan’s demands is that Yerevan amend its constitution to remove references to Azerbaijani territory, a step that would require a national referendum in Armenia." ZH

Russian Airliner Shoot-Down Update

"Azerbaijan wants Moscow to admit to an "attack" on a national airliner on Christmas day that left 38 dead after it crashed in Kazakhstan. "The Azerbaijani government demands official recognition, a formal apology, and accountability for those responsible for the attack..."

There were 17 survivors, including 14 passengers and three crewmembers. Video taken of the crash indicates that the pilots were relying entirely on the engines to maneuver the aircraft.
Various reports indicate that Azerbaijan Airlines Flight 8432 lost hydraulic controls following an explosion near the rear of the aircraft, indicative of a small surface-to-air missile like those fired by Russia's Pantsir-S air defense system. Survivors heard an explosion and reported shrapnel flying through the Embraer 190AR.
The flight originated in Baku, Azerbaijan, on its way to Grozny in the Russian Federation's Chechnya Republic but was re-routed to Makhachkala, also in Russia, due to fog. However, the plane diverted again just before reaching Makhachkala and headed east across the Caspian Sea toward Kazakhstan in Central Asia.
Before getting to why J2-8243 turned east instead of landing, let me remind you that it's not the war crime; it's the cover-up. Russian air defenses were on heightened alert due to a Ukrainian drone attack, and some Russian air defense soldier with an itchy trigger finger seemed to have made a gruesome mistake." PJMedia

Azerbaijan Airlines Flight Reportedly Hit By Russian Missile On Christmas Day

"Azerbaijani government sources told Euronews on Thursday that a Russian surface-to-air

missile hit Azerbaijan Airlines Flight J28243, ultimately causing the plane to crash during an emergency landing attempt in the Kazakhstani city of Aktau shortly thereafter. A Russian SAM was fired at the Embraer ERJ-190 during a drone swarm above Grozny, the capital city of Chechnya, Russia. The SAM detonated near the commercial jet and unleashed a spray formation of shrapnel that damaged the plane's rear fuselage and flight controls." ZH

Here's Why Georgia Chose Russia Over The EU

"Bordered by Russia to the north and Turkey, Armenia and Azerbaijan to the south, Georgia is taking a sharp turn towards Russia. The government suspended talks on accession to the European Union after the European Parliament resolution on Georgian election fraud. Georgians took to the streets and fierce protests are ongoing; however, looking at the results of the Georgian economy, many things become clear.
The Georgian Dream party has been ruling Georgia almost independently since 2016, although it has been involved in government since 2012, but then as part of a coalition. It is now facing strong unrest in the country after elections that have been allegedly rigged, at least according to the European Parliament. In response, the Georgian government has suspended the accession process to the European Union for four years.

Looking at the economic results, it must be admitted that during the Georgian Dream government, the country developed economically at a very high rate, one of the highest in the world. This year, according to the IMF’s October forecasts, it will see 7.6 percent GDP growth, which is the sixth-highest growth in the world. In 2023, only 11 countries developed faster than Georgia, including Georgia’s neighbor Armenia.
At the same time, Georgia’s most important export is not the famous Georgian wines, but transport equipment. Its foreign sales increased since 2016 from $151 million per year to $872 million in 2023. What’s more, counting the 12 months to the end of October 2024, it is already as much as $2.5 billion, or as much as 36.4 percent of Georgian exports — according to data from the Georgian Statistical Office.
When it comes to wine, Russia is also the largest recipient. In the 10 months of this year, out of the $237 million of wine exports, Russians bought $161 million. Interestingly, Poland is the second-largest recipient, but this means imports amounting to only $13 million.
As can be seen from the above, Georgia’s economy benefits from contacts with Russia. Economic links with the European Union are much smaller. Georgia is making money from the war in Ukraine, fueling one of the highest economic growth rates in the world." ZeroHedge

Iran warns Russia against backing Azerbaijan in border dispute

"Iran reportedly has told Russia to “back off” from endorsing Azerbaijan scheme to establish a land corridor that would connect Azerbaijan proper with Nakhichevan through Armenia’s Syunik Province, commonly referred to as the “Zangezur Corridor,” ... Iranian officials have advised Russia “to avoid taking measures that may impair the strategic relations between Moscow and Tehran, because the idea of the Zangezur corridor will create a new flashpoint near the very delicate boundaries of northwestern Iran.” FW

Telegram founder Durov arrested by French police

"The Russian founder of the messaging app Telegram, Pavel Durov, has been detained after he arrived in Paris on a private jet, local broadcaster LCI has reported.

Durov, who obtained a French passport in 2021, was arrested at Paris-Le Bourget Airport at around 8pm local time. His jet arrived in the French capital from Azerbaijan. The 39-year-old had been accompanied by a woman and his bodyguard, it added.
According to LCI, the French authorities issued an arrest warrant for the tech entrepreneur as part of a preliminary investigation. Paris believes that Telegram’s insufficient moderation, its encryption tools and alleged lack of cooperation with police could make Durov complicit of in drug trafficking, pedophilia offenses and fraud, it said.
Broadcaster TF1 claimed that Durov is going to appear before a judge tonight. He could be facing up to 20 years in prison, it added." RT

Iran President Raisi Helicopter Goes Missing

"Iranians have been asked to pray for the safety of President Ebrahim Raisi after his helicopter went missing on the way back from a meeting Sunday with President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan.
The helicopter was also carrying Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian, among other officials. It went missing in heavy fog in the mountainous region of northwestern Iran." MS

France to blame for any new conflict with Armenia – Azerbaijan president

"France’s move to supply military aid to Armenia could inflame tensions in the South

Caucasus and lead to fresh conflict, Azerbaijan’s president Ilham Aliyev has said.Aliyev has been critical of the European Union’s (EU) position on Baku’s dispute with Yerevan, and pulled out of EU-brokered talks scheduled with Armenia’s Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan earlier this month. At the summit, Brussels said it was standing by Armenia in the regional dispute." RT

Russian peacekeepers killed in Nagorno-Karabakh

"A group of Russian

peacekeepers was killed in Nagorno-Karabakh when their vehicle came under small-arms fire...The peacekeepers were returning to an observation post when their car was attacked by unknown assailants. All the servicemen inside the car were killed on the spot....Russian and Azerbaijani investigators are examining the scene of the incident." RT

Russia reveals plans for ‘Suez Canal substitute’

"The volume of goods shipped via the International North South Transport Corridor (INSTC),
touted as an alternative to the Suez Canal, could almost triple over the next seven years, Russian Transport Minister Vitaly Saveliev said at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum. 

The INSTC is a planned 7,200km multi-mode transit system that will connect ship, rail, and road routes for moving cargo between Russia, Iran, Azerbaijan, India, and Central Asia." ZH

Armenia and Azerbaijan trade accusations after deadly shootout

"Armenia and Azerbaijan have blamed each other, after an exchange of fire between the two
countries' security forces in the contested region of Nagorno-Karabakh on Sunday. At least five people were killed in the incident, with Yerevan saying three Armenian police officers lost their lives and Baku confirming the deaths of two Azerbaijani troops.

Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Sunday that the gunfight broke out when troops were checking vehicles in the area after obtaining data that unauthorized roads had been used to deliver weapons and military personnel within the region." RT

Armenia Requests Russian Military Assistance As Fighting Breaks Out With Azerbaijan

"The overnight outbreak of fighting in multiple spots along the Armenian-Azerbaijan border is
serious enough for Yerevan to have asked for its powerful ally Russia's help. This has been revealed hours after Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan held a late night telephone conversation with President Vladimir Putin." ZeroHedge

Putin visits major international war games

"Putin is touring a military range in the country’s Far East, which is hosting the international Vostok 2022 drills. Vostok 2022 is part of a series of strategic military training exercises held by Russia each year. It is hosted by one of its military districts on a rotating basis. This year, the Eastern Military District welcomed 13 foreign nations, which sent troops and observers to Russia.

Over 2,000 foreign troops joined 50,000 Russian soldiers and officers for the drills, the Defense Ministry told journalists. The countries taking part include Algeria, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, China, India, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, and Tajikistan." RT

Armenia Leader Questions Work of Russian Peacekeepers After Flareup

"Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on Thursday questioned the role of Russian
peacekeepers in the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh after a new flare-up left three soldiers dead.

Pashinyan's rare criticism of  Moscow came after tensions escalated on Wednesday in the disputed mountainous region, which is mainly populated by ethnic Armenians.

The former Soviet republics of Armenia and Azerbaijan have fought two wars -- in the 1990s and in 2020 -- over Nagorno-Karabakh.

In the aftermath of the latest war, Armenia ceded swathes of territory it had controlled for decades.

Russia deployed some 2,000 peacekeepers to oversee the fragile truce but tensions persist despite the ceasefire agreement." VOA

Armenia Seeks Russia Aid in Nagorno-Karabakh Flare-up

"Armenia urged Moscow on Monday to remove Azerbaijan’s troops from an area of Nagorno-
Karabakh policed by Russian peacekeepers in the latest flare-up of a bitter territorial dispute in Russia’s backyard.  Armenia’s Foreign Ministry rejected Russian claims of a full withdrawal by Azerbaijan troops from a village in Nagorno-Karabakh, a largely Armenian-populated territory that’s recognized internationally as part of Azerbaijan. They also called for an investigation into the actions of Russian peacekeepers." MT