Azerbaijan is strengthening its position as a key Eurasian transport hub amidst shifts in global logistics. This conclusion was reached by authors at *Responsible Statecraft* while analyzing the consequences of the conflict involving Iran and the restructuring of international trade routes.

The Tbilisi City Court found former Georgian Defense Minister Bacho Akhalaia guilty of publicly calling for the violent alteration of the constitutional order and sentenced him to two years and six months in prison.

"Today, the regional branch of the United Russia party unanimously nominated me as a candidate for the post of head of the Chechen Republic," Ramzan Kadyrov announced on his Telegram channel.

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, who arrived in Yekaterinburg to participate in the Innoprom-2026 international industrial exhibition, met with Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin. During the talks, the two sides exchanged emphatically positive statements about the prospects for bilateral relations, despite the sharp deterioration that accompanied the parliamentary elections in Armenia.

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has arrived in Russia for a working visit. In Yekaterinburg, he will participate in the "Innoprom-2026" international industrial exhibition and hold talks with Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin.

Russia is attempting to reinforce the occupation regime it established in the Tskhinvali region and move closer to the de facto annexation of Georgian territories. Nikoloz Samkharadze, Chair of the Georgian Parliament's Foreign Relations Committee and an MP from the "Georgian Dream" party, made this statement at the 33rd annual session of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly's General Committee on Political Affairs and Security.

The Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE) party adopted a resolution regarding the situation in Georgia at its congress in Vienna. Members of the political group urged the European Union to adopt a tougher stance toward the Georgian authorities and to step up sanctions.

A ceremony marking the 90th anniversary of the State Traffic Safety Inspectorate (GIBDD) was held in Grozny, attended by Ramzan Kadyrov.

On the occasion of the 250th anniversary of US independence, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev sent a congratulatory message to Donald Trump, thanking the American leader for his contribution to advancing the peace agenda in the South Caucasus.

The Georgian company Black Sea Petroleum has announced that, starting in August or September, it will switch exclusively to processing non-Russian oil. The company stated that this move would enable access to more profitable export markets and help dispel suspicions regarding involvement in the circumvention of international sanctions.