Tag: Caucasus
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OSINT Report: Nagorno-Karabakh Crisis, Armenophobia and the so-called ‘Azerbaijani Telegram Channels’ in Russian language
Our OSINT report shows that a segment of Azerbaijani society or Azeri Diaspora in the post-Soviet space on different Telegram channels in Russian language exhibits pronounced sentiments of Armenophobia, manifesting in a discernible hostility towards Armenians in occasion of the Nagorno-Karabakh crisis.
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Erdogan-Aliyev’s Meeting in Nakhchivan Alarms Armenia and the Syunik Province
Erdogan’s planned visit to Nakhchivan following Baku’s military offensive in Nagorno-Karabakh has raised significant concerns regarding the territorial integrity of Armenia since Azerbaijan and Turkey may actively seek to establish the conditions for a potential military intervention in Armenia’s Syunik Province, with the ultimate aim of securing the Zangezur Corridor.
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Nagorno-Karabakh Crisis and Russia’s Strategy in the Region
The recent capitulation of Nagorno-Karabakh in the face of Azerbaijan’s military offensive has brought to light Russia’s recalibrated strategic approach in the region. This shift focuses on forging a robust alliance with both Baku and Ankara, a move designed to bolster the INSTC and leverage Turkish land as a potential hub for its new energy approach.
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Nagorno-Karabakh Crisis Exposed Italy’s Weak Foreign Policy Among Natural Gas and Human Rights
The Azerbaijani military incursion into the Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh/Artsakh has brought to light Italy’s precarious foreign policy in the South Caucasus. Driven by a web of Rome’s imperatives and constraints, the Italian government finds itself torn between justifying Azerbaijan’s regional strategy and acknowledging the resulting humanitarian crisis and civilian casualties.
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Azerbaijan’s Military Offensive in Nagorno-Karabakh/Artsakh: A Risk Assessment
The recent military operation conducted by Azerbaijan against the defence forces in the Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh/Artsakh attests to the prevailing instability within the South Caucasus region. This development has sounded alarm bells amongst both international and regional stakeholders, who are now confronted with the prospect of a renewed conflict in this highly sensitive geopolitical theatre.
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Stavropol Companies’ Business Mission to Abkhazia: Implications and Opportunities
The recent business mission conducted by Stavropol-based companies to Abkhazia signified a noteworthy advancement with extensive ramifications for both Sukhum and Pyatigorsk. This exchange also highlights Pyatigors’ approach to promote foreign business ventures for the Russian Federation.
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Interview: SpecialEurasia Research Manager, Giuliano Bifolchi, Analysed Geopolitics and Contemporary Abkhazia with Arda Dgebiya
On August 1st, 2023, during SpecialEurasia’s official mission to Abkhazia, our Research Manager Giuliano Bifolchi engaged in an interview in the Russian language with Arda Dgebiya to explain the organisation’s commitment, investigate the importance of geopolitics in contemporary world, and share his analysis of the current situation in the Abkhaz territory.
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Jewish Heritage Preservation in the Caucasus: Azerbaijan’s Cultural Diplomacy to Strengthen Relations with Israel
The conference held in Baku on the Jewish community of the Caucasus underscored the positive state of relations between Azerbaijan and Israel. Notably, it shed light on Baku’s strategic use of cultural diplomacy to foster stronger ties with Tel Aviv and garner support from the global Jewish community.
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Pashinyan’s Complain About Russia Underlined Armenian Swinging Foreign Policy
Nikol Pashinyan’s recent statements on Armenia’s ‘erroneous’ dependence on Russia may reflect a new direction in Yerevan’s foreign policy, signalling a desire to seek alternative solutions, particularly by cultivating stronger relationships with Western nations
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Armenia, Export e Sanzioni nelle Dinamiche Geopolitiche Eurasiatiche
Nel contesto geopolitico attuale, caratterizzato dal conflitto ucraino e dallo scontro tra Bruxelles e Mosca, l’incremento dell’export europeo verso l’Armenia ha sollevato dubbi sulla possibilità che questo permetta di aggirare le sanzioni, dilemma che però non coinvolge il vicino Stato azerbaigiano la cui politica estera sfrutta il supporto europeo, ma non tralascia gli accordi commerciali con la Russia.
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Geopolitics of the Humanitarian Crisis in the Republic of Artsakh because of the Azerbaijan Blockade
The Republic of Artsakh, also known as Nagorno-Karabakh, has found itself embroiled in a dire humanitarian crisis because of the Azerbaijan blockade imposed since December 2022.
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Abkhazia: Between Regional Geopolitical Dynamics and Domestic Politics. An Interview with Irakli Tuzhba
SpecialEurasia met in Sukhum Irakli Tuzhba, Deputy Minister of the Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Abkhazia, to delve into Abkhaz domestic and foreign politics and investigate future developments of the country.
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Dagestan and Tajikistan discussed expanding cooperation in different fields, especially the halal industry
Dagestan and Tajikistan’s entente on developing cooperation confirms the North Caucasus’s role in promoting relations between Russia and foreign countries, especially those in the blizhnee zarubezhe (near abroad) where the Kremlin wants to confirm its presence and influence.
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Iran and Georgia relations in the contemporary Caucasian dynamics
In this paper published in Geopolitical Report ISSN 2532-845X Vol. 2 Year 2023, the author examined the current status of Tehran-Tbilisi relations and assess possible future geopolitical scenarios concerning these two actors and the regional Caucasian dynamics.
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Il vertice Armenia-Azerbaigian di Bruxelles e la questione dei confini nazionali
Il vertice Armenia-Azerbaigian che si è tenuto a Bruxelles permette di concentrare l’attenzione sulla questione dei confini nazionali armeni e azerbaigiani la cui soluzione dovrebbe portare alla stabilità e non creare ulteriori tensioni regionali.
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The second Karabakh war and Iran’s interests
In this paper published in Geopolitical Report ISSN 2532-845X Vol. 2 Year 2023, the author investigated the Iranian position on the second Karabakh war and Tehran’s attempts to stabilise the region and promote its economic and political partnerships.
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SpecialEurasia published Geopolitical Report ISSN 2532-845X Volume 2 Year 2023
SpecialEurasia, in partnership with MInter Group SRL, Notizie Geopolitiche, and Mondo Internazionale ASP, published Geopolitical Report ISSN 2532-845X Volume 2 Year 2023 focused on Iranian strategy in the South Caucasus.
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Will Growing tension between Azerbaijan and Iran destabilise the Southern Caucasus?
The recent ‘diplomatic crisis’ between Iran and Azerbaijan, which has involved the Iranian diplomatic staff in Baku, underlined the potential political and military escalation between the countries, whose consequences might hugely influence the security in the South Caucasus.
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CSTO ready to send a mission on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border
In the last months, the South Caucasus has again experienced regional turbulence. While there have been protests in Georgia over a controversial draft law that would have required some organisations receiving foreign funding to register as “foreign agents”, Armenia and Azerbaijan might be again on the edge of an escalation involving the CSTO and, therefore, Russia.
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Iran: a geopolitical scenario of the new escalation with Israel and Azerbaijan
The South Caucasus and the Middle East have long been at the epicentre of geopolitical, ideological and ethnic tensions. While the Israel-Iran hybrid war is experiencing a new momentum, ongoing tensions between Armenia and Azerbaijan might open a second front in which both Tel Aviv and Tehran might be involved.
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Increased investment in Adygea confirmed the Kremlin’s strategy in the North Caucasus
Increased Russian investments in Adygea confirm the Kremlin’s strategy to implement the North Caucasus’ socioeconomic development and transform the region into a logistics hub supporting the diversification of Russian exports.
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Geopolitical risk of Iran and the Caucasus: what to watch in 2023
In 2023, military escalations, domestic political turmoil, and economic crises might increase Iran and the Caucasus’ geopolitical risk and threaten regional security, whose consequences might broadly destabilise the Eurasian strategic chessboard.
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Nagorno-Karabakh/Artsakh: Azerbaijan’s strategy might lead to a humanitarian crisis and a military escalation
Azerbaijan’s transport and gas supply blockade of the Nagorno-Karabakh/Artsakh might cause a regional humanitarian crisis and evolve into a military escalation capable of destabilising the South Caucasus.
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Dagestan – Azerbaijan cooperation in transport and logistics supports Russian regional strategy
The commercial and political partnership between Dagestan and Azerbaijan might support the increasing relations between Moscow and Baku and implement the Russian foreign policy in the South Caucasus and the Caspian Sea region.
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Russia confirms its strategic interests in Abkhazia and the South Caucasus
The Russian State Duma’s official visit to Abkhazia confirms the Kremlin’s presence in the South Caucasus and the Abkhaz territory’s strategic role in Russia’s foreign policy. Moscow-Sukhum improving relations stress the Russian desire to confirm its influence in the Caucasus in a challenging time characterised by the Ukraine conflict and the confrontation with the West.
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Discovering Russia’s key foreign target through Stavropol’s economic strategy
Stavropol authorities’ desire to open trade offices abroad might underline Russia’s strategic economic goal in the Eurasian geopolitical chessboard, especially in Azerbaijan, Iran, China, and the United Arab Emirates.
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Armenia’s prospect in the changing world: an interview with Armenian President Vahagn Khachaturyan
Considering the South Caucasus’ current geopolitical scenario, we discussed with Vahagn Khachaturyan, President of the Republic of Armenia, the country’s prospects in the changing world and possible regional developments to assess local stability and security and evaluate Armenia’s potentialities.
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Ingushetia: IT Park “Adam Khamkhoev” between economic development and social promotion
The establishment of an IT Park in Ingushetia named after Adam Khamkhoev, killed in May 2022 in Ukraine, underlined local and central authorities’ desire to promote economic development and support Kremlin’s narrative related to heroism and national unity.
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Moscow’s involvement in Ukraine allows the European Union to accredit itself as a mediator between Armenia and Azerbaijan
After almost three decades on the sidelines of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict negotiation process, the European Union has now stepped in, positioning itself as a mediator in the Armenian-Azerbaijani conciliation process.
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Makhachkala port plays a decisive role in the Iran-Dagestan grain trade
Iran and Dagestan have increased their trade exchange through the Makhachkala Commercial Port, where the Kremlin has invested financial funds to transform this infrastructure into a logistic hub in the Caspian Sea, which might undermine the role of the close port of Baku in Azerbaijan.
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The Republic of Artsakh between self-determination and constant military threat: an interview with Sergey Ghazaryan
SpecialEurasia met with Sergey Ghazaryan, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Artsakh in Armenia, with whom we discussed how recent regional geopolitical dynamics in the Caucasus had influenced the current situation in Nagorno-Karabakh.
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Armenia’s foreign policy: an interview with Paruyir Hovhannisyan
SpecialEurasia met with Paruyr Hovhannisyan, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia, with whom we discussed Yerevan’s regional and foreign policy and Armenia’s strategy to protect its sovereignty and citizens.
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Cultural/fashion diplomacy and economy in Armenia: the story behind Udivila
During SpecialEurasia’s official mission to Yerevan, our team met with Armenian female entrepreneurs who founded the brand Udivila, which promotes Armenian culture and attempts to carve out a slide of a market where Armenia has not yet been present.
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SpecialEurasia began its official mission to Armenia
On October 21st, 2022, SpecialEurasia began its special mission in Yerevan, the capital of Armenia, to analyse the current situation in the country, assess socioeconomic trends and investigate possible future developments.
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The North Caucasus connects Russia with the Middle East and Africa
The Stavropol territory welcomed representatives from the Middle East and Africa in the event “North Caucasus in the Changing World”, whose goal was to create a link between the region and potential foreign investors and markets.
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Ukraine conflict, Ramzan Kadyrov’s strategic communications and possible future scenarios
Since the beginning of the Ukraine conflict, the Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov has played a decisive and influential role in assisting the Russian military operations on the ground with his kadyrovtsy and Chechen troops and supporting the Kremlin’s ideological confrontation with the West.
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United Arab Emirates cultural diplomacy in Dagestan
The Embassy of the United Arab Emirates in the Russian Federation organised an event in the city of Makhachkala to promote the national culture and create a link with Dagestan, a strategic North Caucasian republic located on the Caspian Sea.
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Russian domestic politics: promoting Dagestan culture among the ethnic Russians
Kremlin’s promotion of Dagestan culture and society in Sochi underlines Moscow’s goal to contrast Kavkazophobia and, simultaneously, improve the link between ethnic Russians and local ethnic Dagestani groups since this North Caucasian republic has a strategic role in the Caspian Sea region.
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Will Georgia open a “second front” against Russia?
Georgian authorities denied that Tbilisi would hold a referendum to open a “second front” against the Russian Federation, destabilising the South Caucasus and threatening the Georgian economy, which is heavily dependent on the Russian market.
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Azerbaijani military aggression against Armenia threatens the stability of the South Caucasus
The Azerbaijani army’s aggression against Armenia raises concerns about the stability of the South Caucasus, an area which plays a fundamental role in the EU Energy Security Strategy.
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Geopolitics of Ilham Aliyev’s visit to Italy
Ilham Aliyev’s visit to Italy confirmed Baku’s interest in strengthening commercial and business partnerships with Rome and attracting Italian investments in the reconstruction process in the Nagorno-Karabakh territories, which are now under Azerbaijani control.
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SpecialEurasia pubblica il report “Gli interessi dell’Iran nel Caucaso”
SpecialEurasia ha pubblicato il report “Gli interessi dell’Iran nel Caucaso” scritto da Silvia Boltuc con l’obiettivo di analizzare le relazioni diplomatiche, culturali ed economiche tra Teheran e gli attori della regione caucasica e comprendere quali potrebbero essere gli sviluppi futuri alla luce delle complessità e dinamiche regionali.
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Geopolitics of the Caucasus between Armenian protests and Azerbaijani strategies
Against the backdrop of the Ukrainian conflict, several frozen conflicts of the post-Soviet space have witnessed new tensions. Two critical events promoted by Azerbaijan sparked protests in Armenia and might prompt a new escalation over Nagorno-Karabakh.
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Iran seeks cooperation with the Dagestani port of Makhachkala
Iran will play a primary role in the import-export activities in the Dagestani port of Makhachkala. The recent meeting between Dagestan and Iran’s representatives showed mutual interest in expanding trade cooperation and transit agreement.
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Geopolitics of South Ossetia’s possible annexation to Russia
South Ossetia considers the eventuality to join the Russian Federation through a referendum that will change the geopolitical chessboard of the Caucasus and influence the dynamics between Moscow and Tbilisi.
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Nagorno-Karabakh conflict might influence Moscow-Baku relations
The recent military escalation at the Nagorno-Karabakh/Azerbaijan border, which caused victims from both sides, could negatively affect relations between Moscow and Baku and plunge the region into a new geopolitical, security, and socio-political crisis.
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Russia and Azerbaijan discussed the “Green Corridor”
Russia and Azerbaijan discussed the “Green Corridor” project, which might become an alternative trade route to counter Western sanctions and strengthen Moscow-Baku relations in the Caucasus and the Caspian Sea region.
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Ukraine conflict, Chechnya and the Gulf Arab countries
While the Russian military forces are approaching Kyiv, Chechnya is trying to play its diplomatic role in the Gulf Arab countries to support the Russian Federation in the international arena.
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“Storia del Caucaso del Nord tra presenza russa, Islam e terrorismo” di Giuliano Bifolchi
Giuliano Bifolchi, Research Manager di SpecialEurasia, analizza il processo storico, culturale e religioso della regione nord caucasica nel suo libro “Storia del Caucaso del Nord tra presenza russa, Islam e terrorismo” pubblicato da Anteo Edizioni.
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Geopolitics of parliamentary elections in Abkhazia
The upcoming parliamentary elections in the Republic of Abkhazia are crucial for the Abkhaz political life, and regional geopolitics since the country plays a strategic role in the Caucasus and the Black Sea region.
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Summary of the Webinar “Geopolitics and conflicts in the Caucasus: current challenges and future developments”
On January 27th, 2022, SpecialEurasia organised the Webinar “Geopolitica e conflitti nel Caucaso: sfide attuali e sviluppi futuri” to analyse with scholars and experts the current situation of the Caucasus and discuss future developments and challenges in the region.
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Geopolitics of the Armenian President’s resignation
The Armenian President’s resignation created another political crisis in the Caucasian republic, which, since the Velvet Revolution in 2018, has experienced domestic political instability, the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict and its consequent defeat, the parliamentary elections and a new foreign policy marked by a broader approach towards Turkey and Azerbaijan.
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Iranian Azeri, the (almost) forgotten minority and their (in)direct impact on Iranian regional policies
Geopolitical Report ISSN 2785-2598 Volume 15 Issue 2 – Among the numerous issues that impact Iran-Azerbaijan relations, considering the recent events which have interested the Caucasus region and the Iranian-Azerbaijani dialogue, it is fundamental to analyse the ethnic minority of Azeri who live on the Iranian territory and influence Tehran’s domestic and regional policies.
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Azerbaijan-Iran crisis and Tehran-Yerevan’s new transit route
The growing tensions between Iran and Azerbaijan (backed by Turkey) might destabilise the Caucasus and create problems for the transit corridors which cross the region. In this context, to counter the Azerbaijani project of the Zangezur transit corridor, Tehran might establish a new transportation route with Armenia.
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South Ossetia and Abkhazia cooperation and the geopolitics of the Caucasus
The recent visit of the South Ossetian President to Abkhazia to celebrate Victory and Independence Day and the meeting among South Ossetian and Abkhaz presidents and ministers underline their cooperation and the role that these two republics play in the South Caucasian geopolitics.
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Armenian parliamentary election: why matters?
Kavkaz Files ISSN 2975-0474 Volume 5 Issue 2 Author: Giuliano Bifolchi After the 2018 Velvet Revolution and the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict, Armenian is at the crossroad for its future existence because on June 20th, 2021, the Armenians will vote for the third time in five years for the Prime Minister and national government.
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Il mercato energetico in Armenia tra ristrutturazioni e interessi esteri. Intervista con Hakob Varanyan
L’Armenia si appresta a organizzare le nuove elezioni volute a seguito del conflitto del Nagorno-Karabakh del 2020 in un periodo storico per il paese caucasico caratterizzato da una lenta ripresa economica e una crisi politica interna che fanno da contraltare ai progetti governativi nazionali che mirano a realizzare infrastrutture nel settore energetico per coprire la domanda interna e diversificare le importazioni di energia dai Paesi alleati.
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Nagorno-Karabakh: and the winner is… Russia
After a long meeting, the leaders of Azerbaijan and Armenia, supervised by Russia, agreed on the ceasefire, which should precede the peace negotiation between Baku and Yerevan on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Although Azerbaijan is claiming its victory in the conflict, the Russian Federation is the real winner in Nagorno-Karabakh.
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The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict might destabilise the entire Eurasian region
The Caucasus might become the theatre of a new conflict whose consequences will impact the entire Eurasian region if the international community does not stop the military escalation at the borders of the de-facto Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh and Azerbaijan.
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Russia wants to upgrade the port of Makhachkala
Russia plans to develop the infrastructure of the port of Makhachkala to transform the Dagestani capital into a logistic hub in the Caspian Sea and the Caucasus region and boost socio-economic development. Moscow’s desire to upgrade Makhachkala’s seaport and airport challenges the city of Baku, and the Azerbaijani aim to become the Caspian interconnection.
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Tensioni Armenia – Azerbaigian, stabilità del Caucaso meridionale e dinamiche geopolitiche
Gli scontri militari tra Armenia ed Azerbaigian lungo la linea di confine registrati il 12 luglio 2020 riportano l’attenzione sul conflitto ‘congelato’ mai risolto o mal gestito del Nagorno-Karabkh che minaccia la stabilità del Caucaso meridionale e gli interessi degli attori regionali e internazionali.
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Le dimissioni presidenziali in Abkhazia e la crisi politica interna
La repubblica di Abkhazia situata nel Caucaso sta vivendo una crisi politica interna dopo le dimissioni del presidente Raul Khajimba avvenute nella notte tra il 12 e il 13 gennaio 2020. La crisi politica abcasa ha impatto significativo su un paese che è dipendente dal supporto economico-finanziario e militare russo e che vive un isolamento perpetuo a seguito della sua indipendenza ottenuta de facto nel 2008 a seguito della Guerra Russo-Georgiana.
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