COP29 won’t stop us investing in ‘god-given’ gas – POLITICO

“As a head of the country, which is rich with fossil fuels, of course, we will defend the right of these countries to continue investments and to continue production,” he said. “Petrostates are perfecting a sinister COP playbook,” said Patrick Galey, a fossil fuel investigator with Global Witness. “Just like the UAE, Azerbaijan is planning … Read more

EU launches €270M plan to bring Armenia into the Western fold – POLITICO

“We will make investments to strengthen Armenia’s economy and society, making them more robust and stable in the face of shocks,” she added, with funds being allocated for electrification and new renewable energy projects. The move comes as Armenia works to cut ties with its former ally, Russia, which owns much of its energy network … Read more

Putin, Kim, Assad and their most fantastical election wins – POLITICO

Before Putin, there was Stalin. The Soviet dictator stayed in power in Moscow for three decades before dying in 1953. Elections during his reign went as one might expect: high turnout and 100 percent of the votes for the unopposed communist autocrat. With his victory over the weekend, Putin moved one step closer to nudging … Read more

Azerbaijani president on track for 94 percent landslide in tainted election – POLITICO

While the European Parliament was unable to send a delegation to monitor polling stations as it has in previous years, the chairman of the Russian Federation Council’s foreign affairs committee, Grigory Karasin, told local media the polls were being organized effectively and could even act as a model for Russia’s own presidential election later this … Read more