Armenia Not Ceding Border Village of Jiliza to Georgia, Claims Debunked

Georgian media outlets have falsely claimed that Armenia has agreed to return the village of Jiliza to Georgia as part of border demarcation talks, according to an investigation by fact-checkers.

Between April 27-28, several Georgian news organizations and social media accounts circulated reports suggesting that Armenia would transfer the border village of Jiliza back to Georgian control following the completion of a border delimitation process. The claims appeared on outlets including Mtavari, CNews Exclusive, Dedoplistskaro TV, and others, with numerous Facebook pages amplifying the story.

The reports emerged after Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan delivered a speech at an event honoring Armenia’s border troops on April 27. While Pashinyan did mention that border delimitation with Georgia was on the agenda and that “agreements with Georgian partners already exist,” he made no specific mention of Jiliza or any territorial transfers in his remarks.

Nazeli Baghdasaryan, spokesperson for Armenia’s Prime Minister, has categorically denied these claims, issuing a clear statement: “Any statement, opinion, or ‘information’ suggesting an intention, plan, or agreement to transfer any part of the sovereign territory of the Republic of Armenia to another country does not correspond to reality.”

The spokesperson emphasized that such reports are “fabricated” and that the Armenian government denies “such publications, as before, now, and in the future.”

This is not the first time rumors about Jiliza have circulated in regional media. Similar claims appeared in Armenian media earlier in 2024, originating from an Armlur.am article that itself acknowledged the information was based on unverified “rumors.” Despite this disclaimer, various Armenian news outlets republished the claims.

When questioned about Jiliza in 2024, Baghdasaryan clarified that only general border delimitation issues had been discussed between the countries, with no specifics beyond the Prime Minister’s public statements.

The village of Jiliza sits on the Armenian-Georgian border, making it strategically significant for both nations. Border delimitation and demarcation remain sensitive issues throughout the South Caucasus region, where post-Soviet boundaries have occasionally led to territorial disputes.

Georgian official institutions have not issued any statements regarding the alleged transfer of Jiliza. Fact-checkers have contacted Georgia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs for comment, but no response had been received at the time of publication.

The spread of such unverified claims highlights ongoing tensions and sensitivities surrounding border issues in the region. Both Armenia and Georgia have generally maintained positive bilateral relations, though the full delimitation of their shared 225-kilometer border remains a work in progress since the dissolution of the Soviet Union.

Border delimitation processes in the South Caucasus are typically complex, involving historical claims, Soviet-era maps, and present-day realities. Similar processes are underway between other countries in the region, including Azerbaijan and Armenia, which have faced more contentious border disputes.

Experts note that false claims about territorial transfers can potentially inflame nationalist sentiments and complicate ongoing diplomatic efforts to finalize border agreements in a region still dealing with the legacy of Soviet boundary drawing.