News

The Tbilisi City Court sentenced former chairman of the opposition United National Movement party Levan Khabeishvili to two and a half years in prison on charges of sabotage.

Authorities in Kabardino-Balkaria are artificially restricting a march marking the end of the Caucasian War, but these bans and warnings are only serving to increase the number of participants, activists and human rights defenders say.

The closure of gas stations in Makhachkala and Kaspiysk has led to fuel supply disruptions, with queues forming at operating stations. Business owners have called on the courts to take a proportionate approach to gas station closures, taking into account the severity of the violations.

The march in Nalchik marking the 162nd anniversary of the end of the Caucasian War proceeded without incident; participants walked only on sidewalks. Following the march, a rally and memorial service were held.

Authorities reported delivering over 136,000 cubic meters of sand to Anapa's beaches, with over five kilometers of shoreline already replenished. Telegram users noted that the new sand hardens after rain and turns into a suspension in water.

Azerbaijan is among the Council of Europe countries with one of the highest prison population ratios, and prison occupancy rates are close to critical, according to the Council's annual report "Prisons and Prisoners in Europe" for 2025. Harsh court decisions and a virtually non-functioning parole system lead to prison overcrowding, human rights activists noted.

A Tbilisi court has begun hearing the case against former Georgian Defense Minister Bacho Akhalaia, accused of calling for the overthrow of the government. Akhalaia has denied guilt.

Maxim Shabashov from Yessentuki was killed in combat in Ukraine. Since the beginning of the military operation, at least 946 soldiers from Stavropol Krai have been officially recognized as killed.

Trade union activist Elvin Mustafayev reported being beaten in prison after his request for parole was denied.

The Moscow City Court hearing on the complaint filed by singer and comedian Semyon Slepakov* from Stavropol Krai was held behind closed doors.

The Southern District Military Court sentenced a native of Azerbaijan to a long prison term, finding him guilty of financing militants.

Today, residents of southern Russia and the descendants of Circassians expelled from their historical homeland in various countries around the world commemorate the Day of Remembrance of the Adyghe, victims of the Caucasian War that ended 162 years ago.

A Yerevan court has remanded Artur Osipyan, an activist and refugee from Nagorno-Karabakh, to pretrial detention after he argued with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. Observers have identified Osipyan's case as interference by the security apparatus in political processes and called for an end to his prosecution.

A military court in Rostov-on-Don is hearing the case of Olesya Bichenova, a native of North Ossetia, who left for Syria with her husband and subsequently spent several years in a refugee camp there.

A military court in Nalchik sentenced Islam Teshev to seven years in prison for failing to report to his unit and leaving his place of service without permission.

The Southern District Military Court in Rostov-on-Don sentenced Sochi resident Andrei Miroshnikov to 16 years in prison, finding him guilty of collaborating with the Russian House of Culture*.

The detention and request for the arrest of activist and refugee from Nagorno-Karabakh Artur Osipyan following a dispute with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan demonstrates the disproportionate actions of security forces and the use of selective justice, human rights activists said.

Participants in the rally on Rustaveli Avenue, on the 539th day of continuous protests, called on Georgian citizens to rise up against the dictatorship and demanded the release of political prisoners.

At the "Tree of Life" monument in Nalchik, people lit 101 candles as part of the Day of Remembrance for the Adyghe Victims of the Caucasian War. Events held on this day are important for Circassians, but the authorities are trying to downplay the significance of the commemorative events, according to those attending the memorial.

Participation in authorized events commemorating Adyghe Remembrance Day, while fully complying with legal requirements, should not entail any consequences for Circassian activists who have received warnings from law enforcement. However, the very issuance of such warnings indicates that the activists' actions will be under special scrutiny, and any violation will result in prosecution.