A participant in a rally in support of the mayor of Gyumri has been released. December 21, 2025 02:51 Two months later, Karush Oveyan, who was arrested for participating in a rally in support of Gyumri Mayor Vardan Ghukasyan on October 20, was released.
Part of Aksai was left without power due to a power line break. December 21, 2025 01:51 An accident occurred on a power line in the Rostov region, leaving several villages and part of Aksai without power, and some areas of the city also without water and heating.
Archbishop Ajapayan scheduled for surgery December 21, 2025 00:52 The convicted primate of the Shirak Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church, Archbishop Mikael Ajapayan, was taken to the Izmirlyan Clinic after several requests from his lawyers that he require urgent surgery.
Refugees from Karabakh called obtaining Armenian citizenship a forced step. December 20, 2025 23:53 More than 26,000 refugees from Karabakh have received Armenian citizenship. The displaced persons themselves described the decision as forced; they needed to obtain an Armenian passport to find work and participate in a housing program. Karabakh human rights activists believe that accepting Armenian citizenship does not deprive the refugees of their right to return.
Anastasia Zinovkina's condition worsened in prison. December 20, 2025 22:54 Anastasia Zinovkina, a prisoner in Georgia, is unable to get out of bed during her seizures, and her right fingers and toes have become paralyzed, according to her fiancé, Artem Gribul. He expressed hope that the appellate court will address the inconsistencies in the testimony of the security officers in the trial court's verdict, which sentenced them to 8.5 years in prison.
A fighter from North Ossetia was killed in a military operation. December 20, 2025 20:54 Nikita Milogradov was killed in combat. Since the beginning of the military operation in Ukraine, at least 532 fighters from North Ossetia have been officially recognized as killed.
Police have dismissed the complaint about Roman Murdiev's harsh escort as unfounded. December 20, 2025 19:54 The mother of Chechen teenager Roman Murdiev filed a complaint with the Moscow Prosecutor's Office regarding the use of handcuffs behind his back and his joining with another defendant during her son's arrival at court. The Moscow Main Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs found no violations. The proportionality of the escort's actions must be justified, the lawyer stated.
The former mayor of Volgodonsk has been arrested in connection with a fraud case. December 20, 2025 17:54 Yuri Marinenko, who headed Volgodonsk for a year, has been arrested on fraud charges. Investigators allege that in 2016, while serving as head of the city's Ministry of Internal Affairs, he illegally obtained low-income status and, using this status, obtained ownership of an apartment free of charge.
Afiyaddin Mamedov was awarded the Nargiz Prize December 20, 2025 16:54 The winner of the annual Nargiz Prize, which is awarded for efforts in the fight for democracy in Azerbaijan, was Afiyaddin Mammadov, chairman of the alternative Confederation of Trade Unions of Azerbaijan "Workers' Platform", who is serving a prison sentence.
Official losses in the southern part of Russia in the North-Eastern Military District zone exceeded 8,300 December 20, 2025 15:54 At least 4,074 soldiers from the North Caucasus Federal District and 4,228 from the Southern Federal District have been recognized by authorities and security forces as killed in the military operation in Ukraine.
Thirteen fighters from the Volgograd region were killed in Ukraine. December 20, 2025 14:56 Authorities in the Sredneakhtubinsky District presented awards to the relatives of soldiers killed in the military operation. Since the beginning of the military operation, at least 1,591 soldiers from the Volgograd Region have been officially recognized as killed.
30 Azerbaijani families returned to Khankendi December 20, 2025 13:57 The first group of Azerbaijani displaced persons returned to the village of Karkijahan, the former capital of Nagorno-Karabakh, today.
Rostov judges declared their innocence during the closing arguments. December 20, 2025 12:57 A court in Krasnodar has concluded its closing arguments in the case of former Rostov Regional Court Chair Elena Zolotareva and her colleagues. The defendants pleaded not guilty to bribery.
Six fighters from Kuban were killed in a military operation. December 20, 2025 11:58 In the Tuapse District, awards were presented to the relatives of soldiers killed in combat. Since the beginning of the military operation in Ukraine, at least 816 soldiers from the Krasnodar Territory have been officially recognized as killed.
Tofig Yagublu presented his defense to the judges. December 20, 2025 10:58 Contrary to established practice, the Supreme Court of Azerbaijan allowed convicted politician Tofig Yagublu to speak at his cassation appeal hearing. The politician maintained his innocence.
Lawsuits against Dagestani officials have created problems for bona fide property owners. December 20, 2025 09:59 Following the prosecutor's office's demand that assets belonging to the associates of former Makhachkala Mayor Said Amirov and Dagestan State Secretary Magomed-Sultan Magomedov be seized, the properties of individuals unrelated to the former officials were seized. One of them faced the risk of property seizure.
Activists debated the idea of banning development on agricultural land in North Ossetia. December 20, 2025 08:58 The public organization "Save the Tower" has called for a 10-year moratorium on changing the status of agricultural land in North Ossetia to prevent its development. Ossetian activists interviewed by the "Caucasian Knot" offered varying opinions on the moratorium.
Two drones were shot down over the Sea of Azov. December 20, 2025 07:59 The Ministry of Defense reported that two drones were shot down overnight over the Sea of Azov.
The quarantine regime in Azerbaijan has been extended for three months. December 20, 2025 07:00 The Azerbaijani government has extended the quarantine regime introduced in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic until April 1, 2026.
A fighter from Khasavyurt was killed in Ukraine. December 20, 2025 05:58 Alaudin Khadzhiev was killed in combat in Ukraine. Since the beginning of the military operation, at least 1,728 fighters from Dagestan have been officially recognized as killed.