Encyclopedia

The detention of Abkhazian resident Edgar Abukhba on suspicion of murdering Russian tourist Amina Bikbova has once again drawn attention to the safety of tourists in the republic. Abukhba had previously been convicted of the rape and abduction of a Russian tourist. "Caucasian Knot" has gathered the most well-known cases of abductions of foreign citizens in Abkhazia, as well as information about their investigations.

The UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Russian Federation, Marianna Katsarova, in a report presented on September 21, 2026, to the Human Rights Council, analyzes the practice of transnational repression, which she links to the Russian authorities.

The MPG telephone survey recorded different positions of the residents of Armenia regarding the future of the 102nd Russian military base: some consider it necessary for security, some advocate for its withdrawal, and others support its retention with a review of the conditions. The survey took place against the backdrop of statements by Vladimir Putin about the readiness to withdraw the base and Nikol Pashinyan's position that Armenia does not consider its presence vital. The discussion about the military base is not new.

In Georgia, critical statements about the authorities, including on social media, have become grounds for administrative proceedings. Law enforcement agencies refer to the need to protect public order and combat "hate speech." The main focus is on protecting public officials and politicians.

At the end of August – beginning of September 2026, the operation of large grain terminals in the Azov-Black Sea basin came to a halt after a series of drone strikes on the ports. Disruptions in transportation quickly hit agricultural regions: farmers faced the threat of mass financial failures and forced reductions in sowing.

The electoral campaign in the North Caucasus Federal District and the Southern Federal District in 2026 is taking place under a revised district scheme. On the single voting day - from September 18 to 20 - residents of the regions will elect deputies to the State Duma of the IX convocation, renew regional parliaments, and determine new leaders of the republics, including through direct elections for the head of Chechnya.

A large-scale blackout that occurred in Georgia and Abkhazia on the evening of August 5, 2026, became the third major energy incident in two weeks and the most severe in its consequences for residents. The metro and railway stopped in Tbilisi, and all settlements in Abkhazia were left without power.

In South Ossetia, extraordinary presidential elections will be held on September 18, 2026, appointed after the voluntary resignation of Alan Gagloev. Several candidates are vying for the position of head of the republic, including acting president Marat Kambolov.

Russian strikes on Ukraine's energy infrastructure on July 5-6, 2026, affected facilities of the Azerbaijani oil and gas company SOCAR in the Mykolaiv region. Azerbaijan considers the repeated strikes to be deliberate and demands an investigation, explanations, and adherence to international obligations from Moscow.

Eighteen parties have registered for the elections, but the real competition is only between four. According to ratings, the ruling Civil Contract party maintains its lead, but the opposition forces' overall ratings are higher.

Ahead of the parliamentary elections, Armenia faced a large-scale disinformation campaign: researchers are documenting the use of fake websites, fake videos from well-known media outlets, and pseudo-analysts. The Russian-linked groups Doppelganger, Storm 1516, and Matryoshka are implicated in the creation and promotion of this content.

Fyodor Shchukin is a Russian politician and the former Chairman of the Supreme Court of Dagestan. On April 30, 2026, the President of Russia endorsed his candidacy for the post of Head of Dagestan. On May 4, 2026, he was appointed Acting Head of Dagestan.

A military and political figure, Colonel General, and former Plenipotentiary Representative of the President of the Russian Federation in the North Caucasus Federal District. On October 5, 2020, he was appointed Acting Head of Dagestan. He was elected Head of Dagestan on October 14, 2021. On April 30, 2026, the President of the Russian Federation announced that Melikov would be stepping down as Head of Dagestan; a decree to this effect was signed on May 4, 2026.

Apti Alaudinov is a lieutenant general, deputy head of the Main Military-Political Directorate of the Russian Armed Forces, and commander of the Chechen volunteer formation "Akhmat".

An Armenian journalist and political figure, he served as a member of the Armenian parliament since 2012. In April 2018, he led the protest movement in Armenia and succeeded in forcing Serzh Sargsyan's resignation as prime minister. He is currently the Prime Minister of Armenia.

Ramzan Kadyrov is a Chechen politician, the son of Akhmat Kadyrov, the first president of the Chechen Republic. He has been the head of Chechnya since 2011. He has held the rank of major general of the police since 2009, and major general of the Russian National Guard since 2020. In 2021, he won the second direct election for the head of Chechnya with 99.7% of the vote.

A series of attacks on Tuapse's oil infrastructure over the course of a month resulted in fires and environmental consequences. Following the strikes, the city was hit by "black rain"—precipitation containing particles of burnt oil products. Paradoxically, the "black rain" partially reduced the concentration of harmful substances in the air. For more information on the environmental disaster, see the "Caucasian Knot" report.

Following heavy rains and flooding in Dagestan, the republic's government approved a payment procedure for victims. Compensation is provided from the reserve fund, and damage assessments are conducted by municipal commissions in conjunction with the Civil Defense and Emergency Situations Departments. Below is a detailed guide to help you understand who is eligible for payments, the amounts available, the required documents, and what to do if some documents are missing.

At the end of March 2026, the North Caucasus experienced one of the most devastating floods in recent memory. Dagestan and Chechnya were hardest hit.

On February 28, 2026, Israel and the United States began striking Iran. Donald Trump announced the start of a large-scale military operation. In response, Iran launched strikes against Israel and American military targets in the Middle East. The escalation of the military conflict provoked mixed reactions in Russia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia.