Chechnya
NIYSO reports new wave of Chechen detentions and raids
The NIYSO movement added that relatives of those detained have been receiving threats.
News Stories
Today, 24 April 2026
Today, 24 April 2026
Daily Brief
Friday, 24 April 2026
Regional * Today, five freight wagons of wheat will be sent to Armenia via Azerbaijan. Armenia * Today Armenia commemorates the 111th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide perpetrated by the Ottoman Empire, which resulted in the deaths of nearly 1.5 million Armenians. * In his message on the occasion, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan stated that according to Armenian academic literature, the genocide ‘was also a consequence of the practice of drawing the Armenian people into international ma
Donald Trump
Tbilisi’s ‘fairytale’ Trump Tower — doomed to fail?
As Georgia–US relations remain sour and with the shadow of a failed project in Batumi, Trump Tower Tbilisi has a lot to live up to.
Yesterday, 23 April 2026
Azerbaijan
Baku sentences Russian national detained at height of Azerbaijan–Russia tensions
Aleksandr Vaisero denied all accusations of money laundering, stating that he had come to Azerbaijan for tourism purposes.
Armenia–Russia Relations
Russia claims EU accession could cost Armenia ‘23% of GDP’
The warning is the latest in a series of similar messages from Moscow to Yerevan.
Georgia–EU Relations
EU Ambassador warns of Georgia’s return to ‘dark past’, prompting ruling party outrage
Senior officials from Georgian Dream have suggested summoning the ambassador to the Foreign Ministry.
Daghestan
Daghestani court sentences two for 2018 abduction and murder of 8-year-old girl
The main defendant received a life sentence, while his accomplice was sentenced to 12 years in prison.
Nagorno-Karabakh
Satellite imagery suggests Stepanakert’s main church destroyed by Azerbaijan
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan expressed his reluctance to make the destruction ‘a subject of international discussions’.
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan’s Ganja administration under investigation for corruption
The investigation was launched while the head of the city’s administration, Niyazi Bayramov, was on an official visit to China.
Armenia
Pashinyan confirms reconciliation with long-time partner Anna Hakobyan
The couple had announced their separation in February 2026 after 30 years together.
Reviews
Review | My Happy Family — what passes for women’s joy in Georgia
My Happy Family is a portrait of a middle-aged Georgian woman who dares to get a room — and a life — of her own.
Chechnya
Woman evades abduction after fleeing domestic abuse in Chechnya
The abductors, reportedly from Chechnya, called themselves police officers.
Daily Brief
Thursday, 23 April 2026
Regional * Satellite imagery analysis by Hetq indicated that Azerbaijan destroyed Nagorno-Karabakh’s main Armenian church, the Holy Mother of God Cathedral in Stepanakert. Construction of the cathedral began in 2006. * Armenian Defence Minister Suren Papikyan met with his Georgian counterpart Irakli Chikovani as part of his official visit to Georgia yesterday. According to the Armenian readout, they discussed ‘issues related to the process and development prospects of bilateral cooperation in
Wednesday, 22 April 2026
Abkhazia
Abkhazian Parliament opts not to strip opposition MP Kvarchiya of immunity after protracted standoff
The effort to oust MP Kan Kvarchiya stemmed from a public dispute involving Russian political strategists apparently illegally working in Abkhazia.
Chechnya
Chechen stranded at Astana Airport for 4 months departs for Armenia
Zelimkhan Murtazov left his place of service in Russia without authorisation and says he signed the contract under threats.
Georgia’s EU U-turn
Georgian Dream vows to add Federalists to party ban lawsuit
Georgian Dream has already requested the banning of three political parties.
Azerbaijan
Baku to host UFC fights through 2028 after signing multi-year deal
The deal follows the Azerbaijani debut of the premier fighting championship in 2025.
Azerbaijan
Israel says it uncovered Iranian terror network following failed attack on Baku pipeline
The announcement comes several weeks after Azerbaijan’s security service (DTX) said it had thwarted the multi-pronged Iranian-backed plot.
Georgia
Georgia to create new ministry for security chief Mdinaradze amidst wider reshuffle
The reshuffle also brought on a new Interior Minister.
Armenia
Vardanyan-linked party announces cooperation agreement with Karapetyan’s Strong Armenia
The Country to Live party, linked to Ruben Vardanyan, will cooperate with Samvel Karapetyan’s alliance.
Ingushetia
Residents of Ingushetia and Adygea to hold WWII commemorations online
The Victory Day commemorative action will be held online in both republics.
Daily Brief
Wednesday, 22 April 2026
Regional * Zelimkhan Murtazov, a native of Chechnya who spent around four months in the transit zone of Astana International Airport in Kazakhstan, has been able to fly to Armenia. In Russia, he faced possible prosecution for leaving military service or forced return to the front. Murtazov signed a three-year contract with the Akhmat unit in August 2022 — according to him, under pressure from Chechen security forces, who allegedly threatened to send his younger brothers to war otherwise. * Ar
Tuesday, 21 April 2026
Azerbaijan
Dutch and Belgian resolutions on Armenian prisoners in Azerbaijan trigger outrage in Baku
The resolutions demanded the release of imprisoned Armenians in Baku.
Georgia
Georgia arrests two in Batumi for alleged links to Islamic State
One of the suspects is a Georgian national, while the other was a foreigner from an undisclosed country.
Armenia
US senators appeal to Meta, Google to ‘counter Russian disinformation’ in Armenian election
The letters expressed appreciation for the actions the companies made ahead of Moldova’s 2025 election and asked for the efforts to be repeated.
Azerbaijan
Hunting in the Labyrinth: the lasting effects of Azerbaijan’s raid on queer nightlife
What the latest raid on a queer nightclub in Baku reveals about the future of queer life in Azerbaijan.
Armenia–Turkey Relations
Yerevan says Azerbaijan hindering normalisation with Turkey
The Armenia–Turkey land border remains closed despite an agreement to allow crossings for third-party nationals.
Chechnya
Chechen units accused of looting in Russian border region
Fighters from the Chechen Akhmat unit have previously been accused of committing similar crimes against Russian civilians.
Daily Brief
Tuesday, 21 April 2026
Regional * Armenian Parliamentary Speaker Alen Simonyan told Armenian media in Turkey that Turkey’s decision not to open the land border with Armenia, despite having agreed to do so in 2022, had been impacted by ‘Azerbaijan, through its lobbying and influence’. * Today, 16 freight wagons of diesel fuel will be shipped from Azerbaijan to Armenia. * The Foreign Ministry has summoned Belgium and the Netherlands’ ambassadors over resolutions adopted by their parliaments calling for the release o
Monday, 20 April 2026
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan places travel ban on wife of jailed opposition politician
Samira Gasimli was accused of defamation by the same person who got her husband sentenced.
