Ingushetia
Ingush MMA fighter receives award despite previous sexual violence conviction
Aleksandr Emelianenko was awarded for his contribution to sports development and the training of young athletes.
News Stories
Today, 04 February 2026
Today, 04 February 2026
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijani national convicted in US of healthcare fraud
Renat Abramov, a dual-citizen of the US and Azerbaijan, pleaded guilty of conspiring to launder more than $8 million from Medicare fraud proceeds.
Georgia
Georgia sentences two for pavement protest
Two others were found guilty of the same charges but received only verbal warnings.
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan to cooperate with Israel on AI
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, ‘AI, as you know, is Azerbaijan–Israel. AI is also AI, artificial intelligence’.
North Caucasus
‘A quiet, creeping Russification’: the displacement of indigenous languages across Russia
According to the 2020 census, almost all national languages lost speakers despite the demographic growth of the corresponding ethnic groups.
Daily Brief
Wednesday, 4 February 2026
Regional * Armenian authorities have named the suspects in the murder of Chechen woman Aishat Baimuradova, who was found dead in Yerevan in October 2025. The suspects are Russian citizens Karina Iminova and Said-Khamzat Baisarov, who acted on the instructions of ‘a person not yet identified’. Their names had previously been mentioned by human rights defenders. * Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev met this morning in Abu Dhabi. The details of the meet
Yesterday, 03 February 2026
Karachay–Cherkessia
Karachay–Cherkessia man convicted of murdering Moscow tourist he caught urinating on the roadside
The fight broke out after tourists from Moscow were seen urinating on the side of the road.
Abkhazia
Abkhazia launches investigation after alleged police assault at traffic stop
One of the officers involved has already been suspended.
Nagorno-Karabakh
Nagorno-Karabakh’s final president loses lawsuit over history textbook
Samvel Shahramanyan demanded to retract information that he had signed a decree to dissolve Nagorno-Karabakh.
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan arrests four more citizens for fighting in Ukraine
Azerbaijan’s Security Service (DTX) did not specify if the individuals were fighting for Russia or Ukraine.
Daghestan
Former Daghestani Deputy Construction Minister sentenced in absentia over corruption scheme
The court found Makhach Aliev guilty of embezzling around $4 million in public funds
Azerbaijan
Queer Azerbaijani influencer detained for ‘immoral activity’ on social media
Queer TikToker Salman Mammadov mainly used his social media page Velizarofficial to help people cover medical expenses.
Armenia
India’s Chief of Defence Staff visits Armenia as Yerevan and New Delhi discuss military cooperation
India’s Chief of General Staff, Anil Chauhan, has visited Armenia on an official visit.
Armenia
Armenian Parliamentary Speaker pledges to return body of Chechen woman murdered in Yerevan
Alen Simonyan made the statement more than three months after Aishat Baimuradova’s body was found in Yerevan.
Daily Brief
Tuesday, 3 February 2026
Regional * Armenian Parliamentary Speaker Alen Simonyan has expressed readiness to help human rights defenders with resolving legal formalities in organising the funeral of Aishat Baimuradova, a native of Chechnya who was killed in Yerevan. He also assured that Armenian law enforcement agencies are searching for Baimuradova’s killers. Armenia * Russia’s Foreign Ministry has, for the third time since the beginning of the year, criticised Armenia–EU relations. In its latest comments, the min
Reviews
Review | Once Upon a Time There Was a Singing Blackbird — Georgia’s overlooked masterpiece
Otar Iosseliani’s 1970 film is a poetic wander through the absurdity of life.
Monday, 02 February 2026
Georgia
Georgian Dream denies senior figures worked for NGOs, despite CVs and video showing otherwise
It comes less than a week after the government unveiled amendments that would bar former employees of non-governmental organisations from politics.
Armenia
Pashinyan’s band holds debut concert in Yerevan
The sold-out event featured Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan playing the drums.
Daghestan
Father of Daghestani conscript calls for investigation into son’s assault
According to relatives, the 19-year-old soldier was in a coma for 20 days and suffered severe head injuries.
Armenian Apostolic Church
Armenia investigates seven more clergy members
A ban on leaving the country was selected as a preventive measure.
Chechnya
Activists help queer man escape Chechnya
The human rights crisis group NC SOS said the man faced retaliation from relatives after his sexual orientation was revealed. The human rights crisis group NC SOS has reported that it has helped a young queer man from Chechnya leave Russia after, according to the organisation, he faced the threat of being killed by his relatives. The man’s name was not disclosed for security reasons. In its publication on Telegram, NC SOS claimed that the man came from an ‘influential family’ and that his sexu
2026 Armenian parliamentary elections
Karapetyan’s son vows there will be ‘no unsatisfied woman’ in Armenia under their government
Sargis Karapetyan’s statement sparked outcry in Armenia, with critics accusing him of sexism.
Georgia
Key Georgian Dream propagandist calls Trump a ‘warmonger’
Zaza Shatirishvili, reportedly a close associate of Georgian Dream founder Bidzina Ivanishvili, has made similar comments previously.
North Ossetia–Alania
Former North Ossetian Agriculture Minister detained for fraud
Former Agriculture Minister Alan Kusraev was dismissed from his post on 28 January, though no reason was given at the time.
Georgia
US to prosecute Georgian captain of Russian-flagged oil tanker
Captain Avtandil Kalandadze will be brought to the US to face prosecution, the US Embassy in London has stated.
Georgia
Analysis | Why did Georgia really phase out its public employment programme?
Social allowance remains Georgia’s only major social welfare pillar, with as much as 18% of the population enrolled in subsistence allowances.
Daily Brief
Monday, 2 February 2026
Armenia * Indian Chief of Defence Staff Anil Chauhan arrived in Armenia on Sunday on an official visit. No details have been reported yet regarding his visit. * Criminal proceedings have been initiated against seven high-ranking clergy of the Armenian Apostolic Church, with a ban on leaving the country selected as a preventive measure. The case falls within the framework of proceedings concerning Bishop Gevorg Saroyan who had filed a lawsuit against the Church seeking to be reinstated as Prim
Saturday, 31 January 2026
Bahruz Samadov
‘The state plans to end my life’ — Bahruz Samadov calls for solidarity in prison letter
In an appeal shared from prison, Azerbaijani researcher and OC Media contributor Bahruz Samadov warned that Baku may try to end his life.
Friday, 30 January 2026
Georgia
Georgian Dream announces merger of two prominent universities, sparking concern
The merger of two major state universities was announced as part of a controversial education reform.
Chechnya
Chechen court registers Russia’s second administrative case based solely on internet search
The Naursky District Court registered the administrative case against local resident, 29-year-old Isa Magamadov.
