Chechnya
Kadyrov, son Adam, and associates receive awards from Russia’s National Guard
The specific merits for which they were recognised remain unclear.
News Stories
Today, 09 December 2025
Today, 09 December 2025
Georgia
Former Georgian riot police head who oversaw brutal crackdowns ‘funds church construction’
Zviad Kharazishvili, also known as ‘Khareba’, has become a synonym for police brutality for many.
Armenia
Masked assailants attack government critic in Armenia
Mihran Hakobyan’s lawyer Ruben Melikyan has linked the attack to Hakobyan’s political stance.
Georgia
Georgia further tightens protest rules, targets pavement rallies
The draft law would require ‘prior notification’ even when a protest does not block vehicle traffic.
Armenia
Chechen woman killed in Armenia reportedly related to Kadyrov
Journalists discovered that Aishat Baymuradova, who was found dead in mid-October in Yerevan, could have been poisoned.
Armenia–Azerbaijan Relations
Historic first: Armenia to receive Azerbaijani fuel via Georgia
Armenia previously received Russian and Kazakh wheat through Azerbaijan and Georgia via rail.
Daghestan
Daghestani MMA fighter arrested in Moscow for ‘desecrating a monument’
According to investigators, Zaur Ismailov used the monument for training purposes.
Reviews
Review | The Real Beings — a slow-paced tragedy set amidst Georgia’s bewitching wetlands
Georgian director Vakhtang Jajanidze’s first feature film explores selfishness, alienation, and loveless relationships within two families.
Daily Brief
Tuesday, 9 December 2025
Regional * The Armenian Economy Ministry has confirmed that a discussion was held with Tbilisi regarding the possible transit of Azerbaijani fuel to Armenia via Georgia. The Georgian Economy Ministry had stated that it received a request from ‘partner countries’ earlier in December for the transit. Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze approved the request and confirmed that no tariffs would be imposed on it. * A native of Chechnya, Aishat Baymuradova, found dead in Yerevan in October, re
Reviews
Review | Parallel Movements — uncovering Paris through the lens of health-driven Georgian migrants
Shorena Tevzadze’s short documentary follows four different protagonists to weave a larger story of Georgian migrants seeking healthcare in France.
Yesterday, 08 December 2025
Georgia
Preliminary official Georgian investigation concludes WW1-era chemical not sprayed on protesters
Georgia’s State Security Service (SSG) claimed the substance was CS, a common tear gas used by police around the world.
Azerbaijan
More than 20 members of Azerbaijani opposition party Popular Front detained during leader’s court hearing
Raids were also conducted at the homes of his brother-in-law Elnur Seyidov and party member and journalist Tazakhan Miralamli.
Ingushetia
Ingushetia resident sentenced to three years and two months in prison in Crocus City Hall case
Mansur Tochiev was accused of unlawful possession of an explosive device.
Chechnya
Kadyrov acknowledges drone attack on Grozny, threatens Ukraine
Chechen Head Ramzan Kadyrov addressed Ukrainian citizens in a video, promising to ‘take cruel revenge’ for the attack
Azerbaijan–Georgia Relations
Baku hosts Azerbaijan–Georgia Media Forum, bringing pro-government figures from both countries
No representatives of independent media outlets from either country participated in the forum.
Armenian Apostolic Church
Pashinyan proposes playing national anthem before liturgies in Armenian churches
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan also suggested adding Armenian flags at the entrance or inside church buildings.
Daily Brief
Monday, 8 December 2025
Regional * US President Donald Trump has written a letter to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, thanking him and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan for their joint nomination of Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize. ‘I am deeply appreciative of your kind recognition, which inspires us to sustain our important mission’, Trump wrote in the letter. * On Saturday, Secretary of the Armenian Security Council, Armen Grigoryan, held a panel discussion with Azerbaijani presidential aide Hikmat Hajiye
Reviews
Review | 9-Month Contract — a heart-wrenching examination of Georgia’s surrogacy industry
Ketevan Vashagashvili’s debut documentary has won a cinematic human rights award for its sensitive portrayal of parenthood and surrogacy in Georgia.
Daily Brief
Friday, 5 December 2025
Regional * Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has commended the ‘Western Azerbaijan Community’ for its ‘restrained, constructive approach, openness to reconciliation and dialogue, […] and its respect for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of states’. ‘Western Azerbaijan' is an irredentist concept used by the Azerbaijani authorities to lay claim to the territory of modern-day Armenia. Aliyev added that he believed ‘the peace-loving members of the Western Azerbaijan Community will return
OC Insider
Azerbaijan has reached ‘peace’ — why is Bahruz Samadov still in prison?
Political scientist and OC Media contributor Bahruz Samadov, who is serving a sentence of 15 years in prison on charges of treason at the Umbaki facility in the suburbs of Baku, reminds me of Stefan Zweig’s main character, Jacob Mendel, from his short story Buchmendel. During WWI, Mendel, a Russian Jew born along the Russian–Polish border, resides in Vienna without any documentation, his life wholly consisting of books. When he is falsely accused of collaborating with enemies of the Austro-Hung
Sunday, 07 December 2025
Chechnya
Opinion | Chechen voices are being silenced, even those abroad
Until the fear of collective punishment ends, even the simple act of speaking publicly is a privilege that most Chechens don’t have.
Reviews
Review | Nothing Returns, Nothing Is Repeated, Everything Is Real — and nothing happens
Georgian director Buka Gvaberidze’s languid film explores the complex relationship between its two main characters over the course of a single day.
Friday, 05 December 2025
Abkhazia
Abkhaz activist says she was harassed by ‘Georgian mafia’ ahead of UN forum
Elçin Adzinba has additionally said that she became the victim of a cyberattack after delivering her remarks.
Armenia
Armenia arrests fourth high-ranking clergy member
Archbishop Khachatryan is accused of arranging the placement of drugs on a demonstrator at a 2018 protest against Catholicos Karekin II.
Chechnya
Supreme Court upholds sentence of Nikita Zhuravel, the detainee beaten by Adam Kadyrov
Nikita Zhuravel was sentenced to 14 years in prison for burning a Quran and for ‘state treason’.
Georgia
Georgian Ex-PM Gakharia’s party calls for parliamentary inquiry into protest dispersals after BBC report
For Georgia stated that it will raise the issue of establishing a parliamentary investigative commission at the next Bureau meeting.
Chechnya
Drone strikes high-rise in Grozny
A number of ministries and agencies are located in this building.
Reviews
Review | The Kartli Kingdom — a heartfelt examination of Georgia’s IDP housing crisis
This French–Georgian co-production observes a close-knit community of IDPs from Abkhazia residing in an abandoned Soviet-era resort in Tbilisi.
Georgia’s EU U-turn
Republican Senate leader Thune blocks MEGOBARI Act
Senate Majority Leader John Thune turned down a personal request to advance the bill from his Republican colleague, House Speaker Mike Johnson.
Thursday, 04 December 2025
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijani member of Wagner Group sentenced to 3.5 years in prison
Ismail Hasanov spent six months fighting for the Wagner Group in Ukraine after being recruited from a Russian prison in 2022.
