Ingushetia
Director of Ingushneft detained for ‘illegal oil extraction’
According to investigators, the damages to the Russian budget amount to $635,000.
News Stories
Yesterday, 19 June 2025
Yesterday, 19 June 2025
Armenia
Armenian–Russian billionaire Samvel Karapetyan placed in pre-trial detention
Karapetyan's charges and detention are fueling new tensions between Armenia and Russia.
North Ossetia–Alania
Russian authorities charge North Ossetian activist for telling Ossetians to ‘kill Putin’
Activist Vissarion Aseev had criticised Ossetians for fighting in Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
OC Insider
The Israel–Iran conflict adds a new layer of complexity on an already tense Caucasus
We may look back in the future at this time in June 2025 and say that a global conflict, perhaps something like World War III, had already begun. It certainly feels like that these days. Over the past week, a new war — between Israel and Iran — has erupted just neighbouring our region. And while as of now, it has yet to directly involve the Caucasus, the impacts have already been felt. In addition to my day job as an editor, I also write analytical articles, and I’ve been working for a while o
Mzia Amaghlobeli
Imprisoned Georgian journalist Mzia Amaghlobeli fined for putting sticker on wall before arrest
This is the second fine Amaghlobeli has received for the same offence.
Daily Brief
Thursday, 19 June 2025
Armenia * Russian–Armenian billionaire Samvel Karapetyan has been placed under two months of pre-trial detention. On Wednesday, Karapetyan was charged with ‘public calls for the usurpation of power [...]’. Before that, his home in Yerevan was raided following his statements in defence of the Armenian Apostolic Church amidst ongoing tensions between it and the government, saying that ‘if the politicians fail, then we will participate in our own way in all of this’. * Armenian Foreign Minister
Wednesday, 18 June 2025
Chechnya
Chechen state TV broadcasts apology from local woman accused of 'witchcraft'
Over the past three months, Chechen authorities have publicly announced the capture of a third ‘witch’.
Armenia
Billionaire Samvel Karapetyan charged with ‘usurping power’ following pro-church statement
The charges were brought regarding his statement that ‘if the politicians fail, then we will participate in our own way in all of this’.
Georgia
Georgian authorities demand ‘personal data’ of beneficiaries of five civil society groups
Civil society organisations have described the request as the beginning of the enforcement of the ‘Russian laws’.
Georgia
Jailed opposition leader Gvaramia re-summoned to Georgian Dream commision
According to Nika Gvaramia’s party, the politician received the letter in prison.
2025 Georgian Local Elections
Georgia will ‘not burden’ OSCE with observing October local elections
Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze said the elections would be held in a ‘healthy and proper manner’.
Iran–Israel conflict
Opinion | The Azerbaijani government will want no part in a war in Iran
As tensions between Iran and Israel escalate, Azerbaijan will likely be hoping the situation stabilises before it reaches its borders.
Chechnya
Chechnya donates over $500 million for invasion efforts in Ukraine
Some of this money was used to help ‘residents of the liberated territories’.
Daily Brief
Wednesday, 18 June 2025
Armenia * Karapetyan’s house in Yerevan was searched on Tuesday evening for several hours and he was escorted out of his house in the night by law enforcement officers. The searches followed his pro-church statement in an interview with News.am, Karapetyan said that ‘if the politicians fail, then we will participate in our own way in all of this’. * Armenian–Russian billionaire Samvel Karapetyan has been charged with public calls to seize power, according to his lawyer Armen Feroyan. Feroyan
Reviews
Review | Inner Blooming Springs — A Georgian diary of friendship and resistance
An ephemeral time capsule of the early foreign agent law protests showing intimate portraits of the young Georgians caught in their midst.
Tuesday, 17 June 2025
Daghestan
Daghestani MMA fighter Vagabov arrested after assault and bus shooting incident
He had been evading justice for three months.
Armenia
Pashinyan’s office refuses to disclose public spending on wife’s events citing national security
The information about the funding of the events emerged earlier in June, Pashinyan’s office had stated only events involving Pashinyan were financed.
Georgia
Russian activist sentenced to two years in jail in Georgia for ‘damaging police car’ during protests
Denis Kulanin was arrested in March after taking part in an anti-government protest.
Daghestan
Soldier attempts suicide in Makhachkala out of fear of being ‘captured by Ukraine’
He reportedly shouted that he injured himself ‘so as not to be captured by the Ukrainians’.
Armenia
Armenian parliament rejects bill to pay up to $62,000 to shorten military service
The bill was approved by the government but was rejected by the standing Defence Committee of Parliament.
Daily Brief
Tuesday, 17 June 2025
Regional * The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA), one of the largest and most influential Armenian–American lobbying groups, has raised alarms regarding ‘the prospect that Azerbaijan will use the Israel–Iran conflict as cover for renewed aggression against Armenia’. They called upon the US government to ‘take immediate action to de-escalate’ the situation, as well as to ‘draw a clear red line against any attempt by Azerbaijan, Turkey, or any other country to further destabilise the
Monday, 16 June 2025
Armenia
Pashinyan says Armenia ‘needs’ to sign peace treaty with Azerbaijan by end of 2025
Armenia and Azerbaijan agreed on the terms of the text of the treaty on 13 March.
Police Brutality
Georgian man reportedly ‘tortured to death’ in police custody
Witnesses reported hearing ‘desperate cries’ from Alan Kakitashvili’s cell before he was transferred to hospital.
Georgia’s EU U-turn
Prominent French photographer denied entry to Georgia
Marylise Vigneu says that border guards attempted to illegally confiscate her phone before deporting her.
North Ossetia–Alania
Caucasian activists rally against deportation of Ingush asylum seeker from Belgium
A rally in support of Ingush refugee Ruslan Meyriev was held in Brussels.
Chechnya
Orthodox activists reconcile with Chechen Akhmat commander following spat with priest
They came to demand an apology from Alaudinov, but eventually deemed he was a ‘friend of Orthodox Christians’.
Armenia
Armenia dispatches nuclear inspectors to south following Israeli strikes on Iran nuclear facilities
Armenian experts have found that radiation levels in the south have ‘remained unchanged’.
Georgia’s EU U-turn
Former Georgian PM Gakharia under investigation over 2019 South Ossetia checkpoint
Gakharia is being accused of creating a risk of war by installing a checkpoint neat South Ossetia in 2019.
Daily Brief
Monday, 16 June 2025
Regional * The Armenian Prime Minister said that they ‘must try’ to sign the peace treaty with Azerbaijan and dissolve those OSCE Minsk Group bodies at the same time ‘by the end of the year’. Armenia * The Nuclear and Radiation Safety Scientific-Technical Centre has reported no changes ‘in the natural radioactive background’ on the border with Iran. The centre dispatched its experts to the Syunik province bordering Iran to measure radiation levels after the Israeli strikes hit Iranian nucl
Friday, 13 June 2025
Iran
Armenia condemns while Azerbaijan calls for dialogue following Israeli strikes on Iran
Analysts warned the conflict could lead to instability in the region if it were to drag on.
