Chechnya
Court sentences Chechens over shooting near Wildberries office
The case over the killing of two Ingush security guards was suspended, with the suspect listed as serving in Ukraine.
News Stories
Today, 25 March 2026
Today, 25 March 2026
Armenia
Doubling down, Armenian Parliamentary Speaker dubs opposition ‘parties of war’
Armenian Parliamentary Speaker Alen Simonyan’s comments follow similar remarks made recently by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.
Terrorism
Israel issues travel warning for Georgia and Azerbaijan, citing fears of Iran-backed terrorism
The warning recommended Israelis in ‘countries bordering Iran’ not to participate in events connecting to upcoming Jewish or Israeli holidays.
Armenia
Ex-member of Armenian ruling party elected to Constitutional Court amidst concerns of bias
Vladimir Vardanyan’s candidacy raised concerns about his impartiality, given his former membership in the Civil Contract party.
Chechnya
German AfD member gifts Chechen official daggers with swastikas in Grozny
Noah Krieger had previously denied links to the Kadyrov regime.
Daghestan
Daghestani court awards Chernovik journalist $37 for unlawful detention
Magomed Magomedov was arrested in January 2024 during a solo picket in support of fellow journalist Abdulmumin Gadzhiev.
2026 Iran War
What recent Baku–Tehran tensions reveal about Iranian Azerbaijan
Tehran is cautious of alienating its largest ethnic minority, leaving Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian in crisis mode.
Economy
Georgian National Bank holds interest rate at 8% despite Iran war
The interest rate remains unchanged despite ongoing political tensions in the Middle East.
Daily Brief
Wednesday, 25 March 2026
Regional * Today, five freight wagons with Russian wheat were sent through Azerbaijan to Armenia. * The Israeli government has issued a travel warning concerning a variety of countries ‘bordering Iran’, including Georgia and Azerbaijan, through the period of the upcoming Jewish holidays. The warning urges travelers to exercise caution and says they ‘recommend not participating in events (including holiday meals) at locations identified with Israel or Judaism due to concerns that these will be
Yesterday, 24 March 2026
Russia
Russian journalist sentenced to 10 years in absentia for saying 20% of Georgia is occupied by Russia
This is the first case of Russia’s ‘fake news’ article being used not in connection to the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Georgia
Georgian Rugby Union acknowledges its players violated doping regulations
The union claimed that the players in question had not represented the national team since 2024.
Ingushetia
Ingush Head Kalimatov meets Kadyrov in Chechnya for the first time
Relations between the regions became strained after a border agreement was signed in 2018.
Armenia
Mirzoyan says hybrid attacks against Armenia can be partly ‘traced’ to Russia
The disinformation targeting Armenia has significantly increased in the lead-up to the 2026 parliamentary elections.
Ilia II
Opinion | Reflecting on the complex legacy of Patriarch Ilia II
The long-serving head of the Georgian Orthodox Church has left behind an ‘epochal, unique, and contradictory’ legacy.
Georgia
Opposition politician Khoshtaria sentenced to 1.5 years for ‘damaging’ Georgian Dream banner
Khoshtaria was first detained in September 2025.
Chechnya
Estonia deports Chechen asylum seeker to Russia
The man had argued for months that his life would be in danger in Russia.
Georgia
Georgian minor faces criminal charges for making ‘false bomb reports’ during Patriarch’s funeral
According to the Georgian State Security Service (SSG), two calls were made on Sunday afternoon.
Daily Brief
Tuesday, 24 March 2026
Regional * Today, four freight wagons of fertiliser and one freight wagon of buckwheat were sent from Russia to Armenia through Azerbaijani territory. Armenia * Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan had a telephone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin yesterday. According to the Armenian readout, they discussed ‘issues related to the scope of the bilateral agenda’, also ‘agreed to continue the discussion’ in a meeting in the near future. The Kremlin readout elaborated that the call
Monday, 23 March 2026
Ilia II
Massive crowds gather to give final farewell to Georgia’s longest-serving Patriarch
Ilia II had led the Georgian Orthodox Church since 1977.
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan implements dramatic increase in salaries for officials
The salary for Prime Minister is now set at ₼17,000 ($10,000) a month.
Armenia
Armenia sends humanitarian aid to Iran
The aid mainly contains medicine, Armenian authorities said.
North Ossetia–Alania
Vladikavkaz dance instructor faces harassment for appearing in ‘revealing’ clothes
Pogorelova teaches Latin American dancing.
Armenia
Pashinyan calls Nagorno-Karabakh Armenian refugees ‘runaways’ in argument on metro
Following backlash online, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan apologised for his remarks.
Georgia
German partners continue to ignore Nazi-linked research at Kutaisi University
The former long-serving president of TUM and now honorary president of KIU privately expressed irritation at reports on the research centre.
North Ossetia–Alania
Mother of North Ossetian soldier convicted of desertion stages pickets in Vladikavkaz
The woman is demanding the annulment of her son’s sentence, claiming he was convicted unlawfully
Georgia
Kobakhidze speaks at CPAC Hungary as Orbán calls Georgia the ‘bravest nation in Europe’
The bulk of Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze’s speech was about traditional values and praise for Georgia’s strategic neutrality.
Reviews
Review | Thus Spoke the Wind — an Armenian drama that favours art over substance
Russian director Maria Rigel’s latest film is a disappointingly slow-moving look at Armenian society that is more incomprehensible than enlightening.
Daily Brief
Monday, 23 March 2026
Regional * The Armenian authorities rejected a petition to allow the Catholicos Karekin II to attend the funeral of Georgian Patriarch Ilia II yesterday. Karekin II has been under a travel ban since February. Armenian President Vahagn Khachaturyan and Minister of Culture and Education Zhanna Andreasyan attended the funeral. Armenia * Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has faced backlash after calling Nagorno-Karabakh Armenians ‘runaways’ in an argument with a refugee on the metro. Later that
Saturday, 21 March 2026
Circassians
When the night glows, the Circassian New Year begins
The Circassian New Year, once an important occasion marking the beginning of spring, has resurfaced — but does it have a place in today’s society?
Friday, 20 March 2026
