Georgia’s Foreign Ministry has called on Moscow to comply with the terms of the August 12, 2008 ceasefire agreement, withdraw its troops from Abkhazia and South Ossetia, and ensure the return of people displaced by the conflict, as Georgia marks the 18th anniversary of the Russia-Georgia war.
In a statement, the Georgian Foreign Ministry said Russia continues its “illegal occupation” of Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali region (South Ossetia), which Tbilisi considers integral parts of Georgian territory.

Armenia has begun a trial against Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II and six senior members of the clergy. The proceedings are taking place amid a protracted conflict between Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and the Armenian Apostolic Church, as well as his efforts to deepen ties with the European Union while maintaining Armenia’s commitments within the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU).

Britain, Germany, Italy and France have warned of the possible annexation of the breakaway Georgian region of South Ossetia by Russia. The four countries said their concerns had intensified following the signing of an agreement between Moscow and Tskhinvali and the effective transfer of control over the region to a Russian official.

Akhmat Kadyrov—the eldest son of Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov, who serves as the republic's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Physical Culture and Sports—has been awarded the honorary title "Nokhchiyn Pachkhalkhan Qonakh" ("Hero of the Chechen State"). Ramzan Kadyrov himself signed the decree conferring the title.

Chechnya’s election commission has officially registered Ramzan Kadyrov as a candidate in the republic’s upcoming gubernatorial election, paving the way for a bid to extend his nearly two-decade rule. In the previous two elections, Kadyrov received more than 97% of the vote, while none of his challengers secured even 1%.

Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov visited Kyiv for the first time since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, holding talks with President Volodymyr Zelensky, Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha and Kyrylo Budanov, head of Ukraine’s military intelligence agency. Defense cooperation, energy security and the further development of the strategic partnership between the two countries were at the center of the discussions.

Russia has intensified pressure on Armenia through a series of coordinated statements by senior officials, signaling growing political, economic and diplomatic tensions between the two allies.
The latest round of public criticism began with remarks by Alexei Fadeyev, deputy director of the Russian Foreign Ministry’s Information and Press Department. He accused the Armenian government of seeking to pressure Moscow instead of engaging in constructive dialogue.

Azerbaijani truck drivers transiting through Georgia have been unable to clear customs for several weeks. They report that their trucks are being held at the Sarpi and Red Bridge border crossings, as well as at the customs clearance center in Tbilisi, without any official explanation regarding the reasons.