In addition to the previously widespread professional assessment under the category of “religious extremism,” the authorities of Dagestan began to practice persecution of citizens for their participation in protests. This was reported by the Memorial Human Rights Protection Center.

The OSCE (Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe) election observation mission presented an interim report on the early presidential elections to be held in Azerbaijan on February 7. The document criticizes a number of political and legal aspects.

Rosstat has published a forecast of the population of Russia by 2045. According to the document, in the next two decades the number of people in the Russian Federation will decrease at a rate of more than 500 thousand people per year.

Kuban Left Resistance activist Daria Polyudova, sentenced to nine years, reported being beaten by her cellmate in correctional colony No. 4 in Kabardino-Balkaria. According to the lawyer, the prisoner suffered for making critical statements about Russian President Putin.

Armenia leads among neighboring countries in remittances by the end of 2023. 3.6 billion dollars were sent there from the Russian Federation (plus 15% compared to 2022, excluding December). Kyrgyzstan ranks second (2.3 billion), Georgia – third (1.5 billion). $230 million was sent to Kazakhstan from Russia.

From February 23, students in all schools in Chechnya, Karachay-Cherkessia, Kabardino-Balkaria, Adygea, North Ossetia, Ingushetia and Dagestan will listen to the song “I am Russian” by the pro-Kremlin singer Shaman every morning before classes.

Crimean activists Osman Arifmemetov and Yashar Muedinov made their final speech via video link at a meeting of the Military Court of Appeal in Vlasikha. Both rejected the prosecution's arguments.

NATO is very encouraged by Yerevan's shift towards the alliance in foreign and defense policy and wants even greater closeness. NATO Special Representative for the South Caucasus Javier Colomina stated this in an interview with Armenpress agency.

The European Court of Human Rights ordered the Russian authorities to pay compensation in the amount of 26 and 20 thousand euros. They are intended for the relatives of the murdered Dagestani journalists Akhmednabi Akhmednabiev and Khadzhimurad Kamalov.

Former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili, held in a Tbilisi clinic after a long hunger strike, commented on the reshuffle in the country's government and the change of prime minister.