The Kremlin is expressing optimism ahead of the meeting between the presidents of Azerbaijan and Russia in Dushanbe.

Georgian citizen Georgiy Kinoyan, previously detained while crossing the Armenian border, has been released from custody. Russian authorities had sought his extradition.

The European Union Special Representative for Human Rights, Kaisa Ollongren, expressed concern about the severe restrictions on media freedom in Azerbaijan. During a meeting with Azerbaijani journalists abroad, she learned that independent journalism is virtually impossible within the country.

The case of Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov's murder in Moscow has been sent to court. Among the defendants are Ingush natives Batukhan Tochiyev and Ramazan Padiyev. Along with Akhmadzhon Kurbonov and Robert Safaryan, they are accused of participating in a terrorist organization, committing a terrorist attack, and other crimes.

A Russian court sentenced Armenian citizen Armen Balyan to 12 years in a maximum-security penal colony.

The summit of the Organization of Turkic States was held in Gabala, Azerbaijan. Following the meeting, the presidents of Azerbaijan, Turkey, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan signed the Gabala Declaration.

The first phase of a new district named after Vladimir Putin was officially opened in Grozny. Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Government Alexander Novak and Head of Chechnya Ramzan Kadyrov attended the ceremony.

The human rights organization "Freedom for Political Prisoners of Azerbaijan" reported the presence of 392 political prisoners in the country. The published report states that among them are 31 journalists and bloggers, 7 human rights defenders, 39 socio-political activists, 5 representatives of national minorities, 2 opponents of the war, 5 deported political émigrés, 249 believers, and 12 people with life sentences.

The Dustum sports complex, named after 17-year-old Adam Kadyrov, the son of the regional governor, has opened in the village of Gvardeyskoye in Chechnya's Nadterechny District.

On October 7, Russian President Vladimir Putin's birthday, his Azerbaijani counterpart Ilham Aliyev called him to congratulate him, Kremlin Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov reported.