Events are unfolding in Armenia surrounding the arrest of Vardan Ghukasyan, the mayor of Gyumri, the second-largest city. Thirty-three people were detained following yesterday's protest outside the city hall.

The political party led by former Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia has decided to retake parliamentary seats. This was announced at a briefing by one of its leaders, Giorgi Sharashidze, and later by the party's leader.

More than 20 people were detained in the Armenian city of Gyumri on Monday during a protest in support of detained Mayor Vardan Ghukasyan. According to reports, 23 people were detained.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova announced the release from custody in Azerbaijan and the return to Russia of Igor Kartavykh, editor-in-chief of the Kremlin-backed publication Sputnik Azerbaijan. The decision to lift the arrest was made following a meeting between the presidents of Russia and Azerbaijan in Dushanbe.

Georgia and Azerbaijan are striving to simplify border crossings: the parties plan to introduce a single-window system at joint border crossings.

Berlin has recalled its ambassador to Georgia, Peter Fischer, for consultations. The decision, made by German Foreign Minister Johann Wadepoel, is intended to determine how to proceed, the ministry announced.

Former head of the Azerbaijani Presidential Administration and former president of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences (ANAS), Ramiz Mehdiyev, will be removed from the Security Council on charges of attempting to seize power. The court previously placed him under house arrest for four months.

Глава Чечни Рамзан Кадыров награжден орденом «Группа войск в Германии». Награду вручил председатель чеченской региональной общественной организации «Союз ветеранов Группы советских войск в Германии Чеченской Республики» Муса Кавраев. 

Russian citizen and billionaire Samvel Karapetyan, owner of the Tashir Group, will remain in custody for another 30 days. A Yerevan court has extended his pretrial detention.

Georgia's ruling Georgian Dream party has appealed to the Constitutional Court to ban the activities of approximately ten opposition political groups.