Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev made a number of statements in an interview with local television channels. He stated that the war with Armenia will end politically in 2025 and called the past year historic for Azerbaijani-American relations, attributing this to the end of the war and the Trump administration.

Ramzan Kadyrov, the head of Chechnya, promoted his 20-year-old son, Akhmat Kadyrov, to acting deputy prime minister of the republic. He will continue to serve in this new position alongside his post as Minister of Physical Culture and Sport of Chechnya, a position he has held since May 2024.

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan signed a joint statement with ten clergy on reforming the Armenian Apostolic Church (AAC). The statement calls for a public announcement of the reform program, the removal of the de facto head of the AAC, Catholicos Karekin II, the adoption of a new charter, and the election of a new Catholicos of All Armenians.

Following Sukhumi, Tskhinvali also responded to the Georgian Foreign Ministry's statement on events in Venezuela. The South Ossetian Foreign Ministry stated that the Venezuelan authorities' decision to recognize the self-proclaimed republic as an "independent state" is beyond question.

The Georgian Foreign Ministry commented on recent events in Venezuela, expressing hope that they will lead to the authorities reversing their recognition of Georgia's occupied regions. The ministry noted that it is closely monitoring developments and hopes for "future processes to develop in accordance with the interests of the Venezuelan people."

Akhmed Dudayev, Minister of National Policy, External Relations, Press, and Information of the Chechen Republic, has denied rumors of the illness and hospitalization of regional leader Ramzan Kadyrov. To debunk the disinformation, the official published a video demonstrating the politician's physical fitness.

Russia has stated its intention to fulfill all agreements between Presidents Vladimir Putin and Ilham Aliyev regarding the investigation into the crash of the Azerbaijan Airlines plane.

Armenia and Turkey have reached an agreement on mutual visa facilitation for holders of diplomatic, service, and special passports. Beginning January 1, 2026, these categories will be able to obtain a free electronic visa (e-visa) for travel between the two countries.

Russian oligarch Samvel Karapetyan, arrested in Armenia on charges of calling for a coup, has had his pretrial detention reduced. His pretrial detention has been replaced by house arrest.

Adam Kadyrov, Secretary of the Chechen Security Council and son of the head of the republic, received another award from his father – the Akhmat-Khadzhi Kadyrov Memorial Medal. It was presented "for significant contribution to ensuring the security, stability, and prosperity of the homeland."