Azerbaijani airline AZAL suspends flights from Baku to Grozny and Makhachkala, as well as to Mineralnye Vody, Sochi, Volgograd, Ufa and Samara until the final investigation into the causes of the crash of the Embraer passenger plane is completed. The reason for this decision is the risks to flight safety.

The Embraer 190 passenger airliner of Azerbaijan Airlines, which crashed on December 25 in the Kazakh city of Aktau, was hit by a missile fired by a Russian anti-aircraft missile system. This interpretation of the events was voiced by Euronews, citing unnamed sources in the government of Azerbaijan, and today it has been supported by many publications and bloggers. The fact that the plane was damaged by a Russian air defense system may be indicated by photo and video footage of holes in the skin of its surviving wreckage.

During the summit of the EAEU countries in St. Petersburg, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan announced via video link that his delegation will not go to Minsk next year either. Since 2025, Belarus has been the country chairing the EAEU, and Yerevan will again participate only remotely.

The explosion in the Alania Mall shopping center in Vladikavkaz this morning occurred as a result of a drone crash. This was reported by the head of North Ossetia, Sergei Menyailo, citing the Russian Defense Ministry. According to the department, drones attacked North Ossetia, Ingushetia, and Chechnya on the morning of December 25.

The Secretary General of the "Georgian Dream" party Kakha Kaladze said that the authorities of his country have not deviated from the European path. According to him, the ruling party is the force that "brought our country closer to Europe more than anyone else."

During today's court hearing, former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili addressed his fellow citizens and the international community via video link. He stated that the protests in Georgia should intensify and develop into much more powerful pressure on the ruling Georgian Dream.

After a telephone conversation with Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili, Polish President Andrzej Duda said that the best way out of the current situation in the country is to hold repeat parliamentary elections in compliance with OSCE recommendations.

Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili, as she promised yesterday during a speech at a rally, today recorded an address in which she spoke about her further actions. The Georgian leader announced the creation of a new council that will deal with the issue of preparing for new parliamentary elections.

From December 23, Russia will begin humanitarian supplies of electricity to the unrecognized republic of Abkhazia.

Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili, as previously announced, spoke at a protest rally in front of parliament, despite obstacles from the authorities. Before that, local media reported that the Interior Ministry confiscated a car with sound equipment and a stage without explanation, and it was taken to an impound lot.