An Armenian court has rejected a motion by the defense of arrested billionaire and Russian citizen Samvel Karapetyan to post $1 million bail, the Hraparak newspaper reported, citing the businessman's lawyers.

At the International Forum in Ashgabat dedicated to the International Year of Peace and Trust, Russian was the primary language of communication among the heads of delegations from the CIS countries, according to Russian Presidential Aide Yuri Ushakov.

Turkey continues to strengthen Azerbaijan's defense capabilities, viewing it as a fraternal state and a key ally in the region. This was stated by Turkish Minister of National Defense Yaşar Güler, who emphasized that cooperation is based on the principle of "one people, two states, one army."

Russian officials commented on Yerevan's statement about possible rapprochement with the European Union and the current state of relations between Russia and Armenia.

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze posed for a photo with several politicians, including Russian President Vladimir Putin, at a forum in Turkmenistan dedicated to the International Year of Peace and Trust. The Georgian opposition interpreted the presence of representatives of the ruling Georgian Dream party at the event alongside Putin as a decision to reconsider the country's foreign policy.

On December 11, a protest took place in front of the Armenian Embassy in Moscow. Participants demanded that Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, who was attending a meeting of the Eurasian Economic Union Council, release persecuted clergy.

Following his visit to Berlin, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan traveled to Moscow to attend a meeting of the EAEU Intergovernmental Council. He told reporters, emphasizing that Armenia simultaneously seeks to deepen relations with the EU and maintain its membership in the EAEU.

Mikheil Saakashvili, former President of Georgia, accused billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili, founder of the ruling Georgian Dream party, of hindering the normalization of relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

The Georgian Parliament has expeditiously passed a bill in its third and final reading requiring organizers of protests in "places where people gather or where vehicles are moving" (including on sidewalks) to notify the police. The responsible person must contact the Patrol Service Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (located at the location of the demonstration) in writing no later than five days before the rally.

The British Embassy in Georgia responded to Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze's statement that London should apologize for a "fake" spread by the BBC. This refers to the British Broadcasting Corporation's controversial report alleging that Georgian authorities used a World War I-era chemical weapon called "kamit" to suppress anti-government protests.