The Southern District Military Court in Rostov-on-Don issued 425 convictions under Russia's "terrorism" laws in the first half of 2026, accounting for more than a third of all such rulings nationwide, according to a study by the human rights project First Department and the independent Parubets Analytics research centre.
Telecom operators AzerTelecom and Telecom Armenia have signed a partnership agreement that will allow Armenia to access international internet via Azerbaijani territory. Under the agreement, the Azerbaijani provider will expand its network to provide international traffic services and establish routing to Armenia.
This agreement marks a new stage in the normalization of relations between Baku and Yerevan, following agreements reached in 2025. Last August, with the assistance of the United States, Armenia and Azerbaijan initialed an agreement on peace and the establishment of diplomatic relations, emphasizing the importance of opening regional transport corridors.
In January 2026, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev declared that relations between the countries had shifted from confrontation to constructive cooperation. He announced that Baku had lifted restrictions on cargo transportation to Armenia and had begun supplying petroleum products.
Furthermore, Russia supplies wheat to Armenia via Azerbaijan.