Timur Agrba's defense intends to seek an overturn of the sentence, which they believe was unfounded. Lawyer Victoria Novikova stated that most of the publications that served as the basis for the conviction concerned the recognition of Shamil Basayev as a hero of Abkhazia, a position confirmed by official Abkhaz authorities.

The criminal case against Magomed-Bek Uzhakhov, former head of the Bank of Russia's Ingushetia branch, has been sent to court. He is accused of abuse of office related to the theft of bank property by a relative.

Two teenagers from Kabardino-Balkaria, aged 15 and 17, have been arrested for attempting to manufacture explosives. Russian authorities claim they allegedly acted on instructions from a Ukrainian handler with whom they communicated via instant messaging.

Georgian President Mikheil Kavelashvili and Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze congratulated the country's Muslim community on Ramadan. This year, the holiday fell on March 20. However, due to the death of Catholicos-Patriarch Ilia II of All Georgia on March 17, the festivities in Georgia were canceled.