State Duma deputy recalls war in Chechnya in response to criticism from Azerbaijan

State Duma deputy Andrei Gurulev responded to criticism from Azerbaijani politicians caused by his warnings about the consequences of Baku's assistance to Ukraine. Commenting on the words of Milli Majlis deputy Rasim Musabekov about the difficulties of a military operation against Azerbaijan due to the mountainous terrain, Gurulev recalled the Chechen experience: "I remind you about Chechnya. There are no fewer mountains there."

He noted that Baku should have "heard" his statements and thought about further actions. The deputy emphasized that he did not threaten Azerbaijan, but pointed out the possible negative consequences of worsening relations: the cessation of Russian hydrocarbon supplies and the inadmissibility of the deployment of NATO forces on Azerbaijani territory, drawing a parallel with the situation in Ukraine before the start of the "NVO".

The disagreement between State Duma deputy Andrei Gurulev and Azerbaijani politicians arose as a result of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev's decision to allocate $2 million in humanitarian aid to Ukraine, including the supply of electrical equipment. Gurulev called the move "not the smartest" and allowed for the possibility of retaliatory measures, such as restricting the import of Azerbaijani goods to Russia.

Последние новости
Shchukin: Over 3 Billion Rubles Paid to Flood Victims in Dagestan
Society
Shchukin: Over 3 Billion Rubles Paid to Flood Victims in Dagestan
16 October 2026

More than 3 billion rubles have been paid out to residents of Dagestan affected by spring floods. Fyodor Shchukin announced this on October 15 while speaking at a session of the republic’s People’s Assembly. On the same day, deputies elected him as the head of the region, following which he took the oath of office and assumed his duties.

Court upholds sentences for four Crimean Tatars in ‘Hizb ut-Tahrir’ case
Human rights
Court upholds sentences for four Crimean Tatars in ‘Hizb ut-Tahrir’ case
16 October 2026

A Russian military appellate court has rejected the appeals of four Crimean Tatars—Nariman Ametov, Ali Mamutov, Vokhid Mustafayev, and Enver Khalilyayev—who were convicted of involvement with the organization ‘Hizb ut-Tahrir.’ The sentences handed down by the Southern District Military Court on May 21, 2026, remain unchanged. According to the TASS news agency, citing court sources, the individuals—part of what is known as the "third Dzhankoy group"—were sentenced to prison terms ranging from 14 to 15 years.

Six more individuals involved in the case concerning the storming of the presidential residence have been released in Georgia
Human rights
Six more individuals involved in the case concerning the storming of the presidential residence have been released in Georgia
16 October 2026

Six people convicted in connection with the events of October 4, 2025, in Tbilisi have been set free following the conclusion of plea agreements with the prosecutor's office. This was reported on October 16 by the television channel TV Pirveli.

UN Summit Participants in Yerevan Seek Ways to Halt Nature’s Destruction
Ecology
UN Summit Participants in Yerevan Seek Ways to Halt Nature’s Destruction
16 October 2026

On October 16, a Leaders’ Summit on Biodiversity is taking place in Yerevan, organized as part of the preparations for the 17th Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (COP17). Participants are discussing how to accelerate the fulfillment of international commitments regarding biodiversity conservation and prompt more decisive action from governments.