Former Head of Stavropol Traffic Police Department Requested 24 Years of Imprisonment
The Cherkessk City Court of the Karachay-Cherkessia Republic held the debate of the parties in the case of the former head of the Stavropol Territory Traffic Police Department, Aleksey Safonov. He is accused of creating a criminal organization, accepting bribes, and abusing his official powers.
 
The state prosecutor asked to sentence Safonov to 24 years in prison and a fine of 100 million rubles. He and a number of his subordinates are accused of receiving about 22 million rubles for ensuring the unimpeded passage of trucks through the territory of Stavropol Krai. Safonov did not accept the arguments of the investigation and repeatedly stated his innocence.
 
Earlier, at the request of the Prosecutor General's Office, property worth 180 million rubles was seized from the former head of the traffic police department and his relatives. The list included 22 objects: apartments, cars, non-residential premises, houses, and a mansion with golden toilets. No information about the legality of the sources through which the property was acquired was presented during the verification activities, the Russian Prosecutor General’s Office noted in a statement.
Последние новости
Azerbaijan marks 35 years of independence—33 of which have seen the country ruled by a single family
Human rights
Azerbaijan marks 35 years of independence—33 of which have seen the country ruled by a single family
18 October 2026

On October 18, Azerbaijan celebrates the Day of the Restoration of Independence. It was on this date in 1991 that the republic’s Supreme Soviet adopted a Constitutional Act, formalizing the country’s departure from the Soviet system and the restoration of its state sovereignty.

US Congressman Calls Kobakhidze’s Meeting with Iranian President an “Insult to Trump”
Politics
US Congressman Calls Kobakhidze’s Meeting with Iranian President an “Insult to Trump”
18 October 2026

American Republican Congressman Joe Wilson has criticized Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze for holding talks with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. The meeting took place in Yerevan on the sidelines of the 17th Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (COP17).

Drone alert declared across southern Russia this evening
News
Drone alert declared across southern Russia this evening
17 October 2026

On the evening of 17 October, a drone alert was declared again in several districts of Krasnodar Krai. The warning covered Anapa, Gelendzhik, Novorossiysk, Abinsky, Krymsky and Temryuksky districts. Earlier in the day, alerts had also been issued in Sochi, Tuapse municipal district and Mostovsky district.

Residents over 55 in Karachay-Cherkessia five times more likely to visit online learning websites
Society
Residents over 55 in Karachay-Cherkessia five times more likely to visit online learning websites
17 October 2026

In the third quarter of 2026, monthly internet traffic to educational websites in Karachay-Cherkessia was 1.3 times higher than in the first quarter. Among users aged over 55, the figure increased fivefold, according to a study by telecommunications operator MegaFon and the Skillbox educational group.