The Georgian opposition has accused the authorities of "annexing" South Ossetia by Russia

The For Georgia party has stated that Russia has begun the active phase of annexing the Tskhinvali region (the self-proclaimed Republic of South Ossetia) amid the authorities' "criminal silence." The opposition accuses the ruling Georgian Dream party of inaction.

"The State Duma of the Russian Federation adopted a federal law initiated by Vladimir Putin ratifying the agreement to deepen allied cooperation with the so-called Republic of South Ossetia. This is a step toward the de facto annexation of the Tskhinvali region. Particularly symbolic and cynical is the fact that this agreement was signed on May 9," reads a statement from the For Georgia party, led by former Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia.

The opposition accused the ruling party of silence and inaction, as well as attempts to portray Georgia as the aggressor in the August 2008 war.

As a reminder, on May 9, the State Duma, at the initiative of President Putin, ratified an agreement to deepen the allied relationship between Russia and the self-proclaimed republic of South Ossetia. The document covers several areas, from economic and social policy to security and infrastructure development. South Ossetian leader Alan Gagloev stated that the new agreement takes the allied relationship with Russia to a new level.

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.