Former political prisoner and Azerbaijani journalist Afgan Mukhtarli expressed surprise at the situation surrounding Igor Kartavykh, editor-in-chief of the Russian state news agency Sputnik Azerbaijan. He noted that, despite an ongoing criminal case and official house arrest, the country's authorities released Kartavykh, who is already in Moscow and broadcasting his opinions from there.

The Nalchik Garrison Military Court found serviceman Akromat Bersanov-Tsaroyev guilty of leaving his unit without leave (Part 5, Article 337 of the Russian Criminal Code). He was sentenced to five years and one month in prison.

The political party led by former Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia has decided to retake parliamentary seats. This was announced at a briefing by one of its leaders, Giorgi Sharashidze, and later by the party's leader.

More than 20 people were detained in the Armenian city of Gyumri on Monday during a protest in support of detained Mayor Vardan Ghukasyan. According to reports, 23 people were detained.

The Republic of Ingushetia scored 5.56 points out of a possible 100, taking 85th place in the ranking of Russian regions based on scientific and technological development. The Jewish Autonomous Oblast and Altai also ranked among the worst three.

The Leninsky District Court of Orenburg is holding off-site hearings at the Black Dolphin maximum security prison in the Orenburg Region, where former Senator Rauf Arashukov from Karachay-Cherkessia is serving a life sentence. A new criminal case against the convicted man is being heard there.

The FSB detained a man allegedly planning a terrorist attack on the Georgievsk administration building in Stavropol Krai.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova announced the release from custody in Azerbaijan and the return to Russia of Igor Kartavykh, editor-in-chief of the Kremlin-backed publication Sputnik Azerbaijan. The decision to lift the arrest was made following a meeting between the presidents of Russia and Azerbaijan in Dushanbe.

Formula TV presenter Vakho Sanaia, one of 14 people detained for blocking a road and wearing masks during a rally on October 18, has been sentenced to six days in jail. The Tbilisi City Court found him guilty of an administrative offense.

Georgia and Azerbaijan are striving to simplify border crossings: the parties plan to introduce a single-window system at joint border crossings.