The international network Scholars at Risk, with the support of Amnesty International and the Norwegian Foundation, has appealed to the Azerbaijani government to release researcher Bahruz Samedov. The appeal is addressed personally to President Ilham Aliyev.

Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexey Overchuk's visit to Armenia took place without a meeting with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. This, as noted by the Armenian newspaper Past and several experts, indicates growing tensions in relations between Moscow and Yerevan.

Gyumri Mayor Vardan Ghukasyan's pretrial detention has been extended by another three months. The prosecutor's office insisted there is a significant risk that Ghukasyan will commit new crimes if released.

Moscow's Gagarinsky Court ordered the confiscation of property and vehicles belonging to Magomed Kushtov, the former head of the Federal Tax Service for Ingushetia, and his brother, Ilyas, in favor of the state.

The Russian Ambassador to Tajikistan was summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Tajikistan following the murder of fourth-grader Kobiljon Aliyev in the Moscow region. Dushanbe handed over a note demanding an immediate and objective investigation and the prosecution of those responsible.

In Rostov-on-Don, a military court extended the detention of Kazbek Emkuzhev and five other Nalchik residents accused of involvement in a terrorist organization for three months.

The criminal case against Magomed-Bashir Kalimatov, the former head of the federal postal service of Ingushetia and the older brother of the current head of the republic, Makhmud-Ali Kalimatov, has been submitted to the Cherkessk City Court. Other defendants include the former heads of Russian Post in Ingushetia and the Pension Fund—Kambulat Sukiyev and Islam Seinaroyev, respectively—and 25 others.

The Armenian government has initiated a signature collection campaign in the country's provinces to demand the resignation of Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin II, the newspaper Iravunk reported. According to the newspaper, the initiator was ruling party MP Karen Sarukhanyan, who received the support of fellow party members and the approval of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.

The freeze on EU financial support to Georgia may be extended until 2026, the European Commission announced. Member of the European Parliament, Tomasz Zdechovský, emphasized that a complete halt to funding is not planned, but that significant allocations to the country next year are unlikely without clear changes in the country's political situation.

A teenager detained on suspicion of carrying out a terrorist attack at a school in Odintsovo, Moscow Region, who killed a 10-year-old Tajik boy, has confessed and described the preparation and details of the crime. This was reported by the Russian Investigative Committee.