The People’s Assembly of Karachay-Cherkessia today approved Rashid Temrezov for a new five-year term as head of the republic. Forty-eight of the 50 deputies took part in the secret ballot, and all of them voted for the incumbent, as expected.

Former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili sang the Ukrainian national anthem during a court hearing in Tbilisi. The politician, who was inside the defendant's cage, used the moment to express his support for Ukraine, as he stated on his Facebook page.

The Russian Ministry of Defense reported intercepting 288 Ukrainian drones overnight into September 20 over several Russian regions, occupied Crimea, and the Black Sea. The aerial threat also affected the country's southern regions, specifically the Rostov Region, Krasnodar Krai, and Adygea.

Overnight into September 19, Dagestan was subjected to a massive drone attack.

Russia’s North Caucasus regions are taking part in the three-day voting that began today and will run from 18 to 20 September, with elections for the ninth State Duma, regional legislatures and heads of several federal subjects. Observers note that in regions where governors are being elected, the favourites are already known: they are the incumbent republican leaders, who have received the Kremlin administration’s backing in advance and are expected to retain their positions.

Chechen opposition figure Aset Sabdullayeva—also known as Aset Sabb—has been placed on Russia's federal wanted list, *Mediazona* reported. Her details appeared in the Interior Ministry’s database on September 16. According to the outlet, the search was initiated by the FSB directorate for Chechnya.

The Shali City Court in Chechnya has again rejected an application for Zarema Musayeva, who is seriously ill, to be released on parole. The hearing began the previous day and continued today in an off-site session held at the penal colony where she is serving her sentence.

Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili stated that Tbilisi does not recognize the South Ossetian presidential elections taking place on September 18.

On September 16, former Artsakh State Minister Ruben Vardanyan appealed to Azerbaijan’s Ombudsman, Sabina Aliyeva, requesting an inspection of the detention conditions for Armenian prisoners at the Umbaki penitentiary complex. An audio recording of the appeal was published on his official social media pages.

On the morning of September 18, Rostov Region Governor Yuri Slyusar reported that air defense forces had shot down over 50 drones overnight across Rostov, Bataysk, Taganrog, and five districts of the region.