During the annual "Year in Review" press conference, Russian President Vladimir Putin, responding to a question about support for young families, noted the tradition of early marriages in the North Caucasus. He said he believed this was "right" and suggested "following their example," citing Ramzan Kadyrov's large family.

Following the murder of 10-year-old Kobiljon Aliyev, a boy from a Tajik family, at a school near Moscow, Adam Kadyrov, the son and aide of the head of Chechnya, stated that the tragedy was not an isolated incident, but the result of a "systemic problem."

Speaker of the Georgian Parliament Shalva Papuashvili criticized the statement by European Union Foreign Minister Kaja Kallas that the European Union supports the Georgian people, but not the country's government.

The European Parliament adopted a resolution condemning the arbitrary arrests and sentences handed down to Azerbaijani scholars Bahruz Samadov and Igbal Abilov. The resolution expresses concern over the growing number of political prisoners in Azerbaijan, which, according to the European Parliament, has reached 400.

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan confirmed that the first shipment of Azerbaijani petroleum products is heading to his country.

CSTO Secretary General Imangali Tasmagambetov emphasized the organization's interest in Armenia's return to full membership. According to Armenian media reports, Tasmagambetov stated that the CSTO continues to consider Armenia an ally and expects its active participation to resume in the foreseeable future.

European Union Foreign Policy Chief Kaja Kallas stated that the Georgian government's current policies are not aligned with the European Union's direction. Arriving at the EU summit in Brussels, she emphasized the EU's support for the Georgian people but expressed disagreement with the Georgian government's actions. Kallas stated that the country's leadership is leading Georgia "in the wrong direction," which is hindering the process of European integration.

In connection with the tragic death of 10-year-old Tajik schoolboy Kobiljon Aliyev in Odintsovo, Moscow Region, the Mufti of Dagestan, Akhmad Afandi, expressed his deepest condolences and pledged his full support to the family.

At the Baku Military Court hearing on the case of Ruben Vardanyan, the former head of the unrecognized government in Karabakh, the prosecutor requested a life sentence. The former Russian citizen and billionaire is accused of serious crimes, including terrorism and crimes against humanity.

A petition addressed to the President of Russia has been published on Change.Org, asking for the restoration of the Aukh District in Dagestan, which was abolished in 1944 following the deportation of the Chechen population.