A criminal case has been opened against billionaire Gagik Tsarukyan, leader of the opposition Prosperous Armenia party. He is accused of large-scale tax evasion. He has been placed under a travel ban from Armenia.

Over the past half-century, the ice cover on Mount Elbrus has noticeably shrunk, retreating by approximately 300 meters. Natalia Kondratieva, Doctor of Geographical Sciences and head of the Glaciology Laboratory at the High Mountain Geophysical Institute, attributed this to a rise in air temperature of almost one degree Celsius and increased precipitation.

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze stated that the European Union's decisions regarding various countries are dictated by political considerations, not by a commitment to democratic principles and human rights. He noted that European institutions ignored serious violations in Georgia under previous governments and are now applying similar tactics to other countries, granting them candidate status or opening EU membership negotiations.

The opposition party "For Georgia" has declared that Russia has begun a new phase in its quest to incorporate Georgian territory into the Russian Federation. This refers to the Tskhinvali Region, or the self-proclaimed Republic of South Ossetia.

The Prosecutor General's Office of Azerbaijan has reopened a previously closed criminal case against opposition journalist Afgan Sadigov. He has been remanded in custody until July 30.

Russian presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov stated that Russian authorities have not yet made any official comments regarding the parliamentary elections in Armenia. However, he asserts that "all violations are being recorded."

The publication "Vot Tak" reports that relatives of Apti Alaudinov, commander of the "Akhmat" special forces unit, are serving under his command in an elite unit located in the rear. The battalion, which, according to media reports, includes not only relatives but also their former colleagues from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, is equipped with the latest technology: game consoles, plasma TVs, dehumidifiers, as well as its own sauna and laundry facilities.

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan stated that Yerevan is interested in restoring full-fledged dialogue between Georgia and its Western partners—both the European Union and the United States. According to him, this position is the official line of the Armenian authorities.

Many foreign politicians welcomed the victory of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's Civil Contract party in the parliamentary elections held on June 7. It will form a new government in Armenia.

Residents of the North Caucasus experience the lowest gasoline affordability in Russia. Specifically, Ingushetia ranked last in terms of how much gasoline citizens can afford on the average monthly salary, offering only 638 liters.