On October 16, a Leaders’ Summit on Biodiversity is taking place in Yerevan, organized as part of the preparations for the 17th Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (COP17). Participants are discussing how to accelerate the fulfillment of international commitments regarding biodiversity conservation and prompt more decisive action from governments.

Shahizyar Huseynova, who took part in a demonstration against restrictions on wearing the hijab in Azerbaijani schools, has been placed in custody for four months. This was reported by her husband, Aga Huseynov, an activist with the "Muslim Unity" movement.

In Chechnya, Akhmad and Salakh Khaskhanov—brothers of Arbi Khaskhanov, who escaped from a military base in Khankala to avoid being sent to fight in the war against Ukraine—have been abducted. This was reported by the outlet *Kavkaz.Realii*, citing human rights defender Roza Dunaeva, who represents Ichkeria in Austria. According to her, the relatives are being held in an effort to force the young man himself to return to the republic.

Dagestan’s People’s Assembly today confirmed Fyodor Shchukin as head of the republic for a five-year term. Of the 87 deputies who took part in the vote, 78 supported the former chairman of Dagestan’s Supreme Court, who had been serving as acting head of the region since May. Four votes went to parliament’s deputy speaker, Kamil Davdiev, and another four to Samir Abdulkhаlikov, head of the Communist Party faction. One ballot was declared invalid.