The State Duma is convinced that Armenia will not survive without friendship with Russia
Without friendship with Russia, Armenia will not survive as a state. This was stated by Deputy Speaker of the Russian State Duma Petr Tolstoy on the sidelines of the II Public Forum "Russia-Armenia".
 
"The current leadership of Armenia is trying to play by the rules dictated to it by the West. But Russia will win the global confrontation with the West. I hope that the choice that Armenia will make will be in favor of our centuries-old friendship. And I want to say that without Russia, it will not survive as a state," Tolstoy said.
 
According to him, in the current geopolitical situation, there is a temptation to join the Western camp, but this is a globally wrong choice. Tolstoy claims that historically, Russia has never imposed strict rules and dogmas on the peoples that are part of it or are its allies.
 
Recently, Armenia again refused to participate in the summit of the pro-Russian CSTO bloc. In June, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said the country would leave the organization, but did not give a specific time frame. He has also repeatedly voiced the country's desire to become a candidate for EU membership.
 
The day before, at a press conference following the meeting of the CSTO Collective Security Council, Russian President Vladimir Putin noted that Armenia had not yet announced its withdrawal from the organization.
Последние новости
Drone alert declared across southern Russia this evening
News
Drone alert declared across southern Russia this evening
17 October 2026

On the evening of 17 October, a drone alert was declared again in several districts of Krasnodar Krai. The warning covered Anapa, Gelendzhik, Novorossiysk, Abinsky, Krymsky and Temryuksky districts. Earlier in the day, alerts had also been issued in Sochi, Tuapse municipal district and Mostovsky district.

Residents over 55 in Karachay-Cherkessia five times more likely to visit online learning websites
Society
Residents over 55 in Karachay-Cherkessia five times more likely to visit online learning websites
17 October 2026

In the third quarter of 2026, monthly internet traffic to educational websites in Karachay-Cherkessia was 1.3 times higher than in the first quarter. Among users aged over 55, the figure increased fivefold, according to a study by telecommunications operator MegaFon and the Skillbox educational group.

Reporters Without Borders condemns forced detention of Novaya Gazeta editor-in-chief
Human rights
Reporters Without Borders condemns forced detention of Novaya Gazeta editor-in-chief
17 October 2026

Sergei Sokolov was taken to Russia’s Investigative Committee and held in the building for around three hours, despite having been officially summoned for questioning as a witness. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) described the incident as a new stage in the pressure on one of Russia’s last independent media outlets.

Shchukin: Over 3 Billion Rubles Paid to Flood Victims in Dagestan
Society
Shchukin: Over 3 Billion Rubles Paid to Flood Victims in Dagestan
16 October 2026

More than 3 billion rubles have been paid out to residents of Dagestan affected by spring floods. Fyodor Shchukin announced this on October 15 while speaking at a session of the republic’s People’s Assembly. On the same day, deputies elected him as the head of the region, following which he took the oath of office and assumed his duties.