Former Armenian President Robert Kocharyan warned against the current government's flippant attitude toward possible harsh responses from Moscow. He believes the authorities fail to grasp the scale of the potential impact Russia could have, including tariff revisions and export blockages.
MMA fighter Zaur Ismailov, a native of Dagestan, who trained near a monument to veterans of the Ministry of Emergency Situations in Moscow, has been remanded in custody. He previously published a video showing him using the sculpture near the Slavyansky Bulvar metro station for training.
In court, Zaur Ismailov's lawyer requested that he not be remanded in custody, citing his diagnosis of multiple sclerosis. The defense also cited Ismailov's donation to a charity and his brother's awards for participating in counter-terrorism operations.
The Investigative Committee reported that the criminal case was opened under Article 243.4 of the Russian Criminal Code for desecration of monuments and memorials dedicated to those who died defending the Fatherland.