In Russia, a Georgian oppositionist who supports Ukraine was sentenced to two years

The Southern District Military Court in Rostov-on-Don found Georgian citizen Irakli Khufeniya guilty of publicly justifying terrorism. He was sentenced to two years in prison.

According to the investigation, in 2024, Khufeniya expressed support for Georgians fighting on the side of the Ukrainian army on social networks. In particular, he published a post with a photo of the military "Georgian National Legion" fighting for the Armed Forces of Ukraine. In addition, according to the investigation, the accused made an image of a road sign with a Ukrainian flag and the inscription in Ukrainian "Welcome to the Kursk Region" with a comment "justifying terrorist activity motivated by political and ideological hatred and enmity."

Irakli Khufeniya was detained in January at the Verkhniy Lars checkpoint when he arrived in Russia. Then a court in Vladikavkaz sentenced him to arrest twice under a protocol on petty hooliganism. After that, the oppositionist was accused of calling for terrorism on the Internet.

The Georgian citizen was an active participant in protests in his country and a member of the opposition party "United National Movement". He published posts on social networks calling for a protest against the current authorities in Tbilisi.

Последние новости
Friend of missing Chechen woman detained in Grozny after picket
Human rights
Friend of missing Chechen woman detained in Grozny after picket
23 August 2026

Elena Patyaeva—a friend of Seda Suleymanova, who disappeared three years ago after being forcibly returned from St. Petersburg to Chechnya—was detained in Grozny. On August 23, Patyaeva stood by the monument to journalists who died for freedom of speech, holding a sign that read: "I demand an investigation into the murder of Seda Suleymanova." This was reported by the human rights project "Slovo Zashchite" (Word for the Defense).

Azerbaijani Ambassador Says Russian Media Hinders Closer Ties Between Baku and Moscow
Politics
Azerbaijani Ambassador Says Russian Media Hinders Closer Ties Between Baku and Moscow
23 August 2026

Azerbaijan intends to continue developing relations with Russia, despite the deteriorating media narrative surrounding Baku in Russian outlets. Rahman Mustafayev, Azerbaijan’s Ambassador to Russia, stated this in an interview with RTVI.

Falling debris from Ukrainian UAVs sparks fires in southern Russia
Politics
Falling debris from Ukrainian UAVs sparks fires in southern Russia
23 August 2026

Wildfires broke out in the Rostov and Krasnodar regions due to falling drone debris. In the Rostov region, the railway overhead power line was also damaged, while in the Kuban region, three people—including two children—were killed in an attack the previous day.

Case over children’s poisoning in Dagestan reaches court
Society
Case over children’s poisoning in Dagestan reaches court
22 August 2026

In Dagestan’s Karabudakhkent District, a criminal case against the head of the private Chudo kindergarten in the village of Paraul, where 10 children suffered carbon monoxide poisoning in February, has been sent to court, the republic’s prosecutor’s office said.
The woman is accused of providing services that failed to meet safety requirements for consumers’ lives and health. The case will be heard by the Karabudakhkent District Court.