In response to criticism from EU Ambassador Paweł Herczyński, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze accused the European bureaucracy of supporting the radical opposition and asserted that the Georgian authorities have a better understanding of the principles of democracy and human rights. Herczyński had previously reported a deterioration in the country's situation, attributing it to government actions and anti-European rhetoric.

Chechnya is among the Russian regions introducing a drone-piloting standard under the GTO physical fitness programme as part of the federal project Na Vysote! (“At Altitude!”). According to the Vedomosti newspaper, the initiative aims to “popularise” drone piloting among young people and train specialists for the unmanned aircraft industry. Russian officials have also openly acknowledged that the skills acquired could be used in the war against Ukraine.

A 35-year-old local woman has been detained in Kabardino-Balkaria; the FSB suspects her of plotting an armed attack on parishioners at a religious institution. According to the agency, the woman was acting under the direction of Ukrainian special services. The regional FSB directorate announced this on October 9, and local media outlets disseminated the information.

The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has ruled that the right to a fair trial was violated in the treason case of Rauf Mirkadyrov, a former columnist for the Russian-language Azerbaijani newspaper *Zerkalo*. The journalist stated that the Strasbourg court’s decision helped restore his reputation, though he lamented having to wait twelve and a half years after his arrest for this outcome.