Former Deputy Chairman of the Supreme Court of Kabardino-Balkaria Arrested in Absentia

The Supreme Court of Russia has granted the claim of the Investigative Committee and ordered the arrest of former Deputy Chairman of the Supreme Court of the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic Murat Efendiyev. He has been abroad since last year.

In 2024, the High Qualification Collegium of Judges (HQCJ) agreed to initiate a criminal case of fraud against Efendiyev. Investigators suspect that the judge is involved in real estate fraud in the Elbrus region. He and his accomplices purchased a plot of 6,000 square meters, on which they began to build a multi-story hotel and a cable car. Then the unfinished buildings were sold to a businessman as finished for 31 million rubles.

After the case was initiated, Murat Efendiyev did not admit his guilt and did not appear at the meeting of the qualification collegium. In his petition, he explained that he could not come to Russia due to illness.

Последние новости
Nalchik Resident Fined for Selling Banned Religious Book
Society
Nalchik Resident Fined for Selling Banned Religious Book
22 September 2026

The Nalchik City Court has fined a 40-year-old local resident for distributing extremist materials. According to law enforcement, the woman posted an advertisement on an online platform to sell a religious book that had been added to the Federal List of Extremist Materials in 2015.

Human rights
"They’ll take you anyway": Movlaev recounts conversation with Kazakhstani prosecutor
22 September 2026

Mansur Movlaev, a native of Chechnya currently held in Kazakhstan pending extradition, has recounted a conversation with a representative of the Penal System Committee following two suicide attempts. According to Movlaev, the prosecutor stated that the Russian side would succeed in having him returned regardless, while also mentioning the possibility of him becoming a "martyr."

AI Center Aiming to Become One of Europe’s Largest Launches in Armenia
Economy
AI Center Aiming to Become One of Europe’s Largest Launches in Armenia
22 September 2026

In August, the American startup Firebird launched an AI-focused data center in Hrazdan, located approximately 45 kilometers from Yerevan. The company plans to ramp up the facility's capacity to 300 MW and install over 70,000 Nvidia chips by the end of 2027.

Kadyrov’s nephew placed in charge of new foreign asset following Putin’s decree
Politics
Kadyrov’s nephew placed in charge of new foreign asset following Putin’s decree
22 September 2026

Russian President Vladimir Putin has once again "nationalized" the assets of a foreign company. This time, he signed a decree placing the "Aptar Vladimir" enterprise—owned by the US-based plastic products and packaging manufacturer Aptar—under temporary management.