Zurabishvili announced preparations for new parliamentary elections and threatened the ruling party with the "collapse of the regime"
Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili, as she promised yesterday during a speech at a rally, today recorded an address in which she spoke about her further actions. The Georgian leader announced the creation of a new council that will deal with the issue of preparing for new parliamentary elections.
 
"A document is already being prepared, and tomorrow it will most likely be ready - it will describe all the minimum conditions for holding elections, which will take place very soon... These new elections will be truly new, new forces will probably appear. We must be ready for all this," Zurabishvili said.
 
The day before, speaking to parliament, the Georgian president gave the ruling party six days to decide on holding new elections and agree on their date. "Georgian Dream" ignored this demand.
 
In her speech today, Zurabishvili emphasized that "the crisis is intensifying and deepening day by day," while the ruling party turns a blind eye and acts as if "the main thing is to light up the city or set up a Christmas village, or put up a Christmas tree, or hold a concert - when no one is in a festive mood."
 
The President today stated that if an agreement with the Georgian Dream on re-elections cannot be reached by December 29, then "we will reach the elections by the fall of the regime." Zurabishvili did not explain how exactly this will happen, but again emphasized that she does not intend to leave the presidential post.
 
Recall that the Georgian Dream has scheduled the inauguration of the new president - its nominee Mikheil Kavelashvili - for December 29. Yesterday, the Georgian Prime Minister threatened the current President Salome Zurabishvili with prison if she did not leave the presidential residence by then. Today, PACE President Theodoros Roussopoulos responded to his statement. He called on Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze to withdraw his ultimatum and respect the principles of the Council of Europe, of which his country is a member.
Последние новости
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.

Court upholds sentences for four Crimean Tatars in ‘Hizb ut-Tahrir’ case
Human rights
Court upholds sentences for four Crimean Tatars in ‘Hizb ut-Tahrir’ case
16 October 2026

A Russian military appellate court has rejected the appeals of four Crimean Tatars—Nariman Ametov, Ali Mamutov, Vokhid Mustafayev, and Enver Khalilyayev—who were convicted of involvement with the organization ‘Hizb ut-Tahrir.’ The sentences handed down by the Southern District Military Court on May 21, 2026, remain unchanged. According to the TASS news agency, citing court sources, the individuals—part of what is known as the "third Dzhankoy group"—were sentenced to prison terms ranging from 14 to 15 years.