OC Media

Russia sentences seven Azerbaijanis over decades-old killings Five of those sentenced are part of the Safarov family — two other Safarov brothers were killed by Russian police in custody in 2025.

Five of the Safarov brothers, who are prominent members of Russia’s Azerbaijani diaspora, have been sentenced between 10–21 years in prison for a decades-old murder.

Azerbaijan withdraws diplomats from Iran following drone strike on Nakhchivan Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov also said the country’s security measures were at their highest level.

Baku has ordered the evacuation of its diplomatic staff from Iran a day after Iranian drones struck the Azerbaijani exclave of Nakhchivan in a major expansion of the US-Israel war against Iran into the South Caucasus.

Former senior Russian Defence Ministry official from North Ossetia detained in corruption case Investigators say that budget funds were embezzled through a structure allegedly created by North Ossetia native Ruslan Tsalikov.

Russian authorities have detained former Defence Ministry Ruslan Tsalikov, a North Ossetia native and a close associate of ex-Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu, on charges of embezzlement, money laundering, and accepting bribes.

Georgian Dream says discussing Iran sanctions evasion in Georgia is treason Discussions about relations between Iran and Georgia have intensified amid the ongoing regional conflict.

Georgia’s ruling party has reacted angrily to discussions about the presence of Iranian entities in the country and alleged attempts to use Georgia for bypassing Western sanctions.

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Armenians 23% less concerned about national security compared to 2025, survey finds The survey was published by the International Republic Institute (IRI).

IRI survey has found that only 21% of Armenians believed that national security and border issues were a main problem, compared to 44% in June 2025, months before Azerbaijan and Armenia made huge strides towards cementing a peace deal.

Why Georgia’s most vocal university now faces the biggest cuts Reforms that would slash Ilia State University’s student intake by 92% have sparked protests and raised concerns the cuts target a vocal critic.

Reforms that would slash Ilia State University’s student intake by 92% have sparked protests and raised concerns the cuts target a vocal critic.

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Daghestani police detain 68-year-old man for sexually assaulting 13-year-old The man has already admitted guilt and could face up to 20 years in prison.

Daghestani police have detained a 68-year-old man for sexually assaulting a 13-year-old.

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Abkhazia hands over Russian national who organised Navalny memorial to FSB Valentin Karpin had gone missing in Abkhazia before being located in an FSB detention centre in Russia’s Sochi.

After organising a memorial service for the late Russian opposition leader Aleksei Navalny in Sukhumi, Russian national Valentin Karpin was reportedly handed over to Russia’s Federal Security Service after being detained by Abkhazia’s security services.

Bank of Georgia to join top 100 companies on London Stock Exchange The bank will become the first Georgian company to secure such a placement.

The Bank of Georgia, part of the Lion Finance Group PLC, is set to become the first Georgian company to secure a place among the 100 leading companies listed on the London Stock Exchange, a classification known as the FTSE 100 Index.

Opinion | Why Azerbaijan quietly needs Iran’s mullahs it publicly despises Azerbaijan’s entire strategic architecture depends on Iran remaining a pariah state.

⭕ Opinion | Why Azerbaijan quietly needs Iran’s mullahs it publicly despises

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Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has announced he is mobilising the armed forces following an Iranian drone attack on Nakhchivan International Airport, adding that troops ‘must be ready to carry out any operation’.

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Armenian seasonal workers in Russia drop by 30% Russia is a primary destination for Armenian seasonal workers.

Seasonal labour migration from Armenia to Russia has dropped by around 30% since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. While the number reached up to 100,000 labour migrants in 2022, it now does not exceed 70,000.

Another fight breaks out at Georgian ski resort over Russians wearing national symbols.

📌 The video was filmed at one of Georgia's ski resorts, though the author didn't specify the exact location on X.

As many as 30 drones detected in ‘unprecedented’ raid across Abkhazia Authorities claimed there were no damages or casualties as a result of the raid.

An ‘unprecedented’ barrage of as many as 30 drones were detected across Abkhazia on Wednesday night, authorities said, claiming the vast majority of them were shot down by Abkhazian and Russian air defences working together.

Commander of Chechnya’s Akhmat says he is ready to go fight in Iran The Chechen general called for supporting Iran ‘in every possible way’.

The commander of Chechnya’s Akhmat special forces, Lieutenant General Apti Alaudinov, said he is ready to give Iran all the weapons he has and go to fight on the side of the Islamic Republic if such a decision is made by the Russian leadership.

Azerbaijan’s Nakhchivan International Airport has been struck by drones injuring two, with the government accusing Iran of carrying out the attack.

⭕️BREAKING: Azerbaijan’s Defence Ministry has responded to an Iranian drone strike on Nakhchivan airport, stating that ‘these attacks will not go unanswered’.

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Azerbaijani pro-government media has reported that Iran has struck Nakhchivan International Airport with drones.

Georgia adopts new grant restrictions and bans questioning government legitimacy The amendments were supported by 78 MPs, while nine voted against them.

Georgia’s ruling party and its allies passed legislative amendments that significantly extend the government’s control mechanisms over international funding of local organisations, while criminalising the questioning of the government’s legitimacy.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev visited the Iranian Embassy in Baku on Wednesday to offer condolences following the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Iranians find refuge in Georgia, despite murky ties with Tehran While many Iranians view Georgia as a safe haven, the Georgian Dream-led government has its own complex relationship with the Iranian authorities.

While many Iranians view Georgia as a safe haven, the Georgian Dream-led government has its own complex relationship with the Iranian authorities.

Pashinyan breaks bread — and beats — in Georgia visit After the official meetings, a joint briefing of the prime ministers was held.

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan arrived in Georgia on a working visit, accompanied by a delegation. He began official meetings on Wednesday, preceded by an informal segment, including Pashinyan playing the drums during a dinner in Kakheti.

Zelenskyi joins iftar with Chechen fighters in Kyiv During the event, the Zelenskyi presented awards to Muslim military personnel.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi has taken part in an iftar together with Chechen volunteer fighters at the Islamic Cultural Centre in Kyiv.

Karekin II’s brother says no judge would sentence catholicos, threatens excommunication Catholicos Karekin II has been under investigation since February.

Catholicos Karekin II’s brother, Archbishop Yezras Nersisyan, cast doubt that any judge could be found in Armenia who would sentence Catholicos Karekin II, who has been under investigation since February.

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Georgian inflation slows to 4.6% in February, fruits see highest price hikes Fruits have seen some of the highest price hikes in February.

Georgia’s annual inflation rate slowed to 4.6% in February, while consumer prices rose by just 0.02% compared to the previous month, according to a statement released by the National Statistics Bureau earlier on Wednesday.

Armenia and Azerbaijan have received a total of around 1,500 evacuees from Iran, as the country’s conflict with Israel and the US continues.

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Azerbaijani troops have reportedly been put on combat alert and deployed to the border with Iran, the independent media outlet Qazetchi has reported, citing sources.

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Armenia bars Iranians from protesting in Yerevan Armenia previously questioned Iranian protesters following diplomatic pressure from Iran.

Armenian police barred Iranian protesters in Yerevan from rallying near the Iranian Embassy on Sunday following the US and Israeli strikes that killed top members of Iran’s leadership, including Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, as well as numerous civilians.

A fire broke out in the early hours of Tuesday at the headquarters of Liberty Bank in Tbilisi. The Interior Ministry has announced a criminal investigation into the incident.

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Groznу resident regains custody of children from ex-husband after intervention by Aishat Kadyrova Her former husband allowed her to see their daughters only two hours a month and only in his presence.

Anna Aladysheva, a woman from Chechnya, has said she was able to regain custody of her daughters following public attention, intervention by human rights activists, and a personal effort from Aishat Kadyrova, the daughter of Chechen Head Ramzan Kadyrov.