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Kocharyan returns to politics, claims Pashinyan has ‘zero chance’ of re-election

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OC Media @ocmedia.bsky.social · 1h

Former Armenian President Robert Kocharyan has announced his political comeback with sharp criticism of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and his government, alleging that Pashinyan does not have a chance to win the 2026 parliamentary elections.

Kocharyan also said it was ‘fortunate’ that Pashinyan ‘was not born a girl; he would have been a national disgrace’.

Adam Kadyrov inaugurates sports complex in Chechnya named after himself

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OC Media @ocmedia.bsky.social · 2h

Adam Kadyrov, the 17-year-old son of Chechen Head Ramzan Kadyrov, has inaugurated a sports complex named Dustum - the nickname Adam Kadyrov uses on social media.

The ceremony took place in the village of Gvardeiskoe, attended by UFC champion Khamzat Chimaev.

OC Media @ocmedia.bsky.social · 2h

The EU has backed a set of rule changes that would make it easier to suspend visa-free travel from countries that currently have visa-waivers if they are found to pose security threats or are violating human rights.

➡️ Read more: oc-media.org/eu-moves-for...

Former Georgian prison director found dead in apparent suicide

OC Media @ocmedia.bsky.social · 2h

The former director of Georgia’s Gldani Prison, Davit Gogoberishvili, has been found dead, with the authorities investigating the case as a suicide.

Davit Gogoberishvili had resigned after Giorgi Bachiashvili, a critic of Bidzina Ivanishvili, was beaten in his cell at the prison he oversaw.

Opinion | By imprisoning Abzas Media, Azerbaijan has turned its prisons into newsrooms

OC Media @ocmedia.bsky.social · 3h

⭕ Opinion | By imprisoning Abzas Media, Azerbaijan has turned its prisons into newsrooms

oc-media.org/opinion-by-i...

A new form of prison journalism has emerged — one with a uniquely feminist lens.

US confirms Georgian Ambassador was summoned, contradicting Kobakhidze

OC Media @ocmedia.bsky.social · 3h

The US State Department has confirmed that Georgian Ambassador was summoned over allegations that the US is funding ‘radicals’ in Georgia through its embassy in Thailand. Previously, PM Irakli Kobakhidze claimed that reports of her summons were a ‘lie’.

oc-media.org/us-confirms-...

Earlier, Georgia’s security chief Mamuka Mdinaradze claimed the US was funding ‘radicals’ in Georgia through its embassy in Thailand.

Aliyev again prompts Armenian criticism for use of term ‘Zangezur corridor’

OC Media @ocmedia.bsky.social · 3h

During the 12th summit of the Organisation of Turkic States, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev again used the term ‘Zangezur corridor’ to refer to the Trump Route, a plan to connect Azerbaijan to its exclave Nakhchivan through Armenia.

oc-media.org/aliyev-again...

Armenia views the term as containing territorial claims against it.

OC Media @ocmedia.bsky.social · 5h

Armenia’s Environment Ministry has fined a resident of the southern Syunik Province after the region’s Shaki Waterfall was temporarily dyed pink during a gender reveal event.

➡️ Read more: oc-media.org/local-fined-...

Detentions continue after 4 October protests as state vows to clamp down on daily demonstrations

OC Media @ocmedia.bsky.social · 7h

Georgia’s Interior Ministry has announced the arrest of five more individuals in connection with the 4 October anti-government protest in Tbilisi, bringing the official number of detainees in the case to 23.

oc-media.org/detentions-c...

The official number of detainees following Saturday’s events has reached 23.

Russian propagandists criticise Kadyrov for promoting proposal to feature Chechnya on new ruble banknote

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OC Media @ocmedia.bsky.social · 1d

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has wished his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin happy birthday amid months of ongoing tension.

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OC Media @ocmedia.bsky.social · 1d

Chechen Head Ramzan Kadyrov urged support for a ₽500 banknote design featuring Grozny’s skyscrapers, but pro-Kremlin bloggers and the nationalist Russkaya Obshchina movement oppose it, calling it an 'ideological diversion.'

oc-media.org/russian-prop...

Russian nationalists reject the possibility of a Chechen symbol appearing on the new ₽500 banknote design.

Ex-Armenian President Kocharyan announces parliamentary elections bid

OC Media @ocmedia.bsky.social · 1d

Former Armenian President Robert Kocharyan and former Human Rights Defender Arman Tatoyan have announced their plans to run in the 2026 parliamentary elections.

➡️ oc-media.org/ex-armenian-...

Armenia is scheduled to hold parliamentary elections in June 2026

Armenian lorry drivers face deportations as Russia strengthens immigration laws

OC Media @ocmedia.bsky.social · 1d

Following new immigration legislation allowing Armenians to stay in Russia visa-free for only 90 days as opposed to 180, Armenian lorry drivers are experiencing increasing difficulties, including facing deportations or entry bans.

Under the new laws, Armenians can stay in Russia visa-free for 90 days, down from the previous allowance of 180 days.

Georgian police detain 13 in wave of arrests over 4 October protests

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OC Media @ocmedia.bsky.social · 1d

The Georgian Interior Ministry has continued detaining individuals in connection with the 4 October anti-government demonstration in Tbilisi.

➡️ Read more: oc-media.org/georgian-pol...

According to the Interior Ministry, these detentions are the ‘first stage’.

OC Media @ocmedia.bsky.social · 1d

Days after an attempt to storm the Presidential Palace on the elections day, Georgian PM Kobakhidze downplayed the significance of the daily anti-government protests, threatening a policy of ‘zero sympathy’ against the protest movement.

🔗 Read more: oc-media.org/kobakhidze-t...

Former Daghestan health minister arrested on fraud charges

OC Media @ocmedia.bsky.social · 1d

Armenian Archbishop Mikael Ajapahyan has been sentenced to two years in prison after being convicted of publicly calling for a coup. The verdict was announced by Yerevan Judge Armine Meliksetyan on Friday.

➡️ Read more: oc-media.org/armenian-arc...

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OC Media @ocmedia.bsky.social · 2d

A Makhachkala court has ordered the arrest of former Daghestan Health Minister Tatyana Belyaeva on large-scale fraud charges. Investigators claim her actions caused damage to the regional budget amounting to more than ₽1 million ($12,000).

oc-media.org/former-daghe...

Investigators claim that actions of Tatyana Belyaeva caused damage to the regional budget amounting to more than ₽1 million ($12,000).

Georgian Institute of Politics suspends its work amidst democratic backsliding

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OC Media @ocmedia.bsky.social · 2d

The Georgian Institute of Politics (GIP) has announced it was ‘indefinitely’ suspending its operations earlier in October, citing ‘current political circumstances’.

oc-media.org/georgian-ins...

The Georgian Institute of Politics (GIP) has announced it was ‘indefinitely’ suspending its operations earlier in October, citing ‘current political circumstances’. The institute, which has conducted...

Knife-carrying man who confronted protesters allegedly stabs police officer in traffic stop

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OC Media @ocmedia.bsky.social · 2d

A knife-carrying man stabbed police officer in the neck during a traffic stop in Tbilisi, days after he appears to have been released without charge after confronting anti-government protesters.

oc-media.org/knife-carryi...

The 32-year-old detainee faces up to 11 years in prison if found guilty.

Kadyrov receives title Hero of the Chechen Republic for a second time

OC Media @ocmedia.bsky.social · 2d

Chechen Head Ramzan Kadyrov was awarded the title Hero of the Chechen Republic for a second time on his 49th birthday.

➡️ Read more: oc-media.org/kadyrov-rece...

Chechen Head Ramzan Kadyrov received the honour on his 49th birthday from Head of the Chechen Government Magomed Daudov.

Three men detained in Daghestan in connection with tycoon Suleimanov’s case

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OC Media @ocmedia.bsky.social · 2d

The EU [Kaja Kallas and Marta Kos] has issued a statement calling on the Georgian government to uphold rights to freedom of assembly and expression following Saturday’s controversial local elections.

➡️ Read more: oc-media.org/eu-denounces...

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OC Media @ocmedia.bsky.social · 2d

Three men have been detained in Daghestan as part of the criminal investigation into businessperson Ibrahim Suleimanov, whom investigators suspect of organising several contract killings.

They are connected with an attempted murder, which he is suspected of organising.

Georgian arrested in Abkhazia for allegedly spying for Tbilisi

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OC Media @ocmedia.bsky.social · 2d

Abkhazia’s State Security Service have detained Georgian national on suspicion of spying for Tbilisi. According to news agency Apsnypress, Khizanishvili had been seen filming an outpost of Russia’s Federal Security Service in the Gali (Gal) district.

oc-media.org/georgian-arr...

Shalva Khizanishvili had allegedly been seen filming an outpost of Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) in Abkhazia.