September 3, 2025: Events Transpire on This Day

In the heart of the Caucasus region, several significant developments have taken place over the past few days.

Political Appointments and Meetings

In Daghestan, Temirlan Abutalimov, a veteran soldier who fought in the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, has been appointed as the acting Minister for National Policy and Religious Affairs. Meanwhile, in Italy, the Foreign Ministry Representative, Mauro Murgia, stated that the ministry's current goal is to have 10-15 new states recognise South Ossetia. Elsewhere, Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigoryan of Armenia received Magdalena Grono, the EU's Special Representative for the South Caucasus, to discuss agreements reached between Armenia and Azerbaijan in Washington on 8 August. Yury Chaika, the presidential envoy to the North Caucasus Federal District, held separate meetings with the heads of Ingushetia and North Ossetia, amidst the ongoing conflict in Chermen.

Legal Proceedings and Conflicts

In Georgia, the Tbilisi City Court is expected to announce the verdicts of 11 more detained protesters today. Saba Skhvitaridze has been sentenced to two years in prison by the same court. In a separate incident, at least 16 people were detained during a spontaneous demonstration in Georgia protesting a controversial commission's report.

In Ukraine, two Azerbaijanis were shot in the Kyiv suburb of Fastiv, with one, Ismail Rahimov, unfortunately losing his life. Another Azerbaijani, Farman Rahimov, was seriously injured in the same incident. Ukraine's military intelligence agency (HUR) has named Temirlan Abutalimov among five commanders allegedly involved in the execution of four Ukrainian prisoners of war in May 2024.

Civil Unrest and Accidents

Three people have been hospitalized, with one in a serious condition, after a car exploded in downtown Yerevan, Armenia. The reason for the explosion is currently under investigation. In a different part of the region, a mass conflict occurred between Ingushetia and North Ossetia in the village of Chermen in Prigorodny District.

Celebrations and Rallies

A rally dedicated to Nagorno-Karabakh Independence Day was held in Yerevan's Freedom Square, Armenia. Ali Karimli, chair of the opposition Popular Front Party in Azerbaijan, is considering appealing to the Prosecutor General's Office to be allowed to leave the country.

Presidential Instructions and Goals

President Badra Gunba of Abkhazia has instructed the heads of ministries and other officials to set a series of goals and plans over the rest of the year and into 2026 on various subjects, including increasing tourism to Abkhazia and developing a social programme. Prime Minister Vladimir Delba has signed an order implementing these instructions, which includes coordinating the work of ministries and departments to set deadlines and report progress to the Presidential Administration on a monthly basis.

These events serve as a snapshot of the ongoing dynamics in the Caucasus region, highlighting the complexity and interconnectedness of the issues faced by its various nations.