The so-called Supreme Court of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) has sentenced Georgian citizen Kakhaber Amiranashvili to 13 years and six months in prison *in absentia*. Russian media reported the news, citing the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation.
Armenia plans to withdraw Russian border guards from the Akhurik checkpoint on the border with Turkey. A decision to transfer control of the checkpoint has already been made. However, Russian border guards will remain at the outpost.
The condition of the railway infrastructure leading to Turkey is currently being assessed. According to other reports, the Turkish side has begun construction near the Margara checkpoint. These actions, on both the Armenian and Turkish sides, indicate serious intentions to open the border in the near future.
Earlier, Yerevan stated that it was ready for a full settlement of diplomatic relations with Ankara without preconditions, as well as for the opening of the land border. Currently, there are no direct diplomatic relations between Turkey and Armenia; the border has been closed at Ankara's initiative since 1993.