Armenia has begun a trial against Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II and six senior members of the clergy. The proceedings are taking place amid a protracted conflict between Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and the Armenian Apostolic Church, as well as his efforts to deepen ties with the European Union while maintaining Armenia’s commitments within the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU).

Rescuers have recovered the body of a 13-year-old boy who drowned in the Caspian Sea in the Karabudakhkentsky District of Dagestan. The regional branch of the Russian Emergencies Ministry (EMERCOM) announced the news on the evening of August 7.

Britain, Germany, Italy and France have warned of the possible annexation of the breakaway Georgian region of South Ossetia by Russia. The four countries said their concerns had intensified following the signing of an agreement between Moscow and Tskhinvali and the effective transfer of control over the region to a Russian official.

Akhmat Kadyrov—the eldest son of Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov, who serves as the republic's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Physical Culture and Sports—has been awarded the honorary title "Nokhchiyn Pachkhalkhan Qonakh" ("Hero of the Chechen State"). Ramzan Kadyrov himself signed the decree conferring the title.

In the first six months of 2026, 18,103 children were born in Dagestan—an average of almost 100 newborns daily, according to Muminat Kharkharova, chief specialist for reproductive health at the republic's Ministry of Health.

Today marks 18 years since the start of the armed conflict between Russia and Georgia, known as the Five-Day War. It was on this day that Russia invaded Georgian territory, marking the beginning of hostilities between the two countries.

In Ingushetia, war veterans returning from Ukraine are increasingly seeking psychological help. The regional branch of the "Defenders of the Fatherland" foundation reported that the most common complaints include post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), emotional tension, and sleep disturbances.

Lawyers representing Zarema Musayeva have once again asked a court in Russia’s Chechen Republic to grant her parole, arguing that she became eligible for early release while being held in pretrial detention, according to the human rights organization Team Against Torture.

Defense lawyer Alexander Savin submitted the request to the Shali City Court.

“While she was still in pretrial detention, she had already served the portion of her sentence required by law to apply for parole,” Savin said.

Chechnya’s election commission has officially registered Ramzan Kadyrov as a candidate in the republic’s upcoming gubernatorial election, paving the way for a bid to extend his nearly two-decade rule. In the previous two elections, Kadyrov received more than 97% of the vote, while none of his challengers secured even 1%.

Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov visited Kyiv for the first time since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, holding talks with President Volodymyr Zelensky, Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha and Kyrylo Budanov, head of Ukraine’s military intelligence agency. Defense cooperation, energy security and the further development of the strategic partnership between the two countries were at the center of the discussions.