The Southern District Military Court of Rostov-on-Don sentenced Timur Agrba, a resident of Abkhazia, to five and a half years in a general regime penal colony. He was accused of justifying terrorism for his Telegram channel posts, which, according to investigators, glorified Chechen field commander Shamil Basayev.

Catholicos-Patriarch Ilia II of All Georgia, the spiritual leader who led the Georgian Orthodox Church since 1977, has passed away. News of his death at the age of 93 was announced on March 17 from the intensive care unit of the Caucasus Medical Center.

Georgia's former Public Defender, Ucha Nanuashvili, has been summoned to the country's State Security Service (SSS). One of the country's most senior human rights defenders, he now heads the NGO Democracy Research Institute (DRI).

A Maykop court has arrested another teenager allegedly involved in the arson of cell phone equipment. Investigators allege that a group of young people, acting on instructions from an unidentified person, set fire to the cell phone station. Although it was not completely destroyed, it was at risk of being disabled.

Speaker of the Georgian Parliament Shalva Papuashvili accused European leaders of using relations with Georgia as a political tool, leading to the current tensions.

The Southern District Military Court sentenced Ibragim Nagoyev, a resident of Adygea, to 11 years in prison for involvement in the "Council of United Circassia." Russian law enforcement agencies consider the organization to be part of the banned "Anti-Russian Separatist Movement."

The international organization Reporters Without Borders (RSF) warns of China's gradual strengthening of its influence over Georgia's information space. According to RSF's analysis, since 2022, Beijing has not created its own media outlets in the country, but has instead operated through local platforms—primarily pro-government or pro-Kremlin.

At Armenia's request, the European Union will deploy a rapid response team to the country to counter hybrid threats ahead of the parliamentary elections scheduled for June 7, 2026. EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Kaja Kallas announced this. She noted that Europe will support Armenia in the fight against external interference.

Federation Council Chairperson Valentina Matviyenko congratulated Ingushetia on the 256th anniversary of its accession to Russia, noting the "dynamic development" and growth of production in the republic, which she called "one of the main strongholds of our state in the North Caucasus."

The Armenia bloc has nominated former Armenian President Robert Kocharyan as its candidate for prime minister. Parliamentary elections are scheduled for June 7.