Former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili has urged the country's authorities to close the border with Russia and ban Russian citizens from entering. He outlined his position on Facebook from custody, commenting on reports regarding the death of an employee at the Irkutsk Anti-Plague Institute.
The Nalchik Garrison Military Court in Kabardino-Balkaria found Murad Khutiev guilty of leaving his military unit without permission during mobilization (Part 5, Article 337 of the Russian Criminal Code) and sentenced him to seven years in prison.
According to the investigation, Khutiev failed to report to his military unit on May 15, 2025, and was discovered by a police officer on August 1 in Mozdok, North Ossetia. It was established that he had been at his place of residence during his absence.
In determining his sentence, the court took into account that on August 6, Khutiev had already been sentenced in Vladikavkaz to six years in prison for other serious crimes committed during his service. By combining the sentences, the final sentence was seven years in a general regime penal colony.