The Kremlin awarded the Archbishop of the Armenian Church, whom Pashinyan called a Moscow agent

On National Unity Day, Russian President Vladimir Putin awarded the Order of Alexander Nevsky to Archbishop Yezras, head of the Russian and New Nakhichevan Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church. Representatives of other major religious denominations in Russia also received awards.

Earlier, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan stated that Archbishop Yezras "is a KGB agent," accusing him of leading a "spy network." Furthermore, Archbishop Yezras was added to the Myrotvorets (Peacemaker) database. He is accused of "attempting to undermine the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine" and publicly supporting Russia.

Yezras participated in a rally in Yerevan in support of Russian billionaire Samvel Karapetyan. He was arrested in Armenia on charges of publicly calling for a coup.

Karapetyan is known as a Russian stooge. From prison, he accused the Armenian authorities of severing ties with Russia, emphasizing that Moscow, as Yerevan's main ally, values ​​reliability, predictability, and honesty.

Последние новости
A former State Duma deputy from Dagestan is being sued for 10 billion rubles in property
Society
A former State Duma deputy from Dagestan is being sued for 10 billion rubles in property
26 February 2026

The Prosecutor General's Office has filed a 10 billion ruble lawsuit against former State Duma deputy from Dagestan, Rizvangadzhi Isayev. He is the brother of former Deputy Prime Minister of Dagestan Shamil Isayev, who was convicted of contracting the murder of journalist Gadzhimurad Kamalov.

Russian authorities want to impose fines for wearing the niqab
Human rights
Russian authorities want to impose fines for wearing the niqab
25 February 2026

Deputies have introduced a bill in the State Duma banning the wearing of niqabs and any other clothing that covers the face. Examples cited include the ban on wearing such clothing in Central Asian countries.

Georgia again rejected calls to join anti-Russian sanctions
Politics
Georgia again rejected calls to join anti-Russian sanctions
25 February 2026

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze criticized Brussels' demands to join sanctions against Russia. He said these calls were inappropriate, given that the EU itself is a major importer of Russian products.

Ruben Vardanyan Drops Appeal Against 20-Year Sentence in Azerbaijan
Human rights
Ruben Vardanyan Drops Appeal Against 20-Year Sentence in Azerbaijan
25 February 2026

Billionaire and former Nagorno-Karabakh state minister Ruben Vardanyan, sentenced in Baku to 20 years in prison, rejected the legal force of the ruling and dropped his appeal. His family explained that this decision stemmed from the fact that, in their view, the trial was a "staged performance" rather than a proper trial: the hearings were held behind closed doors, without access to independent observers, and the prosecution's motions were ignored. The full text of the verdict was also not released.