As part of its humanitarian assistance, Ukraine received a new shipment of energy equipment from Azerbaijan worth a total of $1 million. The handover was attended by Azerbaijani Ambassador to Ukraine Mardaliyev, Deputy Foreign Minister of Ukraine Mishchenko, and the Deputy Ministers of Energy and Health.

February 23, 1944, marked a dark date in the history of two peoples of the North Caucasus: on the orders of Joseph Stalin, the total deportation of the Chechens and Ingush began. Half a million people were forcibly uprooted from their homes and sent into exile in Central Asia and Siberia.

Activists in Moscow have installed a memorial plaque for the 21st time in honor of Anna Politkovskaya, who was murdered in 2006. The plaque, which reads, "Anna Politkovskaya lived in this house and was vilely murdered on October 7, 2006," has previously been destroyed by unknown assailants. Activists intend to continue restoring it until it remains in place forever.

The Orenburg Regional Court has begun hearing the state prosecution's appeal in the 6-million-ruble bribe case involving former senator Rauf Arashukov. The prosecution is seeking to increase the fine for the former official, who was sentenced to life imprisonment, from 120 million to 420 million rubles.