Week in the Caucasus: review of main events of March 11-17

Hostage-taking using a toy pistol and fake bomb in Astrakhan; decision of ECtHR on of a Chechen's disappearance; Russian SC's uphold of verdict to Dmitry Pavlyuchenkov, figurant in Politkovskaya's murder case; relegation of Dagestani "Anji" FC out of Europa League; tougher punishment of ex –policeman who knocked down woman in the Stavropol Territory; conviction of editor of "Khural" newspaper Avaz Zeinalov in Azerbaijan, – look these and other events in the Caucasus in the review of the week of March 11-17, 2013, prepared by the "Caucasian Knot".

Astrakhan: local resident with a toy pistol and fake bomb takes several hostages

On March 14, in the Volga-Caspian Fishery College in Astrakhan, a man armed with a pistol took students and a teacher as hostages – four persons in total. Policemen conducted a special operation, releasing the hostages; nobody was hurt. A resident of Astrakhan Alexander Kuptsov, born in 1987, earlier convicted for a theft, who had served in the army as a scout-sniper, was detained on the site. It turned out that he had a toy pistol and a fake bomb in a box with him.

According to investigators, after Kuptsov took hostages, he demanded an off-road car, money a pizza and coca-cola; he promised to move other claims later. His girlfriend, a student of the college, who was among the hostages, was also detained; now, she figures in the case as a suffered party. Kuptsov himself insists that he committed the crime because of love.

On March 16, the Kirov District Court of Astrakhan ruled to arrest Alexander Kuptsov. According to a source from local law enforcement bodies, the case of hostage-taking may be re-qualified into illegal deprivation of freedom.

ECtHR condemns Russia for Chechen's disappearance after detention by power agents

On March 14, the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) made a decision on the complaint lodged by relatives of Vakhit Avkhadov, a resident of Urus-Martan, Chechen Republic, who disappeared in 2001, after he was detained by power agents. The relatives lodged the complaint to the ECtHR on October 26, 2007. According to the decision, the Russian authorities had failed to carry out an effective investigation into the incident; therefore, the ECtHR has ruled in favour of the applicants and awarded them with a monetary compensation, the lawyer Dokka Itslaev has reported without specifying the amount of compensation.

Russia's SC upholds verdict to Dmitry Pavlyuchenkov, figurant in Anna Politkovskaya's murder case

On March 14, the Collegium of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation upheld the verdict of the Moscow City Court, which had condemned the ex-police officer Dmitry Pavlyuchenkov for the murder of the observer of the "Novaya Gazeta" Anna Politkovskaya to 11 years in a high security colony.

The advocate pointed out that his client had fully complied with all the conditions of pre-trial deal with the investigation; he cooperated with investigators and gave details of many crimes. However, according to the victims, Pavlyuchenkov failed to follow the terms of the deal; they insisted that his case should be tried in the general way together with all the other figurants in an open trial. Nevertheless, the Collegium upheld the verdict; and both parties declared their intentions to appeal against it.

Dagestani "Anji" FC knocked out of Europa League

The "Anji" Football Club (FC) from Makhachkala failed to get into the quarter-finals of the UEFA Europa League. At the 1/8-final stage, "Anji" lost to the English "Newcastle" in the response match 0:1 on March 14 after a draw 0:0 in the first home match on March 7. The only and decisive goal was score by the "Newcastle" player Papiss Demba Cisse at the forth extra minute added to the second half.

Let us note here that the "Anji" FC was admitted to the second qualifying round of the Europa League by taking fifth place in the Russia's championship of 2011/12. Currently, "Anji" (the last game on March 17 was a 1:1 draw with the "Krylya Sovietov") takes the second place in the Russian Premier League.

Stavropol Territory toughens punishment to ex-policeman who knocked down a woman

On March 12, the Judicial Chamber for Criminal Cases of the Stavropol Territorial Court appointed two years of colony-settlement to former police investigator Valery Kopchuk, who on May 20, 2012, in Pyatigorsk knocked down a woman with his car. In January 2013, the Pyatigorsk City Court sentenced Kopchuk to two years of conditional imprisonment with deprivation of the right to drive a car for a period of one year. Then, the court took into account his positive characteristics and the fact that he had compensated the material damage to the victim. However, the Territorial Prosecutor's Office filed a complaint to the higher instance; and the court granted it.

Azerbaijan: "Khural" Editor Avaz Zeinalov sentenced to nine years in colony; rights defenders see policy in it

On March 12, the Baku Court of Grave Crimes announced a verdict to Avaz Zeinalov, the editor-in-chief of the newspaper "Khural", accused of tax evasion, receiving large bribe and extortion through threats. The journalist was sentenced to nine years' imprisonment to be served in a low-security colony. Earlier, lawyers and the journalist himself asked the court for an acquittal because of lack of evidence; and on March 11 a petition was sent to President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliev calling to release Zeinalov; it was signed by 236 journalists, civil society activists, politicians and culture figures.

Avaz Zeinalov himself has called the verdict "a revenge of the authorities"; his advocate said that the verdict would be appealed against; and Azerbaijani human rights activists already treat Zeinalov as a political prisoner.