Week in the Caucasus: review of main events of April 22-28

Events dedicated to the Remembrance Day of the Victims of the Armenian Genocide in the Ottoman Empire in 1915-1923 and the Day of Circassian Flag; transition to final phase of trials on Budanov's murder in Moscow and bribes in GIBDD in Volgograd; adoption in the first reading of the bill on electing the head of Ingushetia by parliamentary vote - see the review of major events in the Caucasus during the week of April 22-28, 2013, prepared by the "Caucasian Knot".

Residents of Southern Caucasus and Armenian Diaspora mark the Remembrance Day of the Victims of the Armenian Genocide in the Ottoman Empire in 1915-1923

On April 24, citizens of Armenia, Nagorno-Karabakh and members of the Armenian Diaspora in many countries of the world marked the Remembrance Day of the Victims of the Armenian Genocide in the Ottoman Empire in 1915-1923. On this day, Yerevan hosted a march in memory of genocide victims. Tens of thousands of people came to the memorial in Tsitsernakaberd; and on April 23 and 24 commemorative events were also held in Nagorno-Karabakh. Locals honoured the memory of the victims of the Armenian Genocide in the Ottoman Empire by torchlight procession and wreath-laying ceremony at the memorial in Stepanakert.

On April 23, the Moscow Central Writers' House held a party to commemorate the Armenian Genocide in the Ottoman Empire in 1915. The politicians, arts figures and activists of public organizations, who took part in the event, stressed the need to work towards eliminating the consequences of the genocide, end of the blockade of Armenia and demand of compensations. On April 24, in Moscow, a picket was held at the Turkish Embassy in Russia with a demand of official recognition of the genocide by Turkey and "promote the process of international recognition of the committed crime." The picket was organized by the Union of Armenians of Russia. Earlier, on April 21, an action was held in Moscow, in Taras Shevchenko Embankment, where people protested against the denial of genocide by Turkey.

Trial on Budanov's murder starts pleadings

On April 26, the Moscow City Court (MCC) finalized the presentation by the defence of Yusuf Temerkhanov, a native of Chechnya, of the proofs of his innocence in the murder of the former Colonel Yuri Budanov, who had been earlier convicted for kidnapping and murdering the Chechen girl Elza Kungaeva. The judge announced the end of the judicial investigation and transition to the oral statements of the parties. Last week, in the course of the hearing, Temerkhanov said that on the day of the murder he had a meeting with a chiropractor; while a witness for the defence, a chiropractor Vitaly Velichenko confirmed that in the middle of June 2011 the defendant was at his dacha outside Moscow taking treatment sessions of his backbone. Yet another witness in the case Ruslan Fataliev said, during interrogation at the MCC, that the defendant Yusuf Temerkhanov did not shoot at Budanov, and another man was the gunman.

Three republics of South of Russia celebrate Day of Circassian Flag

On April 25, several regions of South of Russia held events dedicated to celebration of the Day of Circassian Flag. The city of Maikop had planned a motor rally and the Circassian Dance "Adyghe Djegu"; both events were sanctioned by the local authorities. According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) of Adygea, the events were attended by about 1700 residents of the republic. The motor rally was attended by about 600 people. The celebrations were also held in Kabardino-Balkaria - a motor rally with the participation of several dozen cars was held there, and Karachay-Cherkessia, in the capital of which about a hundred people attended the "Adyghe Djegu".

Adoption in the first reading of the bill on election of Ingush leader by parliamentary vote

On April 24, the Deputies of the People's Assembly of Ingushetia adopted, by the majority of votes in the first reading, the bill, according to which the head of the republic will be elected by the parliament; only one MP was against. The procedure had been supported by the Congress of People of Ingushetia, held on April 20. The second and the final third readings of the draft law on abolition of direct election of the republic's leader will held in mid-May; and the adoption of the final resolution is expected on May 30.

On April 23, the branch of the "Edinaya Rossiya" (United Russia) Party in Ingushetia defined its candidates for the preliminary internal party vote on the election of the head of the republic. The list has five persons, including the acting head of the republic Yunus-Bek Evkurov.

Volgograd: defence of figurants in the case on bribes in GIBDD demand acquittal of defendants with right to rehabilitation

The trial ongoing in Volgograd since January 2012 and dealing with bribes in the local GIBDD (traffic police) has entered its final stage: on April 8 the court passed over to the pleadings. On that day, the state prosecutor demanded from 8 to 9 years in prison for the defendants. Last week, on April 22, the court listened to the defendants' advocates, who asked the court to acquit their clients with the right to rehabilitation. The advocates assert the absence of proofs of their guilt. According to advocates' statements, the money was collected at second separate battalion of DPS (road-and-post service); however, the money did not reach the GIBDD bosses. It is expected that on May 8 defendants will speak in the debate; and then the court will make its decision.