Week in the Caucasus: review of main events of May 5-11

Victory Day celebrations in regions of Southern Russia and countries of Southern Caucasus; conviction of young "Nida" activists in Azerbaijan; start of election campaign in Georgia; verdict to ex-Minister of Education of KChR, accused of attempted bribe-taking; statement of early resignation and preparation for early direct election of the head of Kalmykia Alexei Orlov; reshuffle in the government of Ingushetia,  – see the review of these and other events in the Caucasus during the week of May 5-11, 2014, prepared by the "Caucasian Knot".

Celebrations of Victory Day in Southern Russia and Transcaucasia

On May 9, residents of the North-Caucasian and Southern Federal Districts (NCFD and SFD) of Russia held festivities, military parades and actions "Immortal Regiment" to mark the Victory Day in the Great Patriotic War (WW II). All the events were held under reinforced security measures. Prior to Victory Day, regions also held various celebrations; and war veterans have received assistance.

On May 7, the city of Volgograd opened the train station repaired after the terror act; and in Makhachkala about five thousand pupils from schools, marine and cadet corps, and members of patriotic clubs from all regions of Dagestan took part in the "Victory Inheritors' Parade" held within the action "Immortal Regiment". On May 9, Karachayevsk held traditional horse races, while residents of the Ingush city of Malgobek planted young lindens in the city park.

The celebrations were marred by two incidents: vandals painted a swastika on one of the monuments in Rostov-on-Don; and in the Dagestani village of Sogratl in the evening on May 8, a memorial monument to WW II participants was blown up, fortunately with no victims.

On May 9, Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh held celebrations dedicated to the Victory in the Great Patriotic War, as well as to the 22^nd anniversary of the capture of the city of Shushi and the Day of the Creation of the Defence Army of Artsakh. In Georgia, where the Victory Day coincided with the Days of Europe in Georgia, young people held an artistic performance on the peace topic in the Tbilisi Park named Vake. Azerbaijan held no mass public events on the occasion of the Victory Day, but May 9 was a public holiday and a day-off; and President Ilham Aliev traditionally laid flowers at the monument to the Double Hero of the Soviet Union Major-General Aziya Aslanov, located in the Highland Park next to the Alley of Fallen Heroes.

Azerbaijan: conviction of youth activists of "Nida" movement

On May 6, Bakhtiyar Guliev, Shakhin Novruzlu, Mamed Azizov, Zaur Gurbanly, Rashad Gasanov, Uzeyir Mamedli, Rashadat Akhundov and Ilkin Rustamzade, activists of the Azerbaijani youth movement "Nida", accused of organizing mass riots, were sentenced in Baku to prison terms ranging from six to eight years – none of them pled guilty. After the verdict was announced, their supporters held protests, during which policemen detained about 20 people. Five of them were later sentenced to administrative arrest for 15-20 days for disobeying the police. An activist of the Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan (PFPA) Kyamalya Bananyarly was among them; and her advocate stated that the woman was tortured and abused in the police station. The advocates of the above young activists have claimed that the verdict was politically motivated and proved once again that Azerbaijan has no independent judiciary. Rights defenders from Azerbaijani and international organizations have also criticized the verdict.

Georgia: 22 political parties and four electoral blocs are eligible for municipal elections

On May 4, the Central Election Commission (CEC) of Georgia completed the registration of political parties for participation in the local elections scheduled for June 15. In total, applications had been filed by 34 parties and associations, but only 22 political parties and four electoral blocs have been registered for the participation in the elections, the CEC announced on May 5. The main contenders have already launched their campaigns. On May 8, Tbilisi hosted the start of the campaign of the oppositional "United National Movement" (UNM) Party. The rally criticized the policies of the ruling coalition "Georgian Dream", noting that under its rule "the country has become dysfunctional; and the economy is experiencing stagnation." On May 9, the "Georgian Dream" nominated its candidates to the Tbilisi Sakrebulo (City Assembly).

KChR: verdict to ex-Minister of Education on charges of attempted bribe-taking

On May 8, the court sentenced Boris Spiridonov, a former Minister of Education and Sciences of the Karachay-Cherkessian Republic (KChR), accused of extorting 650,000 roubles from the parents of two pupils, who want to fictitiously pass the Unified State Exam, to 8 years in high security colony, a ban to take state posts for three years after, and a fine of 17 million roubles. The state prosecution asked for 10 years in prison and a fine of 16 million roubles for Spiridonov. In his last plea, the defendant asked to acquit him. According to his version, he had given his initial confessions under pressure. His defence did not agree with the verdict and intends to appeal against it.

Kalmykia: Orlov announced early resignation and start of preparing for direct election of republic's head

At the meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on May 6, the head of Kalmykia Alexei Orlov submitted his early resignation application and received Mr Putin's consent to run for the post at the early election scheduled for September 14. Experts said in their comments that the early election will be held on the non-alternative basis. According to a local journalist Valery Badmaev, the Kremlin has made its choice in favour of Orlov as a devoted supporter of the system, without getting too deep into the real state of affairs in the republic; however, Mingiyan Ushanov, the editor-in-chief of the "Kalmykia Parliamentary Vestnik", believes that Orlov had achieved positive changes in the region.

Ingushetia: reshuffling within the Govt

On May 5, the head of Ingushetia Yunus-Bek Evkurov dismissed Vice-Premiers Khavazh-Bagaudin Darsigov and Magomed Bekov and the Finance Minister Magomed-Bashir Aushev. The above Vice-Premiers will be substituted by Ayup Ozdoev and Sultan Tsechoev, the former assistants-advisers to the head of Ingushetia. Ruslan Tsechoev was appointed as the Minister of Finance. As explained by Timur Bokov, the head of the department for relations with mass media of the head of Ingushetia, the above reshuffle was caused by Evkurov's dissatisfaction with the work of the above ex-officials; however, corruption or thefts are not the points; the dismissed officials themselves express no discontent or resentment about their dismissal.