Week in the Caucasus: review of main events of June 2-8

Election of MPs in South Ossetia; continuation of Amirov's trial in Rostov-on-Don; explosions and shelling in Ingushetia injuring 12 power agents, – see the review of these and other events in the Caucasus during the week of June 2-8, 2014, prepared by the "Caucasian Knot".

South Ossetia votes to elect its MPs

On June 8, South Ossetia held voting for its Members of Parliament (MPs). At night of the same first results were announced – after processing of 31.08% of all the ballot papers, showing the lead of the "Edinaya Ossetia" (United Ossetia) Party with 44.11% of the vote. Exit polls also forecast the victory of this party.

As noted by local politicians, the election campaign in South Ossetia passed with no violations in the spirit of political apathy. A few days before the vote, the Central Election Commission (CEC) of South Ossetia said that the campaign was moving on without violations. In general, there were no incidents during the voting, which was accompanied by reinforced security measures. Prior to voting, South Ossetia decided to close the border with Georgia.

Trial of Amirov in Rostov-on-Don hears defendants

On June 3, the North-Caucasian District Military Court in Rostov-on-Don, which considers the case of Said Amirov, the temporarily removed Makhachkala Mayor, and his nephew Yusup Djaparov, the former Deputy Mayor of the city of Kaspiysk; both accused of plotting a terror act, completed examination of defence witnesses. On June 5, Yusup Djaparov was questioned by the court. He refused to plead guilty and said that he was forced to evidence against Amirov under torture. On June 6, the court questioned Said Amirov, who said that he had committed no crimes; had no intention to run for presidency in Dagestan; and treated the case against him as falsified by those who had organized numerous attempts on him.

Ingushetia: 12 power agents suffer at explosions and shelling

In Ingushetia, during the last week, there were two incidents, in which law enforcers were injured. On June 2, when a military motorcade was moving in the area of the village of Berd-Yurt in the Sunzha District, an explosion was triggered. Policemen of the local ROVD (District Interior Division) came to the venue and were struck by the second explosion. According to the latest data, the explosions wounded three soldiers and five policemen; one of the soldiers later died at hospital. On June 6, unidentified persons shelled the checkpoint of the Central Republic's Hospital located in the city of Nazran. As a result, four policemen were wounded: they were guarding the morgue, keeping the bodies of the militants killed on May 24 during a special operation in the village of Sagopshi. Law enforcers regard this incident and the other one – in the Sunzha District of Ingushetia – as militants' reaction to the above special operation, in which seven militants were killed, including the leader of Ingush militants Arthur Gatagazhev.

Mass poisoning happened in Chechnya; water sources are suspected

Starting June 2, residents of the village of Ishkhoy-Yurt of the Gudermes District of Chechnya began addressing for medical care in plenty. As of June 4, 146 villagers were hospitalized with symptoms of poisoning. Preliminarily, the spring water they used for drinking was blamed for the poisoning. However, the laboratory analysis of the water samples taken by the local "Rospotrebnadzor" staff from five water sources located in the village and from two springs, from where water flows into the village, gave negative results.

In mountains of Dagestan, cars fall into abyss and claim over ten human lives

Last week, two road accidents happened in Dagestani mountains, causing casualties. On June 4, near the village of Sagada of the Tsuntin District, an UAZ minibus fell into a 40-meter-deep abyss. There were 17 people inside; seven of them, including two children, were rescued. Six of them were hospitalized; and two are in grave condition. On June 6, in the Akhtyn District, an UAZ Patriot car dropped into the abyss; it carried five people – the school headmaster from the village of Fij, a teacher and three pupils, whom they were taking to an exam. The accident killed the adults, while the children were seriously injured.

MPs appoint election date of the leader and Parliament of Volgograd Region

On June 5, the Duma Deputies of the Volgograd Region adopted a resolution appointing the election of the head of the region for September 14. Also, on that day – the unified election day – they will hold the election of the Deputies of the Regional Duma (local MPs). The elections will be held by the Regional Election Commission (REC) under a new head – on June 6, the REC elected Gennady Shaikhullin as its Chairman, who replaced the resigned Natalia Lisimenko.

See earlier reports: "Week in the Caucasus: review of main events of May 26 to June 1", "Week in the Caucasus: review of main events of May 19-25", "Week in the Caucasus: review of main events of May 12-18".