Outcomes of the contest "Hero of the Caucasus-2015" 4 topics и One message

During three phases, readers of the "Caucasian Knot" elected the best among equal at the contest "Hero of the Caucasus-2015".

The candidates nominated for voting as heroes were persons with active position in life, non-indifferent to the Caucasus and rights of its residents, which they proved in practice in 2015. The "Caucasian Knot" believes all the candidates are heroes, not only the winners and laureates of the contest phases.

Participants of Phase One of the contest "Hero of the Caucasus-2015"

At Phase One of the contest, seven candidates were suggested for voting: journalist Svetlana Anokhina, political analyst Ruslan Martagov, rights defender Toma Tsechoeva, advocate Ruslan Dauev, public figure Khachim Zheligashtov, blogger and rights defender Ruslan Kambiev and advocate Alaudi Musaev.

During 10 days, 5198 votes were cast for laureates of Phase One of the contest.

Most votes were given to Khachim Zheligashtov, an organizer of charity actions to help repatriates from Syria and low-income families of the republic.

The second place was given by the readers to the rights defender from Ingushetia Toma Tsechoeva, who defended the rights of Magomed Aushev tortured by power agents. Toma Tsechoeva won 14.7% of all the votes.

The third place went to the Dagestani journalist Svetlana Anokhina, who was brave enough to publicize the facts that are usually silenced. She gained 14.16% of all the votes.

Participants of Phase Two of the contest "Hero of the Caucasus-2015"

At Phase Two of the contest, candidatures of six heroes were nominated for voting.

The list of heroes included: public figure Zaurbiy Chundyshko, rights defender Semyon Ateev, public figure Valery Dyakonov, activist Igor Stenin, public figure Valery Kotelnikov and activist Alexander Saveliev.

On December 12-21, a total of 5809 votes were cast for laureates of Phase Two of the contest of the "Caucasian Knot" "Hero of the Caucasus-2015".

Most votes were given to the public figure from Adygea Zaurbiy Chundyshko, who held a solo picket in memory of Judi Maf, an 11-year old Circassian girl, killed in Syria on September 26, and attracted thereby attention to the problem of Circassians’ repatriation.

The second place was awarded by readers to the rights defender from Kalmykia Semyon Ateev, who criticized the national policy of the Republic of Kalmykia and defended the Kalmyk language. Semyon Ateev won 16.77% of all the votes.

The third place went to Alexander Saveliev, an activist of the "Ecological Watch for Northern Caucasus" from Krasnodar, a blogger and rights defender, who won 16.75% of all the votes.

Participants of Phase Three of the contest "Hero of the Caucasus-2015"

The list of the heroes of Phase Three of the contest "Hero of the Caucasus-2015" included candidates from Southern Caucasus.

During 10 days, 3964 votes were cast for the laureates of Phase Three of the contest of the "Caucasian Knot" "Hero of the Caucasus-2015".

The list for voting included: rights defenders Gyunay Ismayilova and Albert Voskanyan, member of the art-group "Counterstrike" Gerbert Gevorgyan, advocates Gela Nikolaishvili and Tamta Mikeladze, journalist Elena Zavodskaya and activist Dina Alborova.

Most votes were given to the rights defender from Azerbaijan Gyunay Ismayilova, who continued, despite pressure, heading the activities of the Institute for Reporters’ Freedom and Safety, which is engaged in monitoring trials of rights defenders and journalists.

The second place was awarded to public figure from Nagorno-Karabakh Albert Voskanyan, who is engaged in monitoring of penitentiary institutions and defending inmates’ rights. Albert Voskanyan gained 14.28% of all the votes.

The third place went to the rights defender from Adjara Tamta Mikeladze, who defended the interests of the owner of the children’s boarding school in Kobuleti. She received 14.23% of all the votes.

When selecting the candidates, the "Caucasian Knot" did not try to observe any national balance. Readers, when introducing candidatures, could correct it into any side.

To conduct the polling and ensure a reliable accounting of the votes, we made use of the independent service Polldaddy, based in the Netherlands, integrated into the Wordpress, the most popular platform and sites and blogs, on which every sixth website of the Internet is based. This service is used by such popular Internet resources like the PCWorld, Wired, TechCrunch and Myspace.

The "Caucasian Knot" had no technical facilities to affect the process of voting.