News

May 18, 2013 17:00

• In Astrakhan, case of hostage-taker sent to court

  Investigators have completed their inquiry into the criminal case opened against Alexander Kuptsov, a resident of Astrakhan, suspected of taking hostages in the Volga-Caspian Fishery College.

May 18, 2013 16:00

• Activist of "Free Youth" arrested in Azerbaijan

  On May 17, Ilkin Rustamzade, an activist of the civil movement "Free Youth, was arrested in Azerbaijan by the decision of the Nasimi District Court for two months. Rustamzade is suspected of organizing a dance flash mob.

May 18, 2013 15:00

• Thirty-seven pupils poisoned with gas still supervised by medics in Grozny

  In total, 37 pupils aged from nine to fifteen and two teachers, who got poisoned by an unknown gas on May 17, are still under supervision of physicians in Grozny. Doctors assess their condition as stable.

May 18, 2013 14:00

• In Afghanistan, Georgian military contingent placed under US command

  On May 17, the Parliament of Georgia adopted a decision to transfer the Georgian troops deployed in Afghanistan from under command of France to the command of the United States.

May 18, 2013 13:00

• Russian universities allocate 92 seats for students from Georgia

  The Ministry of Education and Sciences of the Russian Federation has allocated – with the aim to support compatriots from Georgia – a total of 92 scholarships for admission of students in the 2013-2014 academic year, Valery Svarchuk, the president of the Union of Russian Compatriots in Georgia "Fatherland", has reported.

May 18, 2013 08:00

• Museum of Nagorno-Karabakh to join "Night of Museums" for the first time

  On May 18, the International Museum Day, the museums of Nagorno-Karabakh will take part in the annual "Night of Museums" for the first time.

May 17, 2013 22:50

• At trial on case against Ali Taziev, prosecutors' witness questioned on episode with explosion of bus in Nevinnomyssk

  Today, at the court session, the North-Caucasian District Military Court in Rostov-on-Don considered the case against Ali Taziev, one of the leaders of the "Imarat Kavkaz" and questioned Aslanbek Muzhikhoev, a resident of Nazran, a prosecutors' witness.

May 17, 2013 22:50

• At gathering, Anapa residents urge authorities to stop construction on temple land

  Today, in Anapa, at the administration of the resort city, a gathering of citizens was held. They expressed their indignation about illegal construction in the territory of the temple complex located in Lenin Street. The gathering was attended by members of the Coordinating Council of Anapa.

May 17, 2013 22:40

• Power agents interrogate Ingush resident visited by suicide bomber

  Today, during a search of the house belonging to a resident of the Cossack village of Ordzhonikidzevskaya in Ingushetia, a suicide bombing has been committed. Power agents found weapons in the house. This was reported by Akhmed Kotiev, Secretary of the National Security Council. According to his report, close relatives of the detainee were invited to visit the law enforcers for a conversation.

May 17, 2013 22:30

• Ucha Nanuashvili: opponents of sexual minorities' rally in Tbilisi originally express their aggressive mood

  The Tbilisi police should have prevented the collisions that occurred today during a rally in support of sexual minorities. This was stated by Ucha Nanuashvili, Ombudsman of Georgia. According to his opinion, the opponents of the rally were originally in aggressive mood, and that the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) was aware in advance that they would come close to the participants of the rally.

May 17, 2013 22:20

• Dagestan SC upholds verdict in case against policemen who beat teenager

  The Supreme Court of Dagestan dismissed the appeal filed by the defence of Gamzat Nurudinov and Shamil Magomedaliev, staff members of the Shamil ROVD (District Interior Division), who were sentenced to two years of conditional imprisonment in the case of beating 14-year-old Makhmud Akhmedov. This was reported by the Human Rights Centre "Memorial".

May 17, 2013 22:10

• In Buynaksk, Gadjimurad Gasanov kidnapped when leaving mosque, local resident asserts

  Gadjimurad Gasanov, a 23-year-old resident of the settlement of Prirechensk of the city of Buynaksk, was kidnapped by armed men in masks when he was leaving the mosque. This was reported by one of the worshipers of the mosque.

May 17, 2013 20:00

• In Dagestan, boxing coach detained

  Today, Gasan Urdashev, a resident of Buynaksk, who works as boxing trainer, was detained by policemen. This was reported by his brother Gadji. The police investigate the detainee's possible communication with members of illegal armed formations (IAFs). This was reported by a source in the law enforcement bodies.

May 17, 2013 18:00

• HRC "Memorial": advocate not allowed to visit Makhach Gamzatov detained in Dagestan

  Makhach Gamzatov, a resident of Buynaksk, who was arrested in Makhachkala on May 15 on charges of aiding and abetting illegal armed formations (IAFs), is not allowed to be visited by an advocate. This was reported by the Human Rights Centre (HRC) "Memorial".

May 17, 2013 18:00

• In Azerbaijan, Court leaves Uzeir Mamedli, activist of "Nida", in custody

  Today, the Nasimi District Court of Baku dismissed the motion filed by advocates of Uzeir Mamedli, an activist of the movement "Nida", to change the pre-trial restriction measure to home arrest and left the young man in custody. The defence intends to challenge the decision at the Court of Appeal.

May 17, 2013 16:00

• Two Chechen policemen accused of beating pensioner

  In Chechnya, the criminal case against two law enforcement agents suspected of abuse of power, threatening to use weapons and beating of a detained elderly man brought to court. This was reported by the Chechen Prosecutor's Office.

May 16, 2013 22:50

• Owner of Mekegi factory: no one keeps workers forcibly in Dagestan

  Owner of the workshop on stone processing located in the village of Mekegi of the Levashi District of Dagestan argues that the information about the use of slave labour at the factory is not true. Several persons were working at the factory voluntarily. This was confirmed by a representative of the organization "Alternativa" (Alternative), dealing with release of persons held captive at their workplaces.

May 16, 2013 22:50

• In Chechnya, combat engineers clear 240 hectares of land within 1.5 months

  During the period starting from April 1 till May 15, military men from the combat engineering battalion of the unit of the Ministry of Defence of the Southern Military District cleared 240 hectares of land in the three districts of Chechnya of mines, bombs and other explosive devices. This was reported by the military commandants' office of the republic.

May 16, 2013 22:40

• In Azerbaijan, active user of social networks arrested

  Rashad Agaaddin, an active user of social networks, was detained and arrested on suspicion of illegal possession of drugs. Rashad Agaaddin himself believes that he is being prosecuted for criticizing the authorities of Azerbaijan. This was reported by his advocate Rovshan Shiraliev.

May 16, 2013 22:30

• Another soldier lost in Azerbaijan

  A soldier of the Azerbaijani Army was killed as a result of careless handling of weapons. The death of the soldier was acknowledged by the press service of the Ministry of Defence (MoD) of Azerbaijan.