News

March 24, 2021 23:44

• Hero of “Novaya Gazeta” investigations on extrajudicial executions heads Chechen police

  Aslan Iraskhanov, a former commander of the Akhmat Kadyrov special-purpose police regiment, has been appointed the acting Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs of Chechnya to replace Apti Alaudinov. Earlier, Aslan Iraskhanov has been included in the US sanctions list.

March 24, 2021 20:25

• Gezmakhmaev's relatives criticize him on air of state-run TV Company

  Former policeman Suleiman Gezmakhmaev, who gave to the newspaper “Novaya Gazeta” an interview about the extrajudicial executions in Chechnya, used psychotropic substances and fled Russia, while owing large amounts of money. This was reported by his relatives on the air of the “Grozny” TV Channel.

March 24, 2021 12:08

• Rights defenders offer Ingush activists to abandon boycotting the court

  The presence at the trial is a chance for Ingush activists to convey their position to the society, the human rights defenders, Oleg Orlov and Natalia Taubina, believe. For their systematic violations, the defendants can be removed from the courtroom, but they must be allowed to be present at sentencing and their last plea, said Genry Reznik, a lawyer.

March 24, 2021 11:43

• Dagestani Jehovah's Witnesses* claim their innocence

  The faith of Jehovah's Witnesses* is not banned; it does not call for hatred or enmity and is no threat for the state, the Dagestani believers have stated in court. Due to house arrest, the defendants cannot work and support their families, Arsen Abdullaev's wife and Anton Dergalev's mother have stated.

March 24, 2021 11:39

• Over 70% of "Novaya Gazeta" poll participants support idea of litigation with Kadyrov

  The idea of the "Novaya Gazeta" newspaper to go to court in connection with the harsh attacks of the head of Chechnya was supported by 71% of the voting participants. Some Facebook users found a lawsuit appropriate, while their opponents doubted that the court would be impartial.

March 24, 2021 11:37

• Head of Ingush ensemble publicly apologizes for charity action

  The participation of girls from the "Sunzha" ensemble in the action with treating the truck drivers stuck on the highway aroused discontent of some of residents of Ingushetia. The head of the ensemble, Umar Guliev, has recorded a video message of apology.

March 24, 2021 11:20

• Hunger strike affects health condition of Ingush activists

  On Tuesday (March 23), Akhmed Barakhoev, Barakh Chemurziev and Malsag Uzhakhov were unable to take part in the court session due to poor health. Magomed Abubakarov, an advocate, has linked this with the hunger strike conducted by the activists. Doctors insisted that Uzhakhov and Sautieva stop their hunger strike.

March 23, 2021 23:56

• Opposition decides to unblock avenue in centre of Yerevan

  In Yerevan, the movement “To Save the Motherland” will unblock Bagramyan Avenue to avoid the inconvenience for residents of the Armenian capital. However, they do not intend to stop the street fighting, activists of the movement announce. The tents, which were located on Bagramyan Avenue, will be set up at the entrance to the parliament building, a member of the ARF “Dashnaktsutyun” reported.

March 23, 2021 23:53

• Ingush protest leaders stop their hunger strike

  Five Ingush activists, who declared a hunger strike in protest against the detention of Zarifa Sautieva, stopped their protest action at the request of the Muftiate and the Ingush Council of Teips. Advocate Boris Kodzoev wrote about the above on his Facebook page.

March 23, 2021 17:21

• Deputy chief of Georgian police resigns after scandalous TV broadcast

  Kakha Sabanadze, Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs of Georgia, is leaving his post after the “Mtavari Arkhi” TV Company has made public an interview with a former law enforcer who spoke about secret surveillance of political and religious leaders.

March 23, 2021 17:17

• One of Armenian soldiers found near Djermuk dies

  Both contract soldiers who had disappeared near Djermuk have been evacuated; one of them died, the other was hospitalized in grave condition, the Armenian Ministry of Defence (MoD) has informed.

March 23, 2021 17:14

• Court finds detention of journalist Khatukaeva at rally in Makhachkala illegal

  A Makhachkala court has supported Inna Khatukaeva, a correspondent of the "Chernovik" (Draft) weekly, who demanded to recognize her detention at a rally in support of the oppositional leader, Alexei Navalny, on January 23 unlawful.

March 23, 2021 15:46

• In Batumi, forced migrants demand to provide them with apartments

  The forced migrants living in the "City of Dreams" dwelling settlement in the capital of Adjara have held a protest action. They fear that they will not get the apartments in the houses now being built, and asked to conclude individual contracts with them.

March 23, 2021 15:41

• Missing Armenian contractors found near Djermuk

  The evacuation of two lost Armenian soldiers is complicated by a severe blizzard; the condition of one of them is of medium gravity.

March 23, 2021 11:38

• Five persons picket in support of Dagestani journalist Gadjiev

  The participants of the pickets in support of Abdulmumin Gadjiev, a journalist of the "Chernovik" (Draft) weekly, held in Makhachkala, have opposed unjustified arrests and political persecutions. Passers-by supported the picketers less actively than usual, one of the picketers said.

March 23, 2021 11:34

• Rights defenders divide in assessing threats to Gezmakhmaev's relatives

  The pressure on relatives of Suleiman Gezmakhmaev will give nothing to law enforcers, since the case has an incredible resonance, Ruslan Kutaev, President of the Assembly of Caucasian Nations, believes. Given the interest of Chechen authorities in Gezmakhmaev's public repentance, even his distant relatives should fear for their lives, Igor Kalyapin, the head of the Committee against Torture (CaT), is sure.

March 23, 2021 09:53

• Berdzor residents demand security guarantees

  About 150 people returned to Berdzor after the autumn war, the administration of the Kashatag District of Nagorno-Karabakh has reported. In order for the rest to come to the city, it is necessary to increase the volume of social help and provide security guarantees, local residents believe.

March 22, 2021 23:59

• EU imposes sanctions against two Chechen law enforcers

  Abuzaid Vismuradov, a commander of the “Terek” unit, and Ayub Kataev, the former chief of the Argun police, have been banned from entering the EU countries because of their involvement in torture, extrajudicial executions, and harassment of LGBT people in the republic.

March 22, 2021 23:58

• Two Armenian soldiers disappear not far from Djermuk

  Two Armenian contract soldiers who were moving from one military base to another stopped contacting their colleagues and commanders.

March 22, 2021 23:57

• Marneuli residents massively celebrate Novruz despite restrictions

  On the night of March 22, about 100 residents of Marneuli came to the square to celebrate the holiday of Novruz, despite the current curfew imposed in Georgia because of the coronavirus. The authorities did not punish violators.