News

December 27, 2019 11:57

• Statements of commander of Kadyrov regiment are contrary to Islamic and Russian laws

  The statements of Zamid Chalaev, the commander of the patrol-and-post (PPS) police regiment named after Akhmat Kadyrov, who blamed all the offenders as "traitors" and promised harsh punishments for them, fail to comply with either Islamic norms or Russian legislation. Zamid Chalaev's statements are an illustration of the legal nihilism prevailing in the republic, Caucasus experts and rights defenders believe.

December 27, 2019 11:43

• OSCE experts suggest sending 380 observers to Azerbaijani elections

  The mission of the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) of the OSCE (Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe) has recommended sending 380 observers to the upcoming early parliamentary elections in Azerbaijan. Rights defenders believe that such a team of observers could contribute to the transparency of the election process.

December 27, 2019 11:32

• Analysts treat blogger Davidych's story about Kadyrov's people as self-promotion

  The complaint of the blogger Eric Kituashvili, known under the nickname "Davidych", about some extortionists, who presented themselves as "Kadyrov people", was invented by him for self-promotion, the blogger, Dmitry Ivanov, has suggested.

December 26, 2019 23:56

• Galkin's phrase about apology practice in Chechnya voiced at concerts criticizing Putin

  Maxim Galkin did not want to give a concert in Chechnya, where people were forced to apologize for their statements about the power, and that fact emphasized his critical attitude to the political atmosphere in Russia. In the course of his concerts in Rostov-on-Don and Krasnodar, Maxim Galkin ridiculed the methods of the Vladimir Putin's ruling and the corruption of officials, in particular, Rauf Arashukov.

December 26, 2019 23:51

• IDPs from Chechnya disappointed by visit to Ingush Minister

  The authorities' refusals to extend the status of internally displaced persons (IDPs) led to a disastrous situation because of their housing problems, claimed IDPs from Chechnya, who came to a meeting with the Ingush Minister of National Policy on December 25. Out of 30 people, only the leader of the initiative group was admitted to the meeting with the Minister.

December 26, 2019 23:45

• Azerbaijan registers 20 shelling attacks in conflict zone

  The positions of the Azerbaijani troops in the Karabakh conflict zone and in villages located on the border with Armenia were shelled from machine guns, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) of Azerbaijan reported.

December 26, 2019 20:52

• Court leaves Ingush journalist Rashid Maisigov under home arrest

  In Magas, the court has extended for three months the house arrest of Rashid Maisigov, a journalist of the "Fortanga", accused of drug possession.

December 26, 2019 17:01

• Ismail Kurbanov, resident of Dagestan, reports law enforcers' threats before interrogation

  A resident of Dagestan, Ismail Kurbanov, accused along with his brother Mukhtar Kurbanov of links with militants and keeping explosives, has stated at the court session that he had given his confessions under a threat of torture.

December 26, 2019 11:26

• Social network users react to comedian Galkin's refusal to perform in Chechnya

  The words of the humorist, Maxim Galkin, who explained his refusal to go on tour in Grozny by the unwillingness to apologize for jokes and his inability to be a courtier, have attracted the attention of YouTube users. Some of them found his statement worthy of respect; others have concluded that Galkin is afraid of Chechen authorities.

December 26, 2019 11:12

• NCO activists consider the domestic violence prevention bill to be a "raw" document

  A roundtable held in Makhachkala has discussed how the state and businesses can help the women that occurred in difficult situations. The activists of non-commercial organizations (NCOs) interviewed by the "Caucasian Knot" believe that the bill on the prevention of domestic violence has many shortcomings.

December 26, 2019 10:52

• Lawyers find it unlawful to make public video evidence of violence victim in Dagestan

  The girl, whose high-profile rape case is being investigated in Dagestan, is in a rehabilitation centre. The advocate of the suspect, who has reported torture, demands to punish the person, who had posted the girl's testimonies in social networks. This video was posted with the aim to justify law enforcers, the journalist, Svetlana Anokhina, has suggested.

December 26, 2019 10:14

• Catholics point to religious freedom in KBR

  Some 70 Catholics came to the festive Christmas mass held at the Saint Joseph Church in Nalchik, the capital of the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic (KBR); about the same number of believers took part in the service in the Catholic Church in Blagoveschensk dwelling settlement. Catholics have never faced any pressure because of their religious beliefs, the parishioners have stated.

December 25, 2019 23:45

• Catholics of Southern Russia and countries of Southern Caucasus celebrate Christmas

  Today, Russian Catholics are celebrating Christmas by festive masses that are held in all Catholic churches of Russia, including Southern Russia and the countries of Southern Caucasus.

December 25, 2019 23:38

• New charge presented to Azerbaijani journalist Polad Aslanov

  Polad Aslanov, a journalist has been accused of a murder threat or causing grievous bodily harm. His wife treats accusations as far-fetched; Polad refuses to plead guilty.

December 25, 2019 23:34

• Chair of HRC "Memorial" board fined for fourth time after inspection of Ingush FSB

  In Moscow, the court has obliged Alexander Cherkasov, the chairman of the board of the Human Rights Centre (HRC) "Memorial", to pay 100,000 roubles for the absence in the NGO's publications of a mark that it had been recognized by the authorities as a foreign agent. The total amount of the fines imposed on Alexander Cherkasov reached 400,000 roubles.

December 25, 2019 22:29

• In Chechnya, relatives of Aidamirova sisters claim no trust in investigating bodies

  A sister of the Aidamirova sisters who disappeared in Chechnya does not believe that the investigating bodies are interested in solving the crime involving law enforcers. Relatives of the Aidamirova sisters expect to get compensation at the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) for an ineffective investigation.

December 25, 2019 18:45

• Campaign against fortunetellers results in public repentance of Chechen woman

  On the air of the Chechen TV Channel, Rovzan Yusupova, a resident of Gudermes, apologized for her engagement in the activities related to fortunetelling and witchcraft. Some Instagram users have criticized the public humiliation of the woman.

December 25, 2019 18:40

• Azerbaijan registers shelling attacks on two border villages

  The positions of the Azerbaijani troops on the border with Armenia and in the Karabakh conflict zone were shelled 22 times within 24 hours, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) of Azerbaijan reported.

December 25, 2019 11:29

• Kadyrov's idea of new fight with Emelianenko causes scepticism in social networks

  The head of Chechnya, Ramzan Kadyrov, has called Alexander Emelianenko to a fight; two years ago the latter deliberately lost a friendly fight to Kadyrov. Social network users have questioned the honesty of that fight.

December 25, 2019 11:26

• Comedian Maxim Galkin explains his reluctance to go to Chechnya by practice of public apologies

  The practice of public apologies to Ramzan Kadyrov for careless statements is keeping Maxim Galkin from performing in Chechnya, the comedian said in his interview.