News

February 20, 2025 23:05

• Human rights defenders call extradition of ethnic Armenian to Russia unacceptable

  The General Prosecutor’s Office of Armenia has allowed the extradition of Russian citizen Emil Torosyan to Russia. Human rights defenders have pointed out the inadmissibility of extradition because of the threat of torture.

February 20, 2025 21:12

• In Tbilisi, protesters spoil Ivanishvili’s celebration with black balloons

  In Tbilisi, a protest action was dedicated to the Bidzina Ivanishvili’s birthday. Participants of the protest action brought black balloons with wishes for the birthday and released them into the sky. The protesters also burned a stuffed chicken with the image of the head of the special forces Zviad Kharazishvili.

February 19, 2025 23:57

• “Abzas Media” journalists complain about inhumane treatment in court

  Four journalists of the “Abzas Media” outlet have refused to take part in the trial until the inhumane treatment of them stops.

February 19, 2025 23:55

• Two residents of Chechnya publicly apologize for traffic accident

  Chechen policemen have posted a video of an apology from a participant in the road accident and an eyewitness who released a record of the accident.

February 19, 2025 23:17

• Grozny court denies Chechen actor Debishev’s complaint about torture

  The Akhmatovsky Court of Grozny has once again dismissed the complaint about investigators' refusal to open a criminal case about the torture of Timur Debishev. Human rights defenders believe that it is necessary to continue fighting, despite numerous dismissals.

February 19, 2025 22:47

• Georgian journalist Mziya Amaglobeli stops her hunger strike

  Mziya Amaglobeli, the founder of the “Netgazeti” and “Batumelebi” online publications, agreed to stop her hunger strike. The journalist has called on the activists who held protests in her support to resume accepting food.

February 19, 2025 22:06

• Ingush activist Barakh Chemurziev released from penal colony

  Ingush activist Barakh Chemurziev has served his full sentence in the case on an extremist community. The man has been released from a penal colony in the Stavropol Territory.

February 18, 2025 23:56

• Journalist Marshenkulova* fined under foreign agent article

  A Moscow court has fined Zalina Marshenkulova*, a journalist from Kabardino-Balkaria, by 45,000 roubles for failing to indicate her foreign agent status in social networks.

February 18, 2025 23:43

• Chechen advocate Timur Idalov released from punishment

  Due to the expiration of the statute of limitations, the Court of Appeal has released Timur Idalov, a Chechen advocate, from punishment in the case of a murder threat, and the Moscow Regional Court also decided not to deprive him of his advocate’s status.

February 18, 2025 23:40

• Maria Smelaya fails to find her child in Chechnya

  Maria Smelaya, a Krasnodar resident, who is seeking custody over her child in court, has arrived at the address in Chechnya where her son is registered, but the house was empty.

February 18, 2025 21:56

• Oppositionist Yefimov arrested in Volzhsky for 14 days

  In the city of Volzhsky, a court sentenced Alexander Yefimov, a member of the “Yabloko” Party, to administrative arrest for displaying a portrait of Alexei Navalny.

February 18, 2025 21:25

• In Volgograd, participants in Navalny’s memorial event complain of pressure from police

  In Volgograd, activists who laid flowers at the monument to victims of political repression in memory of Alexei Navalny were intimidated by the police. At least three persons are known to have been detained.

February 17, 2025 23:41

• Alexei Navalny’s commemorations held in cities of Southern Russia and Southern Caucasus

  On the anniversary of Alexei Navalny's death, his associates have honoured the politician's memory in Russian cities, as well as in the capitals of Armenia and Georgia.

February 17, 2025 23:17

• Week in the Caucasus: review of main events of February 10-16, 2025

  Presidential election in Abkhazia, drone attacks, pollution in Anapa, persecution of pacifists and activists in Southern Russia, pressure on the opposition in Azerbaijan, and official data on the natives of Southern Russia who perished in Ukraine, – see the review of these and other events in the Caucasus during the week of February 10-16, 2025, prepared by the “Caucasian Knot”.

February 17, 2025 23:15

• Post in social network results in fine imposed on Vladikavkaz resident

  A court in Vladikavkaz has fined Arthur Desyatnikov, a local resident, by 30,000 roubles, treating his post placed in a social network as discrediting the Russian Army.

February 17, 2025 22:38

• Journalists treat their colleague Amaglobeli’s arrest as attempt to intimidate independent media

  An action in front of the “Vivamed” Clinic, where Mziya Amaglobeli, the founder of the “Batumelebi” and “Netgazeti” outlets, is kept for treatment, was organized by the journalists, who treat their colleague’s arrest as an attempt to harass independent media.

February 17, 2025 19:15

• Georgia condemns Abkhazia's presidential election

  The Abkhaz presidential election is illegal and will have no legal force, the Georgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) has stated.

February 17, 2025 19:12

• Tbilisi marchers called for release of detainees

  At their march through the streets of Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia, residents of the republic have called for the release of all those detained during protests, including the journalist Mziya Amaglobeli.

February 16, 2025 21:05

• Georgian journalist Mziya Amaglobeli left in custody

  A judge of the Batumi City Court has found the defence’s motion to change the pre-trial restriction measure for Mziya Amaglobeli, the founder of the “Batumelebi” and “Netgazeti” online publications, not acceptable. The defence has announced an intention to lodge an appeal against the court’s decision.

February 15, 2025 22:48

• Russian blogger challenges Georgian authorities’ refusal to grant him asylum

  Alexei Kungurov, who left Russia because of criminal prosecution, has appealed to court in order to challenge the Georgian authorities’ refusal to grant him political asylum.