News

The European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) awarded 72,000 euros of compensation to Azerbaijani activists Bairam Mamedov and Giyas Ibragimov, who complained about torture and violation of the right to freedom of expression.

The "Grozny" TV Company devoted a story to residents of Chechnya detained on suspicion of theft and fraud. Three of the detainees repented of their actions. They will not be able to get rid of public shame, suggest authors of the TV story.

The Supreme Court (SC) of Russia mitigated the punishment imposed on Malsag Uzhakhov, the chairman of the Ingush Council of Teips (families), by reducing his fine from 150,000 to 10,000 roubles, reported advocate Djabrail Kuriev.

The positions of the Azerbaijani troops in villages located 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.

In Irkutsk, the court granted a request of a penal colony administration to transfer Zaur Dadaev, sentenced for the murder of Boris Nemtsov, to prison for three years, but the defence challenged the court's decision. The Federal Penitentiary Service (known as FSIN) began verifying photos from a feast in the penal colony with participation of Zaur Dadaev posted on a social network.

A court in Tbilisi has left Marianna Choloyan, a police investigator, accused of forcing a 15-year-old teenager to testify, after which he committed suicide, in custody. Ms Choloyan refuses to plead guilty.

The Chechen authorities have initiated a reconciliation of two families, who were in blood feud for 25 years.

Arlem Desir, the OSCE (Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe) Representative on Media Freedom, is concerned about the violence against journalists during the crackdown on February 11. He has urged the Azerbaijani authorities to punish those responsible.

The Baku authorities refused to sanction a rally in central Baku of those who disagree with the outcomes of the recent parliamentary elections and offered the organizers to hold it in the dwelling settlement of Lokbatan located in a suburb of the capital.

The Moscow court dismissed the appeal of the "International Memorial" for a fine of 300,000 roubles, which was imposed after the inspection by the FSB Department for Ingushetia. Human rights defenders said they would challenge the decision at the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR).

Soldiers Tigran Manvelyan and Tigran Mkhoyan got fatal gunshot wounds in military units, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) of Nagorno-Karabakh reported.

Members of the City Duma of Grozny announced a contest for the position of Mayor, which became vacant after Ibragim Zakriev had been transferred to the administration of the leader of Chechnya. Isa Khadjimuradov, the first deputy head of the city, was appointed the acting city mayor.

After the verdict had been pronounced to Giga Ugulava, one of the leaders of the "European Georgia" Party, the EU External Action Service (EEAS) reminded the Georgian authorities of the independence of the judiciary and the right to a fair trial. The opposition rejected the calls of the "Georgian Dream" to resume a dialogue interrupted after the arrest of Giga Ugulava.

The panel of the Supreme Court (SC) dealing with the Ugulava's case is now headed by Shalva Tadumadze, who was the Prosecutor General of Georgia during the investigation. The presentation by the same person of different parties in the trial is unacceptable, the Georgian Ombudsperson and NGOs have emphasized.

The qualification commission of the Dagestani Bar Association has stopped the disciplinary proceedings against the lawyer, Sapiyat Magomedova.

The police have set free all those detained at the building of the Central Election Commission (CEC) during their protest against election falsifications. About 10 activists sought medical help.

The NGO "Human Rights Education and Monitoring Centre" (HREMC) has lodged a lawsuit to the Tbilisi City Court demanding to postpone the sentence to Giorgi Mamaladze in order to place him to hospital.

Candidates for MPs and voters supporting them have come out to a protest rally held in front of the Central Election Commission (CEC) of Azerbaijan, stating falsification of the elections. Policemen have violently dispersed the protesters; some detainees were injured, activists report.

The publication on the Internet of a video showing detention of a blackmailer in Ingushetia can be regarded as negligence, which entailed grave consequences in the form of the murder of the woman who was occasionally filmed, lawyers believe. Residents of Chechnya, while condemning "honour killings", have sympathized with the alleged killer.

The German Prosecutor's Office has issued a warrant for the arrest of the person, suspected of killing Zelimkhan Khangoshvili, in order to question him again.