News

The court of appeal dismissed a complaint filed by the defence about the verdict to Omar Aliev, sentenced to 13 years of imprisonment for plotting the killings of parishioners of the Orthodox Holy Assumption Cathedral Church in Makhachkala.

Sasha Tileks, an author of parody videos, apologized in public for a story, in which rapper Timati resorted to the help of the leader of Chechnya to solve the problems of the "Black Star" company. Instagram users laughed at the blogger who called Ramzan Kadyrov a "global personality."

The complaints were voiced after Magomed Daudov had been appointed the secretary of the regional branch of the "Edinaya Rossiya" (United Russia) Party, local residents say. Ramzan Kadyrov declared the reports of public sector employees were rumours and mentioned as an example the non-partisan head of the Chechen Ministry for Public Health.

Residents of Chechnya have doubted the officials' reports about the high level of trust in Putin and Kadyrov. According to their stories, many are afraid to express their opinions. Residents of Chechnya cannot feel free, and this is reflected in opinion polls, sociologists have noted.

On November 13, the European Union (EU) demanded to cancel the verdict to six convicts in Rostov-on-Don under the case of the "Yalta unit" of an organization banned in Russia. The Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has called to increase pressure on Russia in connection with the verdict.

About 50 teachers of the Yerevan State University (YSU) went on strike in support of the students who oppose the initiative to make the study of the Armenian history, language and literature optional at non-humanitarian departments. The teachers have urged activists to discuss this issue without political speculation.

Magomed Ismailov, a MMA (mixed martial arts) fighter, has regretted that he knew about the arrest of the journalist, Abdulmumin Gadjiev, but did not comment thereon, and promised that he would now follow the fate of the Dagestani journalist.

Chechen authorities have reported zero protest activity in the region and ratings of Vladimir Putin and Ramzan Kadyrov. Public discontent in Chechnya is great, but people are afraid to protest, local residents assert.

The defence of the Azerbaijani journalist Mustafa Gadjibeili has found a violation of his rights after his complaint against the verdict was rejected, and stated that it would appeal against the decision of the Azerbaijani Supreme Court (SC) to the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR).

Today, OSCE observers have not registered any incidents on the contact line of the armed forces of Azerbaijan and Nagorno-Karabakh.

Moral crusaders, who harassed Ragda Khanieva, a native of Ingushetia, after her appearance in a TV show, are themselves violating the tradition of banning public criticism of other people's daughter. Activists pointed to double standards voiced by social network users while assessing the actions of men and women.

The police assured Ruslan Adjiev, a singer performing Kumyk songs, that he was not put on a police prevention registration list as an extremist. However, during a trip to Kuban, the singer was stopped and requested to explain the purpose of leaving Dagestan, the Human Rights Centre (HRC) "Memorial" reports.

In South Ossetia, a court pronounced a decision to fine and expel to Georgia three persons found guilty of violating the border. Another detained person is considered by investigators as a deliberate violator of the border, and a criminal case has been instituted against him.

A march against the initiative of the Armenian Ministry of Education (MoE) to make optional the study of history, Armenian language and literature at non-humanitarian departments was held in Yerevan. Media outlets have treated the protests as a political action.

The parents of the child who starred in the film "And then we danced" said they the film plot was hidden from them. Sandro Bregadze, the leader of the "Georgian March", has threatened to launch protests, after at the Ombudsperson's office they refused to talk to him about the violation of the child's rights.

The video clip by Abdurrakhman Dimashkiya, a Lebanese theologian, criticizing the Mufti of Chechnya, will not be able to influence the position of Salafis in Chechnya, the interviewed religious figures have noted.

The use of militants in politicians' and businessmen's interests in Dagestan was practiced, journalists have noted in their comments on the arrest of Omar Abdurashidov and Ashikov brothers.

A Makhachkala court had extended the arrest of Abdulmumin Gadjiev, a journalist of the "Chernovik" (Draft) weekly, until January 13, 2020. Other figurants in the case of financing terrorism, Kemal Tambiev and Abubakar Rizvanov, have also been left under arrest.

Authorities have awarded huge premiums and expensive gifts to dancers of the "Vainakh" ensemble on the occasion of its jubilee. Even the gifts well-deserved by performers cause irritation among the poor and needy, residents of Chechnya and analysts state.

A performance of Ingush native Ragda Khanieva in "The Voice" TV show provoked disputes in social networks about the violation of Vainakh decency rules. Critics demanded from Ragda Khanieva, who hugged strange men, not to call herself a native of Ingushetia anymore.