News

Starting from April 27, in Azerbaijan, shops and a number of service sector enterprises will resume operation. Restrictions will be still in force for shopping centres and malls, reports the operational headquarters.

The leader of Chechnya said that an allegation about secret prisons in his house was rumours spread by mentally unhealthy people. In confirmation of his statement, Ramzan Kadyrov spoke about the inspection of the house by prosecutors.

The decision of the Supreme Court (SC) of Azerbaijan to acquit Ilgar Mamedov and Rasul Jafarov, former "prisoners of conscience," confirmed the practice of prosecution of activists in the country for political reasons. The cases against other six activists from the so-called "Ilgar Mamedov group" have not yet been reconsidered, in contradiction to the decision of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR), and repressions in the country continue, human rights defenders state.

In Chechnya, participants of a domestic conflict apologized for their behaviour on a video posted on the Internet by another person. A woman from Vladikavkaz also had to apologize after her video was made public.

Russian authorities should investigate the threats addressed by the head of Chechnya to Elena Milashina, a journalist of the "Novaya Gazeta" newspaper and ensure her safety, the European Union (EU) has stated.

An initial test for coronavirus of Magomed Daudov, Speaker of the Chechen Parliament, proved to be positive, but it was decided to hide the fact, Ramzan Kadyrov said, adding that the repeated Daudov's test was negative.

Officials and law enforcers have followed the example of the head of Chechnya, Ramzan Kadyrov, who shaved his head bald in response to requests of republic's residents to open barbershops closed as a coronavirus quarantine measure.

Teona Turmanidze, a journalist of the "Adjara TV", was removed from live broadcasting after her critical posts in social networks criticizing the policy of company bosses. The Georgian coalition "For Media Advocacy" has called to stop persecuting TV professionals for their position that doesn't match the bosses' one.

Armenia is the leader in the number of deaths of coronavirus patients among the South-Caucasian countries; as of April 23, the count of victims in Armenia reached 49.

The prosecution has achieved stricter custody conditions for the six participants of the rally in Magas, who were found guilty of assaulting law enforcers. The Human Rights Centre (HRC) "Memorial" has linked the sentence tightening with the recent dispersal of a rally in North Ossetia.

In the capital of Georgia, the police dispersed a rally, participants of which protested against the extension of the state of emergency. A similar protest action took place in Batumi, the capital of Adjara.

The Muftiate of Dagestan reports that in Makhachkala, a mosque has been allocated for the ablution of the COVID-19 victims' bodies, and theologians are on duty around the clock at the mosque to answer questions from believers.

The introduction of a self-isolation regime has exacerbated social problems; the number of victims of domestic violence during the quarantine period has increased sharply, human rights defenders assert.

In Azerbaijan, the court has reviewed cases against opposition politician Ilgar Mamedov and human rights defender Rasul Jafarov and cancelled the verdicts of guilty. The court has also pronounced the decision on compensations to be paid to Ilgar Mamedov and Rasul Jafarov for their imprisonment.

In Chechnya, participants of a domestic conflict apologized for posting a video of their dispute on the Internet. Instagram users found their behaviour reckless and unethical.

Elchin Gasanzade (Gasanov), a journalist, a deputy chairman of the NGO "Legal Enlightenment of Sumgait Youth" and a member of the Supreme Majlis of the Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan (PFPA) fears that he will be arrested like other party members. They did not explain the reason for his summoning to police, he said.

Residents of the Pankisi Gorge face serious problems with infrastructure, medical care and drinking water; and they are restricted in mobility due to law enforcers' control, the NGO "Centre for Human Rights Training and Monitoring" has stated. Human rights defenders note that after protests against HPP construction, many projects scheduled for 2019 were suspended.

Communists of the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic (KBR) have celebrated the 150th Lenin's birthday, despite the quarantine. The imposed restrictions and difficulties associated with the quarantine regime are pushing people to protests, Boris Pashtov, the local communist leader, believes.

By the evening of April 22, the countries of Southern Caucasus, including the unrecognized republics, counted 3417 coronavirus infected patients; 1518 of them are in Azerbaijan, and 1473 – in Armenia.

The international organization "Reporters Without Borders" (RWB) has called on the Azerbaijani authorities to release Natig Isbatov, arrested on charges of violating the quarantine regime.