News

Malika Djikaeva, a blogger from North Ossetia, was planted on with drugs in order to punish her for her shocking videos in a hijab, her relatives assert, complaining that Chechen advocates are ready to take up Djikaeva's case only for a huge fee.

Muslims of Dagestan, Kabardino-Balkaria and Chechnya held their Friday namaz (prayer) at home, as mosques are under quarantine because of coronavirus. Some believers hoped to get to the mosque today – they are worried that they have to violate the prescription of compulsory collective prayers.

South-Ossetian authorities should stop the criminal cases initiated against the journalists, Tamara Mearakishvili and Irina Kelekhsaeva, who criticize the authorities, the human rights organization Amnesty International (AI) has stated.

Some Internet users fear for the life of Chechen businessman Aslambek Akhmetkhanov, who stopped contacting his relatives and friends after Ramzan Kadyrov had reprimanded him in public. Other users suggest that the entrepreneur was detained or took shelter.

When entering a dispute with Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, Ramzan Kadyrov has demonstrated his claim to be the Chechen leader. However, he has not taken into account that the chairman of the Russian government enjoys the full confidence of President Vladimir Putin, political analysts explain.

In Azerbaijan, the authorities' measures to support the population during the coronavirus pandemic do not cover all those people who need help under the quarantine and victims of forced unemployment, analysts state. Residents of the country also claimed that the authorities' support was insufficient.

Malika Djikaeva, a blogger from North Ossetia, well-known for her provocative videos in hijabs, was arrested in Chechnya in a case on drug possession, sources reported. Some social network users wrote they were glad to learn such news and thereby caused reproaches from their opponents for unethical behaviour.

The leader of Chechnya condemned participants of a mass memorial event held in a village of the Shali District. Ramzan Kadyrov demanded from his subordinates to tighten the punishment for violation of the quarantine regime. Residents of the Chechen Republic expressed their concern over the above fact.

The funeral in the village of Malye Atagi of the Shali District, which was attended by many people, threatened them with coronavirus infection, since it was found in family members of the deceased. The Speaker of the Chechen Parliament called on the rite participants to observe self-isolation. However, earlier, officials themselves ignored the self-isolation measures.

The dispersal of protesters in Tbilisi in April 1989 sharply opposed the society against the country's leadership, the participants in the discussion organized by the Russian Federal Georgian National-Cultural Autonomy (RFGNCA) have noted.

Believers should not attend mosques due to the aggravated situation with the coronavirus spread; it's better to administer namaz (prayer) at home. This was stated by Shamil Alikhanov, the chairman of the Spiritual Administration of Muslims (SAM, or Muftiate) of Dagestan. Instagram users have supported the recommendation.

Advocates of the second president of Armenia, Robert Kocharyan have lodged lawsuits demanding to release their client from SIZO (pre-trial prison) before the end of the pandemic. Kocharyan is in the coronavirus risk group; therefore, his stay in the SIZO is comparable to torture, the advocates claim.

The head of Chechnya has expressed his dissatisfaction with the comments in social networks about quarantine measures in Chechnya, and of the border agreement with Ingushetia. He advised the authors of such comments to leave the country.

Malika Djikaeva, a blogger from North Ossetia, who became known for her provocative videos, was detained with narcotic drugs in Chechnya, her relatives have informed.

Vafadar Aliev, a member of the Movement for Democracy and Welfare (MDW), and Ruslan Amirov, an activist of the Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan (PFPA), were arrested for 30 days. The opposition has condemned the arrests in the face of the fight against the coronavirus pandemic.

Faig Amirli (Amirov), the assistant to the chairman of the Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan (PFPA), whose kidnapping had been claimed by his spouse, was arrested for 30 days.

A wife of Aslambek Akhmetkhanov violated the Chechen traditions when the woman asked Ramzan Kadyrov to forgive her husband. The woman's appeal was caused by hopelessness and well-founded fears for the safety of her husband, noted Caucasus experts and human rights defenders.

Four more natives of Chechnya publicly apologized for their posts on a Telegram channel. Their repentance did not reassure Instagram users who found offensive posts unacceptable.

Starting from April 9, residents of Azerbaijan who have no signed labour contracts with employers and workers over 65 years old may not leave their homes for the period of quarantine. Managers of companies should reduce the number of employees at working places to the required minimum.

A week after the introduction of self-isolation regime, residents of the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic (KBR) have complained to Kazbek Kokov by means of social networks that they were left without a livelihood.