News

Remains of a human body supposedly belonging to Dokku Umarov, the leader of the "Imarat Kavkaz"*, were found in mountains of Ingushetia and brought to Moscow for examination. This has been reported today by sources from the Investigating Committee of the Russian Federation (ICRF).

Today, students of the Ilia State University have gathered in front of the university building to protest against the decision to terminate contracts with some lecturers.

In Azerbaijan, the civil movement "Republican Alternative" (ReAl) has officially announced its transformation into a political party. The first constituent congress of the new political organization is scheduled for October 29.

Today, advocate Israfil Gadadov has found out that Akhmed Akhmedov, a specialist for Islamic medicine, is being kept at the ROVD (District Interior Division) for the Kirov District of Makhachkala. According to him, he learned the above fact from policemen at a ROVD checkpoint. However, the advocate himself was not able to see his client, since the policemen did not allow him to visit Akhmed Akhmedov.

Four out of five relatives of Abbas Kuzhulov, sentenced for involvement in the armed underground and killed in Chechnya on September 21, are released after kidnapping. However, the whereabouts of an Abbas Kuzhulov's son still remain unknown. This was reported in the rights defenders' collective statement released in a social network.

Mass evacuations in seven southern cities after reports about mined buildings; rally in Baku with a demand to investigate reports about bribery by ruling elite of European lobbyists; refusal to pardon the former Makhachkala Mayor Said Amirov, – see the review of these and other events in the Caucasus during the week of September 18-24, 2017, prepared by the "Caucasian Knot".

During the week of September 18-24, 2017, seven persons fell victim to the armed conflict in Northern Caucasus. Of them, two were killed and five others were wounded. These are the results of the calculations run by the "Caucasian Knot" based on its own materials and information from other open sources.

43-year-old Akhmed Akhmedov, well-known in Dagestan as a specialist in Islamic medicine as "Doctor Akhmad", stopped contacting his relatives and friends in the afternoon on September 24.

On September 23, the tourist complex "Medovye Vodopady" (Honey Falls) held the 6th International Festival of Karachay and Balkar Culture "Ayran Feast on Honey Falls".

Today, a video has been posted on the Internet, in which Chechen singer Zelimkhan Bakaev admits he stays in Germany and invites his friend from Holland to come to his place.

An administrative arrest of Akhsan Nuruzade, a religious activist and a member of the "Muslim Unity"movement, will be challenged. This was reported by his advocate Yalchin Imanov. According to him, after the detention, Akhsan Nuruzade was subjected to pressure.

On September 23, the action under the slogan: "Stop Corruption, Freedom for Political Prisoners!" was held at the stadium in the Yasamal District of Baku. According to the preliminary estimates, the action gathered about 3000 people. The rally was provoked by the information stating that the Azerbaijani ruling elite bribed lobbyists in Europe.

Anastasia Titova, the leader for the Kuban branch of the "Party of Progress", has claimed she was detained for half an hour by border guards at the Sheremetyevo Airport in Moscow before leaving for Warsaw.

On September 22, investigative journalist Khadija Ismayilova appealed to the Binagadi District Court of Baku with a request to grant her the opportunity to temporarily leave Azerbaijan for participation in an international event to be held in Riga.

On September 23, residents and guests of Stepanakert celebrated the City Day. The festive events held in the capital of Nagorno-Karabakh included sports competitions, exhibitions and concerts of folk ensembles.

On the tenth day, five hunger-strikers, shareholder of the Housing Cooperative (HC) “Territory of Happiness” continue their protest action in Krasnodar and complain that so far the authorities have been ignoring them and their demands.

The oppositional rally has accused Azerbaijani authorities of corruption and demanded to investigate the leakage of about three billion laundered US dollars from the country.

On September 17-23, the Azerbaijani Armed Forces were actively shelling Karabakh positions from various-calibre weapons, having made over 4000 shots, the Nagorno-Karabakh Ministry of Defence (MoD) reports.

The mine explosion in the Vedeno District occurred during the investigating experiment, the Chechen Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) ha stated. According to the head of a local NGO, the explosion killed Abbas Kuzhulov was killed, who could be forced to show the hideout in the forest by kidnapping his relatives.

The four participants of the preparation for the rally of the National Council of Democratic Forces (NCDF), who disappeared on September 22, were detained, the NCDF believes.