News

In November, the number of natives of Chechnya, who have succeeded in getting Europe from Brest through Terespol, does not exceed ten persons per day, while the number was twice as large in the mid-October. This was calculated by human rights defenders.

The verdict of seven years in colony, passed to Oksana Sevastidi, a resident of Sochi, for sending an SMS message saying that she was an eyewitness of transporting military equipment to Abkhazia, has become in Kuban (the Krasnodar Territory) at least tenth conviction for treason and espionage, said the "Team 29", an association of lawyers and journalists.

Nikolai Karpyuk, a citizen of Ukraine, accused of involvement in the war in Chechnya on the side of the militants, has been transported to the penal colony No. 2 in the Vladimir Region. This was reported by his advocate Ilya Novikov.

According to the administration of the Krasnodar Territory, wage arrears to 151 workers of the "Sedin" machine-tool plant amounting to 16 million roubles have been paid in full.

If the tourist tax is introduced, the flow of tourists will decrease, said the owners of hotels in the Krasnodar Territory interviewed by the "Caucasian Knot". Tourists say they are not ready to pay even 50 roubles a day, as it seriously raises the price of leisure.

Today, the court has granted the defence's motion to question Ruslan Geremeev, a figurant in Boris Nemtsov's murder case, and his brother Arthur Geremeev.

In the Grozny District of Chechnya, court marshals carry out raids on forced collection of payments for municipal services, and in case of large debts, they levy distress on debtor's property. This was reported by local residents.

The Russian "Transneft" State Company has tightened the requirements for the quality of the oil delivered from Kazakhstan via Makhachkala, which actually makes the transit of oil through the port of Makhachkala impossible, said the spokesman of the Joint-Stock Company (JSC) "Dagnefteprodukt".

A grant of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) is to be spent to implement the project "Resort for Vultures" at the "Dagestani" Natural Reserve.

The international organization "Reporters Without Borders" (RWB) has demanded from the authorities of Azerbaijan to stop restricting the freedom of the media. The statement has been posted on its official website.

At the trial in the case against Mardiros Demerchyan, a builder of Olympic facilities, public prosecutor has submitted to the court a complaint of victim Nikolai Krasko, director of a construction company, in which he asked to consider the case without him.

In its response to the request of the court, the administration of the "Lefortovo" SIZO (pre-trial prison) has reported that advocates of Varvara Karaulova, a former student of the Moscow State University (MSU), were allowed to visit their client at the SIZO "in accordance with the law."

The lawyer Elena Denisenko, detained at the Gerzel checkpoint in Dagestan, could continue her trip to Krasnodar after power agents returned her passport and ID certificate. The passengers of the bus, by which Ms Denisenko was travelling, had to wait until the check was over.

In Chechnya, school children of the school in the village of Nokhchi-Keloi of the Shatoi District need warm clothing and textbooks. Besides, the school itself also needs a minivan to pick up children from distant villages. This was reported by the non-profit organization (NPO) "Women for Development".

Chechen Imams were advised not to participate in funerals of perished perpetrators of road accidents, who were in the state of intoxication, and not to engage in such cases in reconciliation of blood feudists. This recommendation of the Muftiate (the Spiritual Administration of Muslims – SAM) may cause an increase in the number of cases of blood feud, residents of the republic fear.

In the criminal case against Valery Permyakov, sentenced for killing a family in Gyumri, the Court of Appeal has decided to postpone the hearing to listen to Arthur Sakunts, a representative of the successors of the deceased Avetisyan family members, who did not come to the trial.

In Makhachkala, two militants Gadji Mirzaev and Shamil Djakhbarov were killed together with Rustam Asilderov. This was reported by a source from the law enforcement authorities. According to the source, Akhmed Amaev and Anvar Labazanov, who were killed there, were accomplices of the militants.

In Armenia, out of 104 MPs, 70 voted against a draft law on lustration of former Soviet KGB agents.

In 2017, the federal donations to Chechnya will remain practically at the current year's level; it follows from the government's amendments to the second reading of the budget. These amendments were approved on December 2 by the State Duma profile committee.

The authorities of the South-Caucasian countries actively use administrative resources for preservation of the leading positions. This was stated by participants in the civil hearings, representing the NGOs and political organizations of Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Georgia.