News

In Armenia, the special investigating service is preparing the materials on the basis of complaints filed by six supporters of the "New Armenia", including arrested Gevorg Safaryan. According to the complaints, during the New Year's incident in Freedom Square, policemen went beyond their official authority and used force.

On January 8, the court arrested Gadjimurad Gazichilov, a resident of Makhachkala, whose disappearance was earlier reported by his relatives. He is suspected of illegal possession of firearms and is kept at the SIZO (pre-trial prison), said a police source from the city of Buynaksk.

The motor traffic on the section Tlyarata-Makhachkala in Dagestan is completely reopened; however, the risk of avalanches in the mountains is still present, the Ministry for Emergencies (MfE) reports.

Inglab Kerimov, a citizen of Azerbaijan, living in France, is spreading on the Internet calls for terrorist activities within the "Islamic State" (IS), said the Azerbaijani General Prosecutor's Office (GPO). Kerimov is a cousin of the chairman of the oppositional Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan (PFPA) Ali Kerimli.

Rescuers have completed the evacuation of 90 fishermen from a separated ice floe in the Yeisk Estuary. According to the Ministry for Emergencies (MfE), nobody suffered.

The decision of the Central Bank of Azerbaijan (CBA) to set a corridor of currency exchange rates at 4% has led to a mass suspension of currency exchange offices and commercial banks. People stand in lines at those, which continue working, the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent reports.

During the Christmas holidays, activists of the NGO "Mercy to Those Facing Trial" held meetings with detainees in two temporary detention facilities (known as IVS) in Sochi. Activists congratulated the detainees and presented gifts to them.

The investigating bodies of Armenia have accused Arthur Babayan, 31, of shooting in "Musaler" restaurant, murder, attempted murder, hooliganism and illegal arms circulation.

A monetary reward for information about the perpetrators of the murder of Khadis Bottaev, Chief Physician of the Republic's Clinical Hospital, was announced by relatives of the casualty, says the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) of Kabardino-Balkaria.

The exhibition "Images of Old and New Sochi" has made its debut at the city local history museum. It presents photos depicting the city of different historical times. The "Caucasian Knot" correspondent reports that during the first two days the exhibition was visited by about a thousand people.

A snow avalanche has forced to close the Tlyarata-Makhachkala Highway, leaving 55 dwelling settlements without automobile communication.

Tigran Airapetyan, an advocate of "New Armenia" activists, finds it necessary to conduct a medical examination of injuries, received by protesters on the New Year's Night.

Victims will not have to pay the state duty for restoration of lost documents at the Civil Registry Office and Federal Migration Service, officials have stated at a meeting with tenants of the destroyed multi-storey apartment block. The victims themselves were not satisfied with officials' explanation on the issue of compensations.

The absurdity of charges of treason against Natig (Natiq) Kerimov, one of the elders of the settlement of Nardaran, was stated by opposition leaders and rights defenders of Azerbaijan.

Attacks on activists of the Front of National Salvation "New Armenia" show the authorities' inability to protect citizens' lives and health, says the today's statement released by the Front. "New Armenia" urged the authorities not to prevent citizens' self-defence, even with the use of weapons.

Two staff members of the Chechen Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) were dismissed after residents of Chechnya had disseminated in social networks a video which depicted the policemen while drinking beverages in a passenger car.

Khadjimurat Gatsalov has received a letter reporting on a preparation of his assassination. Today, he has informed the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent that he has got demands to give up his post of the Mufti of North Ossetia and threats to chase him in case if he attempts to escape.

Ali Navruzov, a 63-year-old resident of the town of Neftchala, has committed a self-immolation attempt because of his debts. According to his colleagues, Ali Navruzov claimed that he was not able to pay his bank loans. The incident occurred in front of the school where the man worked as a technician.

On January 7, believers of the Russian, Georgian, Jerusalem and Serbian Orthodox Churches celebrated the holiday of Christmas. In the southern regions of Russia, worship services were held under enhanced security measures.

In Azerbaijan, Djavad Djavadov, an advocate of Talekh Bagirzade, the detained leader of the movement "Muslim Unity", has informed the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent that on December 29, he was invited to visit the Chief Department for Combating Organized Crime of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA).