News

Ingush MPs have developed a draft law reinforcing the state control over religious groups. The leader of Ingushetia Yunus-Bek Evkurov has criticized the explanatory note to the project, according to which 13 Ingush mosques are used by recruiters of international terrorist organizations.

On July 19, the Carnegie Moscow Centre hosted the presentation of the report on the topic "2016 elections: routine or change?" Despite the signals on intention to conduct the upcoming election campaign openly, people should not expect serious competition and dramatic changes. This was told to the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent by the co-author of the report Andrei Kolesnikov.

In Yerevan, about 1500 people gathered in Khorenatsi Street for a rally to support members of the group "Sasna Tsrer" (Daredevils of Sassoun), who seized the building of the patrol-and-security service of the police regiment.

The investigating authorities have charged Karo Egnukyan, a member of the "Constituent Parliament", who was suspected of having connections with the rebels, who seized the building of the patrol-and-security service of the police regiment in Yerevan.

In Abkhazia, the opposition forces bloc plans to hold the people's assembly in autumn. Within the preparation for the people's assembly, the opposition organizes meetings with residents of the republic. On July 20, the notification of the decision to hold the people's assembly, made at the extended meeting of the opposition "Amtsakhara" Party, was published on the website of the agency "Abkhaz-Inform".

Today, law enforcers have detained and brought to the police station about 20 believers, coming out after the Friday prayer of the Salafi mosque, located in Hungarian Fighters Street.

Zhirair Sefilyan, the leader of the movement "100 years without regime", arrested on suspicion of organizing illegal transportation and storage of weapons, has offered his mediation in the negotiations with members of the group "Sasna Tsrer" (Daredevils of Sassoun), who seized the building of the patrol-and-security service of the police regiment in Yerevan.

Today, President Serzh Sargsyan has urged the supporters of the opposition, who seized the building of the patrol-and-security service of the police regiment in Yerevan, to comply with laws. The Armenian President has invited them to lay down their arms and free the hostages.

The decision of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) on the non-admission of the Russian track and field athletics team to the Olympic Games is unfair. This was declared by Volgograd athletes Yelena Isinbayeva and Ilya Shkurenyov. The coach of Maria Kuchina from Kabardino-Balkaria believes the decision of the CAS harms the world track and field athletics.

Last night, at the contact line of the troops, the Azerbaijani military forces have 19 times violated the ceasefire. This has been reported today by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) of Nagorno-Karabakh.

Eight members of the Circassian Diaspora in Turkey were killed in clashes between pro-government forces and military coup organizers when units of the Turkish army made an attempt to capture the power in the country.

As of July 21, Aram Ovannisyan and Gagik Mkrtchyan, two policemen, wounded during the seizure of the police regiment building in Yerevan, still stay at the hospital. This was told to the "Caucasian Knot" at the Armenian Ministry of Health.

Pargev Martirosyan, Archbishop of the Artsakh Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church, has called on for a peaceful resolution of the situation with the seizure of the police regiment building in Yerevan. On July 21, the negotiations with the rebels were held by Vitaly Balasanyan, a deputy of the National Assembly of Nagorno-Karabakh, the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent reports.

Members of the Azerbaijani opposition spoke against the amendments to the Constitution proposed by President Ilham Aliev. The opposition believes that the proposed changes will entail the establishment of authoritarianism in Azerbaijan. Members of the ruling party reject the criticism voiced by the opposition.

In Dagestan, the refusal of the "People Against Corruption" (PAC) Party to take part in the parliamentary elections can split the protest electorate in the country. This opinion was voiced by Dagestani journalists.

Today, at the action, David Sanasaryan, a member of the Yerevan Council of Elders from the "Hello, Yerevan!", has stated that for the third day, members of the "Constituent Parliament" and the police officers held hostage stay without food.

The call of the Press Council of Azerbaijan to the media not to publicize actions against the Turkish statehood can be regarded as interference in the freedom of the media. This opinion was voiced by journalists and experts, interviewed by the "Caucasian Knot".

In the case of the riots that took place in the capital of Armenia, 28 people were detained. Of them, 16 were arrested. This was reported by the spokesman for the Investigating Committee of Armenia.

Members of the "People Against Corruption" Party have explained their decision not to take part in the elections for the People's Assembly of Dagestan by the administrative pressure from the authorities.

The forensic examination has found out that Bairam Mamedov and Giyas Ibragimov do not use drugs. This was reported by their advocate Elchin Sadygov. The defender has also claimed that the activists' rights are still being violated in SIZO (pre-trial prison).