News

Voting in the second round of the parliamentary elections in Georgia; Russian SC's decision in the case against Ukrainian citizens Nikolai Karpyuk and Stanislav Klykh on their involvement in the war in Chechnya; mass poisoning of Makhachkala residents with drinking water; amendments to the Azerbaijan legislation toughening responsibility for religious extremism and empowering law enforcers during special operations; murder of a judge in Karachay-Cherkessia; withdrawal of the banking licence of the "Kuban Universal Bank" from Krasnodar, – see the review of these and other events in the Caucasus during the week of October 24-30, 2016, prepared by the "Caucasian Knot".

According to the preliminary information of the Central Election Commission (CEC) of Georgia, the ruling "Georgian Dream" Party won in 48 single-seat electoral districts at the second round of parliamentary elections.

In the evening of October 30, activist Boris Volokh held a picket in front of the former NKVD building in the historic centre of the Kuban capital. He has called on to remember the people who died for their beliefs, the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent reports.

According to the opposition "United National Movement" (UNM) Party, the second round of voting at the parliamentary elections was held in atmosphere of intimidation and with use of various mechanisms of falsification.

Today, in Nalchik, in the Central City Park near the monument to victims of political repressions, activists have held annual rally, dedicated to the Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Political Repressions, the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent reports.

Today, in Volgograd, a mourning rally has taken place near the monument to the victims of political repressions. According to the organizers, the memorial event was attended by 52 residents of Volgograd.

For one day, more than 10,000 signatures were collected under the petition with the demand to punish the persons responsible for mass poisoning by drinking water in Makhachkala, to ensure cleanliness of streets and uninterrupted supply of residents of Dagestan with water, gas, and electricity.

For the first time since more than two-month detention in custody, Fuad Akhmedli, the leader of the Khatai branch of the Youth Committee of the opposition Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan (PFPA), is allowed to be visited by his family members at the Baku SIZO-1 (pre-trial prison). The defence claims unfounded detention of the young man in custody and inconsistency of the charges filed against him.

On October 28, the Azerbaijani Court of Appeal (CoA) rejected the complaint against the extension of the arrest of the journalist Fikret Faramazoglu. His defence now intends to apply to the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR).

On October 28, the consideration of the transfer of Igor Stenin, the leader of the nationalist movement "Russians of Astrakhan", to the general-security colony was disrupted, because that one day before the trial, Stenin was convoyed to the Tambov Region.

In Krasnodar, about a dozen Orthodox activists will take part in raids to night clubs and bars holding Halloween parties. This was announced by Roman Plyuta, the leader of the "Orthodox Union".

During the raids, launched on September 28, Chechen policemen detained 10,104 drivers, who violated the traffic rules. This was learned by the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent from the law enforcement bodies of the Chechen Republic.

A mudflow has flooded 35 houses in the village of Alar, Jalilabad District of Azerbaijan. Locals believe that the flood was caused by destruction of a dam in the neighbouring village, and blame local authorities for inaction.

Witnesses in the "Nardaran case", who retracted false testimonies, "knocked out" of them during the preliminary investigation, were subjected to torture by policemen. This was reported by advocate Yalchin Imanov.

In Kabardino-Balkaria, activists of the NGO "Ochag" (Hearth) have launched a charity event to sell the catalogue "Items of Adyg culture in the collection of the Russian Museum of Ethnography." The raised funds are to be directed for creation of the Centre for adaptation of repatriates, the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent reports.

On October 28, the National Assembly of Azerbaijan entitled law enforcers with additional powers in the area of special operations against religious extremists. The amendments have already caused criticism of civil society activists.

Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov has supported Alexander Zaldostanov, also known as "The Surgeon", the leader of the Russian "Night Wolves" bikers' club, who refused to apologize for his remarks voiced towards Konstantin Raikin, the director of the "Satiricon" Theatre. Meanwhile, Dmitry Peskov, Spokesman for the Russian President, has called on the biker to apologize to Konstantin Raikin.

In Buynaksk, the hunger strike has been stopped in connection with the launch of the investigation into the violations committed at the elections in Buynaksk. This was reported by one of the organizers of the protest action.

Today, Abubakar Udziev, called by law enforcers the leader of the militants from the Dagestan village of Gubden and announced killed on October 12, has been mentioned among the persons wanted by the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) for Kabardino-Balkaria. The MIA has promised to pay a reward for the information that would help detain him.

Today, in Gukovo, in front of the office of the bankrupt "Kingcoal" company, activists have held another action of a series of planned pickets, at which about 100 former workers of the company demanded to pay them 300 million roubles of wage arrears and give them 7000 tonnes of coal allowance for 2014-2016, the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent reports.