News

The Baku Court of Grave Crimes has sentenced Sadiq Mamedzade and Bakhtiyar Shakhbazi to 14 years in prison each; and Bakhruz Shakhbazi – to 12 years in prison, finding them guilty of taking part in the warfare in Syria.

The prosecution of Khadija Ismayilova shows signs of violation of her right to freedom of expression. This was declared by the journalist's lawyers during the final speech. In the course of the court session, the advocates discussed in details the charges against the journalist and claimed their inconsistency.

Shamsudin Tsakaev, an advocate of Zaur Dadaev, who is accused of the murder of the oppositional politician Boris Nemtsov, has stated that the decision of the Basmanny Court of Moscow to extend the arrest of his client was unjustified.

Ingushetia has initiated criminal investigation against two citizens of the republic, suspected of illegal sale of firearms.

In Azerbaijan, at the trial in the case against Khadija Ismayilova, the defence has delivered the final speech. The advocates asked the court to acquit the journalist of all charges.

Kerch is still under emergency regime because of the large accumulation of vehicles in the port. The operational headquarters is engaged in regulation of traffic. According to tourists, people in the cars have to wait during 9-10 hours for loading onto ferries towards Taman.

The materials of the service check of the incident involving the policeman, who slapped elderly demonstrator Akop Nazaryan, were received by the General Prosecutor's Office of Armenia. Till present, the police officers and the General Prosecutor's Office have not yet mentioned the terms within which the investigation is to be completed.

The chances for transfer of Oleg Sentsov and Alexander Kolchenko to Ukraine for serving their sentences there are estimated as "50:50". This was stated by advocate Dmitry Dinze after the announcement of the verdict of guilty. After the pronouncement of the verdict, Oleg Sentsov and Alexander Kolchenko sang the national anthem of Ukraine.

The policeman wounded in an armed clash in the village of Novy Khushet feels well. The question of compensation for his wound "is being addressed in due course," the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) report.

This morning and afternoon, power agents did not carry out any active operations in the village of Novy Khushet, local residents report. However, the people "have a feeling of tension and fear," notes Sharapudin Magomedov, the chairman of the public council of the village.

In Rostov-on-Don, the North-Caucasian District Military Court sentenced Akhmat Ulbashev and Zafir Miziev, residents of the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic (KBR), to 14 and seven years of imprisonment on charges of terrorist activities.

In Kabardino-Balkaria, law enforcers initiated criminal proceedings against a local resident suspected of supplying of members of the armed underground with housing, food, and vehicles.

The defence of Zaur Dadaev, whom investigators believe to be the killer of Boris Nemtsov, has called unfounded the arguments in support of the extension of his arrest. The court agreed with the investigators and extended the arrest for other three months.

Despite the fact that Khizri Shikhsaidov, the Speaker of the People's Assembly, has returned to his duties, the rumours of his impending resignation cannot be considered completely dispelled. Khizri Shikhsaidov is involved in the clan fight in Dagestan, and his resignation will be a blow to the politicians close to him. This opinion was expressed by experts interviewed by the "Caucasian Knot".

The court has found Ukrainian film director Oleg Sentsov and ecologist Alexander Kolchenko guilty of terrorism. Alexander Kolchenko has been sentenced to 10 years, and Oleg Sentsov to 20 years of imprisonment in a high-security penal colony.

Today, the Basmanny Court of Moscow has granted the investigators' motion to extend the arrest of the figurant in the case of the Boris Nemtsov's murder for other three months.

Journalist Rauf Mirkadyrov kept in SIZO (pre-trial prison) has been transferred to a medical treatment facility of the Azerbaijani Ministry of Justice (MoJ) for comprehensive medical examination because of deterioration of his health state. This was reported by his advocate.

In December 2014, Islam Muradov, the leader of the militant grouping in Khasavyurt, swore allegiance to the leader of the "Islamic State", recognized as a terrorist organization. In April 2014, power agents reported on the killing of Islam Muradov; however, then he managed to escape.

The public movement "Arise, Armenia!" has offered the police to organize an open discussion concerning means to prevent conflicts between activists and power agents. The members of the movement are counting on signing an agreement on non-use of force against demonstrators.

During the past day, the Armenian side shelled the Azerbaijani positions on the contact line 146 times, with the use of mortars and heavy machineguns, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) of Azerbaijan reports.