News

On June 13, partners of Azerbaijani human rights center “Art for Democracy”, international organizations for freedom of expression "Article 19" and "Index on Censorship" organized “Harlem Shake” action in front of the Embassy of Azerbaijan in Great Britain in London.

Oleg Rubezhansky, Director and owner of “Mestnaya” (“Local”) newspaper in Sochi, reported search in the newspaper’s office, impounding computers used for makeup of the paper and a written undertaking not to leave the place taken from him in connection with investigation on a case of copyright abuse. He associates these events with his criticism of the authorities in the newspaper.

On June, 13, during a preparatory trial on the case of Dashgyn Melikov, youth activist of the Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan (PFPA), the judge rejected the motions of the defense for both termination of prosecution and putting the activist under house arrest. The defense is going to appeal to ECtHR against unlawful arrest already at this stage, lawyer Asabali Mustafaev declared.

On June 13, the United Nations General Assembly adopted another resolution on Abkhazia and South Ossetia, the draft of which was brought in by Georgia; Russia called not to support it.

As reported on June 13 by Nino Giorgobiani, the head of the press service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) of Georgia, the terror act that had been planned in Tbilisi was prevented; and its organizers Mikhail Kadiev and Rizvan Omarov were detained.

On June 13, the house of the Porfiriev family in Astrakhan was approached by an excavator, and, despite the protests of policemen, began demolishing the house, inside which there were people, the eyewitnesses of the incident told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

On June 12, Rostov-on-Don held a picket – within the Russian nationwide campaign – in support of the activists accused of the riots in Bolotnaya Square in Moscow. The participants of the rally stated the presence of political prisoners in Russia.

A resident of Makhachkala Sakinat Saidova said that she was forcibly taken away by power agents to the Kirov ROVD, where a DNA blood assay was taken from her; and now she fears for her life.

The celebrations of the Day of Russia in Grozny were attended by about 115,000 people; they passed without incidents, said the city officials. However, the participants themselves believe that the official figures are "highly overstated." Locals claim that the festivities were attended by people who checked the attendance of local residents.

On June 12, activists of the Krasnodar territorial branch of the youth wing of the "Yabloko" Party held an action – during celebrations of the Day of Russia – named "Putin's Russia", during which they expressed protest against the political repressions in the country.

On June 11, the National Museum of North Ossetia opened an exhibition of the Chechen painter Rustam Sardalov that is a reflection on the topics of Chechen war and human rights violations. The museum has exposed about 50 works of the painter.

The one-sided coverage of the issue of Karabakh settlement by reporters from Azerbaijan and Armenia is caused by the pressure of the authorities on the media, the journalist Kyamal Ali said at public hearing on the topic "Journalists in Karabakh Conflict: Peacemakers or Arsonists?"

As reported by a source from law enforcement bodies, the power of the explosive device, triggered in the capital of Dagestan at the entrance to the computer store "AS", was 200 grams of TNT (trotyl) equivalent; the reason of the act could be in an economic dispute.

The advocate and relatives of Zaur Gurbanly, an activist of the civil movement "Nida" (Shout), who was arrested on charges of illegal possession of explosives and drugs, express concern for the health of the young man. The authorities should release the sick person, civil society activists insist.

The mother of Sabina Sheikhmuradova, a resident of Makhachkala, who was detained on June 11 on suspicion of manufacturing an improvised explosion device (IED), has stated that the "suicide belt" had been planted into her house during the search.

The State Oil Company of Azerbaijan (SOCAR) can consider the issue of gas supplies to Armenia, should Yerevan revise its policy on the Karabakh conflict, a SOCAR's statement says.

On June 12, investigators finalized the renewed criminal inquiry into the case of journalist Nikolai Yarst, who had been charged with illegal possession and transportation of drugs, the journalist's advocate Alexander Popkov told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent. "On June 13, Mr Yarst and his defence will start studying the materials of the criminal case," said the advocate.

Magomedrasul Shakhbanov, a resident of Makhachkala, after a search was detained and taken to an unknown place by law enforcers, said his mother Zumrud Mirzaeva. The on duty unit of the MIA said they knew nothing about Shakhbanov's whereabouts.

As reported by the press service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) of Azerbaijan, two policemen were fired for pressing journalists, when the latter covered in Baku the solidarity actions with the ongoing demonstrations in Turkey.

Leaders of Chechnya have acknowledged the fact of participation of republic's natives in the war in Syria. According to the source of the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent from the Council for Chechnya's Economic and Social Security, so far, 29 natives of the republic have taken part in the war in Syria; seven of them were killed.