News

During the week of June 2-8, 2014, at least 4 persons were killed and 12 persons were wounded in the armed conflict in Northern Caucasus. These are the results of calculations made by the "Caucasian Knot" based on its own materials and information from other open sources.

The United States will provide Georgia with additional financial help in the amount of 5 million US dollars to enhance security and to help people affected by the demarcation process on the border with South Ossetia.

Today, in Rostov-on-Don, activists of the Rostov Branch of the public organization "Suts Vremeni" (Essence of Time) have held a rally to support residents of the Donetsk and Lugansk Regions of Ukraine that face hostilities. The activists have organized a chain of pickets. This was reported by organizers of the action.

In Sochi, tenants of the "Uspensky's House" located in Teatralnaya Street treat as unlawful and impractical the order to demolish their house, which is the monument of history and architecture. The order to demolish the house was voiced by Sergey Pavlenko, the head of the administration of the Central District of Sochi. The tenants of the house demand to cancel the order instructing to demolish the house.

On June 7, Valery Bganba, Acting President of Abkhazia, met a delegation of MPs of the Turkish Republic, who arrived in Abkhazia. "The process of Turkey's recognition of the independence of our republic is difficult. However, nevertheless, it can be a possible start of a dialogue," Valery Bganba has stated.

The initiative to change the anthem of Dagestan, voiced by Dagestani leader Ramazan Abdulatipov, has provoked wide discussion in the social networks. Many musicians, public activists, and local residents are indignant about the fact that Ramazan Abdulatipov called the current version of the anthem a "funeral march".

In the period of June 1-7, the Azerbaijan's armed forces violated ceasefire 700 times. This was reported by the press service of the Ministry of Defence (MoD) of Nagorno-Karabakh.

In the city of Novocherkassk of the Rostov Region, the court has sanctioned the arrest of activist Sergey Loshkaryov. The activist has become well-known through posting on the "YouTube" the video records about the situation with cutting down trees in the grove "Krasnaya Vesna" (Red Spring).

The public prosecutor in the case against Dmitry Kufenko, the head of the NGO "Poisk" (Search), accused of fraud, asks the court to sentence the defendant to 2.5 years of imprisonment. The defence of Dmitry Kufenko insists the event of a crime has not been proven and asks to acquit the defendant.

The court of first instance of general jurisdiction of the administrative districts of Arabkir and Kanaker-Zeitun has upheld the pre-trial restriction measure in the form of arrest against Volodya Avetisyan, a veteran of the Karabakh War.

South Ossetia has finished the pre-election campaign for parliamentary elections. The day of June 7 has been declared a "day of silence" throughout the republic. Candidates for deputy in the parliament of the sixth convocation have stopped meeting with voters.

Valery Bganba, Acting President and Speaker of the Parliament of Abkhazia, has appointed Zurab Agumava to be the Acting General Prosecutor. This was reported by the information department under the President of Abkhazia.

During the court hearing, an official from the Pension Fund of the Russian Federation (PFRF) in the city of Karachaevsk has stated that the Fund did not hinder Madina Khadjimustafova, a resident of the village of Malokurganny, to get maternity capital and that she has the right to dispose of it.

In the city of Ganja (Gandzha), 22 Jehovah's Witnesses were detained. Of them, 4 were charged of violation of the order to conduct religious meetings. They can be fined 2000-2500 US dollars. This was told to the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent by a representative of the religious organization "Jehovah's Witnesses" in Azerbaijan.

In Azerbaijan, the court has completed the investigation into the case against Omar Mamedov, a member of the Civil Solidarity Party and a Facebook activist, accused of drug trafficking. The court has refused to attach to the case materials an email correspondence between the defendant and his parents.

On June 12, the Supreme Court (SC) of Azerbaijan plans to consider two cassation complaints lodged by Hilal Mamedov, the editor-in-chief of the newspaper "Tolyshi Sado" (Voice of Talysh), sentenced to five years in prison.

The gym of School No. 1, ten years ago captured by terrorists, has housed an action organized by the "Mothers of Beslan" committee in support of residents of South-Eastern Ukraine, suffering from hostilities. The audience sent an appeal to the UN Security Council asking to help in settling the conflict in Ukraine.

On Friday, the judicial division for criminal cases of the Rostov Regional Court has dismissed the motion filed by advocates and left Said Amirov, Makhachkala Mayor temporarily dismissed from office, in custody. Said Amirov is accused of plotting a criminal attempt.

On Friday, June 6, the Khosta District Court of Sochi, chaired by V. Sidorov, rejected the claim lodged by the head of the Sochi UVD (Interior Department) on protection of his honour, dignity and business reputation against the rights defender Roman Shikarev.

A resident of the village of Shaumyan of the Kizlyar District of Dagestan, who was detained on June 2 without any indictment, was beaten in custody. Besides, he was not allowed to be visited by his advocate for several days. This was reported by his defender Elena Denisenko.