News

Pre-election situation in Armenia: presidential candidates hold hunger strikes, refuse to take part in the election and try to delay it; non-sanctioned action of nationalists in Stavropol that ended with mass detentions; Putin's inspection of Olympic sites of Sochi that revealed breaks of deadlines of certain objects; resignation of Mayor of Maikop Mikhail Chernichenko, who moved to the post of advisor to the head of Adygea, – look these and other events in the Caucasus in the review of the week of February 4-10, 2013, prepared by the "Caucasian Knot".

The travel of "Rospotrebnadzor" experts to Georgia to inspect the enterprises, which are ready to supply their products to Russia, has been postponed by at least a week.

The Investigating Committee of the Russian Federation (ICRF) has reported today that Yakub Khashagulgov, who was detained in Ingushetia, is suspected of aiding the members of the criminal grouping responsible for the attack in the central marketplace of Vladikavkaz.

Today, Tbilisi hosted a protest demanding not to soften the law "On Occupied Territories", which treats South Ossetia and Abkhazia as such.

On February 8, in Tbilisi, Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili made an appeal from his residence, claiming MPs being pressured to adopt constitutional amendment.

At night on February 8, in the village of Dideba near Tbilisi, unidentified persons painted the monument to Stalin in pink. In Georgia, since the beginning of the year, this is the third similar incident with regard of monuments to Stalin.

Deliveries of wine and mineral water from Georgia to Russia are disrupted because of the Georgian side's failure to fulfil the agreements on provision of documents.

On February 7, the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) adopted to the consideration the complaint filed by Ali Kerimli, the leader of the Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan (PFPA), about the failure of the authorities of the country to issue a passport to him. Because of its lack, Ali Kerimli cannot leave the country for about 7 years.

Tonight, Georgian law enforcement agents detained Guram Donadze, the former head of the press service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA). He is accused of abuse of power to conceal facts during the investigation into the murder of Dota Robakidze in 2004.

On February 8, Yerevan hosted a march under the slogan "Down with regime and fabricated election!", at the end of which the marchers collected signatures demanding to expel international observers from the country.

In Stavropol, during and after the rally of nationalists, 54 persons were detained by policemen.

During searches in Ingushetia, Yakub Khashagulgov was detained. A relative of the detainee appealed for help to the authorities and human rights defenders.

The National Security Service (NSS) of Armenia has mentioned names of the persons detained in the case of the attempt on Paruir Airikyan, a presidential candidate, Chairman of the association "National Self-Determination".

Aram Airutyunyan, an Armenian presidential candidate, the leader of the "National Accord" Party, has presented to the Central Election Commission (CEC) an application for self-disqualification. This was reported by the press service of the CEC.

Representatives of the Russian government and the administration of Sochi believe that violations of the rights of migrant workers that were reported by the human rights organization "Human Rights Watch" (HRW) do not take place at the construction sites of Olympic facilities.

Participants of the protest action of former political prisoners and their supporters, who demanded the resignation of Mikhail Saakashvili, did not allow the MPs from the President's entourage to enter the building of the National Library, where the Georgian leader was to deliver the report.

In Makhachkala, participants of the rally claimed arbitrariness of the law enforcement bodies. They adopted a resolution with indication of their claims and intend to send it to the local and federal authorities.

Alibek Mirzekhanov, a resident of the city of Derbent, claimed that he was kidnapped, tortured and beaten by law enforcement agents. The young man has recorded a video message and addressed it to the Mayor of Derbent, Chief of the GUVD (City Interior Division), the new leader of Dagestan, and the Russian President.

The Baku Court of Appeal dismissed the appeals against the arrests of Ilgar Mamedov, the leader of the civil movement "Republic Alternative", and Tofiq Yagublu, Deputy Chairman of the "Musavat" Party, accused of organizing riots in the city of Ismailly.

Verdict to three residents of Rostov-on-Don, accused of the attempted terror act in 2010, is unreasonable and unfair. This was stated by relatives and advocates of the convicted persons. They intend to appeal against the court's decision.