News

An action demanding to release four activists of the oppositional Armenian National Congress (ANC), convicted for hooliganism and disobeying the police, was held today in Yerevan.

Today, Vladimir (Lado) Papava was elected to the post of the Rector of the Tbilisi State University (TSU) named after Djavakhishvili. The voting took place against the students' protest demanding to provide freedom to the university.

The law enforcement authorities of Dagestan are not engaged in the search of Sakhrab Abakargadjiev, a resident of Makhachkala, who was kidnapped by masked men on May 20, his relatives assert. The spokesman of the local Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) claims that the search of Sakhrab is underway.

On August 2, Sabina Abakarova, suspected of illegal possession of arms, was beaten at the SIZO (pre-trial prison) No. 1 of Makhachkala. The Department of the Federal Penitentiary Service (known as FSIN) denies the fact of beating and reports that a verbal altercation occurred between Sabina Abakarova and a SIZO staff member.

On August 15, Grozny hosted a picket, participants of which demanded to solve promptly the murder of three natives of the republics of Northern Caucasus that was committed on August 9 in Moscow and also to stop the "anti-Caucasus hysteria" in the Russian media.

The Baku Court of Appeal (CoA) has upheld the verdict of the District Court to sentence Khadidja Ismailova, a journalist of the Azerbaijani Branch of the "Radio Liberty", to administrative penalty in the form of 220 hours of community service. Anar Gasymov, the journalist's advocate, called the Court's decision unlawful and stated that the relevant complaint will be filed to the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR).

The materials of the case against human rights activists of the Gelendzhik Human Rights Centre (HRC) contain a lot of doubtful points, and the sentence is unreasonably tough. This was stated by Vadim Karastelev, an expert of the Moscow Helsinki Group. The investigation into the case can face provocations.

In Yerevan, relatives of soldier Akop Indjigulyan, who was captured in Azerbaijan on August 8, met Dragana Rankovic, Emissary of the Armenian Office of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). The Emissary has assured them that the Red Cross takes steps to arrange a meeting with Akop Indjigulyan. However, by the evening of August 15, the meeting did not take place.

The destruction of a part of the archive of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) of Georgia, containing video and audio records accumulated as a result of illegal secret surveillance and tapping of citizens' private life has been delayed again but will happen soon.

The Prosecutor's Office has offered to open a separate proceeding in relation to Djabrail Makhmudov, accused of complicity in the murder of journalist Anna Politkovskaya, and continue the trial. Djabrail was wounded in the evening on August 14. His advocate Murad Musaev is against it, saying that his client will recover quickly and be able to participate in the sessions.

As announced by the Investigating Committee of the Russian Federation (ICRF) the period of investigation into the murder of Natalia Estemirova, an employee of the Grozny office of the Human Rights Centre (HRC) "Memorial", has been extended until October 14, 2013.

The Krasnodar Territorial Court has upheld the August 8 ruling of the Oktiabrsky District Court of Krasnodar, to extend the detention of Mikhail Savva, the director of grant programmes of the Southern Regional Resource Centre (SRRC), the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent reports.

At the Baku Court of Grave Crimes, at the trial of the editor-in-chief of the newspaper "Tolyshi Sado" (Voice of the Talysh), investigator Djeikhun Kerimov from the Nizami District Police of Baku, said that he had the right to appoint a search of the defendant's rented apartment.

As announced by Kheda Saratova, a member of the Board of the United Caucasian Forum, relatives of the three young men, natives of Chechnya and an Azerbaijani from Dagestan, found dead in Moscow on August 9, will hold solo pickets in Grozny.

The State Oil Company of Azerbaijan (SOCAR) is satisfied with the cooperation agreements signed on August 12 with the Russian "Rosneft". Independent experts agree that it is a good foundation for a long-term partnership, but so far – just a declaration of intent.

Armen Ashotyan, Minister of Education and Sciences invited protesting students to discuss the increased tuition fees at universities. However, protesters refused to talk in the ministry, demanding a public discussion of the problem, the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent reports.

The first open court session on the criminal case of the Rostov journalist and publisher Alexander Tolmachov, who is accused of extortion, is scheduled for August 21 at the Lenin District Court of Rostov-on-Don. The session will be chaired by a judge from the Kuschevskiy District Court of the Krasnodar Territory.

On August 13, the repeated medical examination of the health condition of Said Amirov, dismissed Mayor of Makhachkala, was held in Moscow. The advocate has told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent that the re-examination revealed signs of deterioration in the health state of Amirov.

Today, the Nasimi District Court of Baku has extended for two months, till November 4, the period of detention of Ilgar Mamedov, the leader of the civil movement "Republican Alternative" (ReAl), accused of organizing mass riots.

Today, the court that considers the murder of Anna Politkovskaya has adjourned interrogation of four prosecution witnesses because of unauthorized departure of an advocate. The hearing on the case will continue on August 15.