News

In Volgograd, activists who laid flowers at the monument to victims of political repression in memory of Alexei Navalny were intimidated by the police. At least three persons are known to have been detained.

On the anniversary of Alexei Navalny's death, his associates have honoured the politician's memory in Russian cities, as well as in the capitals of Armenia and Georgia.

Presidential election in Abkhazia, drone attacks, pollution in Anapa, persecution of pacifists and activists in Southern Russia, pressure on the opposition in Azerbaijan, and official data on the natives of Southern Russia who perished in Ukraine, – see the review of these and other events in the Caucasus during the week of February 10-16, 2025, prepared by the “Caucasian Knot”.

A court in Vladikavkaz has fined Arthur Desyatnikov, a local resident, by 30,000 roubles, treating his post placed in a social network as discrediting the Russian Army.

An action in front of the “Vivamed” Clinic, where Mziya Amaglobeli, the founder of the “Batumelebi” and “Netgazeti” outlets, is kept for treatment, was organized by the journalists, who treat their colleague’s arrest as an attempt to harass independent media.

The Abkhaz presidential election is illegal and will have no legal force, the Georgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) has stated.

At their march through the streets of Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia, residents of the republic have called for the release of all those detained during protests, including the journalist Mziya Amaglobeli.

A judge of the Batumi City Court has found the defence’s motion to change the pre-trial restriction measure for Mziya Amaglobeli, the founder of the “Batumelebi” and “Netgazeti” online publications, not acceptable. The defence has announced an intention to lodge an appeal against the court’s decision.

Alexei Kungurov, who left Russia because of criminal prosecution, has appealed to court in order to challenge the Georgian authorities’ refusal to grant him political asylum.

Advocates, who visit the detained supporters of Georgia’s European integration, refuse to represent their interests, but are persuading them to plead guilty. Human rights defenders have called this a new form of pressure on oppositionists used by authorities.

The practice of sending defendants and accused persons to the special military operation (SMO) zone in Ukraine creates a feeling of impunity and increases risks for the women who are subjected to domestic violence, human rights defenders are sure. In their opinion, the family of Kristina Kokova, who was killed in Chechnya, may face resistance if they demand someone’s punishment.

The European Parliament recognized Salome Zurabishvili as the President of Georgia and called on European countries to boycott the Georgian authorities. The resolution, which was supported by 400 MEPs, voiced the demand for new parliamentary elections in Georgia and sanctions against those involved in the falsifications.

The head of Dagestan has promised a participant in the special military operation (SMO) a fair inquiry into the circumstances of the death of his sister, who died after a caesarean section in Derbent.

The Director General and the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Public Broadcaster were included into the draft of the new sanctions list thanks to Tbilisi protesters, activists believe.

Ruslan Umaev, a resident of Bachi-Yurt, accused of murdering his daughter-in-law, has left for the special military operation (SMO) zone in Ukraine. He confessed to the murder and said that he did it because of the girl's immoral behaviour, human rights defenders have informed.

The acquittal of law enforcers who beat Krasnodar resident Yevgeny Manchenko has been cancelled, and the court’s decision has encouraged the victim’s family and human rights defenders. The man has not recovered six years after his leg injury.

The European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) in Strasbourg has found the pre-trial arrest of Talekh Bagirzade, the leader of the Muslim Unity Movement, and his supporters, Zulfugar Mikayilov and Elman Agaev to be unlawful.

The General Prosecutor Office of Georgia has launched an investigation against foreign organizations and organizations under foreign control, accusing them of sabotage and hostile activities. The case has been instituted based on a denunciation from a public movement associated with the “Georgian Dream” Party.

The “Turan” news agency has suspended its activities because of financial difficulties. The editorial staff intends to return to work in a different format.

In Tbilisi, protesters have demanded the release of all political prisoners, including Mziya Amaglobeli. The mothers of detained activists, Giorgi Terishvili and Andro Chichinadze, took part in the protest; they accused authorities of repressions.