News

The Georgian aviation authorities and UN officials will conduct a joint inquiry into the catastrophe, which happened with the UN aircraft belonging to the "Airzena-Georgian Airways" airline in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The reduction of the population of Ingushetia in-between the censuses of 2002 and 2010 happened due to the fact that the Chechen refugees, who stayed in Ingushetia in 2002, later returned to their former residences. The "Caucasian Knot" correspondent was informed about it by Ibragim Kurkiev, head of the territorial body of the Federal State Statistics Service ("Rosstat") for the Republic of Ingushetia.

The "Caucasian Knot" was reported at the administration of the Batumi port that the radioactive substance caesium-137 detected in the port has been already withdrawn and transported to a secure storage.

Alexei Baranovskiy, a friend of the defendants in the murder case of lawyer Stanislav Markelov and journalist Anastasia Baburova, is under threat of criminal liability for perjury, said the victims' advocate Vladimir Zherebenkov.

Issa Khashagulgov, a suspect of involvement in the terror act in Vladikavkaz, was transferred to the SIZO (pre-trial prison) of Vladikavkaz. The "Caucasian Knot" correspondent was informed about it by one of Khashagulgov's advocates, who learned about removal of his client from the SIZO "Lefortovo".

Schools of Chechnya introduce new rules for high grade girls. Now, as reported by parents, in addition to compulsory wearing of headscarves, they will have to wear long skirts starting from the seventh form.

Today, the Tbilisi City Court has announced its ruling on the case of the persons detained on April 4 at the rally in support the prisoners' rights. They were sentenced to 20 and 25 days of administrative arrest.

In the evening of April, 4, an assault at Ramin Deko, journalist of an oppositional newspaper "Azadlyg" ("Freedom") was committed in Baku. The journalist considers that the attackers had a connection with the people who the day before, April, 3, were holding him by force for several hours and having a "preventive talk" with him.

On April, 3, Saigidpasha Umakhanov, Head of Khasavyurt, signed an enactment of forming a reconciliation committee for solving conflict situations, arguments and reconciliation of parties. In addition to solving questions of adaptation of persons who decided to stop terrorist activities, the committee will deal with prevention of blood feud, domestic conflicts and kidnapping.

Major Magomed Taisumov, former deputy commander of the special-purpose battalion of the GRU "Vostok" (East), who was kidnapped in the evening of March 28 in the Gudermes district of Chechnya and later found murdered, was not tortured before his death, but was shot dead. Also, there are no credible evidences of involvement of Magomed Khambiev, a Chechen MP and a former defence minister of Ichkeria, a source from the law enforcement bodies of Chechnya asserts.

On March 31, the administration of Khasavyurt hosted the awarding ceremony of the well-known Dagestani human rights activist and journalist Isalmagomed Nabiev with the gold honourable sign "People's Hero of Dagestan" with delivery of the respective certificate. The ceremony was attended by residents of Khasavyurt, university students, members of the city administration, human rights activists and journalists.

Rasul Magomedov, a resident of the village of Balakhany, Untsukul District of Dagestan, and father of Anvar Sharipov, says that he knows nothing about the fate of his son who is now in Italy. Anvar Sharipov, brother of Maryam Sharipova, who, according to investigators, blew herself up in Moscow metro in March 2009, is suspected of complicity in preparing the explosions.

Journalist Oleg Teplischev has been again discharged from the ophthalmology ward of the Alexander-and-Mary Astrakhan hospital without proper treatment. The "Caucasian Knot" correspondent was informed about it by the journalist himself. According to his story, the clinic is under pressure by the authorities; while doctors argue that Teplischev needs no hospitalization.

Today, the Vilnius Court has postponed its session, which was to consider the action of the prosecutor's office asking to change Egle Kusaite's freedom restriction measure from recognizance not to leave for the custody. The adjudication was reappointed on April 21.

Today in the evening, the Sabail District Court of Baku have ruled to arrest the four oppositionists detained during the protest action on April 2 in the centre of the Azerbaijani capital.

Today in Tbilisi, after the rally "Justice is coming", organized by the public movement "Resistance", about ten participants were arrested.

On April 8, Beslan will host the action "Grove of Angels" in memory of the victims of the tragedy of 2004. It will bring together young people from Kabardino-Balkaria.

Within the programme "Complex Management of State Borders in Southern Caucasus", Armenia will receive 7.7 million euros from the European Union (EU) on modernization of three border checkpoints. This was announced today by Arthur Bagdasaryan, Secretary of the National Security Council (NSC) of Armenia.

Dokku Umarov, leader of Chechen gunmen, is safe and sound, he could not have been injured during the special operation in Sunzha district of Ingushetia because he was not there at that moment. This is the news from informational resources supporting gunmen. According to them, there is no doubt only about Supyan Abdullaev's death.

A book on kidnapping in Chechen Republic and the lives of kidnapped people's relatives and families of victims of tortures is going to be published in England. Its author is Mantas Kvedaravichius, Lithuanian producer who has shot the documentary "Barzakh".