News

Sviatoslav Markelov, lawyer of Elza Kungaeva's family, has protested against the court ruling to release Yuri Budanov from prison before term. He has sent a complaint to Viacheskav Lebedev, chair of the Russia's Supreme Court, reports the administration of the Chechen Ombudsman to "Interfax".

The only charge count recognized by Ruslan Musaev, a suspect on the case of preparing an attempt to murder Ramzan Kadyrov, president of Chechnya, is forgery of a university diploma. This has been reported to the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent by Shamil Arifulov, Musaev's lawyer.

Broadcasting of the radio stations "Liberty", the "Voice of America" and the BBC on the local frequencies will be stopped from January 1, 2009. This decision has been taken today at the meeting of the National TV and Radio Council (NTRC) of Azerbaijan.

On December 25, the Supreme Court of Kalmykia granted the cassation appeal of Semen Ateyev, journalist of the newspaper "Sovietskaya Kalmykia Segodnia", with regard to protection of honor and dignity.

Aivar Bolov, deputy chief of RF department of execution of punishments for Kabardino-Balkaria, has categorically refuted information that prisoners from Ingushetia held in Nalchik pre-trial prison are harassed by the prison administration and are periodically placed to the punishment cell.

The Committee to Protect the Rights of Journalists has called on the Russian authorities to conduct a fair investigation of the attack on Zhanna Akbasheva in Karachaevo-Circassia.

84 residents of Zverevo, Rostov region, sent their applications to the European Court on Human Rights. This was reported to the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent by Valeri Diakonov, deputy of the Zverevo town Duma, one of the organizers of the protests by pensioner miners.

Today, during the session of Moscow military district court which was considering the case of murder of Anna Politkovskaya, columnist of the "Novaya Gazeta" newspaper, the defense lawyers of defendant Sergei Khudzhikurbanov has presented a proof that he was not at the spot on the day of the murder.

In Armenia, judge Mnatsakan Martirosian adjourned the court hearing on the "Case of Seven" and explained his decision by the defendants' contempt of court. In particular, when the judge entered the court room all the seven defendants continued to sit. The next hearing is appointed for January 9.

Three detectives are going to be tried in Kislovodsk, Stavropol krai, for abusing their powers and applying violence with regard to a lawyer. This has been reported to the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent at the press-service of the investigation department under the RF Prosecutor's Office in Stavropol krai.

Georgian authorities accumulate armored troops at the border with South Ossetia, reports the press-service of the South Ossetia Ministry of Defense.

Today, Chechen residents have held a second meeting in Grosny against the grant of parole to former colonel Yuri Budanov convicted for murdering Chechen girl Elza Kungaeva.

In Armenia, Judge Mnatsakan Martirosyan has interrupted a session of the process of seven oppositionists accused of a putsch attempt, having motivated his decision by disrespect for the court allegedly exhibited by the defendants. The following session was appointed on January 9.

On December 26, in Makhachkala, the capital of Dagestan, four suspected participants of illegal armed formations were detained.

The administration of the capital of Chechnya has launched an active campaign aimed to increase collections for municipal services. In the opinion of Grozny officials, it is the time "to pay in full for the benefits of civilization." Apartment rental agreements are cancelled with those who fail to pay for their flats.

The government of the Astrakhan Region and the LLC "FERSA-Cherkessk", an affiliate of the Spanish Company "Fersa Energias Renovables", have signed a contract on construction of windmills in the Astrakhan Region.

According to the Republic's Department for Statistics, the number of unemployed persons in North Ossetia has already exceeded 20,000, as Rimma Gutieva, chair of the Republic's trade union organization, has reported.

On the eve of the New Year, the most popular resorts of Karachaevo-Cherkesia - Dombai and Arkhyz - remain practically without tourists. Hotels drop rates, and "one-day tours" are gaining popularity. Experts of the tourist business say that it is the effect of the financial crisis.

Sarkis Atspanyan, a citizen of France and a veteran of the Karabakh is holding his hunger strike in detention for the 27th day already. In the morning on December 26, he refused to drink water.

New amendments to the Constitution of Georgia will simplify the procedure of government's dismissal by the parliament, while the president will not be able to dissolve the parliament. This was declared on December 26 by President of Georgia Mikhail Saakashvili, who gave comments on his legislative initiative, which will be discussed by the parliament on December 29.