News

Tauzela Dzeitova, the main witness of the murder of the Ingush oppositionist Maksharipa Aushev, who was in his car at the moment of the murder, has come back to consciousness. It was reported today by the representative of the ICPO (Investigatory Committee at the Prosecutor's Office) for Kabardino-Balkaria.

Today, at 5:30 a.m. in Sleptsovskaya village, Sunzha District of Ingushetia, unidentified power agencies kidnapped Makhsud Makhloev. The "Caucasian Knot" correspondent was informed about it by Lydia Mikhalchenko, editor of the website "Ingushetiyaru.org" with referring to the leader of Ingush opposition Magomed Khazbiev. Law enforcement bodies deny their participation in the incident.

Today, a Tbilisi body of local government (in Sakrebulo) made a decision to give the names of perished Russian journalist Anna Politkovskaya, actresses Sofiko Chiaureli and film director Olga Konskaya.

The authorities of Russia should immediately stop the criminal prosecution of the head of the Human Rights Centre (HRC) "Memorial", the Human Rights Watch (HRW) has stated.

Relatives and friends of Ramzan Dzhavatkhanov, 25, a resident of Tevzani village, who, according to Chechen power agents, was liquidated on October 27 near Makhkety village during a special operation, assert that a couple of days prior to his death Ramzan was kidnapped by unidentified persons.

The Ingushes who will resettle to the Sverdlovsk Region will be provided with accommodation and receive travelling allowances at a rate of 50-60 thousand roubles per capable family member. The administration of the Ingush President said that before mid-November an agreement will be signed by the republic's leaders and authorities of the Sverdlovsk Region about possible resettlement of Ingushes to agricultural areas of the Region.

The charges moved against Tsotne, son of the first President of Georgia Zviad Gamsakhurdia, who was detained by the police yesterday, on October 27, were far-fetched, since the authorities are persecuting Gamsakhurdia on political grounds. This was stated by Tsotne's mother - Manana Archvadze-Gamsakhurdia.

Human rights are still trampled on in Armenia. The Ombudsman's office received most of the complaints related to human rights violations - 259 out of 4090 - against the police. Courts were runners-up, then - the Mayoralty. These are the data from the report for 2008, presented by Armenian Ombudsman Armen Arutyunyan to the National Assembly.

On November 1, 2009, the Moscow Concert Hall "Mir" (Peace) in Tsvetnoi Boulevard will host a charitable concert "To your and our freedom" in support of political prisoners. Well-known poet-singer Timur Shaov, poets and satirical writers Igor Irteniev, Dmitri Bykov and Vadim Zhuk will take part in the event.

Azerbaijani prisoners of conscience - newspapers editors Einullah Fatullaev, Ganimat Zakhidov and other political prisoners - have decided to send a desktop pedestal, symbolizing a political prisoner, to Thorbjorn Jagland, Secretary General of the Council of Europe.

Today, about 500 residents of Vladikavkaz wearing bulky dressings rallied in central city and held a non-sanctioned protest action against emissions of the "Electrozink" factory. The participants have agreed, within an hour and a half after the today's emission of sulphur dioxide by the factory, with the help of the Internet to hold such action.

Andrei Krasnenkov, advocate of the President of Chechnya Ramzan Kadyrov, is going to file a civil suit to the "Novaya Gazeta" on defence of honour, dignity and business reputation, and on compensation of moral damage. The reason for the suit was the article "Execution in Vienna" on Kadyrov's possible involvement in the murder of Umar Israilov, a resident of Chechnya, committed in Austria.

Now, the advocates of the Human Rights Centre (HRC) "Memorial" are preparing a cassation complaint on the decision of the Tver Court of Moscow, which had partially satisfied the claim of the President of Chechnya Ramzan Kadyrov to the head of the HRC Oleg Orlov. The complaint will be lodged to the Moscow City Court.

On October 27, the Moscow City Court refused to increase the sum of payments to the victims of plundering of hostages' belongings at the Dubrovka terror act and to compensate their moral damage; thus, having rejected the cassation complaint against the decision of the Zamoskvoretski Court, who had ruled to pay 130 thousand roubles under two claims.

On October 27, at the extraordinary conference of the regional branch of the "Edinaya Rossiya" Party, President of Chechnya Ramzan Kadyrov characterized Ahmed Zakaev, former field commander and minister of culture in the government of Ichkeria, as a liar and hypocrite.

After reports appeared in media that servicemen of the regiment of patrol-sentry service of the militia (RPSSM) were refused their bonuses for overtime work, repressions against the militiamen who had been bold as to complain became stronger.

Today, the Monitoring Group of Human Rights Organizations of Azerbaijan (MGHROA) has held a roundtable at the Media Centre dated to the Day of Political Prisoners marked on October 30. The "Caucasian Knot" correspondent reports that the participants of the event a meeting have regretfully ascertained that, despite Azerbaijani membership in the Council of Europe (CE), the problem of political prisoners remains topical in the country.

On October 27, the European Court on Human Rights (ECtHR) in Strasbourg ruled to fine Georgia by 6000 euros for the 2001 trial of three participants of the plot against President by non-professional judicial assessors.

Today, the Sabail District Court of Baku, chaired by Araz Guseinov, continued the litigation on the case of young bloggers Emin Milli and Adnan Gadjizade, accused of hooliganism and causing bodily injuries.

In the near future, inspectors will arrest several persons who committed the murder of Stanislav Markelov because of his activities. This was stated by Mikhail Markelov, the lost lawyer's brother and head of the regional branch of the "Spravedlivaya Rossiya" Party; however, he refused to give the names yet.