News

In the course of restoring the Jewish quarter of Tskhinval, capital of South Ossetia, the builders pull down houses which are part of the architectural reserve. This has been reported to the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent by Nelli Tabuyeva, head of monument protection section at the South Ossetia Ministry of Culture.

Consequences of the murder of human rights activist Natalia Estemirova, new kidnappings and murders in "hop spots" of North Caucasus, visit of US vice-president Joseph Biden and subsequent decisions of the authorities and opposition, new manifestations of fight against freedom of thought in Azerbaijan - look up these events in the review of the week from July 20 to 26 prepared by the "Caucasian Knot".

There are about forty militants in Pankisi Gorge in Georgia near the Chechen border, who have gathered here for transfer to Chechnya and Ingushetia, states Zaal Kasrelishvili, chair of the Confederation of Caucasus Nations. In providing this information, Kasrelishvili refers to the data of the internal security service of the Confederation and the information of its supporters from Europe, Asia and North Caucasus.

The Ecological Watch on North Caucasus intends to file law suits at "appropriate instances" in order to dispute the decision of the Sochi city assembly which approved the city development master plan on July 14. According to Dmitry Kaptsov, deputy coordinator of the organization, the master plan contains elements which threaten the environmental safety of the city.

Akhmed Zakayev, one of the leaders of Chechen separatists has announced that the leadership of the unrecognized Chechen Republic of Ichkeria has taken a decision to stop armed actions against Chechen militia from August 1. According to him, the decision is the result of the meeting of Zakayev with Dukvakha Abdurakhmanov, chair of Chechen parliament.

The Chechen MoIA expresses doubt that the terrorist who exploded himself on July 26 near the concert hall could initially plan an attempt on the life of Ramzan Kadyrov. The militia officer who has given the information to the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent thinks that the Chechen president is well protected.

The health condition of Novruzali Mamedov, head of Talysh cultural center and chief editor of the newspaper "Tolyshi Sado" ("Voice of Talysh") in Azerbaijan, convicted for 10 years of imprisonment on the charge of treason, has sharply deteriorated.

The families of the suspected members of illegal armed units killed last Saturday, July 25, in Urus-Martan district of Chechnya have been handed over the bodies but forbidden to conduct the ceremony of commemoration (tezet).

Residents of Khasaviurt in Dagestan promise to block the "Kavkaz" highway once again unless the investigators fulfill their promise to release the suspects of murdering Magomed Umakhanov, son of Akhmedpashi Umakhanov, Dagestan National Assembly deputy and the nephew of the Khasaviurt leader.

Streets of the town will be named after the militiamen who perished during the recent terrorist act in Grozny. This was announced today by Chechen president Ramzan Kadyrov who calls the terrorist act an indication of the agony of militants and an abortive attempt to draw away the forces of the law enforcement bodies from the region where the special operation was conducted.

The persons convicted for mass poisoning of children in the town of Lermontovo, Stavropol Krai, have filed a cassation appeal against the ruling of the first instance court, as reported by the Lermontov prosecutor's office.

Today, activists of youth and public organizations of Azerbaijan have held a Forum of protests against the arrest of bloggers Adnan Gadzhizade and Emin Milli. About 50 activists have gathered at the business-center Landmarke for working out a unified strategy and tactics to defend the rights of Gadzhizade and Milli.

Human rights activists have decided to help Lana Estemirova, daughter of their colleague Natalia Estemirova murdered on July 15. A bank account has been opened where volunteers may transfer money for the 15-year-old Lana.

The health of Tigran Arakelian, arrested member of opposition Armenian National Congress (ANC), is exceedingly grave, he needs serious treatment, claims his lawyer Vardui Elbakian. The oppositionist has been in prison hospital for 10 days.

A process of enlarging municipalities by merging them is under way in Azerbaijan. The respective law was approved by Ilkham Aliyev, Azeri president, on July 23. According to the document, the number of self-government bodies is to be cut from 2,757 to 1,764.

The mandate of the European Union mission of observers (EUOM) in Georgia has been extended for one year, the appropriate decision has been made at the EU ministerial in Brussels.

Ingushetia opposition intends to continue at its new site the cause started by oppositionist Magomed Evloyev, murdered owner of the "Ingushetia.Ru" site, reports Magomed Khazbiyev, Ingushetia oppositionist.

Georgian opposition is not going to hold daily meetings in front of the parliament building, noted Levan Gachechiladze, one of the leaders of opposition and the "Defend Georgia" movement, at the July 24 meeting.

In connection with the completion of investigation and the majority of court trials on the cases of Armenian oppositionists arrested in the course of the 2008 presidential elections and post-election events, the opposition Armenian National Congress (АNC) has accused the Armenian law enforcement agencies of unlawful actions and support of the "unlawful regime".

Uve Schram, German diplomat and deputy head of the European Commission International Investigation Commission on the Causes of the Five-day War in South Ossetia in August 2008, has spent three days in Tbilisi. According to him, the European commission on investigating the August war events is going to disclose its report at the end of September.