News

The head of Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF), Jean-Herve Bradol, said his kidnapping was aimed at "silencing those criticising conditions in Chechnya".

The 15-minute documentary about Mikhail Trepashkin A Hero of Our Time" will be presented at the Central House of Journalists in Moscow on March 11.

"On March 4, the government officially ratified a model procedure for journalists' obtaining accreditation at the offices of state, finally revealing the fear and even terror that the present regime feels towards free speech," reads a statement by the National Press Club.

"We call on Ajarian authorities to actively investigate this vicious attack against Komakhidze and to bring those responsible to justice," said Ann Cooper, executive director of the Committee to Protect Journalists.

The supply of electric power to the camp for Chechen refugees Angusht, situated in Nazran, was resumed several days ago, after almost a two-week break.

Experts say one of every four displaced persons died from hunger and privation during four years. The Balkars were able to return to their homeland only in 1957.

The student from the Department of Medicine of the Chechen State University was released on March 5, said his classmates.

A large-scale search was conducted early in the morning on March 6 at the Satsita refugee camp in Ingushetia.

A new incident happened on the eve of International Women's Day. The Caucasian Knot correspondent learnt about it from the Novorossiysk City Committee on Human Rights.

Delegates of the Extraordinary Congress of the People of Kalmykia are arriving in Moscow in two buses on March 10, 2004. They are going to hold a picket at the monument to Karl Marx on Teatralnaya Square from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on 10, 11, and 12 March, 2004. Up to 100 people are expected to be participants in the action.

Russia is ready to re-consider the question of giving a visa to Lord Judd, reported a source at the information and press department of the Russian Foreign Ministry.

The President dismissed Viktor Kazantsev as the President's Plenipotentiary in the South Federal District and appointed Vladimir Yakovlev to this position.

The human rights organization raises its concern about numerous disappearances of people in Chechnya and abuses on the part of the Russian military.

A police check shows there are no "holy war disciples" in the republic.

Dagestan experiences the strongest hurricane over the past 100 years.

The NTV television company reports record fall-out in the Northwest of the republic.

A relative says he was forced to do that after security officers had threatened to shoot several close relatives of his.

A Chechen lawyer becomes laureate of the prize set up by The Yalta Initiative for Peace in Chechnya coalition.

An American diplomat says Moscow police reported about possible new acts of terrorism to the U.S. embassy.

A 1.5-m long metal tube filled with 6 kg of TNT and a plastic explosive was found at a polling station in a school.