Militia lieutenant condemned for use of torture in Yessentuki February 17, 2004 20:34 The public prosecutor proved that in June 2003, the lieutenant tied a local man to a chair with belts and beat him with the purpose of getting a confession from him.
Night bombardment in Achkhoy-Martan district February 17, 2004 15:16 Locals believe the bombardment was a reaction to the terrorist act committed in the Moscow metro on 6 February 2004.
Al Qaeda calls upon Chechen rebels to take part in "holy war" in Iraq February 17, 2004 15:14 Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, who leads Al Qaeda's operations on the territory of Iraq, calls upon "all the Jihad fighters" to go to Iraq to wage "holy war" under his command their. He intends to transfer from 1.5 to 2 thousand fighters who stay on the territory of Chechnya now to Iraq.
Cache with great number of ammunition found in Chechnya February 17, 2004 13:42 The cache contained 132 mines of the 120 caliber.
Abkhazian, South Osetian leaders to have talks in Moscow February 17, 2004 13:34 Abkhazian Prime Minister Raul Khajimba came to Moscow on February 15.
Political scientist Paata Zakareishvili: Georgian society takes aggressive attitude to South Osetia and Abkhazia February 17, 2004 12:47 "The new authorities enjoy great confidence and have total carte blanche regardless of how much we criticize them. I hope everything they will do will be under strict control of the West, which will not allow them to move towards aggression," says the expert in the issues of resolution of the Georgian-Abkhazian conflict.
Institute of Peace and Democracy: Azerbaijan authorities persecute political opponents under pretext of struggle against terrorism February 16, 2004 23:36 "We cannot prevent torture against detainees at the police departments. The Interior Ministry and the Prosecutor General's Office keep on disregarding all the appeals by international and republican human rights organizations," reads the statement.
Leader of Dashnaktsutyun: Karabakh needs to establish dialogue with neighbors February 16, 2004 22:37 Vagram Balayan thinks that in the context of the Baku-Jeikhan oil pipeline construction, the interested countries may force the Armenian side to accept certain variants of the resolution.
Abkhazian Defense Ministry denounces detention of Russian fishing boat by Georgian military February 16, 2004 18:15 General Vladimir Arshba warned that if such a situation recurred, Abkhazia would find a way to defend its interests at sea, as well as a way to defend peace fishermen.
Position of Russian Society "Memorial" regarding Russian presidential election February 16, 2004 17:39 The Society "Memorial" does not back up the candidacy of the present President, and it is undoubted. At the same time, Memorial, as a united organization, does not support election campaigns of the other candidates either.
Problem of oil spills is under discussion in Baku February 16, 2004 17:37 "Countries of the Caspian region do not have enough resources to prevent oil spills and liquidate their consequences. Therefore our goal is to draw the public's attention to this problem," said a representative of the NGO Crude Accountability, Michelle Kinman.
Trade unions gain court victory over Stavropol administration February 16, 2004 16:32 A judicial contest between regional budget trade unions and the Stavropol administration has ended with the victory of the former.
Chechen teenager detained by servicemen dies from wounds February 16, 2004 15:59 Rustam Djakalayev, 1989, a resident of the village of Assinovskaya, was shot down by Russian servicemen in the village of Ordzhonikidzevskaya, Ingushetia, on February 3.
1.3 million Armenians live in Russia, according to 2003 population census February 16, 2004 14:50 The number of Azerbaijanians living in Russia increased from 340 thousand in 1989 to 620 thousand in 2002.
US Embassy prepares report on situation with trafficking in Georgia February 15, 2004 17:02 The risk exists that Georgia may be transferred from the second group of countries to the third one, which will damage the country's international image and may reduce financial help from abroad.
Ex-president of unrecognized Chechen Republic of Ichkeria dies as a result of attempt on his life February 15, 2004 17:00 Zelimkhan Yandarbiyev died in a hospital in Qatar as a result of an attempt on his life, reported an Al Arabiya TV Channel correspondent with reference to medical sources in Doha (Qatar's capital).
Information campaign on program of Meskhetian Turks' resettlement from Kuban region to US begins February 15, 2004 16:56 The first meeting of workers of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) with Meskhetian Turks will be held on February 16 in the village of Kholmskaya, Krasnodar Territory's Abinsky district. The IOM representatives will inform the Meskhetian Turks about the program of resettlement to the United States.
LINKS director visits Nagorny Karabakh February 15, 2004 16:54 Representatives of British and American non-government organizations (NGOs) that worked out a joint project to promote the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement and to create the atmosphere of trust in the region made a three-day visit to the Republic of Nagorny Karabakh.
Zamoskvoretsky Court to consider complaint by mother of victim of terrorist act on Dubrovka February 13, 2004 23:55 On February 17, the Zamoskvoretsky Intermunicipal Court of Moscow will consider a complaint by people suffered as a result of the terrorist act on Dubrovka against actions of investigative bodies in the course of the investigation into the criminal case.
New public movement created in Karabakh February 13, 2004 23:30 Eduard Agabekian, a deputy of the Karabakh parliament, made a statement to the National Assembly. He announced on behalf of the initiative group that Movement - 88 was a new political movement to be formed.