News

In Georgia, after Beslan Kmuzov, a correspondent of the “Caucasian Knot”, had been detained at a protest in Tbilisi, the country’s migration service summoned him for a conversation. Meanwhile, the journalist has been legally living in the country since 2007.

Alexander Skvortsov, a Jehovah's Witness*, who is serving his term in a colony located in the Ulyanovsk Region, has complained about his deteriorating health. He has high blood pressure and often suffers from headaches due to working at a hazardous production facility.

The verdict for Islam Atavov, a Makhachkala policeman, for his involvement in the death of Kurban Dalgatov will be appealed against by the victims' advocate.

The appeal of the MPs unknown outside the Krasnodar Territory to the head of Chechnya has to do with an attempt to gain popularity, while hiding behind Alexander Bastrykin's protection. In their turn, political analysts and human rights defenders believe that the apology demand may turn against the MPs, if Kadyrov pays attention to it.

Six female activists representing public organizations of Chechen natives in Europe held a picket in solidarity with women, victims of repression in Chechnya.

At night, men in masks beat up activists of the “Akhali” Party in Tbilisi.

Sergey Kusmakov and Sergey Klimov, two MPs from the Krasnodar Territory, reprimanded Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov for his critical statements addressed to Alexander Bastrykin, the head of the Investigating Committee of the Russian Federation (ICRF), and called on the leader of Chechnya to apologize.

The court has sentenced Islam Atavov, a Makhachkala policeman, to 7.5 years in penal colony for his involvement in the death of the detained Kurban Dalgatov.

A court in Sochi has fined Valery Musarin, a local resident, by 30,000 roubles for his post placed in a social network that was treated as offensive to the Russian President Vladimir Putin.

At night on December 7, in Tbilisi, law enforcers detained Beslan Kmuzov, a "Caucasian Knot" correspondent, who was covering the protests held by supporters of Georgia's European integration.

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has condemned the detention of "Meydan TV" employees Ainur Elgunesh, Aitadj Tapdyg, Khayal Agaev, Aisel Umudova, Natig Djavadli and the freelance journalist Ramin Deko by Azerbaijani authorities.

Protests in Georgia, Kadyrov: pros and cons, persecution of pacifists and activists in Southern Russia, new arrests of the opposition in Azerbaijan, and official data on the natives of Southern Russia who perished in Ukraine, – see the review of these and other events in the Caucasus during the week of December 2-8, 2024, prepared by the “Caucasian Knot”.

A court in Gelendjik has placed Vadim Kharchenko*, a blogger, accused of slander, in custody until February 4, 2025.

The Cherkessk City Court has sent Guzel Kasimova, a journalist from Kazan, accused of knowingly making a false report about a terror act, to the SIZO (pre-trial prison until January 22, 2025. The defence intends to appeal against the court ruling.

When criticizing the heads of the Investigating Committee and the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation, the leader of Chechnya is measuring his influence with theirs. At the same time, Ramzan Kadyrov drew his attention to a case of a Chechen teenager living in Moscow, although hundreds of Chechen natives have been convicted on fabricated charges.

The authorities are changing their tactics by detaining activists instead of dispersing protests, but that has only angered protesters. Participants of the rally in front of the Georgian parliament building spoke about their willingness to attend rallies every day to achieve new parliamentary elections.

The Dorogomilovsky Court of Moscow has sentenced Khavier Yarmagomedov, a native of Dagestan, to seven years in colony for trampling an Orthodox cross. He was also found guilty of spreading child pornography and was deprived of the right to administer websites for eight years.

Aytaj Tapdyg, Natig Djavadly, Ramin Djabrailzade, and Khayala Agaeva, employees of the “Meydan TV” portal, have been detained this evening. The Azerbaijani police reported an investigation into the smuggling of foreign currency.

A court in Gelendjik has released Vadim Kharchenko*, accused under several criminal articles, from custody, after which he was detained on suspicion of slander.

The air defence systems deployed in the republics of the North-Caucasian Federal District (NCFD) need to be strengthened to protect against drone attacks, while the Kadyrov's proposal to place Ukrainian prisoners of war (POWs) on building roofs is unable to protect from attacks.