News

Russian peacekeepers have begun negotiations with Azerbaijan to restore gas supply to Nagorno-Karabakh. Residents of the unrecognized republic note that all communications should be controlled by the Russian peacekeepers. Armenian human rights defenders call on international institutions to condemn Azerbaijan’s policy towards residents of Nagorno-Karabakh.

Prior to a hearing of the Supreme Court of Russia on the case of the “International Memorial” * (International Historical Educational Charitable and Human Rights Society “Memorial”), lawyer Kirill Koroteev has noted that the ruling of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) in the case on the closure of the “International Memorial” * must be executed by the Russia’s authorities even after the exclusion of the country from the Council of Europe (CE).

The Supreme Court of Russia did not grant a request to suspend the liquidation of the “International Memorial” * (International Historical Educational Charitable and Human Rights Society “Memorial”) until the decision of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) on the complaint about the law on foreign agents.

Authorities have managed to stabilize foodstuff and medicine prices, Abdulmuslim Abdulmuslimov, the head of the Dagestani government, has announced. In their turn, Telegram users have treated this statement as untrue and stated that prices continue rising.

During the last 24 hours, more than 15,000 residents of the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics (DPR and LPR) have crossed the Russia border in the Rostov Region.

Alexander Khodakovsky, the commander of the "Vostok" (East) battalion of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) of the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR), has explained to Adam Delimkhanov, an adviser to the head of Chechnya, Ramzan Kadyrov, that his criticism of the Chechen law enforcers who had arrived in Ukraine was caused by his first impression.

Magomed Magomedov, a deputy editor-in-chief of the "Chernovik" (Draft) portal, and Idris Yusupov, the journalist of the "Novoye Delo" outlet, went out to pickets in Makhachkala demanding to stop Abdulmumin Gadjiev's criminal case and release political prisoners.

The death toll during the hostilities was 3822; other 208 people, including 21 civilians, are regarded as missing, the Investigative Committee (IC) of Armenia has informed.

A Moscow court has denied the lawsuit lodged by Idrak Mirzalizade, a stand-up comedian, against the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) with a demand to declare illegal his ban to enter Russia for 14 years. In his lawsuit, Mirzalizade asked to reduce the entry ban down to a year.

The Tverskoi Court of Moscow recognized the activities of social media Facebook and Instagram as extremist and banned their operation in Russia. The WhatsApp messenger, also owned by the Meta company, was not affected by the ban.

Some of the Chechen law enforcers, whom Ramzan Kadyrov declared to be voluntary participants in the special military operation in Ukraine, agreed to the action under pressure, human rights defender Svetlana Gannushkina and Caucasian expert Ruslan Kutaev suggested.

During the week of March 14-20, 2022, no killed or wounded in the ongoing armed conflict in Northern Caucasus were reported. These are the results of the calculations run by the “Caucasian Knot” based on its own materials and information from other open sources.

The funeral of Junior Sergeant of Special Troops, Kurban Muradov, who died during the special military operation in Ukraine, was held in the village of Gamiyakh, Novolaksky District.

Chechen fighters of the "Rosgvardiya" (Russian National Guard) differ from ordinary law enforcers in the level of training, but it is still not enough to participate in hostilities, since the experience of fighting terrorism in the Caucasus is not applicable in the special operation in Ukraine, analysts have noted.

Echo in Southern Russia of the special military operation in Ukraine; decision of the ECtHR on the complaint filed by the “Caucasian Knot” and Russia’s withdrawal from the Council of Europe; resumption of gas supply to Nagorno-Karabakh; preparations for the presidential election in South Ossetia, – see the review of these and other events in the Caucasus during the week of March 14-20, 2022, prepared by the “Caucasian Knot”.

The Armenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) has expressed its protested to the United Nations (UN) in connection with the participation of its officials in the events held in Shusha. The visit of UN officials was also criticized by Artak Beglaryan, the Nagorno-Karabakh State Minister.

Oleg Orlov, a board member of the Human Rights Centre (HRC) "Memorial"*, was detained in Moscow and charged with an offense under the article on discrediting the Russian Armed Forces.

An appeal to Russian President Vladimir Putin with a request to ensure the safety of residents of Nagorno-Karabakh, up to an increase in the peacemaking contingent, was signed by 19 activists.

Elkhan Aliev, an activist of the Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan (PFPA), has been arrested for 30 days on charges of disobeying the police and petty hooliganism. Ali Kerimli, the PFPA leader, has stated that Aliev is being persecuted because of his active oppositional activities.

At the request of his employer, the court has softened the freedom restraint measure of Ramazan Dugiev, a participant in the 2019 Magas protests, Ramazan is one of the few sign language interpreters in Ingushetia; and his release from the SIZO (pre-trial prison) allows to hope for a reclassification of charges, the lawyers interviewed by the "Caucasian Knot" have pointed out.