News

Return of refugees, negotiations on the exchange of prisoners of war, and the exchange of bodies of the soldiers killed in the Karabakh conflict zone; ECtHR's response to the complaints lodged by the men sentenced in a case on the attack on Nalchik; protests in Armenia, – see the review of these and other events in the Caucasus during the week of November 30-December 6, 2020, prepared by the "Caucasian Knot".

Russian peacemakers have organized visits of medical teams to serve patients in the villages of the Askeran District of Nagorno-Karabakh.

Chechnya, Dagestan, Ingushetia and Kabardino-Balkaria are among the five top Russian regions, whose residents are least susceptible to bad habits, including the use of alcohol and tobacco.

About 500 Azerbaijani citizens are waiting departure home in Dagestan. Many residents of the "Ogonyok" (Spark) camp in Dagestan have run out of money and cannot buy the necessary things, one of them has told.

The authorities should give a clear explanation to residents of the city of Berdzor and the Karabakh villages of Agavno and Sus about the status of these dwelling settlements located near the positions of Azerbaijani troops, residents of Berdzor and Agavno have stated at their protest in Yerevan on December 6.

Law enforcers would not allow the participants of the round-the-clock protest action held in central Tskhinvali to buy hot drinks and set up a tent, said Oksana Sotieva, Inal Djabiev's widow.

If the Prime Minister, Nikol Pashinyan, fails to resign by December 8, actions of disobedience will start throughout Armenia, the organizers of the rally in Yerevan have stated. Vazgen Manukyan, the oppositional candidate, nominated for the Premier, has called for the formation of an interim government.

Three protesters, who spent the night in Tskhinvali, have been detained, said Inal Djabiev's widow. Together with Djabiev's relatives, David Sanakoev, a South-Ossetian MP, is taking part in the action.

A resident of Khasavyurt has admitted at a trial that he was an intermediary in the transfer of 250,000 roubles by Yulduz Kurashova, a Dagestani woman, to the policemen who had detained her. He repented and made amends for the damage.

Salakh Mezhiev, the head of the Spiritual Administration of Muslims (SAM) of Chechnya, has responded in an insulting manner to his opponents who had been dissatisfied with his public criticism of girls wearing niqabs. Calling his opponents "Allah's enemies", the Mufti stated that it is shameful not to wear "the clothes of one's own nation."

The parties have agreed on the principle of exchanging prisoners of war (POWs) under the "all for all" format. Both those who were captured during the last escalation of the Karabakh conflict and those who had been captured earlier will be exchanged, the Armenian Prime Minister, Nikol Pashinyan, has stated.

About 15 persons continue their action in Tskhinvali, demanding an investigation into the death of Inal Djabiev. His family intends to protest until the perpetrators are punished, Oksana Sotieva, Inal's widow, has stated.

Despite his grave health condition, a court in Baku has refused to transfer Afghan Sadygov, a journalist, who has been on a hunger strike for more than 30 days at the SIZO (pre-trial prison), under house arrest. The authorities had provoked Sadygov to receive a bribe, but there was no reason to accuse him under a grave criminal article, said his colleague. Khadija Ismayilova.

Amid regional authorities' threats to punish the residents who fail to observe the COVID-19 prophylaxis, Chechen officials are neglecting the mask regime, Instagram users have noted.

Most residents of the city of Berdzor and neighbouring villages in the Lachin Corridor have left their homes, despite the presence of Russian peacemakers. Local residents do not feel safe as the authorities failed to clarify their living conditions in these territories.

Inal Djabiev's twin brother Atsamaz, whose detention in South Ossetia was reported by his mother, has joined protesters in Tskhinvali after his release.

A court in Tskhinvali has arrested Mirian Taziashvili, a Georgian citizen, for two months on charges of trespassing the border. He could have been fined and released, but sentenced to arrest, the man's wife has complained.

The bills on the work of non-commercial organizations (NCOs) will make it almost impossible to work in Southern Russia, human rights defenders believe.

Over two days, 38 bodies of deceased Armenian soldiers were found in Nagorno-Karabakh. Azerbaijan has still not allowed search rescue teams into a number of areas of the conflict zone and delays the exchange of bodies of deceased soldiers, the Ministry for Emergencies (MfE) of Nagorno-Karabakh claims.

The resolution on the need to recognize the independence of Nagorno-Karabakh, adopted by the Lower House of the French Parliament, presents the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict as an interreligious clash, the Azerbaijani Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) declares.