Three activists detained at a protest action in Batumi November 18, 2020 17:48 Law enforcers have detained Djelal Kikava, an oppositionist, for disobeying the police, as well as two other protesters in Batumi; one of them was hospitalized.
Azerbaijani rights defenders treat verdict to journalist Aslanov as absurd November 18, 2020 17:43 Authorities are often accusing journalists, including of espionage for Iran, but such charges look implausible, Namizad Safarov, the coordinator of the Centre against Repressions and Torture, said in his comment to Polad Aslanov's verdict.
ECtHR unusually promptly responds to complaint about Tepsurkaev's kidnapping November 18, 2020 11:28 The European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) has communicated the complaint filed by human rights defenders in the interests of Salman Tepsurkaev, a native of Chechnya, kidnapped in Gelendjik. It has become record fast, the "Committee against Torture" (CaT) has noted.
Karvachar residents express fears of desecrating relatives' graves November 18, 2020 11:20 The townspeople leaving Karvachar are forced to dig up the remains of their relatives for fear that their graves may be desecrated after the city comes under Azerbaijan's control. Refugees burn down their houses and slaughter the livestock.
Nagorno-Karabakh residents are in no hurry to return home due to uncertainty November 18, 2020 11:12 Shops began to open in Stepanakert; the 80% of the city receives electricity and gas, the Mayor of the capital of Nagorno-Karabakh has informed. However, not all refugees are ready to return, as they are worried about their safety and do not know how to restore their houses and households affected by shelling.
Investigation into deaths of Armenian soldiers highlights fierce fighting at Djebrail November 18, 2020 11:09 The statement of the Armenian Ministry of Defence (MoD) about arrests during the inquiry into violations of the conditions of military service in Nagorno-Karabakh was made a month after the release of the video of the battles near Djebrail (Djrakan).
Red Cross announces exchange of bodies of 200 Nagorno-Karabakh casualties November 18, 2020 11:02 Under the mediation of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the parties of the Karabakh conflict have already received 200 bodies of those who perished during the hostilities. The Armenian Ministry of Defence (MoD) has drafted a map for searching for the dead and missing military servicemen.
Armenian President calls for early parliamentary elections November 17, 2020 22:48 Against the background of the political crisis after the truce agreement with Azerbaijan, the government of Armenia should prepare for early parliamentary elections, and power should be transferred to the government of "national accord," Armenian President Armen Sargsyan announces.
Karabakh residents question guarantees of safe passage through Lachin November 17, 2020 22:41 Today, the road through the Lachin corridor has been officially opened for civilian vehicles, but assurances from the authorities concerning the safety of the new route did not convince residents of Nagorno-Karabakh.
Experts negatively assess postponement of withdrawal of troops from Kelbajar District November 17, 2020 22:39 Armenia delays the withdrawal of troops from the Kelbajar District, with a hope for a change in the situation, and if the expectations are followed by a change in the schedule for the withdrawal of troops from the Adam and Lachin District, the peace agreement will be in jeopardy, Azerbaijani military experts suggest.
14 Azerbaijani oppositionists placed under house arrest November 17, 2020 21:54 In Baku, a court changed the pre-trial restriction measure for 21 out of 37 defendants in a criminal case on an unsanctioned march. The detainees were released from custody and placed under house arrest. The number of the released defendants includes 12 members of the Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan and two members of the movement "Muslim Unity".
Social network users criticize Kadyrov's statement about Marvel characters November 17, 2020 21:43 Ramzan Kadyrov demanded to replace images of comic book characters on the walls of the children's centre in Kurchaloi with photographs of "real heroes." Some social network users considered the position of the leader of Chechnya to be too strict.
Refugees from Stepanakert treat neighbourhood with Azerbaijan-controlled Shushi as dangerous November 17, 2020 17:14 The authorities of Nagorno-Karabakh urge their citizens to return to their homeland. Refugees answered that they decided to return to their homes in Stepanakert, but did not consider living in the city safe after the transfer of the neighbouring city of Shushi to Azerbaijan.
Armenia turns to ECtHR about people missing in conflict zone November 17, 2020 17:10 The European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) should demand from Azerbaijani authorities to ensure the right to life of the ten civilians who disappeared on the Goris-Shushi road and refrain from ill-treatment of them, the Armenia's representative to the ECtHR has stated.
BBC film on persecution of gays in Chechnya screened in Russia November 17, 2020 12:03 The documentary "Welcome to Chechnya" by the American director David France, which presents stories of persecutions of gays and lesbians in the republic, has become available to Russian spectators. Igor Kochetkov, the director of the "Russian LGBT Network" has treated the persecution of LGBT people in Chechnya as a crime against humanity.
Azerbaijani analysts treat graffiti on Armenian church in Shusha as "war consequences" November 17, 2020 11:58 There are no insults to Armenians and the church in the graffiti on the church in Shusha; they are easy to wash off, said Fazil Mustafa, a deputy chairman of the Azerbaijani parliamentary committee for culture. Togrul Djuvarly, a member of the Azerbaijani Public Committee for European Integration, has compared graffiti with the inscriptions on the Reichstag in 1945.
Armenian officers arrested within case of soldiers' deaths in Nagorno-Karabakh November 17, 2020 11:56 Cases have been initiated on violations of the conditions of the military service and unjustified deaths of Armenian militaries in Nagorno-Karabakh; there are already arrested officers, the Armenian Ministry of Defence (MoD) has informed.
Azerbaijani journalist Aslanov sentenced to 16 years in prison November 17, 2020 11:45 The Baku Court for Grave Crimes has sentenced journalist Polad Aslanov to 16 years in prison. Aslanov treats himself as innocent and considered his journalistic activities as the motive for his prosecution.
Armenian political analysts: Pashinyan unlikely to resign November 16, 2020 23:58 The opposition does not have enough votes to announce the impeachment of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, and the withdrawal of several MPs from the ruling faction does not matter much, political analysts note.
Parents of soldiers missed in action: Armenian authorities to report their fate November 16, 2020 23:56 The authorities deliberately keep silence concerning the information about the soldiers missed in action, claim protesters who gathered in front of the building of the Armenian Ministry of Defence (MoD).