FSB reports detention of six extremists in Dagestan January 23, 2020 21:36 The FSB Department for Dagestan reported the detention of supporters of the "At-Takfir Val-Hijra" extremist organization banned in Russia.
US congressmen reproach Georgian authorities for persecuting opposition January 23, 2020 21:28 In Georgia, the failure of the constitutional amendment to hold parliamentary elections and the persecution of protesters adversely affect the country's image, the US Congress notes. The congressmen's appeal will affect the electoral sympathies of Georgian voters, political analysts suggest.
Chechen Prosecutor's Office promises to punish doctors for selling shoe covers January 23, 2020 21:19 A video showing how shoe covers were sold to visitors of a hospital in Gudermes was the reason for the inspection from the Prosecutor's Office. Instagram users note that other medical institutions of the republic have similar practices.
Chechen minister responds to reports about "expulsion of a genie" from a woman January 23, 2020 13:29 Djambulat Umarov, Chechen Minister of National Policy, called a "fake" a complaint filed by Aminat Lorsanova who claimed that a specialist in "expelling genies" had beaten her in the presence of her relatives. The traditional Islamic medicine does not provide for such treatments, Djambulat Umarov notes.
Georgian Ombudsperson claims harassment among prisoners January 23, 2020 13:19 In Georgia, there is an informal hierarchy among prisoners in penal colonies, and because of the above fact the prisoners who are not "crime bosses" are forced to endure oppression, claims Ombudsperson Nino Lomdjariya. "Crime bosses" take money from other prisoners and forbid them to complain about problems in a prison, explain activists of NGOs.
Analysts point to authorities’ interference into election campaign in Azerbaijan January 23, 2020 13:12 In the course of the election campaign in Azerbaijan, oppositionists have faced administrative resources, which casts doubt on the democratic nature of the elections, the NGO “Institute for Democratic Initiatives” has stated. The elections are held according to the scenario common for the authorities, journalists have noted.
Kadyrov copies Putin's idea of State Council for Chechnya January 23, 2020 13:08 Ramzan Kadyrov sets up an Advisory Council aiming to strengthen his power in Chechnya, local residents assert. Kadyrov’s idea came up with the decision of Vladimir Putin to strengthen the status of the Russia’s State Council, political analysts have noted.
Video of beating inmate outrages residents of Chechnya January 23, 2020 13:01 In Russian jails, they are biased towards natives of the Caucasus, residents of Chechnya have noted after posting the video with the beating of the prisoner Khasdin Murtazaliev. The video refutes the recent Ramzan Kadyrov’s statement about the respectful attitude to Chechens in jails, the blogger, Tumso Abdurakhmanov, has noted.
Armenian parliament allows police tapping citizens' phone conversations January 23, 2020 12:56 Rights defenders are wary about the bill that allows the Armenian police to tap citizens' phone calls.
Sevgiya Ismailova not to complain about her relatives to Baku police January 23, 2020 12:48 The Baku police are not investigating the incident with Sevgiya Ismailova, a Russian citizen, who has stated that she is exposed to domestic violence in Azerbaijan because of her sexual orientation.
Rights defenders call on new presidential envoy to "go back to the good old days" in Northern Caucasus January 22, 2020 23:58 Earlier, Yuri Chaika, the new presidential envoy to Northern Caucasus, has showed himself as a defender of human rights, notes human rights activist Svetlana Gannushkina.
Ban for women in "Anji Arena" swimming pool leads to complaints to Prosecutor's Office January 22, 2020 23:56 Three women from Dagestan filed complaints to the Prosecutor's Office about the fact that they had been deprived of the opportunity to visit the largest swimming pool in Northern Caucasus, activist Svetlana Anokhina reported.
North-Ossetian resident accused of terrorism placed to punishment cell, his sister reports January 22, 2020 23:53 After a transfer to a penal colony in the Saratov Region, Timur Tumgoev, a native of Vladikavkaz, sentenced on the charge of involvement in the ranks of Syrian militants, was placed to a punishment cell without any explanations. This was reported by a female relative of Timur Tumgoev.
Azerbaijan claims machine gun shelling attacks on front line January 22, 2020 23:50 The positions of the Azerbaijani troops on the border with Armenia and in the Karabakh conflict zone were subjected to 23 shelling attacks within 24 hours, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) of Azerbaijan reported.
Chechen militant accused of attacking Pskov paratroopers January 22, 2020 17:24 The case about the participation of Ruslan Bataev, a resident of Chechnya, in an attack on a company of the Airborne Forces (paratroopers) in 2000 has been brought to court. This is the second case against Bataev, already convicted for an attack on military servicemen in the village of Chervlyonnaya.
Head of Ingushetia demands from his officials to solve Chechen migrants’ housing problems January 22, 2020 16:55 Makhmud-Ali Kalimatov, the head of Ingushetia, has criticized his subordinates for unresolved problems of forced migrants and demanded from them to give, before the end of February, a reasoned answer on whether they can claim compensations for their lost housing.
Dagestani journalists treat "honour killings" as remnants of the patriarchal system January 22, 2020 12:54 A part of the society in Dagestan perceives "honour killings" with understanding, although there is no justification for such crimes, journalists have noted.
NKR activist goes on hunger strike demanding to stop HPP construction January 22, 2020 12:51 Alexander Kananyan, a resident of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR), has gone on a hunger strike, demanding to stop the construction of small hydropower plants (HPPs) on the Trtu River and check the environmental safety of all HPPs in the region.
Contract soldier perishes in NKR January 22, 2020 11:23 Arthur Nalbandyan, a serviceman of the Defence Army of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR), has died in an accident, the NKR’s Ministry of Defence (MoD) has informed.
Observers point to violations at registering candidates in Azerbaijan January 22, 2020 11:20 The election campaign for the parliamentary elections in Azerbaijan passes amid restriction of political freedoms and absence of favourable competitive environment, says the report of the Centre for Election Monitoring and Democracy Training (CEMDT).