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Ramzan Kadyrov, the leader of the Chechen Republic has stated that the journalists of the newspaper "Novaya Gazeta", who reported about violations of the rights of homosexuals in the republic and the existence of secret prisons, should apologize to residents of Chechnya. This was reported by the "RBC".

The defence of Abdusalam Ramazanov, a native of the Tsuntin District of Dagestan, sentences to six years in prison for an attempt to join militants in Syria, has challenged the verdict of the North-Caucasian District Military Court, said the advocate Elena Denisenko.

Mekhman Guseinov, an Azerbaijani journalist and blogger, was transferred from SIZO (pre-trial prison) to colony – he was sent to the colony far from his home with the harshest custody conditions in Baku, rights defenders have stated, treating it as an execution for his journalistic activities.

The suspect of killing a Russian serviceman in Armenia has mental disorders and was demobilized in March, said the Investigating Committee of Armenia.

Members of the Spiritual Administration of Muslims (SAM) of the Karachay-Cherkessian Republic (KChR) travel around the regions of the republic and demand from Imams to execute a fatwa prohibiting people to take part in rituals, involving distribution of commemorative bags with food.

Older men, expelled from the Chechen village of Achkhoi-Martan for family ties with suspected militants, have returned to the village. However, they are afraid to leave their houses. This was reported by local residents.

Militants who swore allegiance to the terrorist organization "Islamic State" (IS) banned in Russia were killed in the Kochubei District of the Stavropol Territory.

On April 21, the number of drivers of heavy vehicles on protest against the "Platon" system in the vicinity of the Ingush town of Karabulak reached 50. This was reported by a participant of the protest action.

The European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) has completed communication on the complaint filed by Azerbaijani journalist Rauf Mirkadyrov against his arrest, which preceded the sentencing. The journalist also intends to appeal against the actions of the government of Turkey, which deported him to Azerbaijan, despite the threat of his arrest.

All three political forces taking part in the elections to the Council of Elders of Yerevan will receive mandates after the voting to be held on May 14. Taron Margaryan will be again appointed the City Mayor. This forecast was voiced by political analysts questioned by the "Caucasian Knot".

In Northern Caucasus, already 75 members of the LGBT community appealed for help to the "Russian LGBT Network". The assistance was provided to 35 of them, so far only to those people who lived in Chechnya. This was reported to the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent by the "Russian LGBT Network".

On April 20, Anatoly Barsagov, an ex-deputy head of the criminal police, was elected the chairman of the Public Oversight Commission (POC) of Kabardino-Balkarian Republic (KBR). Rights defenders believe that the former policeman is unlikely to stand up for the defence of prisoners' rights.

Andrei Bocharov, the Governor of the Volgograd Region, should react to the situation with transport services in the region and convey the demand of local truckers to abolish the “Platon” system to the federal centre, the protesters said.

Dagestan has some "grey" schemes of cargo transportation, although companies are trying not to use the services of “non-transparent” drivers, the market players assert. In their opinion, the "Platon" system is inefficient and leads to unbearable losses.

The Adler District Court of Sochi has sentenced the Cossack Sergey Fetisov, accused of a fraud, to five years in a general-security colony. It took the judge only ten minutes to draw up the verdict, which means that it was agreed in advance, the defence believes.

The strength of the Russian military contingent in Syria is estimated at 7000, with the main surface combat units being the mercenaries from the so-called "Vagner group" and Chechen servicemen, military political analysts believe.

The Human Rights Watch (HRW), an international human rights organization, has found the decision of the Russia’s Supreme Court (SC) to ban the Administrative Centre of Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia and local religious organizations to be a severe blow to the freedom of conscience.

The European External Affairs Service (EU diplomatic service) has stated that Jehovah's Witnesses, like other religious organizations, "should be able to peacefully hold meetings, as it is guaranteed by the Russian Constitution, international obligations of Russia and international human rights standards." This was a reaction of the European External Affairs Service to a court's decision in Russia on the liquidation of the organization.

In Dagestan, the law enforcement authorities require residents put on police prevention registration lists to bring copies of their personal documents and of the documents of their family members. This was reported by the Human Rights Centre (HRC) "Memorial". The human rights defenders intend to appeal for explanations to the Dagestani Minister of Internal Affairs and the Ombudsman.

The Human Rights Centre (HRC) "Memorial" has demanded to release activist Khiramagomed Magomedov, one of the leaders of the NGO "Union of Fair", accused of involvement in the organization "Hizb ut-Tahrir al Islami" banned in Russia.