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In Chechnya, a former staff member of the Council for Economic and Social Security (CESS) and an elderly man were detained on suspicion of extorting money. This was reported to the "Caucasian Knot" by a source in the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA).

Today, in Azerbaijan, the court has pronounced the verdict to Parviz Gashimli, a journalist and a human rights defender, who was accused of smuggling and arms traffic. The court has sentenced Parviz Gashimli to 8 years of imprisonment. Tavakkyul Gurbanov, another defendant in the case, was sentenced to 8.5 years of imprisonment.

Each of more than 1500 families of Chechen law enforcers, who were killed on duty, will receive from the Chechen authorities a lump-sum material assistance in the amount of 100,000 roubles. This was told to the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent by an official from the local law enforcement authorities.

The criminal investigation into the disappearance of Aina Khabibulaeva, a 23-year-old local resident, is carried out by the investigating authorities improperly. This was announced by the Prosecutor's Office of Chechnya.

Sixteen natives of the republics of Northern Caucasus, who study at the Moscow universities, have been selected for scholarships in the framework of the initiative of the "Doverie" (Trust) Business Club under auspices of the Spiritual Administration of Muslims (SAM) of Moscow.

On May 14, in Maikop, the National Museum of Adygea opened the exhibition "Captives of Destiny". The exhibition shows 60 female portraits created by artist Vitaly Barkin in the penal colony No. 6.

Today, at the Moscow City Court (MCC), in the course of the parties' debates on the murder of the observer of the "Novaya Gazeta" Anna Politkovskaya, the state prosecution has completed its analysis of the evidence against the defendants. The prosecutor asked the jurors to find all the defendants in the case guilty and not deserving any leniency.

On May 14, the Salyan District Court of Azerbaijan has ruled to restrict the freedom of Emil Mamedov, the head of the non-governmental organization (NGO) "Promoting Democracy", who is charged of extortion, by a three-month arrest. The activist denies the accusation and treats it as politically motivated.

Today, Natalia Kalashnikova, Judge of the Novocherkassk City Court, has made her decision to satisfy the lawsuit lodged by the city prosecutor's office and obliged the "Union of Don Women" to get registered as a "foreign agent". The advocates intend to appeal against the decision of the Novocherkassk court.

Ukrainian airlines are not allowed to perform both regular and charter flights to the Caucasian republics of the Russian Federation, says the order issued by the State Aviation Service of Ukraine. The ban covers the airports located in Chechnya, Dagestan, Ingushetia, Kabardino-Balkaria, North Ossetia and Karachay-Cherkessia.

Today, the Supreme Court (SC) of Azerbaijan has not satisfied the cassation complaint lodged by the blogger Rashad Agaaddin (Ramazanov), sentenced to 10 years in prison, against the decision of the preliminary session of the Baku Court of Appeal to reject a repeated judicial investigation. The Ramazanov's lawyer believes that the blogger was deprived of the chance to protect his rights.

Today, the Parliament of South Ossetia has adopted, in the second and final reading, the law on non-governmental organizations (NGOs). The term "foreign agent" to be applied to the NGOs funded from abroad is replaced by the term "foreign partner".

Relatives of Khyzyr Begiev, who was killed in Kabardino-Balkaria, claim that he was not a member of the armed underground and that he used to be an active fighter against drug dealers in the republic. The Khyzyr Begiev's family members appeal to human rights defenders for help to reveal the true causes of his death.

The new Ministry for Development of Northern Caucasus is to establish common rules of game for Caucasian specific environment. This was emphasized by Denis Sokolov, General Director of the Caucasus Centre for Project Designs, when he was commenting on the decision of Russian President Vladimir Putin to establish a new institution within the Russian government.

The government of Chechnya has announced a cash reward of one million roubles to the theologians who prepare ten hafizes (reciters of the Koran by heart). This was told to the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent by a source from the Chechen Muftiyat. However, local residents have different opinions about the fact that the authorities pay increased attention to issues of religion.

On May 13, Armenian MPs supported the adoption of the draft law on amendments to the Law "On Funded Pensions" proposed by the government. In the first reading, 68 MPs voted to adopt the draft law. 12 MPs voted against the draft law, and 36 other MPs abstained.

The General Prosecutor's Office (GPO) of Armenia has opened a criminal case on the complaint filed by Argishti Kiviryan, a coordinator of the news agency "Armenia Today", about the police violence against him. The criminal case was transferred to the Special Investigating Service of Armenia for investigation.

Mukhammad Rakhimov, the Chairman of the Spiritual Administration of Muslims of the Stavropol Territory, has appealed to President Vladimir Putin asking him to interfere into the demolition of the unfinished mosque in Pyatigorsk and let Muslims to finish the construction. According to Rakhimov, the conflict around the mosque can provoke unrests in the city.

Emil Mamedov, the head of the NGO "Promoting Democracy", has been detained today in Azerbaijan on suspicion of extortion. His detention occurred after Tofig Gasymov, an employee of the NGO, has testified against his boss.

Today Israfil Gadadov, an advocate of Felix Agaragimov, the Imam of the village of Kurkent, Suleiman-Stalsky District of Dagestan, who was detained on May 6 after a search of his house, has reported to the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent that he is not allowed to meet his client.