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In 2013, about 40,000 Russians applied for asylum in industrialized countries. This numbers is 76% more than last year. This was reported by the department of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

Russian political analysts believe that joining of Abkhazia and South Ossetia to Russia by "Crimean scenario" is hardly possible. Although citizens of South Ossetia would be glad to join Russia, such a move is not beneficial for Russia at the moment. This was stated by Konstantin Zatulin, President of the Institute of CIS countries.

Move of the leaders of the "Imarat Kavkaz" to Dagestan and appointment of Aliaskhab Kebekov a successor of Doku Umarov proves the deepening split in the ranks of militants. This was stated by Musa Muradov, a correspondent of the publishing house "Kommersant".

According to participants of the City Council meeting, to solve ecological problems, Sochi needs to commission treatment plants, take appropriate measures to clean coastal waters, attract professionals, and conduct explanatory work among the population, the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent reports.

On March 20, the court held a hearing in the case against Zarema Bagavutdinova, a member of the Dagestani Regional Public Organization (DRPO) "Pravozaschita", who was accused of promoting terrorist activities. The court questioned Aisha Selimkhanova, a defence witness, a colleague of the defendant.

Bagauddin Evloev, a resident of the Ingush village of Sagopshi, whose uninhabited house was blown up by militaries on March 15, said that he had no claims to law enforcers, since he was sure that the explosive device found in the house could not be taken away.

The Olympic Park in Sochi needs some upgrade to become completely barrier-free, Sochi guests comment, but most of the people with disabilities appreciate the changes watched in the Olympic capital.

The conviction of Ilgar Mamedov and Tofig Yagublu on charges of rioting in the Azerbaijani city of Ismailly, is politically motivated, says the statement of Catherine Ashton and Štefan Füle, officials of the European Union.

Policemen and attached servicemen are conducting checks of every Khasavyurt house, local residents report, while a source from the GOVD (City Interior Division) asserts that the visits have to do with the passport regime.

Armenian experts disagree on the possible analogy of the situation in the Crimea with Nagorno-Karabakh. Sergey Minasyan, Deputy Director of the Institute of the Caucasus, said that the Crimean factor cannot affect the Karabakh issue, but geopolitical changes in the former Soviet space are inevitable.

Residents of the Russian Federation and Ukraine supplied smuggled weapons from the European Union (EU) to Northern Caucasus. Several persons have been detained. This was reported today by the Russian FSB.

On March 18, in Simferopol, two persons were killed as a result of shooting in front of Ukrainian military unit. One of the victims was a resident of the Volgograd Region, who went to Crimea as a member of a Cossack volunteer squad. According to journalists, deceased Ruslan Kazakov took part in the military campaigns in Chechnya.

On March 19, in Nalchik, twelve persons came to the building of the Investigating Committee to support the Lamina Gulieva's claim to give out her husband's body. After a four-hour wait, they went away with nothing. No official from the Investigating Committee came out to the protesters.

On March 19, the Nazran City Court chaired by Khamid Tambiev completed the consideration of the case against Musa Abadiev, an Ingush blogger, accused of inciting enmity and hatred. The Court has pronounced the decision to fine blogger Musa Abadiev by 100,000 roubles.

This year, the days of March 20-26 were declared to be official holidays on the occasion of celebrating Novruz Bayram, the holiday symbolizing the coming of spring. However, the festivities have been already started on March 19.

In Chechnya, relatives of Magomed Tokaev cannot locate him since January 22, claiming his kidnapping by law enforcers. The Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) of Chechnya does not confirm the information about Magomed Tokaev's detention.

The appointment of the new leader of "Imarat Kavkaz" – Aliaskhab Kebekov (Ali Abu-Mukhammad) was expected, said Mairbek Agaev, deputy editor-in-chief of the Dagestani weekly "Chernovik".

In Azerbaijan, local experts are unanimous in their negative assessment of the Crimea's incorporation into Russia. According to Vafa Guluzade, a former state adviser on foreign policy of Azerbaijan, "in fact, Russia annexed the Crimea by flagrantly violating the international law."

Twelve persons have gathered in Nalchik in front of the Investigating Committee (IC) to support the demand of Lamina Gulieva to receive the body of her husband Tengiz Guketlov, killed during a special operation on March 14, for burial.

On March 19, hundreds of people in Armenia again blocked the highway Ashtarak-Aparan demanding to remove machinery from the territory of the planned construction of a new hydropower plant (HPP) on the water supply line "Aparan-Yerevan".