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In the Russian regions, xenophobic sentiments are intensifying. Moreover, authorities, staff members of state institutions and media also adhere to them. This was stated by human rights defenders from the Northern Caucasus in their appeal to Mikhail Fedotov, Chairman of the Council for Civil Society Development and Human Rights under the President of the Russian Federation.

Natiq Adilov, a reporter of the newspaper "Azadlyg" (Freedom) and a staff member of the press service of the Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan (PFPA), has received a warning from the Prosecutor's Office in connection with his critical publications in the media and social networks. The journalist has been warned that if he continues his activity, he will be prosecuted.

In Yerevan, the rally of veterans of the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh was attended by about 200 persons. Participants of the action have claimed the need for the resignation of the president and the government of the country, the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent reports.

On Thursday, December 5, at the Baku Court of Grave Crimes, which tries seven activists of the "Nida" Movement and Ilkin Rustamzade, a member of the "Free Youth" Movement, the defendants refused to testify, saying that they would speak only after consideration of proofs and hearing the evidence of the prosecution witnesses.

During Hanukkah celebration in Tbilisi, a group of 10 persons has attempted to disrupt the lighting of candles, which should have been executed by President of Georgia Georgy Margvelashvili. Two of the participants of the incident were detained by the police, the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent reports.

The All-Russian Public Movement "Civil Dignity" has run a contest among the non-profit organizations (NPOs) involved in human rights activities for governmental grants. The winners are 124 projects from 47 regions of Russia; 13 of them were presented by the NPOs working in the Southern and North-Caucasian Federal Districts (SFD and NCFD).

Russian authorities have transferred Professor Mikhail Savva, a Krasnodar activist and director of grant programmes of the Southern Regional Resource Centre (SRRC), from custody under home arrest; however, they should drop the politically motivated charges against him, says the Human Rights Watch (HRW).

The international non-governmental organization Amnesty International (AI) has refused to boycott the Winter Olympics in Sochi. However, the human rights centre continues believing that the situation with the restriction of rights and freedoms in Russia has worsened, said Imke Dirsen, the head of the German branch of the AI.

On December 5, the Organizing Committee of the Winter Games in Sochi presented Sochi 2014 Volunteer Team, comprised of 25,000 volunteers from 26 volunteer centers across Russia. About 2,000 volunteers will come from foreign countries.

Professor Mikhail Savva, accused of embezzling 360,000 roubles during holding researches under the grant money, will be kept under home arrest until February 3. He is forbidden to leave the apartment and communicate with his daughter and grandson, said his wife.

For the second day already, a special operation to search for members of the armed underground is on in the vicinity of the village of Shalazhi, Urus-Martan District, in the foothill area of Chechnya; however, with no results.

The problems of free movement and employment are the main obstacles for integration of Nagorno-Karabakh invalids into the society: people with disabilities cannot find jobs, while streets and buildings are not provided with technical appliances for their easy movement, says Artak Beglaryan, an assistant to the Premier of Nagorno-Karabakh and a Category I invalid himself.

The guilt of the Azerbaijani lawyer Gurban Mamedov of committing a road accident with bodily harm has not been proved by investigators, while the allegations of bribing the victim are baseless, said Mamedov's advocates. The trial could have been initiated for political reasons, said the observer Tofig Tyurkel.

Aslan Cherkesov is in the intensive care unit of the prison hospital of the IK-17, Krasnoyarsk Territory. The "Caucasian Knot" correspondent has learnt about it from the lawyer Baizanat Selmurzaeva, who is representing Cherkesov's interests.

The magistrate court of the Kazbek District of Dagestan has ruled on the case of the local resident Shamil Salatgereev, accused of stealing 1560 roubles, sentencing him to six months of corrective labour with deduction of 5% of his salary. The policemen, whom Shamil Salatgereev accused of torturing him, are still unpunished, said his advocate Sapiyat Magomedova.

As reported by the press service of the MIA of Dagestan, the Makhachkala-based Children's Club "Amanat" belongs to the Salafi community and is engaged in educational activities, for which it has no right. In its turn, the club administration argues that the policemen themselves violated the law by not allowing children to attend school art classes, which are not subject to licensing.

On December 11, Abdula Abduraev, a villager of Kharachi, Untsukul District of Dagestan, was detained at the entrance to the village of Khalimbekaul, Buynask District of Dagestan, and taken away to some unknown place, his relatives report. The police have not confirmed his detention.

During his trial under the embezzlement case, Professor Mikhail Savva will be under home arrest, the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent reports. Let us remind you that Mikhail Savva was detained on April 12; and on November 29 his advocate Marina Dubrovina said that she saw no reason to extend the term of his arrest. However, on that day, the court ruled to extend his arrest till January 30, 2014.

In the city of Novocherkassk, Rostov Region, a court hearing on the recognition of the "Women of the Don" Union to be a foreign agent, scheduled for today, has been rescheduled for December 11 due to new claims lodged by the Prosecutor's Office, said Valentina Cherevatenko, the Union leader.

The Lenkoran District Court of Azerbaijan has finished the judicial investigation into the case of Yadigyar Sadygov, an advisor to the chairman of the "Musavat" Party, accused of hooliganism.