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On August 3, during the visit of President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliev to the Nakhichevan Autonomous Republic (NAR), independent journalists of the region were not let to the opening ceremonies of a number of social and economic objects.

As reported by the Georgian TV Company "Imedi", Russian militaries have detained 20 Georgians in the village of Otobaya, located on the Georgian-Abkhazian border.

Today, at about 4 p.m. local time, Arman Babadzhanyan, editor-in-chief of the oppositional newspaper "Zhamanak" (Time) was released ahead of schedule from his imprisonment in Armenia. Emma Gabrielyan, coordinator of "Zhamanak", told about it to the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent. According to her story, Arman Babadzhanyan is going to hurry up with his treatment; in particular, he needs a surgery.

Svetlana Gannushkina, chair of the public charitable organization for helping refugees and forced migrants "Civil Assistance" and the head of the network "Migration and Law" of the Human Rights Centre (HRC) "Memorial", who worked with the employee of the Chechen office of the HRC "Memorial" Natalia Estemirova on the last day of her life said that they discussed the issue of extrajudicial executions and punishments that take place in Chechnya with officials of power agencies of the republic.

By returning 11 years ago of Adugs-refugees from Kosovo Russia had improved its image in the world, as the cases, when expelled nations are brought home by the governments of the countries, from where they had been expelled, are unique, as stated by the first President of Adygea Aslan Dzharimov during celebrating on August 1 of the Repatriate's Day in Maikop, the capital of Adygea.

Stepan Safaryan, an MP from the parliamentary faction "Heritage" has sent an open letter to President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan asking him to release the veteran of the Karabakh War Sargis Atspanyan. He argues that the prisoner's father is dying.

The MIA of Chechnya has reported that during the incident on August 2 in Sharoy District, where an attack on motorcade with militiamen was accomplished, militants initially shelled the cars from grenade launchers, and then from automatic firearms. The MIA has also named five perished militiamen.

The militia of Nizhni Novgorod is now checking the fact of a mass scuffle that burst out on the VDV Day (holiday of airborne troops) between former commandoes and natives from the Caucasus in the Kanavin District of the city, as reported by an employee of the GUVD (Chief Interior Department) for the Nizhniy Novgorod Region.

Four local residents suspected of complicity to members of illegal armed formations (IAFs) have been detained in the territory of Chechnya during the last 24 hours, on August, 2-3, as reported by law enforcement bodies of the republic.

Today, at a closed session, the Nariman District Court of the city of Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, presided by Vugar Mamedov, decided to arrest Agasif Shakiroglu, leader of the youth coalition "Khedef" (Aim) for one month. The "Caucasian Knot" correspondent was informed about it by Bakhruz Guliev, Mr Shakiroglu's advocate.

The authorities have prohibited members of a number of NGOs to hold on August 6 a rally in memory of a well-known human rights advocate Natalia Estemirova, who was assassinated on July 15. Moreover, two members of the organizing committee of the action were summoned to the Prosecutor's Office.

The Prosecutor's Office of South Ossetia has handed over to the court the case of Fatima Margieva, activist of the People's Party, a teacher of history at the local state university, who is accused of illegal arm storage. However, as Ms Margieva told the Iron Тimes in her interview, she believes that she is pursued for her political activities.

Arman Babadzhanyan, editor-in-chief of the oppositional newspaper "Zhamanak" (Time), sentenced to 3.5 years, whose health causes concern in doctors, has declared his plan to go on hunger strike.

Inmates of one of correction colonies located in the Stavropol Territory were beaten by OMON (Anti-Riot Militia) fighters. The majority of the victims were natives of Chechnya and Ingushetia. This was reported to the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent by Aslambek Apaev, Director of the International Peacemaking Centre "Peace. Ecology. Culture".

A criminal case has been initiated in Dagestan against Radjab Radjabov, manager of the LLC "Evrostroykomplekt", on materials of the prosecutor's check and on attributes of using slave labour at a brick-works.

After cancellation of the counterterrorist operation (CTO) regime, Chechnya sees a splash of violence causing tough reaction of the authorities. To defeat the rebels, Ramzan Kadyrov tries to cut them off from their social base - support from that part of the population who are still helping the members of IAFs (illegal armed formations). This was stated by Ekaterina Sokiryanskaya, an employee of the Human Rights Centre (HRC) "Memorial".

Today, the Russian Ministry of Defence has stated that Russia will use force to defend residents of South Ossetia and Russian soldiers from Georgia's provocations.

Today, the Astrakhan militia has dispersed a rally of oppositionists, who gathered near the monument to victims of political repressions with posters: "Article 31 of the Constitution: right to speak and meet openly!", "You are personally wanted. Get out to streets, citizens!"

Azerbaijani officials have drafted a programme aimed to bring forced resettlers back to their homes in the territory of Nagorno-Karabakh, after the latter is liberated.

The armistice - stop of warfare against employees of power agencies, except for self-defence cases, announced by the government of non-recognized Chechen Republic of Ichkeria (ChRI) should come into force today in Chechnya. This initiative was put forward by Ahmed Zakaev, former emissary of Chechen separatists and now presenting himself as "the prime-minister of the government of Ichkeria in exile".