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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".

An observation post of the Ministry of Defence (MoD) of South Ossetia was shelled today in the morning from the territory of Georgia. Two grenades were shot at the post from a grenade launcher.

In the afternoon on July 31, in the city of Urus-Martan, near the building of the district interior department, an explosion took place, wounding two local women. This became known to the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent from a source in the republic's power agencies.

Producers of milk from the regions of the South Federal District (SFD) are protesting against low purchase prices of their products, which for today, according to their version, are by ten percent below the production cost.

In the Astrakhan Region, in the territory of a closed territorial formation Znamensk, a mass fight burst out between Chechens and Russians with participation of 150 persons. The scuffle was accompanied by shooting and victims. The incident took place back on July 19; however, the information was concealed by local authorities and law enforcement bodies.

On July 31, the parliament of Georgia passed amendments to the law "On Broadcasting", according to which all foreign-made films should be dubbed into Georgian or provided with captions in this language prior to demonstration in the country; TV serials can be put on air only after translation into the state language.

The Prosecutor's Office of Ingushetia demands to cancel the conditional sentence passed to Salman Archkhoev, an employee of the Department for Housing and Utilities (DHU), accused of embezzling a huge sum of money, earlier by the Sunzha District Court.

On July 30, the Odintsovo District Court of Moscow arrested the suspected attempter on Isa Yamadaev, brother of Sulim Yamadaev, ex-commander of the "Vostok" special battalion. Inspectors are afraid that the unfortunate killer can be liquidated by his crime accomplices.

In Armenia, on July 30, another oppositionist left the underground and surrendered to law enforcement bodies. Gamlet Ovannisyan, a member of the Armenian National Congress (ANC), who was in search since last March, is going to prove that statements of the authorities on amnesty are deceptive.

Today, at the extraordinary session of the Parliament of Georgia, the deputies have elected Georgiy Tugushi, 32, to be Georgia's new 'national defender' (Ombudsman); he is also a member of the Committee of the European Union against Violence and has worked for five years in the Ombudsman's office. 88 MPs voted for him, and 8 - against.