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In 2008 in Russia, at least 87 murders were committed on motives of interethnic enmity and at least 378 persons were wounded as a result of racist attacks. These are preliminary figures of the "Sova" Information and Analytical Centre, which, in the opinion of the authors, will surely increase.

On January 2, about 40 persons rallied near the Israeli Embassy in Azerbaijan to voice their protest against Israel's actions of in Gaza Strip.

On January 2 at about 8:00 p.m. Moscow time a military was wounded in shelling of a security post at the building of the FSB Department for Ingushetia in Magas; and about 6:00 p.m. Moscow time in the city of Karabulak near a multi-flat house, an small-power explosive blew up, as a result of which an occasional passer-by was wounded.

Ecologists claim that many highly placed functionaries in Krasnodar krai are sure that "president himself" keeps the track of construction of the Sukko-Utrish highway on the territory of the resort town Anapa. The functionaries make a conclusion that the "project is going to be implemented in any case, whatever the protests of the community".

Today the first instance court of the communities Kentron-Nork-Marash in Armenia, chaired by judge Gayane Karakhanian, has granted the application of the investigation agency to extend the custody of Sarkis Atspanian, citizen of France who took part in the Karabakh war, by two more months.

Mamuka Areshidze, director of the "Caucasian Strategic Studies Center", has handed to the "Memorial" organization the request of Georgian authorities to locate captured soldier Sergo Melia.

The Georgian Labor Party has started to collect signatures for impeaching Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili. Shalva Natelashvili, leader of Laborites, stated at the December 29 press-conference that the parliamentary group of the party had started the procedures necessary for impeaching Saakashvili.

Sviatoslav Markelov, lawyer of Elza Kungaeva's family, has protested against the court ruling to release Yuri Budanov from prison before term. He has sent a complaint to Viacheskav Lebedev, chair of the Russia's Supreme Court, reports the administration of the Chechen Ombudsman to "Interfax".

The only charge count recognized by Ruslan Musaev, a suspect on the case of preparing an attempt to murder Ramzan Kadyrov, president of Chechnya, is forgery of a university diploma. This has been reported to the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent by Shamil Arifulov, Musaev's lawyer.

Broadcasting of the radio stations "Liberty", the "Voice of America" and the BBC on the local frequencies will be stopped from January 1, 2009. This decision has been taken today at the meeting of the National TV and Radio Council (NTRC) of Azerbaijan.

On December 25, the Supreme Court of Kalmykia granted the cassation appeal of Semen Ateyev, journalist of the newspaper "Sovietskaya Kalmykia Segodnia", with regard to protection of honor and dignity.

Aivar Bolov, deputy chief of RF department of execution of punishments for Kabardino-Balkaria, has categorically refuted information that prisoners from Ingushetia held in Nalchik pre-trial prison are harassed by the prison administration and are periodically placed to the punishment cell.

The Committee to Protect the Rights of Journalists has called on the Russian authorities to conduct a fair investigation of the attack on Zhanna Akbasheva in Karachaevo-Circassia.

84 residents of Zverevo, Rostov region, sent their applications to the European Court on Human Rights. This was reported to the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent by Valeri Diakonov, deputy of the Zverevo town Duma, one of the organizers of the protests by pensioner miners.

Today, during the session of Moscow military district court which was considering the case of murder of Anna Politkovskaya, columnist of the "Novaya Gazeta" newspaper, the defense lawyers of defendant Sergei Khudzhikurbanov has presented a proof that he was not at the spot on the day of the murder.

In Armenia, judge Mnatsakan Martirosian adjourned the court hearing on the "Case of Seven" and explained his decision by the defendants' contempt of court. In particular, when the judge entered the court room all the seven defendants continued to sit. The next hearing is appointed for January 9.

Three detectives are going to be tried in Kislovodsk, Stavropol krai, for abusing their powers and applying violence with regard to a lawyer. This has been reported to the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent at the press-service of the investigation department under the RF Prosecutor's Office in Stavropol krai.

Georgian authorities accumulate armored troops at the border with South Ossetia, reports the press-service of the South Ossetia Ministry of Defense.

Today, Chechen residents have held a second meeting in Grosny against the grant of parole to former colonel Yuri Budanov convicted for murdering Chechen girl Elza Kungaeva.

In Armenia, Judge Mnatsakan Martirosyan has interrupted a session of the process of seven oppositionists accused of a putsch attempt, having motivated his decision by disrespect for the court allegedly exhibited by the defendants. The following session was appointed on January 9.