Policeman accused of kidnapping, arrested in courtroom January 26, 2005 23:59 The trial against Sergey Lapin (better known under the nickname of Kadet), who is suspected of kidnapping Zelimkhan Murdalov in 2004, is underway.
Probability of hostilities between Azerbaijan and Armenia under discussion January 26, 2005 23:58 The existence of regional interests and projects in the South Caucasus will not allow the resumption of hostilities, believes military expert Uzeir Dzhafarov.
Police encircle dwelling house occupied by rebels January 26, 2005 23:53 At about 9 p.m. on January 25, Kabardino-Balkarian police officers encircled a five-story communal house in the suburbs of the republican capital, Nalchik. Members of the extremist jamaat (society) Yarmuk are reported to be hiding in it.
Destiny of abducted Maskhadov's relatives still unknown January 25, 2005 23:15 Chechen authorities and law enforcers deny their involvement in the happening, and Maskhadov's relatives (as well as many people in Chechnya) are convinced that the abduction was organized by officers of the Chechen presidential security service.
Georgian, South Osetian hostages released January 25, 2005 22:55 On January 24, the Georgian and South Osetian co-chairmen of the Combined Control Commission for the Resolution of the Georgian-Osetian Conflict came to an agreement concerning the exchange of hostages.
US urges Azerbaijan to increase transparency of parliamentary elections January 25, 2005 22:53 Ambassador Stephan Minikes pointed to some positive moments. In particular, he mentioned the fact that the Azerbaijan Central Election Commission dismissed several people for violations committed during the municipal election.
IHF expresses deep concern for safety of abducted human rights lawyer January 25, 2005 12:27 The International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights (IHF) expresses its deep concern for the fate and whereabouts of Makhmut Magomadov who was detained by a group of camouflaged gunmen in Grozny on 20 January.
Bust of Stalin to be erected in Dagestani capital January 24, 2005 23:54 Members of the local branch of the Russian Communist Party along with their supporters unveiled a memorial board with a bas-relief of Stalin on the square in front of the Makhachkala station on January 20.
Political refugee arrested in Azerbaijan January 24, 2005 23:47 Being already an aged man, Saday Nazarov returned to Azerbaijan on January 11 after he had lived as an emigrant for 10 years in Czechia, where he had refugee status. The professor took on trust the authorities' statements about national reconciliation and resolution of the problem of political prisoners.
Combined Control Commission seeks release of hostages January 24, 2005 23:16 An extraordinary meeting of the Combined Control Commission for the Resolution of the Georgian-Osetian Conflict is being held in Tskhinvali, the capital of South Osetia. The meeting was arranged because the problem with hostages taken from both sides was to be settled immediately.
IHF expert abducted in Chechnya January 21, 2005 23:49 In the time of Aslan Maskhadov, Magomed Magomadov headed a group of investigators in the Chechen prosecutor's office engaged in investigations of cases connected with kidnappings.
Beslan residents continue their picket January 21, 2005 23:45 Beslan residents who suffered in the terror attack have been picketing the Kavkaz federal rout for the second day. "Our children lie in graves, and we'll lie here until Dzasokhov (president of North Osetia - editor's note) goes away," picketers said to a Caucasian Knot correspondent.
Chechen villages become deserted January 20, 2005 23:57 Russian soldiers purposefully extrude people from mountainous districts of Chechnya.
People in Beslan urge Dzasokhov to resign January 20, 2005 23:35 People who suffered in the terror attack in Beslan school 1 started a picket at about 10 a.m. on the Rostov-Baku road entering Beslan, North Osetia.
Situation worsens in South Osetia January 20, 2005 23:06 This morning, South Osetian law enforcers blocked the road Tskhinval-Dzhava going along Georgian villages.
Policemen do not hide implication in assault against journalist January 19, 2005 23:59 Sarmat Parastayev, a brother of director of the Center for Humanitarian Studies Alan Parastayev taken to the Gudushuari medical center in Tbilisi, Georgia, has reported that Alan was beaten by officers of the South Osetian Interior Ministry.
Azerbaijan can suffer from US attack against Iran January 19, 2005 23:55 Some time ago, the Arabian media reported that the United States was going to attack Iran from three directions: from Iraq, Georgia, and Azerbaijan. The Caucasian Knot correspondent has turned to Azerbaijan political scientists for comments on the issue.
IHF, FIDH indignant at kidnappings of Maskhadov's relatives January 19, 2005 23:15 Today, the International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights (IHF) and the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) have addressed an open letter to President Putin on the kidnappings of Aslan Maskhadov's relatives by Chechen enforcement agencies.
Chechen student's sentence to be appealed January 18, 2005 23:59 Vladimir Suvorov and Zezag Usmanova, the defense of Zara Murtazaliyeva - a resident of Chechnya convicted by the Moscow City Court on January 17, are extremely dissatisfied with the court decision. The court sentenced the 22-year-old student from Chechnya to 9 years' imprisonment.
Journalist sees political motives behind his beating January 18, 2005 23:57 Director of the Center for Humanitarian Studies Alan Parastayev supposes that political motives are behind his beating by officers of the South Osetian Interior Ministry on December 30, 2004.