Week in the Caucasus: review of main events of November 25-December 1

Initiation of criminal case against Russia's ex- Defence Minister Serdyukov on negligence at construction of the recreation centre in Astrakhan Region; Georgia initials its Association Agreement with the European Union (EU); Azerbaijan signs visa simplification with the EU; abolishment of direct election of the head of North Ossetia; creation of territorial units in Dagestan and license withdrawal from Makhachkala "Naftabank"; conviction of journalist Reznik in Rostov-on-Don – look at these and other events in the review of the week from November 25 to December 1, 2013, prepared by the "Caucasian Knot".

Ex-Defence Minister of Russia is a figurant of negligence case in construction of recreation centre in Astrakhan Region

On November 28, the Investigating Committee of the Russian Federation (ICRF) opened a criminal case under the article of "negligence" against Anatoly Serdyukov, a former Defence Minister. It concerns the construction of the road near the recreation centre "Zhitnoe" in the Astrakhan Region, owned by Valery Puzikov, Serdyukov's son-in-law. The ex-minister refuses to plead guilty. On November 29, Vladimir Markin, the spokesman of the ICRF said that investigators may reclassify the charge presented to Serdyukov into "abuse of power", where the maximum penalty is 7 years of imprisonment. According to Mr Markin, the new charge will be filed after questioning scheduled for December 3. So far, investigators have disregarded the theft of natural materials and the destruction of a unique natural formation – the Baer Hill.

Georgia initials Association Agreement with EU

On November 29, in Vilnius, at the Summit of Eastern Partnership, Georgia initialled its Association Agreement with the European Union. So far, the 1000-page text of the EU-Georgia Association Agreement is classified and not subject to discussion, said a source from the European Integration Committee of the Georgian Parliament. It is expected that the Agreement will be signed in September 2014, as Irakli Garibashvili, the Prime Minister of Georgia, said on the eve of the Summit, which he treated as "a historic day for Georgia." He noted that Georgia had been negotiating with the EU for the last three years; while the Agreement itself is "the basis for the trade and trade-related issues"; and the European integration will provide the country with great opportunities for building democratic institutions, and ensuring the freedom and security of citizens.

Azerbaijan signs visa simplification agreement with the EU

The agreement on simplification of the visa regime between Azerbaijan and the European Union was signed on November 29 in Vilnius within the Summit of Eastern Partnership. The agreement provides for reducing the cost of visas (from 60 down to 35 euros); easing the requirements to the documents necessary for obtaining a visa and reduction of the number thereof; simplification of visa applications; reduction of the time for consideration of applications; and a broad practice of issuing multiple-entry visas for certain categories of citizens. The innovations will come into force, presumably, in the summer or early fall of 2014, as Makhmud Mamedguliev, a Deputy Foreign Minister, told reporters.

North Ossetia abolishes direct election of republic's leader

On November 28, the North-Ossetian Parliament approved, in the second and final reading, the bill on abolishment of the direct election of the head of the republic in favour of election thereof by the Legislative Assembly (Parliament). The bill was supported by 52 MPs, with three abstained and only six against. Now, North Ossetia is the third region of Northern Caucasus (alone with Ingushetia and Dagestan) to elect the leader by the vote of the parliament.

Creation of territorial districts and license withdrawal from Makhachkala "Naftabank" in Dagestan

The decree on establishment of positions of plenipotentiary presidential representatives in four territorial districts of Dagestan was signed by Ramazan Abdulatipov, the leader of the region on November 25. The decree has set up the Central, Northern, Southern and Mountain Districts. The plans to do so were announced by the leader back on November 20. Mr Abdulatipov then justified the need to move to a management scheme by the fact that Dagestan lacked clear district curators, who could regularly inform the leadership about the situation in the region. The initiative will entail no additional expenditures from the budget; and the envoys will have the status of vice-premiers or ministers.

On November 28, the Central Bank of Russia announced a revocation of the license on banking operations from the LLC "Naftabank Commercial Bank", registered in Makhachkala. The Deposit Insurance Agency has informed that the depositors of the bank will get the established compensations in the amount of up to 700,000 roubles; the payment thereof will start no later than December 12. The "Naftabank" is already under temporary administration.

Local journalist convicted in Rostov-on-Don

On November 26, Sergey Reznik, a Rostov blogger and journalist, who had earlier declared threats addressed against him, was found guilty on all the incriminated crimes and sentenced to one and a half years of a common penal colony. The trial on several articles of the Russian Criminal Code: "commercial bribery", "knowingly false denunciation" and "insulting a state official" was held by the Pervomaiskiy Court of Rostov-on-Don. Mr Reznik was arrested after the verdict right in the courtroom and taken to the SIZO (pre-trial prison). Immediately after sentencing, the journalist's lawyer Yuri Kastrubin called the verdict illegal and announced his intention to appeal against it. On November 27, Kastrubin filed a brief appeal complaint.