Week in the Caucasus: review of main events of November 27-December 3

Confirmation of the Akhmed Chataev's death in Tbilisi; beginning of the trial in Azerbaijan against Gezyal Bairamly and Afghan Mukhtarly; false information about the death of Said Amirov, the former Mayor Makhachkala, – see the review of these and other events in the Caucasus during the week of November 27-December 3, 2017, prepared by the "Caucasian Knot".

Law enforcers confirm death of Akhmed Chataev in Tbilisi

During the past week, the law enforcement bodies reported the details of the special operation carried out in the Insan District of Tbilisi on November 22. In particular, the detainee, who, according to the Georgian Ombudsman, confessed to the possession of weapons, but denied the relationships with the persons killed in the special operation, has been identified as Russian citizen Said Dudaev. On November 29, sources reported that one of the killed suspects was identified as Guram Gumashvili, a native of the Pankisi Gorge. On December 1, the State Security Service (SSS) of Georgia disclosed the name of another killed suspect. According to the Georgian SSS, Akhmed Chataev, who was wanted in Russia and included in the US sanctions list, committed suicide bombing. Giorgi Gakhariya, Georgian Minister of Internal Affairs (MIA), announced that three killed suspects and detained Said Dudaev entered the country illegally. Meanwhile, Ian Kelly, US Ambassador to Georgia, reported that at the request of Georgia, FBI experts arrived in Tbilisi to take part in the investigation into the case on the special operation.

Azerbaijani courts start considering cases against Gezyal Bairamly and Afghan Mukhtarly

In Azerbaijan, the courts started trials to consider the cases against Gezyal Bairamly, the deputy chair of the Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan (PFPA), and journalist Afghan Mukhtarly. Rights defenders recognized them as political prisoners. Gezyal Bairamly was detained on May 25, when she was returning from Georgia, and she was accused of smuggling 12,000 US dollars. Afghan Mukhtarly, who lived in Georgia since 2014, claims that on May 29, he was kidnapped in Tbilisi and taken to Baku from there. He is accused of violating the state border, smuggling and rendering resistance to a border guard. At the court hearings held on November 30, judges dismissed the motions for the termination of criminal proceedings. A support group of about 100 people came to the court building, but not all of them could get into the courtroom to listen to the trial in the Gezyal Bairamly's case.

Said Amirov's death reported before trial of his case

Last week, a number of media reported the death of Said Amirov, the former Mayor of Makhachkala, who was serving his life sentence in a penal colony in the Orenburg Region. On November 29, advocate Rasul Abdutalimov met the convict. Said Amirov is conscious, but the medical assistance provided to him in the penal colony is insufficient, the advocate reported. He has noted that the rumours about the Said Amirov's death "always appear before the consideration of appeals in his case," and a court hearing for the release of the former Makhachkala Mayor is scheduled for December 6. In Russia's prisons, paralyzed disabled people sentenced for terrorism are never subjected to conditional early relief, noted Zoya Svetova, a journalist and a rights defender.

New Mayor of Pyatigorsk elected

On November 30, in Pyatigorsk, delegates elected Andrei Skrypnik the City Mayor. Earlier, he worked as the advisor to the department for implementation of public projects at the office for the presidential envoy in the North-Caucasian Federal District (NCFD). Prior to that, journalists claimed there was no real competition at the mayor's election. After the election, Andrei Skrypnik announced he would focus on improving the municipal budget and developing the tourist infrastructure. The new City Mayor should keep the resort facilities and stop construction in the city centre, stated residents interviewed by the "Caucasian Knot".

In Rostov-on-Don, deceived real estate investors go on hunger strike

On November 28, in Rostov-on-Don, 11 deceived real estate investors of the residential complex "Barrikadnaya" started a hunger strike and pitched a tent near an unfinished building. According to the protestors, since 2012, 265 people are waiting for construction of their apartments. At present, no construction works are underway at the site. On the other day, the protesters were met by officials from the Rostov city administration. However, the officials did not succeed in persuading the protestors to stop their action. This is not the first hunger strike declared by deceived real estate investors. In July, they demanded from the authorities to allocate funds to complete the construction of the building.