Week in the Caucasus: review of main events of June 10-June 16, 2024

Eid al-Adha in the Caucasus, parliament of South Ossetia, Georgian vetoes, persecution of pacifists and activists in Southern Russia, sky over Rostov-on-Don, and official data on the natives of Southern Russia who perished in Ukraine, – see the review of these and other events in the Caucasus during the week of June 10-June 16, 2024, prepared by the “Caucasian Knot”.

Eid al-Adha in the Caucasus

On June 16, thousands of Muslims gathered for collective prayers in mosques in Southern Russia and republics of Northern Caucasus on the occasion of Eid al-Adha, and the authorities organized festive events. For the first time during 32 years, the distribution of meat from sacrificial animals was organized by the Azerbaijani authorities in the city of Shusha. In Makhachkala, on the eve of the Eid al-Adha holiday, prices for lamb almost doubled compared to last year, city residents say.

Parliament of South Ossetia

Massive violations were recorded during the parliamentary elections in South Ossetia, in particular, transportation and bribery of voters. The most blatant case was the substitution of ink at a polling station in Vladikavkaz, the “United Ossetia” Party claimed. Party representatives announced that they would not participate in the work of the parliament until the voting results at the polling station in North Ossetia were revised. On June 12, the “United Ossetia” Party requested the Central Election Commission to recount votes, pointing out that the Communist Party, which received two seats in parliament as a result of the elections, did not actually overcome the 7% threshold.

The Central Election Commission (CEC) of South Ossetia released the final election results, according to which each of the “United Ossetia” and “Nykhas” Parties received six seats in parliament, the “People’s Party” received three seats, and the Communist Party – two seats in parliament.

Georgian vetoes

On June 14, Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili blocked amendments to the Electoral Code of Georgia adopted by the country’s parliament, providing the reduction in the required number of votes required for making decisions by the Central Election Commission.

The amendments to the Electoral Code of Georgia involve reducing the required number of votes required for making decisions by the Central Election Commission. In particular, instead of 2/3 of the votes from members of the Central Election Commission (CEC), the amendments will allow decisions to be made by a simple majority of votes. And at the same time, parties no longer have to reach consensus, which gives the ruling “Georgian Dream” Party an advantage when making decisions, the press service for the President of Georgia declares.

This is the third law vetoed by the President of Georgia this year. Earlier, members of the Georgian parliament refused to approve Salome Zurabishvili’s remarks and overcame the president’s veto with a majority vote.

The amendments to the Election Code of Georgia infringe on the opposition and give the country’s authorities the opportunity to influence elections. When commenting on the president’s veto of the draft law amending the Electoral Code of Georgia, Georgian oppositionists noted that the organization of elections should comply with the political consensus.

Persecution of pacifists and activists in Southern Russia

The Akhtubinsky District Court fined local resident Yuri Novak 10,000 roubles under the administrative article on inciting hatred. The case came to court in May, but then the court returned the protocol to the police, indicating that it mentioned the article on discrediting the Russian Armed Forces.

On June 12, the police conducted a search at an apartment of Volgograd activist Vladimir Telpuk. Law enforcers explained the search by an investigation into the case against Yevgeniy Kochegin, a former coordinator of a Navalny’s office.

Sky over Rostov-on-Don

Since the start of the special military operation (SMO) in Ukraine, the territory of the Rostov Region has been regularly subjected to drone attacks. On June 14, Governor of the Rostov Region Vasily Golubev announced that as a result of a new drone attack in the Morozovsky District, the power supply was disrupted. “Several villages and towns are hit by the shutdown,” the Governor of the Rostov Region wrote in his Telegram channel. According to the Governor’s report, the Rostov Region was subjected to a massive drone attack. “The drones were destroyed in the area of several villages and towns in the region. According to the preliminary information, there are no casualties,” the Governor’s report states.

On the other day, several drones were shot down not far from Kamensk-Shakhtinsky. The drone fragments fell on the industrial site, but there were no casualties, Governor Golubev noted.

Official data on natives of Southern Russia perished in Ukraine

By June 16, the authorities and the law enforcement bodies reported about at least 4213 residents of Southern Russia perished in Ukraine, including 2069 residents of the North-Caucasian Federal District (NCFD) and 2144 residents of the Southern Federal District (SFD).

In Dagestan, the authorities reported about 923 local residents perished in Ukraine, in the Volgograd Region – 779, in the Rostov Region – 457, in the Krasnodar Territory – 445, in the Stavropol Territory – 396, in the Astrakhan Region – 325, in North Ossetia – 290, in Chechnya – 191, in Kabardino-Balkaria – 145, in Kalmykia – 81, in Ingushetia – 63, in Karachay-Cherkessia – 61, and in Adygea – 57.