Week in the Caucasus: review of main events of September 9-15, 2024

Autumn elections in Southern Russia, captivity and disgrace, persecution of pacifists and activists in Southern Russia, mass brawl in Kuban, 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 September 9-15, 2024, prepared by the “Caucasian Knot”.

Autumn elections-2024 in Southern Russia

Experts interviewed by the “Caucasian Knot” believe that the elections in the southern regions of Russia were uncontested and were accompanied by voting violations, while the opposition was almost unable to achieve noticeable results anywhere, since there are no bright politicians in the regions. At all levels, these have been essentially “elections without a choice,” the experts emphasize.

During the elections in the southern regions of Russia, observers and party members filed complaints about violations. Voters from Kuban claimed being forced to vote. Observers from the Abinsky and Seversky Districts of Kuban, as well as from Gelendzhik, complained about ballot stuffing.

The current governors of the Astrakhan and Volgograd Regions, Kalmykia, and the Stavropol Territory retained their positions after the elections. The head of Ingushetia also retained his post.

Captivity and disgrace

In a video message posted on his Telegram channel, Apti Alaudinov, the commander of the “Akhmat” special forces, has stated that he does not intend to rescue from captivity the Chechen fighters who surrendered voluntarily.

Apti Alaudinov explained that he got videos in which officials of the Ukrainian special services gave prisoners of war (POW) the possibility to call to Chechnya and talk to their relatives. “And there was a direct instruction: ‘Tell Apti Alaudinov, he knows how to exchange us.’ When I heard those words, I was really furious ... Chechens have always considered surrendering to captivity to be the greatest shame. For a Chechen, this is such a shame that nothing can wash it away except his own blood,” Apti Alaudinov stated.

Persecution of pacifists and activists in Southern Russia

The Prokhladnensky District Court sentenced local resident Olga Rezanova to a fine of 15,000 roubles, recognizing her comment on WhatsApp* as discrediting the Russian Armed Forces.

A criminal case under the article on discrediting the Russian Armed Forces has been instituted against a 35-year-old resident of Nalchik. According to the investigators’ information, the suspect had earlier been brought to administrative responsibility for a similar offense, but in March of this year, the man again posted on a social network the information materials aimed at discrediting the Russian Armed Forces.

After a denunciation for pacifist posts in a chat for animal rights defenders, an administrative protocol on discrediting the Russian Armed Forces was drawn up against Denis Djalaganiya, a Kuban public inspector for the treatment of animals. On September 9, Denis Djalaganiya was summoned to the Tikhoretsk police for drawing up a protocol.

Mass brawl in Kuban

On September 7, a mass brawl took place in the village of Afipsky in the Seversky District of the Krasnodar Territory. The police detained 43 people. According to the sources’ information, the brawl occurred because of the inappropriate behaviour of visiting construction workers towards a young woman.

On September 9, the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) reported that 12 participants in the brawl, including 11 oil refinery workers from other regions and one local resident, were sentenced to arrests for terms ranging from two to seven days for failure to obey law enforcers. In addition, a native of Chechnya, whom investigators believe to be an active participant in the brawl, was taken into custody. The man has been charged with disorderly conduct.

Official data on natives of Southern Russia perished in Ukraine

By September 15, the authorities and the law enforcement bodies reported about at least 4882 residents of Southern Russia perished in Ukraine, including 2327 residents of the North-Caucasian Federal District (NCFD) and 2555 residents of the Southern Federal District (SFD).

In Dagestan, the authorities reported about 1004 local residents perished in Ukraine, in the Volgograd Region – 937, in the Krasnodar Territory – 550, in the Rostov Region – 545, in the Stavropol Territory – 478, in the Astrakhan Region – 371, in North Ossetia – 308, in Chechnya – 208, in Kabardino-Balkaria – 162, in Kalmykia – 92, in Ingushetia – 87, in Karachay-Cherkessia – 80, and in Adygea – 60.

*On March 21, 2022, the Tverskoi Court of Moscow banned the activities in Russia of the Meta Company, owning the Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, in connection with extremist activities.