News

May 12, 2023 18:34

• ECtHR recognizes violation of Astrakhan activist Tyurin's rights

  The European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) in Strasbourg has awarded Alexei Tyurin, an Astrakhan activist, a compensation for his persecution after a rally in support of political prisoners.

May 12, 2023 17:31

• Ingush activists claim at trial absence of proofs of their guilt

  While passing harsh sentences, the first-instance court failed to provide any proof of the defendants' involvement in an extremist community, Ismail Nalgiev has stated. In her turn, Zarifa Sautieva has stressed that she never spoke publicly; therefore, her charges of calling for something are unjustified.

May 12, 2023 17:17

• Contract soldier sentenced in Grozny for draft evasion

  In Grozny, the Garrison Military Court found contract soldier Abdulla Busazhev guilty of leaving his military unit without permission and sentenced him to two years of imprisonment.

May 12, 2023 17:12

• Zarema Musaeva refuses to testify against her son

  Investigators have tried to interrogate Zarema Musaeva, who is being kept in a SIZO (pre-trial prison) in Grozny, in a case against her son Baisangur Yangulbaev, but the woman refused to testify, Abubakar Yangulbaev reports.

May 12, 2023 16:58

• Journalist from Chechnya claims discrimination in Georgia

  Zhalaudi Geriev, a former "Caucasian Knot" correspondent, intends to appeal against the decision of Georgian border guards, who refused to let him into the country.

May 12, 2023 14:45

• Ingush activist Bagaudin Khautiev demands to cancel the verdict

  The prosecution has failed to provide any proof in the case of activists accused of organizing an extremist community and participating in the protest action in Magas, Bagaudin Khautiev has stated.

May 11, 2023 22:58

• Kadyrov's attitude towards POWs is contrary to Caucasian traditions

  The return of prisoners of war (POWs) from captivity back to the special military operation (SMO) zone and public apologies for their captivity became part of the intimidation of Chechen fighters, Oyub Titiev, a human rights defender, has noted.

May 11, 2023 20:44

• Targeted advertisements of PMC "Wagner" surprise Sochi townspeople

  Residents of Sochi, including those registered in other cities, have received targeted invitations to join the "Wagner" Private Military Company (PMC). It is not clear how the PMC had learned their names and addresses, Sochi residents have indicated.

May 11, 2023 17:03

• Human rights defenders report about detention of Chechen athlete by law enforcers

  World boxing champion Umar Salamov has been kidnapped by law enforcers together with residents of the village of Alkhan-Kala. The athlete has not been charged with aiding and abetting militants, but there is still no information about his whereabouts, human rights defender Oleg Orlov and Oyub Titiev report.

May 10, 2023 23:18

• Court refuses to cancel mobilization of two residents of Dagestan

  The military court has dismissed the lawsuits lodged by Sabir Khidirov and Musa Ashurbekov, residents of the city of Derbent, who had protested against the decision of the military commissariat (registration and enlistment office) to mobilize them for taking part in the special military operation (SMO) in Ukraine.

May 10, 2023 21:54

• Monument to Stalin's deportees opened in Kalmykia

  In the village of Shin-Mer, a monument was opened to members of the Begshen-Shebener family clan, who were deported to Siberia in Stalin's time and returned to their homeland in 1957.

May 10, 2023 20:11

• Chechen refugees suspend their hunger strike at Croatian deportation camp

  The staff of the deportation camp in Croatia and the supervisory authorities have ignored the hunger strike held by the refugees from Chechnya seeking political asylum in this country.

May 09, 2023 23:59

• Son of arrested Zarema Musaeva put on federal wanted list

  The Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) has put Baisangur Yangulbaev, a son of Zarema Musaeva, on the federal wanted list, the human rights project “OVD-Info”* reports.

May 09, 2023 23:57

• Chechen fighter apologizes to Kadyrov for surrendering to Ukrainian forces

  One of the Chechen fighters who returned from the Ukrainian captivity publicly apologized to Ramzan Kadyrov, who criticized militaries for surrendering to the Ukrainian forces. According to the fighter, he is waiting to be sent to the zone of the special military operation in Ukraine.

May 09, 2023 19:32

• Human rights defenders alarmed by lack of information about fate of Arsamikov taken to Chechnya

  There has been no reliable information for a long time about the fate of Idris Arsamikov, who was taken away by law enforcers from Moscow to Chechnya, the “SK SOS Crisis Group”* reports. This fact gives reason to worry about his life, human rights defenders point out.

May 09, 2023 19:26

• Resident of Nalchik accused of plotting terror act despite his complaint of torture

  A case against Nalchik residents Ibragim Beituganov and Dalkhat Akhkobekov, accused of plotting a terror act in a local department of the FSB, has been submitted to court. Ibragim Beituganov complained that he confessed under torture, his advocate reported.

May 09, 2023 17:56

• Stavropol resident arrested after criticizing SMO in Ukraine

  The Kursky District Court of the Stavropol Territory has arrested for 12 days a local resident, Arthur Abramov, who spoke negatively about Russians because of the special military operation (SMO) in Ukraine.

May 09, 2023 15:17

• Gadjiev's colleagues note Makhachkala townspeople's interest in his case

  The solo pickets held in support of Abdulmumin Gadjiev have interested Makhachkala residents and tourists, Magomed Magomedov and Idris Yusupov have reported. In his turn, Isa, one of Gadjiev's friends, believes that Makhachkala townspeople are apolitical; therefore, they don't come out to support the picketers.

May 08, 2023 23:32

• Week in the Caucasus: review of main events of May 1-7, 2023

  Persecution of pacifists and activists in Southern Russia, blockade of Nagorno-Karabakh, public activity of Ramzan Kadyrov, 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 May 1-7, 2023, prepared by the “Caucasian Knot”.

May 08, 2023 21:50

• Court refuses to dismiss Dagestani contract soldier, wounded in Ukraine, from army

  Alexei Tarasov, a contractor from the military unit stationed in Kaspiysk, who was wounded in the special military operation (SMO) in Ukraine, is seeking dismissal from service after his contract expires. However, the Southern District Military Court in Rostov-on-Don has considered his complaint and upheld the previous court ruling.