News

July 28, 2009 21:00

• Meeting on prevention of conflicts between Georgia and Abkhazia ends in Gali

  A second five-party meeting on preventing conflicts and investigating incidents at the border of Georgia and Abkhazia has taken place today in the border town of Gali.

July 28, 2009 21:00

• Peter Gabriel sings a song dedicated to human rights activist Natalia Estemirova murdered in Chechnya

  Peter Gabriel, well-known singer from the United Kingdom and former leader of the group Genesis, paid tribute to the memory of Natalia Estemirova, Chechen human rights activist and journalist, while singing on Saturday, July 25, at the musical festival WOMAD in England.

July 28, 2009 20:00

• Nominations to ombudsman's post moved in Georgia

  Today, nominations to the post of ombudsman have been moved in the Georgian parliament. The parliament majority party "United National Movement for Flourishing Georgia" has nominated lawyer Georghi Tkhugushi, member of the European Committee against Violence who has been working in the ombudsman's office for five years.

July 28, 2009 19:00

• Abdurakhmanov: human rights activists who want Kadyrov to resign work off Western grants

  The actions of the human rights activists who demand dismissal of Рamzan Kadyrov from the post of Chechen president after the murder of Natalia Estemirova, employee of "Memorial" human rights center, meet geopolitical interests of the West. This has been stated by Dukvakha Abdurakhmanov, chair of Chechen parliament.

July 28, 2009 18:00

• Tabuyeva: architectural monuments of Tskhinval must be restored, not pulled down

  In the course of restoring the Jewish quarter of Tskhinval, capital of South Ossetia, the builders pull down houses which are part of the architectural reserve. This has been reported to the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent by Nelli Tabuyeva, head of monument protection section at the South Ossetia Ministry of Culture.

July 27, 2009 23:50

• Week in the Caucasus: main events in July 20-26

  Consequences of the murder of human rights activist Natalia Estemirova, new kidnappings and murders in "hop spots" of North Caucasus, visit of US vice-president Joseph Biden and subsequent decisions of the authorities and opposition, new manifestations of fight against freedom of thought in Azerbaijan - look up these events in the review of the week from July 20 to 26 prepared by the "Caucasian Knot".

July 27, 2009 23:30

• Kasrelishvili: there are about forty militants in Georgia ready for transfer to Chechnya

  There are about forty militants in Pankisi Gorge in Georgia near the Chechen border, who have gathered here for transfer to Chechnya and Ingushetia, states Zaal Kasrelishvili, chair of the Confederation of Caucasus Nations. In providing this information, Kasrelishvili refers to the data of the internal security service of the Confederation and the information of its supporters from Europe, Asia and North Caucasus.

July 27, 2009 23:10

• Ecologists to dispute the approval of Sochi master plan

  The Ecological Watch on North Caucasus intends to file law suits at "appropriate instances" in order to dispute the decision of the Sochi city assembly which approved the city development master plan on July 14. According to Dmitry Kaptsov, deputy coordinator of the organization, the master plan contains elements which threaten the environmental safety of the city.

July 27, 2009 23:00

• Akhmed Zakayev calls on Chechen separatists to stop armed resistance

  Akhmed Zakayev, one of the leaders of Chechen separatists has announced that the leadership of the unrecognized Chechen Republic of Ichkeria has taken a decision to stop armed actions against Chechen militia from August 1. According to him, the decision is the result of the meeting of Zakayev with Dukvakha Abdurakhmanov, chair of Chechen parliament.

July 27, 2009 22:10

• Chechen MoIA doubts that terrorist act in Grozny was planned against Kadyrov

  The Chechen MoIA expresses doubt that the terrorist who exploded himself on July 26 near the concert hall could initially plan an attempt on the life of Ramzan Kadyrov. The militia officer who has given the information to the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent thinks that the Chechen president is well protected.

July 27, 2009 22:00

• Health condition of "Voice of Talysh" editor imprisoned in Azerbaijan deteriorates

  The health condition of Novruzali Mamedov, head of Talysh cultural center and chief editor of the newspaper "Tolyshi Sado" ("Voice of Talysh") in Azerbaijan, convicted for 10 years of imprisonment on the charge of treason, has sharply deteriorated.

July 27, 2009 21:10

• Relatives of suspected militants killed in Chechnya are prohibited to have commemoration ceremony

  The families of the suspected members of illegal armed units killed last Saturday, July 25, in Urus-Martan district of Chechnya have been handed over the bodies but forbidden to conduct the ceremony of commemoration (tezet).

July 27, 2009 21:00

• Residents of Khasaviurt intend to block road unless suspects of murdering Umakhanov are released

  Residents of Khasaviurt in Dagestan promise to block the "Kavkaz" highway once again unless the investigators fulfill their promise to release the suspects of murdering Magomed Umakhanov, son of Akhmedpashi Umakhanov, Dagestan National Assembly deputy and the nephew of the Khasaviurt leader.

July 27, 2009 19:00

• Kadyrov calls the terrorist act in Grozny an indication of agony of militants

  Streets of the town will be named after the militiamen who perished during the recent terrorist act in Grozny. This was announced today by Chechen president Ramzan Kadyrov who calls the terrorist act an indication of the agony of militants and an abortive attempt to draw away the forces of the law enforcement bodies from the region where the special operation was conducted.

July 27, 2009 18:00

• Persons convicted for mass poisoning of children in Stavropol Krai appeal against sentence

  The persons convicted for mass poisoning of children in the town of Lermontovo, Stavropol Krai, have filed a cassation appeal against the ruling of the first instance court, as reported by the Lermontov prosecutor's office.

July 25, 2009 20:00

• A Forum of youth protesting against arrest of bloggers held in Azerbaijan

  Today, activists of youth and public organizations of Azerbaijan have held a Forum of protests against the arrest of bloggers Adnan Gadzhizade and Emin Milli. About 50 activists have gathered at the business-center Landmarke for working out a unified strategy and tactics to defend the rights of Gadzhizade and Milli.

July 25, 2009 19:00

• Bank account open to help daughter of Natalia Estemirova

  Human rights activists have decided to help Lana Estemirova, daughter of their colleague Natalia Estemirova murdered on July 15. A bank account has been opened where volunteers may transfer money for the 15-year-old Lana.

July 25, 2009 17:00

• Imprisoned oppositionist in Armenia develops health problems

  The health of Tigran Arakelian, arrested member of opposition Armenian National Congress (ANC), is exceedingly grave, he needs serious treatment, claims his lawyer Vardui Elbakian. The oppositionist has been in prison hospital for 10 days.

July 25, 2009 14:00

• Azeri authorities cut the number of municipalities

  A process of enlarging municipalities by merging them is under way in Azerbaijan. The respective law was approved by Ilkham Aliyev, Azeri president, on July 23. According to the document, the number of self-government bodies is to be cut from 2,757 to 1,764.

July 25, 2009 12:00

• EU observers' mandate in Georgia extended for a year

  The mandate of the European Union mission of observers (EUOM) in Georgia has been extended for one year, the appropriate decision has been made at the EU ministerial in Brussels.