News

August 13, 2019 14:44

• In Dagestan, date of Eid al-Adha raises questions to Muftiate

  The decision of the Dagestani Muftiate to schedule Eid al-Adha for August 12 seems to be controversial, since the last day of the Hajj passed on August 10, note residents of Dagestan interviewed by the "Caucasian Knot". Users of Instagram also found no logic in scheduling the holiday for another date.

August 13, 2019 14:31

• Svaneti activists protest to draw authorities' attention to erosion of family towers

  Local residents held a rally during which they demanded from the authorities to start the restoration of family towers in the village of Merkmeli affected by erosion. The old building will be put in order by the end of the year, reports the spokesperson for the National Agency for Cultural Heritage Preservation of Georgia.

August 13, 2019 14:21

• In Chechnya, Eid al-Adha takes place amid PR-oriented Kadyrov's charity action

  The Chechen TV Channel showed a story about distributing grocery sets and sacrificial sheep to the poor on behalf of the Ramzan Kadyrov's family. Islam does not welcome any PR steps using charity, notes Akhmet Yarlykapov, a researcher engaged in oriental studies.

August 13, 2019 11:19

• Khalvashi puts up "Rustavi-2" for sale

  On August 12, Kibar Khalvashi announced his intention to sell the "Rustavi-2" TV Company, explaining his decision by the company's debts in the amount of 70 million laris (almost USD 24 million) and the absence of his financial ability to maintain it. Mr Khalvashi intends to hold an auction and sell the TV company to the one who offers the highest price.

August 13, 2019 11:06

• Zoo defenders tell about a new wave of extermination of animals in Sochi

  Animals and birds in Sochi are poisoned, which endangers people too, local residents assert.

August 13, 2019 10:54

• Baku townspeople criticize prices for sacrificial cattle for Eid al-Adha

  On August 12, residents of Azerbaijan began celebrating Kurban Bayram (Eid al-Adha). Overall, 19 fairs have been organized in Baku for selling sacrificial animals. However, prices for sacrificial sheep are higher than recommended, buyers have complained.

August 13, 2019 01:13

• Kadyrov's threats alert journalists and bloggers

  Ramzan Kadyrov is able to realize his threats against commentators and bloggers; and after his statements some journalists will resort to self-censorship, Milrad Fatullaev editor-in-chief of the "Derbent" News Agency, and Rasul Asad, a blogger, believe.

August 13, 2019 01:03

• Karabakh soldier defects to Azerbaijani side

  Araik Gazaryan, a military serviceman of the Defence Army of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR), has defected to the enemy's side, the press service of the NKR's Ministry of Defence (MoD) has informed. The deserting soldier said that he had fled because of the lawlessness in his military unit, the Azerbaijani MoD has announced.

August 12, 2019 23:21

• Shevchenko retracts his statement about Kadyrov after Daudov's call

  Journalist Maxim Shevchenko apologized with restrain for saying that Ramzan Kadyrov had "given back" in the discussion about Imam Shamil. The journalist had to "take back" his judgment after a call of Magomed Daudov.

August 12, 2019 23:06

• Georgia estimates damage from Russia's air ban at 60 million US dollars

  In July, the Georgia's tourism businesses lost up to 60 million US dollars because of the ban on direct flights to Russia, reported Georgian Prime Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze.

August 12, 2019 22:51

• Grozny residents claim being obliged to attend football match on holiday

  In Grozny, leaders of public sector enterprises ordered their subordinates to attend a football match between the "Akhmat" and "Spartak" FCs on the first day of Eid al-Adha, public sector employees complained. The practice to oblige people to attend sports events is usual for Chechnya only, note sports journalists interviewed by the "Caucasian Knot".

August 12, 2019 18:37

• Law enforcers detain LGBT activists in Volgograd

  In Volgograd, seven LGBT activists were brought to police stations after they came to the square where an action sanctioned by the authorities was taking place, activist Vladislav Pogorelov reported.

August 12, 2019 18:28

• Chechen residents report growth of prices for sacrificial animals

  In Chechnya, the first day of the Eid al-Adha holiday was held amid the growth of prices for sacrificial animals.

August 12, 2019 15:32

• Week in the Caucasus: review of main events of August 5-11, 2019

  Celebration of Kurban Bayram (Eid al-Adha) in Southern Russia; CTO in Ingushetia; 20 years after militants' invasion into Dagestan and Ramzan Kadyrov's resonant statements on this occasion, – read about these and other events that happened in the Caucasus during the week of August 5-11, 2019, in the review prepared by the "Caucasian Knot".

August 12, 2019 13:51

• On August 5-11, 2019, one person fell victim to armed conflict in Northern Caucasus

  During the week of August 5-11, 2019, at least one person was killed in the armed conflict in Northern Caucasus. No wounded were reported. These are the results of the calculations run by the "Caucasian Knot" based on its own materials and information from other open sources.

August 12, 2019 13:40

• Nika Gvaramiya refuses to pay bail amount

  The defence will appeal against the decision of the Tbilisi City Court, which pronounced a pre-trial restriction measure in the form of more than 13,000 US dollars of bail against Nika Gvaramiya, the former general director of the "Rustavi-2" TV Channel, his advocate reported.

August 12, 2019 11:14

• Baku court denies Ismayilova's end of conditional term

  The Binagadi District Court of Baku has refused to satisfy the motion of the investigative journalist, Khadija Ismayilova, to terminate her probationary period of criminal punishment and to remove the conviction. She treats the court judgement as politically motivated and intends to appeal against it.

August 12, 2019 11:00

• Dagestani residents dispute on the date of Kurban Bayram

  The Muftiate of Dagestan has scheduled the celebration of Kurban Bayram (Eid al-Adha) on August 12, while in other regions it is celebrated on August 11, residents of Dagestan have complained. Their opponents have urged to trust local theologians.

August 12, 2019 10:48

• Exhibition draws attention to detentions of Georgian pre-border villagers

  The exhibition "No to Occupation!" that opened in Tbilisi at the "Puenteseko" Club is timed to the 11th anniversary of the August 2008 war. Experts spoke at the exhibition about the consequences of the war on the villagers who found themselves in close proximity to the demarcation line.

August 12, 2019 10:37

• For two years, investigators can't solve disappearance of Chechen singer Bakaev

  Two years have passed since the disappearance in Grozny of the 25-year-old singer Zelimkhan Bakaev. Investigators have no data about the fate of the missing singer; while residents of Chechnya are sure that Bakaev has long been dead.