News

February 19, 2019 10:55

• Blogger Lapshin reports new criminal prosecution in Azerbaijan

  Azerbaijan opens criminal cases against Alexander Lapshin for his calls for terrorism and actions against the state.

February 19, 2019 10:55

• Kadyrov announced return to work after course of droppers

  The head of Chechnya, Ramzan Kadyrov, has explained the appointment of Muslim Khuchiev as the acting head of the republic by his ailment (cold), adding that he has returned to office.

February 19, 2019 08:25

• Protesters against corruption in Abkhazia refuse to leave square at parliament

  The bill on adding the notion of "illegal enrichment" to the Criminal Code of Abkhazia will be considered at the next session of the parliament, Astamur Logua, an MP has announced. Astamur Kakaliya, the initiator of the amendments, has stated that the action will continue until the day of the session.

February 19, 2019 08:21

• Lawyers explain Khuchiev's appointment as acting head of Chechnya

  The temporary disability, by which Ramzan Kadyrov motivated the appointment of Muslim Khuchiev as the acting head of Chechnya, suggests Kadyrov's sick leave. The very fact of the appointment does not imply the decision taken about Kadyrov's successor, lawyers and a political analyst assert.

February 19, 2019 08:19

• Arrest of Dagestani blogger Alibek Mirzekhanov postponed

  The court has postponed the selection of a freedom restraint measure to blogger Alibek Mirzekhanov, detained within the case of a mass brawl in Moscow, until February 21. Alibek has an alibi; but he testified against himself under pressure, his relatives and defence assert.

February 18, 2019 23:43

• Stavropol activist complains about persecutions due to his sexual orientation

  Artyom Shitukhin, the chairman of the "Solidarity" LGBT Movement, has linked his dismissal from the higher school with his efforts to draw attention to the discrimination of gays in Chechnya; he also stated constant threats received by him.

February 18, 2019 23:03

• Week of February 11-17 passed without victims of armed conflict in Northern Caucasus

  There is no information about the casualties and victims of the armed conflict in Northern Caucasus, registered during the week of February 11-17, 2019. These are the results of the calculations run by the "Caucasian Knot" based on its own materials and information from open sources.

February 18, 2019 22:50

• Georgian political analysts are sceptical about Kadyrov's idea of border crossing

  The construction of a Chechnya-Georgia border crossing, proposed by Ramzan Kadyrov, promises no economic benefits, and will give no military-strategic advantage either to Russia or Georgia, experts say.

February 18, 2019 20:54

• Law enforcers set free two detained residents of Chechnya

  The detention of residents of the settlement of Tersky had to do with a discussion of the situation in Syria, their relatives have informed.

February 18, 2019 15:58

• Ramzan Kadyrov appoints his successor

  Ramzan Kadyrov appointed Chechen government's chairman Muslim Khuchiev the acting leader of the republic for the period of his inability to work.

February 18, 2019 15:55

• Backstage process of reconciling borders with Chechnya provokes Dagestanis' concern

  Experts, NGOs, and independent media should be involved in the coordination of borders between Dagestan and Chechnya, believe authors of the appeal to the authorities of the Russian Federation. The authorities should take into account the negative experience of work in Ingushetia, note Dagestani journalists.

February 18, 2019 15:52

• Arrest of athlete for beating wife recalls problems with domestic violence in Azerbaijan

  Azerbaijani kick-boxer Anar Suleimanov is arrested for 20 days for beating his wife. Domestic violence against women is widespread, and recently the attitude of the police towards the problem has changed, notes Mekhriban Zeinalova, the head of the NGO "Clean World". Every year 30-40 victims of domestic violence seek help, reports Novella Djafaroglu, the head of the Association for the Protection of Women's Rights.

February 18, 2019 13:01

• Week in the Caucasus: review of main events of February 11-17, 2019

  Attack on a Kuban journalist; strike of minibus drivers in Makhachkala; completion of the investigation into the "March 1" case and adoption of a new government programme in Armenia; events in Southern Russia on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the withdrawal of Soviet troops from Afghanistan, – see the review of these and other events in the Caucasus during the week of February 11-17, 2019, prepared by the "Caucasian Knot".

February 18, 2019 12:00

• Source links Mirzekhanov's detention with mass brawl in Moscow

  A native of Dagestan, Alibek Mirzekhanov, has been detained on suspicion of involvement in the brawl in the "Neolit" Cafe, a law enforcement source has informed. Mirzekhanov's subscribers have posted the hashtag #свободуалибеку (Freedom to Alibek) on the Instagram.

February 18, 2019 11:58

• Blogger Alibek Mirzekhanov disappears in Moscow after law enforcers' visit

  Alibek Mirzekhanov, a blogger, has disappeared after law enforcers visited his apartment in Moscow, where he lived with his family.

February 18, 2019 11:56

• Rally in support of person accused of double killing held in Beslan

  According to police estimates, over 400 people came to a rally in support of Oleg Khosonov, accused of the murder of Bichenov brothers in Beslan in June 2018. Oleg's relatives assert that his shooting was an act of self-defence.

February 18, 2019 00:00

• Robert Kocharyan's son accused of money laundering

  Sedrak Kocharyan, the elder son of Robert Kocharyan, the former President of Armenia, has informed that he is under recognizance not to leave, because of charges of money laundering and tax evasion.

February 17, 2019 11:31

• Chechen Muftiate announces novelties for pilgrims

  On February 15, Chechnya began receiving documents from those who wish to make a pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia. This year, it has been decided to increase the number of theologians who will accompany the pilgrims; and each participant of the Hajj will receive religious literature and will be able to bring home five litres of water from the holy source, the Spiritual Administration of Muslims (SAM) of Chechnya has announced.

February 17, 2019 11:19

• Rights defenders persuade Talekh Bagirzade to stop hunger strike in jail

  Talekh Bagirzade, the leader of the "Muslim Unity" Movement, has agreed to stop his hunger strike, the co-chairs of the Committee for the Protection of the Rights of Inmates-Believers (CPRIB), who visited Talekh in an Azerbaijani prison, have informed.

February 17, 2019 11:09

• Political analysts point to dying conflict around monument to Avagyan in Georgia

  After the protests, Georgian officials got convinced not to dismantle the monument to Mikhail Avagyan, a Karabakh War veteran, local politicians of Armenian origin have reported. The Georgian authorities will not let go of a conflict of the Armenian and Azerbaijani Diasporas, the political analysts interviewed by the "Caucasian Knot" believe.