By demonstratively refusing to attend the Victory Parade in Moscow, the President of Azerbaijan has underlined the geopolitical role of his country that has grown since the victory in the conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh and the desire to build relations with Russia only on an equal footing. Moscow is capable of responding harshly to the Ilham Aliev’s demarche, but the risks of such a development are minimal, Russian analysts believe.

Irakli Khufeniya, a resident of Zugdidi, who participated in protests against the policies of the “Georgian Dream” Party, has been accused by the Russian law enforcement bodies of calling for terrorism.

In Cherkessk, a court has sentenced Alexei Safonov, the former chief of the Stavropol Territory GIBDD (road police), who became well-known for his mansion with a “golden toilet,” to 20 years of imprisonment in a high-security penal colony in a case on multi-million-rouble bribes for cargo transportation in violation of the rules and regulations.

Said Amirov, a former Makhachkala Mayor, who uses a wheelchair, has filed several dozen lawsuits demanding to improve his custody conditions in the colony for life-sentenced prisoners.

Tourists have cancelled 60% of bookings at a large Anapa hotel; and they have already received more than two million roubles back. Employees of another hotel have confirmed that their bookings have dropped several-fold after the fuel oil (mazut) spill.

The Prosecutor's Office (PO) has requested six years of freedom deprivation for Grigory Melkonyants, a co-chairman of the “Golos” (Vote) Movement* in the case of organizing the activities of an undesirable foreign nongovernmental organization (NGO).

In the village of Leninaul, despite agreements with the local authorities, a Chechen mosque built in the 19th century has been demolished, village residents report.

A local resident suspected of participating in the kidnapping of a man in Yandar has been detained in Magas. The kidnapped man has also been found and hospitalized.

Actress Maria Shukshina spoke out in favour of renaming Volgograd to Stalingrad. Users of her Telegram channel expressed different opinions on the issue. Meanwhile, many Volgograd residents have noted the city needs to solve a lot of problems and renaming the city is not the main one.

Activists have collected twice as many signatures as they had expected to the appeal addressed to the administration of Russian President in connection with the disappearance of Chechen native Seda Suleimanova. The campaign covered more than 20 Russian cities and found a response, including among residents of Dagestan, Ingushetia and Kuban (Krasnodar Territory).

In the rural settlement of Yandare, six armed men have forcibly put a man into a car and fled.

At the request of his relatives, on the 40th day of his hunger strike, Tofig Yagublu, an Azerbaijani oppositional politician, has agreed to end his action, which he held in protest against his arrest and 9-year sentence awarded under a fraud case.

On the Day of Remembrance and Sorrow of the Chechen People, which is marked on May 10, the authorities of Chechnya emphasized the mourning for Akhmat Kadyrov. On the anniversary of the deportation, the day of February 23, residents of the republic continue to remember the people who fell victim to repression.

Military parades and processions took place in Kaspiysk, Vladikavkaz, Cherkessk, and Stavropol. In at least two cities, horsemen took part in the parade, and in Kaspiysk, “Akhmat” armoured vehicles were presented.

On May 9, members of the National Assembly of Nagorno-Karabakh, President of Nagorno-Karabakh Samvel Shakhramanyan, and activists from Nagorno-Karabakh public organizations visited the “Yerablur” military pantheon in Yerevan, where they laid flowers and wreaths at the graves of those killed in the Nagorno-Karabakh wars and military figures, a “Caucasian Knot” correspondent reports.

Mikail Ilezov, a Senator, and Magomed Malsagov, the republic's plenipotentiary envoy under the Russian President, have stated that the situation is under the control of the authorities of Ingushetia and the Vladimir Region. The position of the regional authorities was voiced out after the reaction of Adam Delimkhanov, a State Duma MP from Chechnya.

Today, the court that considers the case of the journalist Mziya Amaglobeli has questioned Irakli Dgebuadze, the head of the Batumi police division of Adjara, whom Mziya had slapped after being detained at a protest. Dgebuadze told the court how he experienced the pain of the journalist's slap.

Alexander Bogdanov, a resident of the Stavropol Territory, has been sentenced to 18 years in a strict regime penal colony on charges of involvement in a terrorist organization and preparing a terror act.

Mobile Internet shutdowns during the Victory Day celebrations are planned in Kuban (Krasnodar Territory), Rostov and Volgograd Regions, sources have reported. The MTS operator in Dagestan has warned subscribers about "temporary difficulties" with mobile Internet.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliev will not fly to Moscow for the festive events dedicated to the 80th anniversary of the Victory, the Russian presidential aide reports. Amid growing tensions in the Russian-Azerbaijani relations, an Ilham Aliev’s visit to Moscow would be critically perceived by the Azerbaijani society, a “Caucasian Knot” blogger notes.