Young men carry Ramzan Kadyrov's portraits at the rally in his support. Grozny, January 22, 2016. Photo by the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent

08 January 2017, 11:04

Results of 2016 in NCFD: resonant attacks, echo of elections and human rights violations

The third term for Ramzan Kadyrov and tightening of pressure in Chechnya, scandals at elections and attacks on policemen in Dagestan, attacks on human rights defenders in Ingushetia, struggle against natural disasters and swine fever in Kabardino-Balkaria, pressure on activists in North Ossetia and the Stavropol Territory, these and other events took place in the years 2016 in the regions of the North-Caucasian Federal District (NCFD) of Russia.

Kabardino-Balkaria: case of caliphate, CTOs and after-effects of natural disasters

During the year of 2016, several resonant special operations took place in the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic (KBR). So, on January 5, the counterterrorist operation (CTO) legal regime was introduced in Nalchik, and law enforcers cordoned off a private house. As a result of the shootout, Alim Nakhushev, whom law enforcers treat as an accomplice of militants, was killed.

On October 9, in the Prokhladny District, two inspectors of the road-and-patrol service (known as DPS) were killed. On October 13, in the area of the village of Yanikoi, three out of four suspects were killed during a special operation. According to the National Antiterrorist Committee (NAC), they were plotting a terror act to be committed on October 14, on the anniversary of the attack on Nalchik.

The KBR repeatedly introduced periods of quarantine in connection with the African swine fever. The authorities offered farmers to completely abandon pig breeding.

In July, the Kabardino-Balkarian authorities introduced a state of emergency. In May and June, heavy rains and mudflows flooded villages, destroyed houses and roads.

In August, the North-Caucasian District Military Court began to consider a resonant criminal case against 10 residents of the KBR, accused of an attempt to create a caliphate with Sharia form of government. According to investigators, the suspects were members of an illegal armed formation (IAF).

In late 2016, the Kabardino-Balkarian authorities announced an increase in the region in the number of immigrants from of Syria. According to the authorities, at present, 1451 citizens of Syria stay in the republic.

Chechnya: struggle against dissent, attacks on policemen, third term for Ramzan Kadyrov

In Chechnya, the year of 2016 took place against the background of significant pressure on activists and local residents who expressed their dissent with the position of the authorities.

In April, Ramazan Djalaldinov published a video message to President Vladimir Putin. In his video appeal, the Chechen resident spoke about corruption in his village. Later, his house in the village of Kenkhi was burned down. In November, Ramazan Djalaldinov left Chechnya and claimed receiving threats from the authorities.

On September 1, Ruslan Martagov, a political analyst, disappeared. On September 4, it was reported that he returned home. Human rights defenders associated the disappearance of Ruslan Martagov with his criticism of the authorities.

On December 28, the Supreme Court (SC) of Chechnya upheld the sentence against Zhalaudi Geriev, a "Caucasian Knot" correspondent, who on September 5 was sentenced to three years of imprisonment on the charge of possession of marijuana. According to human rights defenders Oleg Orlov, Tatiana Lokshina, and Lyudmila Alekseeva, the decision of the Chechen SC proves the political nature of the criminal case against Zhalaudi Geriev.

In May 2016, in Chechnya, Magomed Karataev, Chairman of the Supreme Court of Chechnya, and three other judges resigned. Prior to their resignation, according to Ramzan Kadyrov, he was reported on violations committed during consideration of cases. On May 12, it became known that Magomed Karataev feared for the safety of his family members and left the republic. Takhir Murdalov became the Acting Chairman of the Supreme Court of Chechnya. In October, it was reported that Takhir Murdalov was beaten by Magomed Daudov, Speaker of the Chechen Parliament.

On April 1, law enforcers detained publicists Rizvan Ibragimov and Aslambek Didiev, whose books were condemned by Chechen theologians and authorities. On April 5, the publicists were released. Prior to their release, at the residence of Ramzan Kadyrov, they publicly apologized to the scientific community and religious figures of Chechnya.

On September 28, in Grozny, the authorities held a large-scale event involving several thousand people. More than 700 people detained on suspicion of distribution and consumption of narcotic and psychotropic drugs were brought to the centre of Grozny. Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov announced that residents of the republic involved in drug trafficking would be evicted from Chechnya together with their family members.

According to human rights defenders, in the year of 2016, the Chechen authorities increased their influence on Chechen Diaspora abroad by using the method of collective responsibility. In May, "The service for translations from Caucasian languages" published on YouTube the Ramzan Kadyrov's appeal to the Chechen Diaspora with threats.

On December 17, in Grozny, there were several attacks on the police, and the "Islamic State" (IS) banned in the Russian Federation claimed responsibility for them. It was reported that three law enforcers and seven suspected militants were killed. On December 30, participants of the gathering in Grozny refused to forgive family members of the suspected militants.

On May 9, two armed men attacked a checkpoint in Grozny. One of them committed a suicide bombing, and the second one was killed. According to the Chechen Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA), the attackers were identified as 28-year-old Shamil Djanaraliev and 25-year-old Akhmed Inalov. Earlier, according to the police, Shamil Djanaraliev had attempted to leave for Syria to take part in hostilities.

According to the official results of the election of the Chechen leader held on September 18, 2016, Ramzan Kadyrov was elected to the third term with 97.94% of votes. Local residents reported the falsification of the election results.

On May 26, 2016, the Supreme Court (SC) of the Chechen Republic found Ukrainian citizens Nikolai Karpyuk and Stanislav Klykh guilty of involvement in the first Chechen campaign on the side of the militants and sentenced them to 22.5 and 20 years of imprisonment, respectively. The Human Rights Centre (HRC) "Memorial" recognized them as political prisoners.

Dagestan: elections and human rights violations

In late 2016, militants enhanced their activities in Dagestan. In December, they committed several attacks on policemen.

The police continued to massive inclusion of supporters of non-traditional concepts of Islam in prevention registration lists.

It was also reported about kidnappings of young people and extrajudicial executions, which could involve law enforcers. On August 23, in the Shamil District, law enforcers killed brothers Nabi and Gasangusein Gasanguseinov from the village of Goor-Khindakh. Fellow villagers of the killed brothers claimed that they had no connections with militants.

The voting at the elections in Dagestan was accompanied with scandals and accusations of falsifications. Users of social networks reported stuffing of ballots. Ella Pamfilova, the chair of the Central Election Commission (CEC) of the Russian Federation, called Dagestan one of the most problematic regions during the elections.

Stavropol Territory: murder of Deputy Imam and pressure on activists

In 2016, in the Stavropol Territory, the death toll of religious figures increased. On September 26, on the road from Budyonnovsk to Kara-Tyube, unidentified people killed Ravil Kaibaliev, Deputy Imam of the Neftekumsk District of the Stavropol Territory. The Muslim community claimed that law enforcers put pressure on Ravil Kaibaliev before his murder.

It was also reported on the persecution of activists. The police detained participants of pickets for the rights of women, truckers' protests, and Svetlana Isaeva, a member of the Dagestan Public Oversight Commission (POCK).

The Board of Appeals of the Stavropol Regional Court closed the case against Kislovodsk Imam Kurman-Ali Baichorov, sentenced for drug possession, the consideration of which lasted since 2013.

Ingushetia: attacks on human rights defenders, attempts to assassinate religious figures through bombing

The great resonance was provoked by an incident which occurred on March 9 at the border between Chechnya and Ingushetia, where a minibus with members of the Joint Mobile Group (JMG) was attacked. Nine journalists and human rights defenders were injured. Besides, the headquarters of human rights defenders in Ingushetia was also attacked.

Other resonant events were a conflict involving religious figures of Chechnya and Ingushetia and a speech delivered by Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov who criticized Ingush theologians. In particular, on February 2, Ramzan Kadyrov declared that he prohibited conducting dialogues with Salafis.

Human rights defenders warned of danger of consequences of the conflict involving religious figures of Ingushetia and Chechnya. On March 11, a car was exploded in Nasyr-Kort. According to witnesses, the incident was an attempt to assassinate Imam Chumakov.

At night of April 4, in the Cossack village of Troitskaya of the Sunzha District, an explosion occurred near the house of Magomed Khashtyrov, Assistant to the Mufti of Ingushetia. No one was injured.

On May 5, the law enforcement authorities reported that an off-roader had been blown up near the house of theologian Ibragim Belkharoev. No one was injured in the incident.

North Ossetia: "Echo of Beslan" reflected by detentions and attacks

In Beslan, the annual ceremonies in memory of the victims of the terror act at the school No. 1 were accompanied by detentions of female activists of public organization "Voice of Beslan" and attacks on journalists.

On September 1, female activists came to the action in T-shirts with the accusations against Vladimir Putin. Six women were detained. They were sentenced to fines and community service.

On September 3, a group of young people attacked Ella Kesaeva, the leader of the public organization "Voice of Beslan", Elena Kostyuchenko, a staff member of the newspaper "Novaya Gazeta", and Diana Khachatryan, a journalist of the edition "Takie Dela".

In 2016, in Vladikavkaz, activists held actions in protest against the activities of the "Electrozink" Factory. During the protests, some activists were detained.

Karachay-Cherkessia: new term for Rashid Temrezov and attempt to eliminate local branch of "Adyge Khase"

In early 2016, in Moscow and Cherkessk, activists held actions with the demand to hold a referendum for the return of the direct election of the leader of Karachay-Cherkessia. However, on September 18, MPs of the Karachay-Cherkessian Republic (KChR) re-elected Rashid Temrezov, the leader of the republic, for a new term.

An important event was an attempt of the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) to eliminate the republican movement "Adyge Khase-Circassian Parliament". Circassian public figures saw a political subtext in the lawsuit filed by the MoJ. The MoJ refused the claim, and the court pronounced the decision to close the case.

Besides, there are also cases of detention of activists and members of religious communities. The "Public Verdict" Foundation claimed unlawful detention of its staff members engaged in shooting a documentary film in the capital of the republic. Circassian activists were detained in Moscow on the Adyg Memorial Day.

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