News

June 18, 2009 23:20

• American observers in OSCE: elections to Board of Elders in Yerevan passed with violations

  The mission of American observers in the OSCE have fixed in their report essential violations admitted on May 31 in the capital of Armenia. In particular, observers report falsification of votes in the course of vote tabulation and violence against candidates' election agents.

June 18, 2009 23:10

• In Azerbaijan, court rejects journalist's claim against MIA

  On June 17, the Nasimin District Court of Baku, presided by Judge Ikram Shirinov, put a full stop in the trial on the claim lodged by Emin Guseinov, Director of the Institute for Reporters' Freedom and Safety (IRFS) against the police of Azerbaijan. The Judge found no grounds to satisfy the claim.

June 18, 2009 23:00

• Oppositionists who spent night in cages beaten in Tbilisi centre

  Today in the morning, near to buildings of State Chancellery and Department for Constitutional Safety of Georgia's MIA, several oppositionists, who spent the night in iron cells (cages) symbolizing transformation of Georgia into police state, were beaten. The opposition believes that the MIA was involved in this incident.

June 18, 2009 22:40

• In Ingushetia, trial on "Case of Twelve" will pass without jury

  The fate of 12 defendants, accused of the attack on Ingushetia in June 2004, will be decided by a board of three professional judges. This decision was made by the Republic's Supreme Court at the session on the case which held on June 17 in the city of Magas.

June 18, 2009 22:10

• Protesters against amendments to the law on NGOs to hold picket near the parliament of Azerbaijan

  Despite refusal of the Mayoralty of Baku to sanction a picket of the "Committee in Defence of Civil Society" (CDCS) on June 19 in front of Milli Majlis of Azerbaijan, this coalition will still hold a protest action against restrictive amendments proposed to the law on nongovernmental organizations (NGOs).

June 18, 2009 21:00

• Some 240 supporters of "Chernovik" are now at the building of Supreme Court of Dagestan

  Today, the Supreme Court of the Republic of Dagestan has held a trial on the claim lodged by "Rossvyazkonnadzor" (Russian federal agency for supervising communications) for Dagestan demanding to stop the newspaper named "Chernovik" (Blueprint). The employees of "Rossvyazkonnadzor" have stated, when asked by the court to present proofs in support of their claims, that they were not ready and asked to postpone the trial. More than 240 supporters of journalists have gathered at the court building.

June 18, 2009 20:00

• Advocate Brun Risnes: Khalidov was behind Chechens' attack on Kurds in Norway

  Ruslan Khalidov, who returned from Norway to Chechnya and publicly renounced his earlier accusations against President of Chechnya Ramzan Kadyrov of preparing murders of Chechens abroad, could be the organizer of Chechnya natives on the camp of Kurdish refugees in Norway in July 2008. Norwegian advocate Brun Risnes told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent about it.

June 18, 2009 19:00

• At Nalchik attack trial, district militiaman speaks positively about defendants

  Today, at the Supreme Court of Kabardino-Balkaria, at the session on the criminal case on events on October 13, 2005, Ahmat Ulbashev, district militiaman of Khasanya village, has presented his evidence and spoke positively about the defendants whom he personally knows.

June 18, 2009 18:00

• Four students earlier detained in Egypt deported to Moscow

  Today, four out of the group of Russian students detained in Egypt were brought to Moscow, as reported by advocate Murad Musaev. According to his story, three have already passed the customs control, in the near time the fourth one is expected. Maskhud Abdullaev, son of the leader of one of Chechen armed groupings, was late for the flight and will leave for Moscow tomorrow, on June 19.

June 17, 2009 23:40

• Khalidov who returned to Chechnya renounces his former charges against Kadyrov of preparing murders abroad

  Ruslan Khalidov has come back from Norway to Chechnya; earlier he accused President of Chechnya Ramzan Kadyrov of organizing murders of his political opponents. In particular, Khalidov asserted that Kadyrov had personally instructed him to liquidate Magomed Ocherkhadzhi, leader of the Chechen Diaspora in Norway. Now Khalidov has returned to Chechnya and publicly refuted all his former statements.

June 17, 2009 23:20

• Victims of mass fight in capital of Adygea report its national context

  The mass fight that burst out in Lenin Square of Maikop, the capital of Adygea, at night of June 10, was initiated by a well-known sportsman, champion of Russia in hand-to-hand fighting. Later, among instigators was an international master of sports in boxing. The "Caucasian Knot" correspondent was informed about it by one of the victims, who preferred to name him for safety reasons. According to his story, there was no direct reason for the fight. The attackers did not like the nationality of someone from his group.

June 17, 2009 23:00

• In Novorossisk, opponents of children's "curfew" complain of being pressed by prosecutor's office

  The court of Novorossisk (Krasnodar Territory) is considering the claim lodged by the Independent Non-Commercial Organization "Novorossisk Committee on Human Rights", which challenges the decisions of the prosecutor's office, which had accused the NCO of extremism. Vadim Karastelyov, an expert of this organization, complains of pressure, exerted by the prosecutor's office on him and his wife Tamara Karastelyova with the aim to force them to stop their actions demanding cancellation of the "curfew" for children.

June 17, 2009 22:10

• Woman from Stavropol Territory convicted for attempt to sell a newborn

  On Tuesday, June 16, the Promyshlenny District Court of the city of Stavropol sentenced a local resident named Tamara Konova, a local resident, who tried to sell a newborn child for 100,000 roubles.

June 17, 2009 22:00

• Freedom House calls Azerbaijan not to restrain work of NGOs

  The International Human Rights Organization named "Freedom House" has called the parliament of Azerbaijan to reject the draft of amendments to the legislation of the country, which, in the opinion of human rights activists, will restrict the opportunities of national and foreign nongovernmental organizations (NGOs).

June 17, 2009 21:00

• ICPO: in 2009, three persons were kidnapped in Ingushetia

  According to the Investigatory Department (ID) for Ingushetia of the Investigatory Committee at the Prosecutor's Office (ICPO) of the Russian Federation, in the first half-year of 2009, three facts of kidnapping were registered in the territory of the republic. Investigation of them continues.

June 17, 2009 20:00

• Georgian refugees in Dagestan ask Russian authorities to address their problems

  On June 16, in Makhachkala, a rally was held of resettlers from Georgia who had earlier lived in Tivi village of the Kvarel District of the republic. Participants of the rally prepared an appeal to President of Russia Dmitri Medvedev, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and President of Dagestan Mukhu Aliev with a request for help; otherwise the migrants want to raise the issue of their return to Georgia.

June 17, 2009 19:00

• Young women are still kidnapped in Chechnya

  Dozens of persons were eyewitnesses of the kidnapping of a young woman committed on June 8 by workers of unidentified power agencies near the bus station of the "Berkat" shopping in Grozny. They were shocked by the manner the "special operation" was conducted. They treat the actions of power agents as inadequate.

June 17, 2009 18:00

• In Armenia, 90 percent of participants in events on March 1, 2008, are covered by amnesty

  The amnesty will cover 90 percent of figurants in the case about events on March 1, 2008. Some of them will get at large; the prison terms for the rest of them will be reduced. Victor Dallakyan, Deputy of the National Assembly, told journalists about it today after the closed sitting of the parliamentary commission on state and legal matters.

June 16, 2009 23:50

• Azerbaijani youth organizations voice against amendments to Law on NGOs

  Today, a group of independent youth organizations of Azerbaijan have adopted an appeal to the country's president, parliament and broad public, and to international organizations, calling them to prevent the changes in the legislation, aimed to restrict the activities of NGOs.

June 16, 2009 23:40

• Aslambek Apaev: human rights defence is a dangerous business in Northern Caucasus

  Activists of public organizations and human rights activists, who work in Northern Caucasus, are exposed to serious risk. This is the opinion of Aslambek Apaev, a Chechen human rights activist, expert of the Moscow Helsinki Group for Northern Caucasus and chairman of the Committee in Defence of Rights of Forced Migrants.