News

February 21, 2009 05:00

• Court returns Politkovskaya's case to reinvestigation

  The Moscow Regional Military Court has returned the murder case of Anna Politkovskaya, observer of the "Novaya Gazeta", back to the Investigatory Committee at the Prosecutor's Office (ICPO) of the Russian Federation for reinvestigation.

February 20, 2009 23:00

• Lawyers argue on legality of cancelling jury in case on attack on Nalchik

  The experts interrogated by the "Caucasian Knot" diverge in their opinions on how much lawful the decision is to replace a jury for a panel of judges in the case on attack on Nalchik.

February 20, 2009 22:00

• OSCE blames Russian law enforcers for incompetence in Politkovskaya's case

  The problem of defending journalists in Russia needs addressing at the top level. This was stated on February 19 by Miklos Harasti, OSCE representative on freedom of mass media.

February 20, 2009 21:00

• In Armenia, advocates state forgeries in oppositionists' criminal cases

  The current trials of oppositionists, and behaviour of judges and prosecutors are evident confirmations that there are plenty of falsifications in materials of the cases related to events on March 1, 2008, in Yerevan, as human rights activist Mikael Danielyan, Chairman of the Helsinki Association, told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

February 20, 2009 20:00

• SC of Kabardino-Balkaria cancels trying attack on Nalchik by jury

  The Supreme Court (SC) of the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic (KBR) has upheld the petition lodged by Olga Chibinyova, head of the group of accuser, asking to cancel trial by jury of the criminal case on events in Nalchik on October 13, 2005. The Court ruled to send the case to the Chairman of the Supreme Court of Kabardino-Balkaria for appointing a panel of three professional judges to consider the case.

February 20, 2009 20:00

• "Memorial": verdict of acquittal on Politkovskaya's case is the failure of investigation

  The verdict of acquittal passed by the jury on Anna Politkovskaya's murder case has stemmed out from the unpersuasive position of the investigation, as the Human Rights Centre "Memorial" has stated.

February 20, 2009 20:00

• Red Cross distributes footwear and clothes among residents of South Ossetia

  The current phase of the mission of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in the Republic of South Ossetia, which started on January 28, has basically the form of distributing footwear and clothes among those who need them.

February 20, 2009 19:00

• After inspections, over 20 schools and kindergartens close in Krasnodar Territory

  After prosecutor's inspections held amidst the academic year, 21 children's educational establishments of the Krasnodar Territory preferred to get closed for capital repairs.

February 20, 2009 19:00

• Peter Semnebi meets ex-head of Armenian MFA, now figurant in "Case of Seven"

  Late in the evening on February 19, Peter Semnebi, special EU representative in South Caucasus, who is now in Yerevan, had a meeting with Alexander Arzumanyan, ex-Minister of Foreign Affairs, one of the defendants in the resonant "Case of Seven".

February 20, 2009 18:00

• Leila Yunus calls to hold her trial in the climate of openness

  Leila Yunus, Director of the Azerbaijani Institute for Peace and Democracy (IPD), has sent letters to the Yasamal District Court and the Supreme Court of Azerbaijan asking to hold the process against her, starting on March 2, in a large courtroom. She also insists on video recording of the hearings.

February 20, 2009 00:00

• Pliev: commission under Ingushetian President will work without Mutsolgov

  Self-withdrawal of Magomed Mutsolgov, leader of the "MAShR" Human Rights Organization, out of the commission for defence of human rights under President of Ingushetia will have no impact on its further work, as Musa Pliev, adviser of President of Ingushetia Yunus-Bek Evkurov, has announced.

February 19, 2009 23:00

• In Armenia, policemen clash with members of youth organizations

  On February 19, at about 3 p.m. local time, in the centre of Yerevan, the building of the Central Electoral Commission (CEC), policemen attacked participants of a protest action, in particular, members of youth organizations.

February 19, 2009 22:00

• Former Chechen separatist leaders: Maskhadov was ready to lay down arms

  On February 18, live on TV Channel "Grozny", former leaders of Chechen separatists told that Maskhadov was ready to sign an agreement on Chechnya's accession into Russia and placement of Russian military bases in the territory of Chechnya, while Berezovsky kept funding militants.

February 19, 2009 22:00

• One of three casualties of special operation in Ingushetia identified

  The power agents have identified the person of one of the three casualties suspected in participation in illegal armed formations (IAFs) killed in today's special operation conducted in Sagopshi village, Ingushetia.

February 19, 2009 21:00

• Case on mass disorders in Ingushetia sent to court

  The Supreme Court of Ingushetia has received a criminal case initiated against supposed participants and organizer of mass disorders that took place in the republic in January 2008. Maksharip Aushev, Musa Aushev and Ruslan Khazbiev are accused of committing crimes covered by Articles 212, 318 and 222 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation ("Organization of and participation in mass disorders, use of violence against officials and illegal circulation of weapons").

February 19, 2009 20:00

• Armenian MoD: the army dispersed oppositional demonstration under President's personal order

  The Ministry of Defence (MoD) of Armenia has published a statement in reply to accusation by the opposition about the army's illegal interference into events on March 1, 2008. The statement runs, in particular, that the pretext for as a basis for interference was the decree of the President of Armenia dated March 1, 2008, to introduce the state of emergency.

February 19, 2009 20:00

• Prosecution to appeal against jury's verdict on Politkovskaya's case

  Today jurymen have unanimously acquitted brothers Dzhabrail and Ibragim Makhmudovs, Sergey Hadzhikurbanov, former of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Pavel Ryaguzov, former FSB officer, who had been defendants in the murder case of Anna Politkovskaya, journalist of the "Novaya Gazeta".

February 19, 2009 19:00

• Abkhazian public wants Bagapsh's explanations on threats to Inal Khashig

  David Bagapsh, head of security service of Abkhazian President, expressed threats to Inal Khashig, editor-in-chief of the Abkhazian newspaper "Chegemskaya Pravda". According to Inal's colleagues, the threat was to follow Anna Politkovskaya's fate for Khashig's critical publications. The administration of President Sergey Bagapsh denies the threats, and the public waits for President's explanations and calls to maintain pre-election peace.

February 19, 2009 18:00

• Musa Daurbekov's relatives suspect ex-president's retinue

  The relatives of Musa Daurbekov, who was kidnapped and yesterday found murdered in Ingushetia, have confirmed their previous version about possible involvement in Musa's murder of Ruslanbek and Uruskhan Zyazikovs - security head of former President Murat Zyazikov and his father. The "Caucasian Knot" the correspondent was told about it by Salamkhan and Ahmet Daurbekovs, casualty's father and cousin.

February 19, 2009 18:00

• Call for effective measures to protect human rights defenders and put an end to impunity

  Press Release of the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders