Week in the Caucasus: review of main events of April 7-13

End of trial on terror act in Vladikavkaz and start of hearing Said Amirov's case by North-Caucasian District Military Court in Rostov-on-Don; two high-profile murders and action in support of tried Makhachkala Mayor held in Dagestan, – see the review of these and other events in the Caucasus during the week of April 7-13, 2014, prepared by the "Caucasian Knot".

Rostov-on-Don: end of trial on terror act in Vladikavkaz and start of trying Said Amirov

On April 9, the North-Caucasian District Military Court in Rostov-on-Don passed its verdict on the case dealing with crimes committed in Ingushetia and North Ossetia, including the terror act on September 9, 2010, in the Central Marketplace of Vladikavkaz, which killed 20 people. All the defendants were found guilty. Issa Khashagulgov, believed by investigators to be one of the leaders of Ingush militants and organizer of a series of very grave crimes, was sentenced to life imprisonment in a special security colony. Magomed Daurbekov and Mikail Khashagulgov were sentenced to 14 years in prison each, Khizar Daurbekov – to 24 years and Yusup Dzangiev – to 20 years of high security colony. Their lawyers disagreed with the verdict and intend to appeal against it.

On April 11, the same court held – behind closed doors – the preliminary hearing of the case of Said Amirov, the Mayor of Makhachkala, who was temporarily removed from office, and his nephew Yusup Djaparov, the former Deputy Head of Kaspiysk, who are charged with preparing a terror act with the use of a man-portable air defence missile system "Strela- 2M". The court upheld the defendant previous freedom restraint measure – arrest – and appointed the first session of the court for April 24.

Dagestan: two resonant murders and action in support of Said Amirov

Last week, two high-profile murders were committed in Dagestan. On April 10, in the village of Nechaevka, Kizilyurt District, Magomed Zakaryaev, a 32-year-old madrassa teacher and local Imam, was shot dead. Unidentified masked men shelled the religious leader in the yard of his house. Investigators suggest that Zakaryaev could be killed by members of illegal armed formations (IAFs) because of his religious activities, since he called to counteract extremism and Wahhabism.

On April 7, in Makhachkala, Magomeddibir Murtazaliev, the manager of the local branch of the OJSC "Rosselkhozbank", was found murdered. A grenade was planted into his hand, which was defused by sappers. Khanpasha Isaev, a resident of Makhachkala, was detained on suspicion of committing this murder; and, according to a source from law enforcement bodies, he made a confession. Initially, his service activities were thought to be the motive; now, investigators believe that some monetary debt could cause the murder – this is now the main version.

On April 12, supporters of the Makhachkala Mayor Said Amirov held a rally in the capital of Dagestan, which was not coordinated with the authorities. According to the local Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA), policemen managed to persuade the protesters to stop the action, and the streets were unblocked. According to various sources, the rally was attended by 500-2000 people. After the rally, 22 of them were taken to the police station.

North Ossetia: mass protest of Maiskoe villagers after detention of their relatives

On April 10 and 11, relatives of residents of North Ossetia Aliskhan Gurazhev and Mustafa Barkinkhoev, detained by law enforcers, twice blocked the Federal Highway "Kavkaz", demanding their release. The action, according to an eyewitness, was attended by up to 400 people. Employees of the MIA and OMON (riot police) fighters dispersed the action by use of force and detained 16 people. Later, seven of them were arrested for 48 hours.

Meanwhile, the court ruled to arrest Aliskhan Gurazhev and Mustafa Barkinkhoev, who are suspected of illegal possession of drugs, ammunition and firearms. Their relatives claim that the case against the men was fabricated.

Armenia: Speaker becomes Prime Minister

On April 13, Ovik Abramyan, the Speaker of the Parliament of the National Assembly of Armenia, was appointed to the post of Prime Minister. He replaced Tigran Sarkisyan, who resigned on April 3 after heading the government of Armenia since 2008. As reported by Eduard Sharmazanov, the spokesman for the ruling Republican Party, President Serzh Sargsyan gave Abramyan every right to form a new government. According to Sharmazanov, Sarkisyan will continue his activities in the diplomatic sphere, while the new Speaker of the Parliament is likely to be elected at the plenary session of the National Assembly on April 28.