Week in the Caucasus: review of main events of September 16-22, 2024

Explosions in Tikhoretsk, persecution of pacifists and activists in Southern Russia, Caucasus and the “Wildberries” Company, murder of a transgender person in Tbilisi, and official data on the natives of Southern Russia who perished in Ukraine, – see the review of these and other events in the Caucasus during the week of September 16-22, 2024, prepared by the “Caucasian Knot”.

Explosions in Tikhoretsk

On the night of September 21, the Tikhoretsk District was attacked by drones coming from the direction of Ukraine. As a result of the fall of drone fragments, a fire broke out, which spread to explosive objects. A detonation occurred, Governor of the Krasnodar Territory Veniamin Kondratiev reported in his Telegram channel.

The evacuation was organized, and 1200 people left the village. “Most of them have settled with their friends and relatives ... Everyone has been provided with hot meals. Medical officers, volunteers, and psychologists are working to help people,” Veniamin Kondratiev reported.

There are no casualties among the residents of the Tikhoretsk District, Governor of the Krasnodar Territory Veniamin Kondratiev has emphasized.

On the other day, Anatoly Perepelin, the head of the Tikhoretsk District, reported in his Telegram channel that the demining work had been fully completed. Field work is prohibited in the Tikhoretsk District until the demining is completed. Earlier, the authorities of the Tikhoretsk District reported restrictions on the operation of schools and kindergartens.

Persecution of pacifists and activists in Southern Russia

In the Maysky District, a court fined local resident Svetlana Khochueva 15,000 roubles, recognizing that her statements discredited the Russian Armed Forces. The resident of Kabardino-Balkaria explained she did not realize that her statements were aimed at discrediting the Russian Army and asked the court to impose a minimum punishment on her.

In the Akhtubinsky District of the Astrakhan Region, a court fined local resident Alexandra Toropchina 30,000 roubles. On her page on the “VKontakte” social network, the woman posted the comments, the content of which the law enforcement bodies considered discrediting the Russian Army, the official website of the Akhtubinsky District Court reports.

In Gelendzhik, the police drew up a protocol on the discrediting of the Russian militaries against local resident Alan Djioev. The Gelendzhik City Court fined the man.

On September 16, the Krasnodar Territorial Court considered an appeal lodged by Marina Melikhova and upheld the Armavir District Court’s decision to fine her 30,000 roubles. The court dismissed all the defence arguments and upheld the decision to fine the activist, whose verse the law enforcement bodies considered to be discrediting the Russian Armed Forces. Marina Melikhova, who does not have the funds to pay the fine, intends to file an appeal against the court’s decision.

Caucasus and the “Wildberries” Company

On September 18, in Moscow, a group of about 30 men smashed the windows at the entrance to a business centre where an office of the “Wildberries” Company is located. Shooting was opened in response. As a result, Islambek Elmurziev, a 28-year-old master of sports in freestyle wrestling from Ingushetia, and Adam Almazov, a 41-year-old deputy commander of the “Akhmat-1” OMON (riot police) battalion were killed. Three other athletes from Ingushetia were wounded. According to the sources’ information, there was also an attempt to break into the “Wildberries” Company’s office in the “Iskra-Park” business centre located near the “Dynamo” metro station.

On September 19, six persons were arrested for fifteen days in connection with the conflict with the shooting near the “Wildberries” Company’s office. The “Kommersant” reports that most of those who tried to assault the “Wildberries” Company’s offices were athletes, including natives of Chechnya, while the offices were defended mainly by wrestlers from Ingushetia and Dagestan. On September 20, Umar Chichaev, an MMA fighter from Chechnya, the deputy commander of the “Akhmat-1” unit of the “Rosgvardia” (National Guard of Russia), was taken into custody. At an investigators’ request, the Basmanny District Court of Moscow placed 23 other detainees under arrest.

The killing of Adam Almazov and Islambek Elmurziev as a result of the shooting caused a wide public outcry in Ingushetia. Many young and older people came to say goodbye to the dead.

Murder of transgender person in Tbilisi

On September 18, Kesariya Abramidze, a 37-year-old transgender woman, a model and a TV presenter, was murdered in her home in Tbilisi. Multiple stab wounds were found on her body.

The crime was committed the day after the Georgian parliament adopted a law banning LGBT* propaganda. The murder of the transgender woman was the result of the Georgian authorities’ policy towards LGBT*, Georgian activists and human rights defenders claim. They have explained that the ruling “Georgian Dream” Party has been imposing transphobia on society for a long time.

The police detained 26-year-old Beka Djaiani in connection with the murder case. The suspect faces a punishment from 16 years to life imprisonment.

The funeral of Kesariya Abramidze took place on September 22. “An ambulance was twice called for the Keso’s mother at the place of farewell,” the “Tbilisi Life” reports. The funeral was attended by Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili, several opposition politicians, as well as “TV presenters, activists, members of the queer community, relatives, and concerned citizens.”

Official data on natives of Southern Russia perished in Ukraine

By September 22, the authorities and the law enforcement bodies reported about at least 4931 residents of Southern Russia perished in Ukraine, including 2353 residents of the North-Caucasian Federal District (NCFD) and 2578 residents of the Southern Federal District (SFD).

In Dagestan, the authorities reported about 1024 local residents perished in Ukraine, in the Volgograd Region – 939, in the Krasnodar Territory – 559, in the Rostov Region – 554, in the Stavropol Territory – 482, in the Astrakhan Region – 374, in North Ossetia – 309, in Chechnya – 208, in Kabardino-Balkaria – 162, in Kalmykia – 92, in Ingushetia – 88, in Karachay-Cherkessia – 80, and in Adygea – 60.

*On November 30, 2023, the Supreme Court (SC)of the Russian Federation declared the movement an “extremist organization” and banned the “international public movement of LGBT people.” With this decision, the court granted the claim lodged by the Russian Ministry of Justice (MoJ), sent to the court on November 17, 2023.