News

January 31, 2022 18:02

• Five participants of protest against increase in OSAGO tariffs detained in Yerevan

  Today, in Yerevan, participants of a protest action have demanded to leave the tariffs for OSAGO (compulsory motor third party liability insurance) unchanged. During the protest action, five drivers were detained for disobeying the police.

January 31, 2022 17:45

• On January 24-30, 2022, no one fell victim to armed conflict in Northern Caucasus

  During the week of January 24-30, 2022, no killed or wounded in the ongoing armed conflict in Northern Caucasus were reported. These are the results of the calculations run by the “Caucasian Knot” based on its own materials and information from other open sources.

January 31, 2022 14:10

• Data on tax problems of Firdaws Fashion House sparks scepticism in Grozny residents

  The temporary suspension of the "Firdaws" is due to a minor error in paying taxes, Aishat Kadyrova, the head of the fashion house and the daughter of the head of Chechnya, has explained. The clothes designed by the "Firdaws" are very expensive and have become a status symbol in Chechnya; therefore, reports on the "Firdaws" tax problems looks unbelievable, Grozny townspeople have noted.

January 31, 2022 13:49

• Lawyers give six reasons for cancelling liquidation of "International Memorial"*

  The defence of the "International Memorial"* has filed an appeal against the decision to liquidate the organization. They present six arguments in favour of overturning the decision.

January 31, 2022 10:51

• Kalyapin treats his persecution with posters as consequence of Kadyrov's words

  Posters accusing Igor Kalyapin, a rights defender, of supporting terrorists have appeared in the doorway and the door of the apartment of his elderly mother in Nizhny Novgorod. Igor has suggested that posters are a consequence of Ramzan Kadyrov's statement.

January 31, 2022 10:26

• Bill on territory status brought into Nagorno-Karabakh Parliament

  The National Assembly (Parliament) of Nagorno-Karabakh has received a bill providing for the assignment of a legal status to the territories that came under Azerbaijan's control.

January 31, 2022 10:07

• Claims of Chechen Tourism Ministry boss to bloggers spark bewilderment among social network users

  Muslim Baitaziev, the Chechen Minister of Tourism, has criticized local bloggers for not advertising the region's tourist sites, and put forward bills when offered free visits to the sites to later advertise the in their blogs. Social media users expressed bewilderment at the claims, noting that blogging is also a job that deserves payment.

January 31, 2022 09:49

• Norwegian protesters speak against violence on Chechen women

  The participants of the rally held in front of the building of the Norwegian Parliament in Oslo spoke out against violence on Chechen women, condemned the detention of Zarema Musaeva and kidnappings of relatives of Ramzan Kadyrov's opponents.

January 30, 2022 23:01

• Human rights defenders point to problems with execution of ECtHR judgments in Azerbaijan

  In 2021, the number of decisions pronounced by the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) on Azerbaijan has risen sharply, indicating an increase in the number of complaints coming from the country, Khalid Agaliev, the head of the Media Rights Group, reports.

January 30, 2022 07:00

• Doctor not to be punished in case on female circumcision in Ingushetia

  A court in Magas found a doctor from a local clinic guilty in a case on genital mutilation against a girl from Chechnya. However, the doctor was released from punishment due to the statute of limitations, the organization “Justice Initiative”* reported. The human rights defenders announced the intention to challenge the court’s verdict.

January 30, 2022 06:58

• Azerbaijani activist arrested on charge of defamation

  Lawyer Ilham Aslanoglu (Takhmazov) is arrested for five months on the charge of defamation. Activists believe that he is being persecuted for exposing crimes committed by militaries against colleagues within the “Terter case”.

January 30, 2022 06:52

• Exhibition in Makhachkala highlights rare technique of incising with gold

  The Dagestan Museum of Fine Arts hosts the exhibition of Abdulgamid Kanaev, a master jeweller from the Kubachi village, who works in the almost unused technique of incising with gold and silver. The exposition presents decorative panels, old lamps, and edged weapons, decorated by the master. Folk crafts are beginning to revive, but craftsmen need state support, Abdulgamid Kanaev notes.

January 30, 2022 06:42

• Polad Aslanov complains about lack of medical care after his hunger strike

  The health state of Azerbaijani journalist Polad Aslanov has deteriorated after his 20-day hunger strike, but he is not receiving medical assistance, his spouse states.

January 30, 2022 06:36

• Human rights defenders alarmed by Zarema Musaeva’s state of health

  Zarema Musaeva does not participate in the investigating proceedings because of her poor health state, and there is no medical unit in the special detention centre where she is being kept, her son Abubakar Yangulbaev says. Human rights defenders applied to the court with the demand to release Zarema Musaeva from arrest because of her poor health, the “Committee Against Torture”* reports.

January 30, 2022 06:30

• Public apology of young woman highlights absurdity of apology practice in Chechnya

  When commenting on an apology of a young woman from Grozny for her words about men, Svetlana Gannushkina, the chair of the “Civic Assistance” Committee*, points out that public apologies have become a kind of game and got out of control of the authorities.

January 30, 2022 06:16

• Yerevan responds to Baku’s accusations of shelling attacks

  When commenting on the accusation of Azerbaijan in a shelling attack, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) of Armenia declared that “indiscriminate” fire near the border with the Tovuz District came from the Azerbaijani side, and the Armenian military forces did not react to it.

January 29, 2022 18:29

• Party comrades link Khamchiev's persecution with his activities

  An advocate has met Adam Khamchiev, an Ingush blogger, who was detained in Nazran. The "Civil Initiative" has explained his persecution by the fact that his activities in defence of resident's rights "had caused noticeable irritation" among local bureaucrats.

January 29, 2022 18:14

• Journalist presents story of Kadyrov's enmity with Yangulbaev family

  Ramzan Kadyrov has included the Yangulbaevs into the list of his enemies after Ibragim Yangublaev was detained for creating the public VKontakte and exposed to torture. Ibragim was tortured, among other places, in Kadyrov's residence, where the head of Chechnya declared a blood feud against him, the "Novaya Gazeta" writes.

January 29, 2022 17:54

• Zarema Musaeva denies advocate's services

  Zarema Musaeva's statement about her refusal from advocate's services was shown to the lawyers who had sought a meeting with her. Musaeva was under pressure, the "Committee against Torture" (CaT)* and her son Abubakar Yangulbaev are sure.

January 29, 2022 17:31

• Kadyrov responds to US call to release Musaeva

  The US Department of State called for the release of all those unjustly detained in Chechnya, in particular, Zarema Musaeva, and demanded from Ramzan Kadyrov to stop persecuting opponents’ relatives. Ramzan Kadyrov replies that it is not in the competence of the leader of the region to detain and release people.