Recent Appearances...

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Recent Appearances...

Caucasus/Russia/Central Asia

Chechens complain about demolition of mosque in Dagestani village

2025-05-12

Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.
[KavkazUzel] In Leninaul, despite agreements with the authorities, a Chechen mosque built in the 19th century has been demolished, village residents said.

As the "Caucasian Kno" wrote, the Aukhovsky district, where the Chechen-Akkintsy lived compactly, was liquidated in 1944 after Stalin's deportation of the Chechens and Ingush. In the northwestern part of the district's territory, the Novolaksky District was formed, this part was populated by Laks from the mountainous part of Dagestan,

…who are Sunnis…

and the southeastern part of the district was transferred to the neighboring Kazbekovsky District together with the villages of Yurt-Aukh and Aktash-Aukh and populated by Avars

…so are they...

from the neighboring village. Thirteen years later, in 1957, the Akkin Chechens, like the rest of the deported Vainakh peoples, were allowed to return to their historical homeland.

The deportation of the Vainakhs is directly linked to the unresolved issue of the rights of the Chechens of Dagestan, who have been waiting for the restoration of the Aukhovsky District for almost 30 years, according to the "Caucasian Knot" report "The Main Thing About Aukh: What the Chechens Demand from the Dagestan Authorities."

A video recording of Chechens complaining about the demolition of a mosque in the village of Leninaul in the Kazbekovsky district of Dagestan was published on the Instagram Aktash-Aukh public page.

The video shows three men standing in front of a building and a tractor.

"We are standing on the spot where the old Chechen mosque stood, built by the Chechens of the village of Aktash-Aukh. This is confirmed by the census, which was conducted by the tsarist authorities in 1885, 1889 ( the first and only census of the Russian Empire took place on January 28 (February 9), 1897 - note from the "Caucasian Knot"). It is indicated there that there are four functioning mosques in the village of Aktash-Aukh. The one located here was one of these quarter mosques," said one of the men in the recording.

According to him, the Chechens "have repeatedly appealed to all authorities" to "preserve our historical memory." He reported that a meeting was held on May 7, at which an agreement was reached that the mosque would not be built for the time being, but it was already demolished on the morning of May 8.

At the end of the video there is a photograph of a small building with several cars parked near it.

The video was also posted on his Telegram channel by blogger Tumso Abdurakhmanov. "The situation is tense. Neither Kadyrov nor any of his subordinates are interfering in any way or commenting on what is happening," he emphasized.

By 23:44 Moscow time, the Telegram channels of the head of Chechnya Ramzan Kadyrov, State Duma deputy Adam Delimkhanov, the Commissioner for Human Rights in Chechnya Mansur Soltayev, and the head of the Chechen Ministry of Nationalities Akhmed Dudayev did not contain any comments in connection with the demolition of the mosque.

Let us recall that the restoration of the Aukhovsky district, which was planned to be completed by 2025, has actually been stopped for many years, the resettlement of the Laks and the construction of new houses have been disrupted, Dagestani activists state.

February 23, 2025 marked 81 years since the beginning of Stalin's deportation of the Vainakhs. At a rally dedicated to this date, Chechen Prime Minister Magomed Daudov voiced a demand to return housing in the former Aukhovsky District of Dagestan to the descendants of the repressed. A mourning rally with the participation of more than 500 people was also held on February 23 in the village of Novokuli in the Novolaksky District of Dagestan.

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Caucasus/Russia/Central Asia

Ukrainian Perspective: Invasion of Ukraine: April 25, 2025

2025-04-26

Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.

Worth noting, korrespondent.net has compiled its Invasion of Ukraine series into separate months, beginning May 9th, 2023. Linked in the title.
[Korrespondent] 22:45 US President Donald Trump commented on the talks between his special representative Steve Witkoff and Russian dictator Vladimir Putin.

The American leader called the meeting "good." "US Ambassador Whitkoff had a good meeting," Trump said.

The US President did not provide any details regarding the conversation between Whitkoff and Putin.

22.18 Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky must immediately sign the rare earth metals agreement. This was stated by American leader Donald Trump in Truth Social.

"Ukraine, led by Volodymyr Zelensky, has still not signed the final documents regarding a very important agreement with the United States on rare earth metals. The delay is at least three weeks. It remains to be hoped that it will be signed immediately," the US President wrote.

21:50 President Volodymyr Zelensky announced a series of diplomatic meetings that should bring the ceasefire closer.

"In the coming days, very important meetings may take place that should bring peace closer to Ukraine. An unconditional ceasefire is needed. Real pressure is needed on Russia so that they accept either the American proposal to cease fire and move towards peace, or our proposal - any proposal that can really work and guarantee a reliable, immediate and unconditional ceasefire, and then a decent peace and security guarantees," Zelensky said in an evening video address.

21.37 Ukraine does not have enough weapons to regain control over the temporarily occupied Crimea, but the world has various ways to put pressure on Russia to discuss territorial issues. This was stated by President Volodymyr Zelensky.

21.20 Ukraine and the European Union responded to US President Donald Trump's "peace plan" by conveying to the States their ideas for ending the war with Russia.

According to Reuters, during a meeting in London on April 23, Ukrainian and European officials conveyed to the Americans their ideas for ending Russia's war against Ukraine. The agency has learned what the common peace plan between Ukraine and the European Union looks like.

20.05 The Ukrainian delegation handed over to the American delegation in London a response to the peace proposals of the Donald Trump administration, including on security guarantees. This was stated by President Volodymyr Zelensky.

According to the head of state, Ukraine, together with its European partners, during a working meeting in London on April 23, proposed "our vision of the proposals made by the United States."

The proposals touch on issues of security guarantees, in particular, alternatives to Ukraine’s membership in NATO.

"There are absolutely constructive proposals there, as I said, both the contingent and the format of the fifth amendment (Article 5 of the NATO Treaty on Collective Defense – ed.). Not the fifth amendment itself, but specifically those forces and the kind of protection that the fifth amendment provides for in NATO countries," the president explained.

19.00 Kremlin Chief Vladimir Putin and US Presidential Special Representative Steve Witkoff held three-hour talks. The Russian dictator's aide Yuri Ushakov spoke about the details of the meeting.

19.00 Kremlin Chief Vladimir Putin and US Presidential Special Representative Steve Witkoff held three-hour talks. The Russian dictator's aide Yuri Ushakov spoke about the details of the meeting.

18:36 In less than four months of the current year, the Russian occupation army has lost more than 1,000 tanks. This was reported by the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Oleksandr Syrsky.

18:25 China is "seriously concerned" that its citizens are participating in the war against Ukraine on Russia's side, so Kiev remains open to dialogue with Beijing to resolve this issue, Foreign Ministry spokesman Georgy Tykhy said.

"We believe that between countries that have an established dialogue, all problematic issues should be resolved only through dialogue. We remain open to dialogue with China," he said.

18.07 American President Donald Trump does not have a single deadline for a peace agreement between Ukraine and Russia. He told reporters this before flying to Rome for the funeral of Pope Francis. However, on April 24, Trump announced such a deadline for an agreement - "his own deadline" by which peace must be achieved.

17:36 The North Korean ballistic missile that Russia used to strike Kiev on April 24 contained at least 116 components from around the world. Most of them were produced by American companies, President Volodymyr Zelensky said.

17.18 Russian troops attacked the territory of the Kherson Parks CP in the afternoon of April 25, four utility workers were injured, vehicles were damaged. This was reported by the Kherson GVA. It is noted that three drivers and a cleaner were injured. The injured are in satisfactory condition and all are receiving the necessary medical care.

16:53 The 8th Airborne Assault Corps has been created in the Armed Forces of Ukraine. It includes six combat brigades that fought during the ATO/JFO, as well as those formed after the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine. This was reported on the Facebook page of the new unit. The corps commander is Hero of Ukraine, Colonel Dmytro Voloshin, who has led the 82nd Bukovina Airborne Assault Brigade since 2024.

16.50 Any foreign military personnel who intend to participate in the parade in Moscow on May 9 must realize that they will be marching side by side with people who committed war crimes in Ukraine, said Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesman Georgiy Tykhyi.

"I will repeat our general attitude towards the event that Moscow will call the "victory parade" on May 9. We believe that the Russian military who will march on Red Square on May 9 not only have nothing to do with the victory over Nazism, but are also, in all likelihood, participants in war crimes against Ukrainians," he said.

15.49 Ukraine does not change its key positions on the end of the war. While the "peace plans" spread in the media do not correspond to reality. This was stated by the spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Georgy Tykhy during a briefing.

15.33 Ukrainian law enforcement officers detained and arrested a foreign vessel that was part of Russia's "shadow fleet". The dry cargo ship was transporting agricultural products from the temporarily occupied regions of Ukraine, the SBU reported.

15.10 A meeting between Russian leader Vladimir Putin and US Presidential Special Representative Steve Witkoff is taking place in Moscow. This was announced by Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.

14.13 Currently, a number of contacts with the US at various levels are in progress. This was stated by the spokesman for the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry, Georgiy Tykhyi, at a briefing in Kiev. He assured that Ukraine had not received official signals from the US about their withdrawal from the peace process.

13:59 The car of a leading Russian designer exploded in the Russian city of Bryansk. The liquidation occurred at the very moment when the Russian got into the car together with his colleague.

13.42 Today's "arrival" in Saki, Crimea, hit the building of the deputy chairman of Chechnya, Ramzan Kadyrov. This was reported by the Atesh partisan movement on its Telegram channel.

12:54 The son of CIA Deputy Director Julian Gloss, 21-year-old Michael Gloss, died at the front in Ukraine, fighting for Russia. He was liquidated on April 4, 2024.

11:30 US Presidential Special Representative Steve Witkoff has arrived in Moscow to meet with Vladimir Putin. This was reported by Russian media. The Bombardier Global 7500 business jet was flying direct from Miami Airport and landed at Moscow's Vnukovo.

11.06 Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, Russian troops have killed 622 children in Ukraine. More than 1,924 children have been injured to varying degrees of severity. This was reported by the Office of the Prosecutor General. It is noted that the largest number of children were injured in the Donetsk region - 640, Kharkiv - 490, Kherson - 208, Dnipropetrovsk - 235, Kiev - 136, Zaporizhia - 177, Mykolaiv - 118, Sumy - 134.

10:53 On Friday morning, Russian invaders dropped a FAB-250 guided air bomb on a house in the village of Yarovaya in the Liman community - a father and son were killed. This was reported by the Donetsk Regional Prosecutor's Office.

10.40 A Romanian citizen has been detained in Sochi (Krasnodar Krai, Russian Federation) on suspicion of collecting data on the region's air defense. This was reported by Russian media with reference to the FSB.

10.23 An FSB informant has been detained in Donetsk region. He turned out to be a 55-year-old unemployed man from Slavyansk who was adjusting the attacks of the Russian Federation on the Defense Forces in the Slavyansk and Kramatorsk areas. This was reported by the SBU on April 25.

9.48 Shooting took place at the Zaporizhzhya NPP on April 24. Over the course of a week, constant explosions and shots have been recorded in the area of the facility. This was stated on the website of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) by the agency's Director General Rafael Grossi.

9.29 The Russian army most intensively attacked the Pokrovskoe, Limanskoe, Toretskoe and Kursk directions. Over the past 24 hours, 175 combat clashes occurred on the front. This was reported by the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

9.23 Since the evening of April 24, Russians have attacked Ukraine with 103 attack UAVs and other types of drone imitators, 41 drones were shot down, and another 40 did not reach their target. This was reported by the Ukrainian Air Force.

8.59 The rescue operation at the site of the Russian strike on a residential building in the Svyatoshinsky district of Kyiv has been completed. The search lasted more than a day. This was reported by the State Emergency Service on Telegram.

8.46 The Russian army attacked Pavlograd with drones. As a result of the incident, three people died. This was reported by the head of the Dnipropetrovsk OVA Serhiy Lysak on his Telegram channel.

7.58 Russians have lost 1,170 soldiers at the front over the past 24 hours. This is evidenced by the morning report of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

7.27 The Russian Federation has deployed a missile carrier to the Black Sea, so Ukraine continues to be under threat of shelling from the south. This is evidenced by the morning report of the Ukrainian Navy.

04.25 Former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has criticized US peace proposals after the April 24 attack on Kiev, saying Russian dictator Vladimir Putin is being rewarded for killing Ukrainians. He says that despite the many casualties, recent peace proposals offer Putin the chance to keep the occupied territories, control Ukraine's future by banning it from joining NATO, avoid sanctions, gain an economic partnership with America, and time to rebuild his military strength before further aggression.

03.44 A container train recently arrived in Russian-occupied Crimea for the first time after passing through other occupied territories of Ukraine. The train came from the Sverdlovsk Railway of the Russian Federation and traveled more than 3,000 km in less than five days.

02.22 President Volodymyr Zelensky reported that over the past 24 hours, almost 150 Russian attacks against Ukrainian positions and more than 4,500 shellings, including with the use of heavy weapons, have been recorded. The most tense situation, according to the president, has developed in the Pokrovsky direction, the Russians were trying to develop assault actions "under the cover" of their massive strike.

01.14 Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that the Kremlin is ready to reach an agreement with the United States on Ukraine. However, he noted that some elements need to be "reworked." Lavrov also spoke about US President Donald Trump and his efforts to end the war in Ukraine.

"The President of the United States believes, and I think it is fair, that we are moving in the right direction," the Russian Foreign Minister said.

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Caucasus/Russia/Central Asia

Participation in meeting with Emir of Qatar underscored Kadyrov's role in Kremlin's Middle East policy

2025-04-19

Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.

Funny how Kadyrov's name did not appear on the regnum.ru article on the meet between Putin and Qatar
[KavkazUzel] Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov acts as an informal mediator in relations with Islamic states, but has little leeway in building personal relationships with Middle Eastern leaders.

As the "Caucasian Knot" wrote, the options for cooperation with Syria were voiced by Ramzan Kadyrov as part of a PR campaign by the Russian authorities, who are trying to save face after the fall of the Assad regime, analysts pointed out.

On April 17, Ramzan Kadyrov was present among other Russian officials at the talks between Russian President Vladimir Putin and the Emir of Qatar Tamim al-Thani. Kadyrov did not disclose his role in the event, noting that the situation in Syria and the Gaza Strip, as well as cooperation in the energy sector, were discussed.

"The talks that took place contributed to the further strengthening of relations between the Chechen Republic and the state of Qatar. We will continue to make efforts to expand the partnership on a mutually beneficial basis," the head of Chechnya said in a post on his Telegram channel today.

Chief researcher of the Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences Dmitry Mikulsky, professor of the National Research University Higher School of Economics, specialist in comparative law and Islamic law Leonid Syukiyanen and political scientist Ruslan Kutayev shared their conclusions about what lies behind Ramzan Kadyrov’s participation in the negotiations between Vladimir Putin and the Emir of Qatar Tamim Al Thani with a correspondent of the “Caucasian Knot”.

Dmitry Mikulsky believes that the head of Chechnya is an important figure in Russia’s relations with the countries of the Middle East.

"Ramzan Kadyrov's presence at the talks with the Emir of Qatar is explained by several factors. Kadyrov acts as an informal mediator in relations with Islamic states. This is part of the Russian "soft power" strategy, where Chechnya is positioned as an example of successful integration of a Muslim region into the Russian state. Kadyrov does have personal ties with the elites of the Persian Gulf countries, which have been built over the years through religious, cultural and economic contacts. In particular, he has repeatedly met with representatives of the royal families of Qatar, the UAE and Saudi Arabia, and has also attracted investments from these countries to Chechnya," Mikulsky said.

In October 2024, Ramzan Kadyrov paid an official visit to Saudi Arabia, where he met with Prince Turki bin Mohammed bin Fahd bin Abdul Aziz. That same month, Kadyrov attended Putin's talks with UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The regional leader reported this on his Telegram channel.

In his opinion, Kadyrov’s position in Middle Eastern diplomacy has limited independence.

"He acts within the framework of Russia's overall foreign policy strategy, but at the same time has little freedom of maneuver in building personal relationships. But the Middle East countries perceive him as a representative of Russia, possibly with a special status. But everyone understands that without the Kremlin's support, other states will not show such an attitude towards him. That is, the lack of support from the Kremlin will mean the lack of privileges from the Middle East countries," Mikulsky noted.

"A publication specializing in investigative journalism published an article, with references to sources in power and information from colleagues, about the deterioration of relations between Kadyrov and the Kremlin . According to the publication, the reason for the discord was information about negotiations between the head of Chechnya and representatives of Middle Eastern Muslim monarchies about the future of Kadyrov's assets and the safety of his family members."

Amid reports of deteriorating relations between Kadyrov and the Kremlin, his participation in the talks underscores his importance to the Kremlin, the expert explains. "Kadyrov's participation in talks at such a high level indicates that his role remains significant for the federal center. This shows that, despite possible periods of tension in relations with the Kremlin, which some publications have reported, Kadyrov continues to play an important role in Russian foreign policy, especially in relations with the Islamic world. His presence at the talks with the Emir of Qatar is not just a symbolic gesture, but recognition of his practical role in dialogue with Muslim monarchies," Mikulsky said.

Leonid Syukiyanen notes that the Kremlin decided to use Kadyrov’s connections in negotiations with Qatar.

"Chechnya is one of the important republics within Russia, where the majority of the population is Muslim. The leader of this republic is perceived as a representative of Russian Muslims and a defender of Muslim interests. He probably already has established relations with representatives of Qatar, which is why he was invited to the negotiations," he told the "Caucasian Knot."

According to him, the head of Chechnya is perceived as a representative of the Kremlin, and not an independent entity in international relations. "He acts within the framework of Russia's general policy in the Middle East. He cannot pursue his own independent policy. As for personal connections, all diplomats and politicians establish personal contacts during negotiations, but as soon as they lose their status, personal connections also weaken," Syukijänen noted.

He believes that Kadyrov's role has always been significant for the Kremlin. "Everyone has disagreements. I don't think that in this case they affected Kadyrov's importance for the Kremlin. He enjoys the support of the federal center, which recognizes that Kadyrov can be useful in negotiations, and he is invited," Syukijanen said.

Kadyrov is the face of the Islamic society of Russia, believes Ruslan Kutayev . "Kadyrov, who has considerable money, has long been connected with (Middle Eastern) emirs. But above all, he is significant because he is the person closest to Putin among the Muslims of Russia, whom the Russian president completely trusts. Sometimes he is given such instructions on foreign policy issues that Putin does not trust even to (Foreign Minister Sergei) Lavrov. This is the reason why he was invited to the negotiations," he told the "Caucasian Knot".

Kutayev does not believe that Kadyrov has ever conducted an independent policy. "He is comfortable in the position of a representative of the Kremlin. He will never independently do something that the Kremlin might not like. The countries of the Middle East perceive Kadyrov as a politician loyal to the Kremlin," the political scientist noted.

In his opinion, the information about the deterioration of relations between Kadyrov and the Kremlin is not true. "Kadyrov is entrusted with tasks that neither the FSB nor any other security agency could carry out. The security forces simply do not like Kadyrov's influence," Kutayev emphasized.

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Caucasus/Russia/Central Asia

Kadyrov outraged by idea of banning namaz in one of Stavropol districts

2025-04-19

Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.

Namaz is the physical act of Islamic prayer.
[KavkazUzel] The ban on namaz in the Andropovsky District of Stavropol is "open discrimination and legal lawlessness," the head of Chechnya said today, commenting on the document that has already been cancelled by the district authorities. He suggested that the authorities of other regions build more mosques if they do not want namaz in the street.

As the "Caucasian Knot" wrote, the letter about the inadmissibility of public prayers as uncoordinated mass events was erroneous, the authorities of the Andropovsky District stated. There are no restrictions on religious rites in the region, a representative of the Stavropol authorities assured.

Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov said today that he "read with indignation the letter from the administration of the Andropovsky municipal district of Stavropol Krai" about the "inadmissibility of public prayer" and the threat of fines. "This is not just a bureaucratic paper - this is open discrimination and legal chaos," he wrote on his Telegram channel.

He recalled the large number of Muslims in Russia and their participation in the SVO. "These people do not ask for anything extra. They want one thing - for their faith to be respected," Kadyrov said.

According to him, the geographical location of Stavropol also determines the special attitude towards Muslims. "Stavropol Krai is part of the North Caucasus Federal District, surrounded by republics with a Muslim majority. <...> In such conditions, such statements from the authorities sound not just illiterate, but absurd and dangerous. Instead of strengthening peace and mutual respect, the officials themselves are throwing up artificial reasons for inciting hatred," the head of Chechnya said.

According to him, "if the authorities do not want Muslims to perform namaz on the streets, then let them facilitate the construction of mosques."

Kadyrov spoke on behalf of all Muslims. "I and millions of Muslims across the country are outraged by such actions. This undermines interethnic trust and provokes discord. Such things must be stopped harshly and in a principled manner," he concluded.

Let us recall that this is not the first time Kadyrov has tried to speak on behalf of all Muslims. Thus, earlier Kadyrov got involved in the issue of building a mosque in Moscow in order to show himself as the main defender of Muslims in Russia and to demonstrate his increased influence, although formally he has no right to interfere in events taking place in another region, noted human rights activists and a Caucasus expert interviewed by the "Caucasian Knot".

Against the backdrop of social media and media reports about the authorities' intention to allow the construction of a mosque near the Holy Lake, where an Orthodox church is already located, protests against the construction of the mosque began to take place in Moscow in early 2023, with MMA fighters, including Maksim Divnich, taking part. And on April 3 of that year, a video was published online in which people in military uniform, identifying themselves as participants in the military operation in Ukraine, promised to fight with those involved in the construction of the mosque. The video does not indicate the nationality of the military, but social media, in particular the YouTube channel "Morning of February", claims that the statement was made on behalf of Chechen security forces.

In the summer of 2024, statements by the head of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation Alexander Bastrykin regarding migration policy and the religious subtext of the terrorist attacks in Dagestan caused bewilderment among Muslims, said political scientist Ali Magamadov. The head of the Investigative Committee is primarily dissatisfied with the migration policy, said human rights activist Alexander Verkhovsky. The controversy between Kadyrov and Bastrykin showed the claims of the head of Chechnya to the place of the protector of all Muslims, said a teacher from Grozny.

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Caucasus/Russia/Central Asia

Intimidation with the corpse of a murdered man in Chechnya has become propaganda of cruelty

2025-04-11

Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.
[KavkazUzel] The demonstration to high school students and university students of the corpse of a participant in the attack on security forces killed in Achkhoy-Martan came into conflict with the norms of Islam and common sense; with such actions, the authorities are promoting cruelty and traumatizing the psyche of young people, human rights activists and a Caucasus expert pointed out.

As reported by the "Caucasian Knot", one security officer was killed and at least two were wounded as a result of an attack by a man armed with a knife on traffic police officers in Achkhoy-Martan. The minor attacker was killed by "return fire". His photo was distributed on April 9 by the Chechen state television and radio company "Grozny", and Telegram channels opposed to the Chechen authorities published video footage, which, as they claimed, showed the body of the killed participant in the attack lying on the ground. The body was brought for display to the public sector employees, students and high school students who were forcibly collected from the administration in the morning.

Ramzan Kadyrov announced on April 8 that the attacker had come to the republic for Eid al-Fitr from Moscow. Despite the fact that the man lived in another region, a controversial decision was made to expel his relatives from Chechnya and confiscate their property. Threats were also made to distant relatives of the attacker. A Chechen opposition Telegram channel reported that security forces had detained all of the attacker's relatives, including his underage cousins. The "Caucasian Knot" prepared a report on how Kadyrov has tightened collective responsibility in Chechnya.

The rally over the body of the murdered man in Achkhoy-Martan was commented on for the "Caucasian Knot" by the chairperson of the "Civil Accord" committee* Svetlana Gannushkina, the press secretary of the Assembly of Chechens in Europe Shamil Albakov, as well as a human rights activist who is well acquainted with the realities of Chechnya, and a Russian expert on the Caucasus, who wished to remain anonymous.

Such demonstrations by the authorities, like in Achkhoy-Martan, certainly do not evoke approval from the population; rather, they may have the opposite effect - an increase in protest sentiments, the human rights activist pointed out. "This act is savagery, medieval. The organizers of this show are completely sick in the head. This will not lead to anything good. This is a demonstration and propaganda of cruelty," he said.

"This is the savagery and cruelty that children are taught. Of course, this is trauma for children. And the bitterness will find an outlet. The authorities are taking a risk, but they hope that they will not be the target," said Svetlana Gannushkina.

The authorities ordered public sector employees and high school students to participate in a rally in the center of Achkhoy-Martan on the morning of April 9, where the body of a man killed in an attack on security forces was brought, eyewitnesses said.

At the rally, officials also stated that the criminal's family would be expelled from the republic, and the attacker's body would not be given to relatives for burial. Security forces and administration employees did not allow anyone to leave the rally, despite the fact that several women lost consciousness and children were shocked by what was happening - these and other unique testimonies from local residents were published in the "Caucasian Knot" article from 06.49 on April 10.

Neither Islamic law nor adats allow the display of the body of a dead person, even an enemy, the Caucasus expert pointed out. "The deceased is probably considered a Muslim after all. It is very bad, of course, to mock the body. Any person should be buried, even if there are hostile feelings towards him. But mocking a corpse - I do not know of such adats," he said.

There are no customs in Islam, as far as the Caucasus expert knows, when a ruler would declare punishment of the entire clan for the crime of one person. "Blood feud can only be declared by relatives of the murdered person. If we are talking about expulsion from the country or from the republic, then this is clearly not blood feud. Of course, the jamaat can expel the criminal. But, firstly, this is a custom that has not been practiced for a long time. Secondly, after all, it is the jamaat that decides, and not those people who have no relation to the jamaat," he explained.

Gathering people and putting a corpse on display is blasphemy and mockery of the population, Shamil Albakov is sure. "No adats or principles of the Islamic religion, no other principles, no legislation in the civilized world allows this. Even mockery of the corpses of enemies is condemned where there is a war," Albakov emphasized.

In his opinion, as a result of such actions by the authorities, the residents of Chechnya are unlikely to become even more intimidated, rather the opposite.

The population of Chechnya has simply been driven to despair and hatred.

"The population has already been driven to despair, to hatred and hostility. It can be seen in the eyes, in the reactions of these people, women who are crying, cursing everyone for what is happening. But the population today is also completely defenseless and completely deprived of any prospects for help or support from the outside," said Albakov.

Punishment of close and distant relatives of the perpetrator of a crime is not permitted by any laws or customs, he confirmed. "Taking away relatives, punishing them for the actions of a minor member of their family - according to all principles and laws, this is prohibited, unacceptable. But representatives of the authorities in Chechnya do this, they are proud of it, they boast that they resort to precisely such mocking methods to control the population of the Chechen Republic," Albakov complained.

At the same time, he stressed that he does not approve of attacks on security forces in Chechnya. "Of course, no one is calling for such actions. It is wrong to do this," he said.

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Caucasus/Russia/Central Asia

Muftiate of the North Caucasus named the date of Uraza-Bayram (Eid al-Fitr)

2025-03-30

Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.
[KavkazUzel] In Dagestan, Eid al-Fitr will begin on March 31. The other regions of the North Caucasus have named March 30 as the holiday, but the Muftiate of Karachay-Cherkessia has not announced the date of the holiday.

As the "Caucasian Knot" reported, this year in all the republics of the North Caucasus the month of Ramadan began on March 1. In Chechnya, the days from March 30 to April 1 have been declared non-working in connection with the holiday marking the end of the month of fasting.

The authorities of Dagestan reported that the holidays are March 31 and April 1, in total the republic will have four days off, including the weekend. The exact date will be announced by the Muftiate of Dagestan, the administration of the head of Dagestan reported.

During Ramadan, Muslims must abstain from food and drink during daylight hours. Eid al-Fitr is the holiday of breaking the fast after a month of fasting. On the occasion of the holiday, it is customary to receive guests, visit loved ones, and also the graves of relatives. The Spiritual Administration of Muslims of Russia announced on March 16 that Eid al-Fitr in 2025 will be held on March 30.

The Muftiate of the Republic of Dagestan announced on its official channels that the celebration of Eid al-Fitr will take place on March 31.

The Spiritual Administration of Muslims of Kabardino-Balkaria reported on its Telegram channel that due to the fact that they saw the new moon, March 30 is the holiday of "Uraza-Bayram".

The same date was also mentioned by the Spiritual Administration of Muslims of Chechnya, the Spiritual Administration of Muslims of Stavropol Krai, and the Spiritual Administration of Muslims of North Ossetia in their Telegram channels.

"In Saudi Arabia, the new moon was visually recorded, therefore, following the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah, tomorrow - March 30 - we will celebrate the holiday of Eid al-Fitr," said the Mufti of Chechnya, Salah Mezhiyev.

The end of Ramadan was announced today by the head of Ingushetia, Makhmud-Ali Kalimatov, on his Telegram channel.

The Spiritual Administration of Muslims of Karachay-Cherkessia did not announce the date of the holiday on its resources, but in the prayer calendar published on the muftiate's website, March 30 is indicated as the day of Ramadan. Earlier, the head of Karachay-Cherkessia Rashid Temrezov declared March 31 a non-working day in connection with the celebration of Eid al-Fitr.

"Kavkazsky Uzel" also wrote that during Ramadan the prices of eggs, meat, butter, dates and other products increased significantly. The authorities are not taking measures to prevent the increase in prices before Eid al-Fitr, residents of Makhachkala indicated.

Residents of Kabardino-Balkaria also reported rising food prices. According to them, the price increase began before Ramadan.

In Chechnya, food prices have risen ahead of Eid al-Fitr. Residents are forced to buy food in neighboring regions, but fear that food will be confiscated at checkpoints under the pretext of supporting local entrepreneurs. The deputy mufti of Chechnya called on entrepreneurs not to raise food prices during Ramadan. These calls came too late, as prices have already risen significantly, the authors of comments on the social network indicated. They proposed introducing penalties for those who inflate prices. On March 17, Ramzan Kadyrov ordered raids to be stepped up, food with unjustified markups to be confiscated from sellers and distributed to those in need. The Grozny mayor's office then reported on raids in stores.

Kadyrov's threats to confiscate food from vendors come amid an existing practice: previously, they were confiscated from buyers of goods purchased before Eid al-Fitr outside the republic. Two residents of Chechnya spoke about the inspection of cars on the border with Dagestan before Eid al-Fitr in 2024 as part of the fight against violators of the "resolution on supporting local entrepreneurship," according to a report published on March 13 by the "Caucasian Knot." The police said that "they had orders to confiscate in favor of children's institutions," but one of those interviewed, an elderly driver, managed to persuade the security forces. In another case, the security forces "pulled two boxes of chickens and one package of 30 eggs from the car." Residents of Chechnya also spoke about similar inspections at the Gerzel post in 2023 . "They picked on the chickens, saying that we are not patriots of the republic, that in Chechnya they sell chickens everywhere, and you buy them in Dagestan. In short, they confiscated the chickens," a resident of Chechnya quoted her neighbor's story.

Link

Caucasus/Russia/Central Asia

Volgograd student apologizes for criticizing mufti

2025-03-18

Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.
[KavkazUzel] A Syrian national studying in Volgograd recorded a video apologizing for his reaction to the mufti’s words about events in the Middle East.

Mufti of the Volgograd Region Mohamad Bata Kivakh published a video today on his Telegram channel in which a Volgograd dental student, originally from Syria, apologizes for criticizing the mufti, V1.ru reports today.

The mufti faced criticism from some of his fellow believers after he published an appeal in connection with the events in Syria. Later, these comments criticizing and justifying violence and cruelty were deleted, the publication writes.

"The address of the Mufti of the Volgograd Region on the genocide in Syria" was published on the Mufti's Telegram channel on March 13. It says that in the Syrian provinces of Latakia, Jabla and Tartus, "civilians, including Christians, became victims of a brutal genocide" organized by groups associated with terrorist organizations. "Men, women, the elderly and children were mercilessly exterminated.

According to sources, about 10,000 people died as a result of these terrible events. All these crimes were committed under the banner of Islam, but those responsible for them have nothing to do with the true faith. They are real monsters and criminals," the Mufti wrote and called for "spreading calls for peace, as well as praying for the people of Syria."

In the video published today, the young man says that his name is Imad Jagnum Muhammad Aid and that he is a second-year dentist. "I offer my deepest apologies to the muftiate for my words, which are wrong both religiously and humanely. I ask the muftiate to forgive me, I offer my sincere apologies to the Mufti of Bata," the student says in the video.

He emphasizes his remorse several times. "I'm not making excuses, I'm not pretending to apologize... I really sincerely apologize and ask for forgiveness for myself and for my words. And I ask all participants [of the discussion] to calm down, since the month of Ramadan is underway, I ask all participants to stop insulting me, my family. They have nothing to do with it, I wrote it personally, I am responsible for my words as a true Muslim. I am an ordinary Muslim, like you," said the author of the video message.

The mufti who published the video explained in the annotation to it that after the publication of his address dedicated to the genocide in Syria, he received many insults from Muslims.

"One of them officially apologized to me. The others continue to insult me. [...] We all need to learn to have civilized discussions. If your opponent is wrong, do not resort to insults. Let everyone stick to their opinion, and time will judge who was right. I have forgiven everyone for the sake of Allah and do not hold a grudge against anyone. This is the month of forgiveness, and I want to remind you that we should all be lenient with each other," wrote Mohamad Bata Kiwah.

Let us recall that the practice of public apologies, adopted in Chechnya at the instigation of Ramzan Kadyrov, has spread to other regions of Russia. Thus, in the summer of 2023, Volgograd blogger Pavel Prokudin apologized for insulting Muslims and residents of the Caucasus. He explained that his statements were provoked by insults against Russians and himself.

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Africa Subsaharan

How the leader of tiny Guinea-Bissau took a special place in relations with Russia

2025-02-28

Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.
by Victor Vasiliev

[REGNUM] On February 26, Russian President Vladimir Putin received Guinea-Bissau leader Oumarou Sisoka Embalo in the Kremlin, with whom he held lengthy talks. This is far from the first high-level contact in recent times. The small country on the coast of West Africa with a population of two million has become unexpectedly important for Russia.

It is enough to remember that it was the President of Guinea-Bissau who visited Russia on May 9 last year and became one of the few leaders of friendly states who saw the Victory Parade on Red Square.

Even earlier, during his first meeting with Embalo, the Russian leader devoted three hours to an informal conversation. This took place on October 25, 2022, when Russia was under maximum external pressure and attempts at complete international isolation.

Embalo came to Moscow representing the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS, 15 countries), being at that time the chairman of the organization, and the topic of the Ukrainian crisis became the main one in the negotiations.

"You see that today the situation that exists in connection with the war between two fraternal states, Russia and Ukraine, and also in relation to grain and fertilizers, is blocking the development of the entire world..., " the President of Guinea-Bissau said in the Kremlin. "We think and hope that we can find a way to establish a dialogue between the two fraternal states."

Embalo then went on an official visit to Ukraine and, as was written at the time, conveyed “Putin’s message” to Zelensky, although the official Kremlin emphasized that no special message was conveyed in this way.

Having already returned home, the head of Guinea admitted that “thanks to this journey to the heart of warring Europe, Guinea-Bissau ended up on the world map.”

BISSAU MATTERS
In fact, Embalo was one of the first to offer Putin mediation.

And in June 2023, the African Peace Initiative for the settlement of the conflict in Ukraine took place, which consisted of 10 points and included a visit by a delegation of 7 African leaders led by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa to Kiev and St. Petersburg.

This was the first serious voice from the “third world” about the need to achieve peace in Ukraine – not a voice of condemnation towards Moscow, but a voice of objective concern and an attempt to understand the situation.

The role of the Black Continent in resolving the Ukrainian crisis is clearly demonstrated by the fact that Vladimir Putin demonstrated the initialed draft agreement with Ukraine, prepared in March 2022 in Istanbul, precisely at a meeting with leaders and representatives of the peacekeeping mission of African countries on June 17, 2023.

The powerful anti-colonialist message contained in the historic speech of the Russian president on the occasion of the accession of the DPR, LPR, Zaporizhzhya and Kherson regions to Russia is especially relevant for Africa. The problem of resolving territorial disputes and the desire for genuine independence have now become an urgent need of the “humiliated and insulted” countries, among which Russia claims leadership.

As for Embalo, he not only visited Red Square on May 9, 2024, but also established relationships with political figures such as Rustam Minnikhanov and Ramzan Kadyrov, finding time for corresponding visits to Kazan and Grozny.

And already in January of this year, Putin had a telephone conversation with the leader of Guinea-Bissau, the circumstances of which once again emphasized the importance that the Russian leader attaches to relations with this African state.

Some experts were surprised that he even unexpectedly interrupted a meeting of the Supervisory Board of the Agency for Strategic Initiatives for the sake of an unplanned telephone conversation with Embalo, while other leaders often have to wait for Putin.

NEGOTIATIONS IN THE KREMLIN
As for the current negotiations, which took place in the Grand Kremlin Palace, they began with the traditional ceremony of meeting the leaders of the two states, continued with a conversation in a narrow format, then negotiations in an expanded format, and finally ended with a separate working lunch for the two presidents.

During the narrow-format meeting, Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak, presidential aide Yuri Ushakov, who participated in the recent negotiations in Riyadh, and Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Pankin took part from the Russian side. Entrepreneur Oleg Deripaska also took part in the expanded format.

The Guinea-Bissau government has signed four cooperation agreements with Russia. Their details are not yet known, but conclusions can be drawn based on the parameters of the emerging cooperation.

Russia is interested in joint work on rare earth metals with Guinea-Bissau, this was stated shortly before the meeting by the press secretary of the Russian president Dmitry Peskov. Vladimir Putin noted in the introductory, public part of the negotiations that " many companies from Russia are showing interest in working on the Guinea-Bissau market."

In this context, Deripaska's presence at the negotiations is understandable. It is known that the company "RUSAL", of which he is the founder, has concluded a contract with the republic, within the framework of which Russian specialists are to begin exploration of bauxite in the Boe region. According to the government of the West African country, the reserves there exceed 113 million tons. A permanent representative office of "RUSAL" has recently opened in Bissau, and the project to build a port in the city of Buba and a railway that will lead to it will soon begin.

Other areas of cooperation could include projects in the fields of fishing, agriculture and especially tourism.

However, in addition to standard mutually beneficial projects, the leaders’ attention was also focused on current political issues – not only regional, but also international.

"PROVINCE" IN WEST AFRICA
The meeting of the Russian and Bisayan delegations is taking place against the backdrop of fairly intensive negotiations with the American side, when the dialogue between the two countries has only just resumed. At the same time, the Russian leader finds time for high-level negotiations with minor players in the form of a country that is small even by African standards.

If last time Embalo headed to Kiev after his visit to Moscow, this time he flew to Azerbaijan, a country whose relations with Russia have been complicated in recent months. Who knows, maybe he brought some message from the Kremlin to his meeting with President Ilham Aliyev, as was said during his Kiev visit.

How can this phenomenon be explained?

We are witnessing Putin's special attention and favor to the leader of a little-known country on the coast of West Africa. The motives for such attention are actually understandable, even if not obvious to an outside observer: this is Embalo's role and merits in resolving the Ukrainian crisis.

The idea that Guinea-Bissau could be turned into a model "province" of Russia in West Africa is finding support in Russia. This can be considered the first and main informal result of the negotiations in the Kremlin.

Guinea-Bissau, with its unique climate, dozens of islands with pleasant beaches, and vibrant culture, could become a very attractive tourist destination for Russians.

Finally, we must not forget the close ties that have been established since the Soviet era. Many educated people in Guinea have a good command of Russian. They call themselves “Russians of West Africa,” referring to their openness, cheerfulness, honesty, and ability to drink. Perhaps the level of dialogue between the countries is so high thanks to this mental closeness.

And here we return to the Ukrainian context.

In a recent interview with Pavel Zarubin, a journalist from the Rossiya TV channel, the Russian president specifically emphasized: “ We are grateful to all our partners who strive to achieve peace,” meaning that not only European countries, but also other countries (undoubtedly including African ones) can play their role in solving the most difficult task currently facing Russia.

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Caucasus/Russia/Central Asia

Anniversary of the deportation of the Vainakhs became an occasion for the Chechen authorities to recall the Aukhovsky district

2025-02-24

Direct Translation via Google Translation. Edited.
[KavkazUzel] At a rally dedicated to the 81st anniversary of the deportation of the Vainakhs, Chechen Prime Minister Magomed Daudov demanded that the descendants of the repressed be given back their homes in the former Aukhovsky District of Dagestan.

As the "Caucasian Knot" wrote, today marks 81 years since the beginning of Stalin's deportation of the Vainakhs. A memorial rally in memory of the victims of the deportation was held in Nazran.

On February 23, 1944, Operation Lentil began, during which almost 500,000 Chechens and Ingush were deported en masse from the territory of the Chechen-Ingush ASSR to Kazakhstan and Central Asia. More details about these events and their consequences can be found in the "Caucasian Knot" reference "Deportation of Chechens and Ingush".

An event dedicated to the 81st anniversary of the "deportation of the Chechen people" was held in Chechnya, at which the Chairman of the Government Magomed Daudov raised the issue of restoring the Aukhovsky District, Chechnya Today reports.

"Every year people come out with demands for the restoration of the Aukhovsky District. They say that if there is a law on rehabilitation, and housing was built for those who seized their lands, then the Aukh residents should have the opportunity to return to their homes... Maybe the Dagestani authorities think that we do not notice these appeals or consider the Aukh residents to be distant from us. This is not so. We live in a state governed by the rule of law, and there is a law on the rehabilitation of repressed peoples. Sooner or later, the Chechen people will restore justice in this matter," the agency quotes Daudov as saying.

The deportation of the Vainakhs is directly linked to the unresolved issue of the rights of the Chechens of Dagestan, who have been waiting for the restoration of the Aukhovsky District for about 30 years, according to the "Caucasian Knot" report " The Main Thing About Aukh: What the Chechens Demand from the Dagestan Authorities."

At the same time, it follows from the publication of the state news agency Grozny-Inform that Magomed Daudov made even harsher statements at the rally, speaking about those who live in the territory of the former Aukhovsky district.

"They call themselves Muslims, but they commit a sin that cannot be forgiven. Even a shahid's debt is not forgiven. Someone else's will never be halal for them... By the will of the Almighty, we will achieve justice in this matter: if possible, according to the law of the country or according to Sharia law," Daudov's words are quoted in the publication.

On February 23, 2023, Magomed Daudov also stated that houses in the former Aukhovsky district should be returned to the descendants of the repressed. Daudov's speech was an attempt to speed up the restoration of the Aukhovsky district, but his demand is unfeasible, and the situation can only be resolved by a political decision, experts said. The restoration of the Aukhovsky district, which was planned to be completed by 2025, has actually been stopped for many years, the resettlement of Laks and the construction of new houses have been disrupted, Dagestani activists said in 2024.

Ramzan Kadyrov's Telegram channel published a message today dedicated to the anniversary of the deportation. "Today is a sad date in the history of the Chechen people: on February 23, 1944, by the inhuman order of the damned Joseph Stalin, the Chechens and Ingush were forcibly deported to Siberia and Central Asia. Operation Lentil was led by Lavrenty Beria. This criminal order led to huge casualties: thousands of people died on the road, in the harsh conditions of special settlements, from hunger, cold and disease. Our people were doomed to suffer only by the will of a cruel regime," the publication says.

Recall that the Day of Remembrance and Sorrow was celebrated in Chechnya on February 23 until 2011, until the authorities decided to celebrate all Russian state holidays equally with other regions. In April 2011, a special commission announced that the Day of Remembrance and Sorrow of the Peoples of the Republic would be celebrated annually on May 10 - the day of Akhmat Kadyrov's funeral.

However, in 2020, on Defender of the Fatherland Day, a rally in memory of the victims of repression was held in Grozny, in which Ramzan Kadyrov and other officials took part. Representatives of the Chechen leadership held a small rally in memory of the victims of the deportation on February 23, 2021. Ramzan Kadyrov, who left for a visit to Dubai, did not participate in it. In 2022, on the 78th anniversary of the deportation, no memorial events were held in the republic; officials dedicated only posts on social networks to this date.

Political scientist Ruslan Kutayev, who publicly spoke out in 2014 against the ban on February mourning events, was convicted and sent to prison for almost four years, as noted in the "Caucasian Knot" report " How Kadyrov turned a memorial service into a holiday on February 23."

The Chechen authorities also demanded that residents stop using the term "deportation," replacing it with the words "eviction" or "repression." At the same time, analysts interviewed by the "Caucasian Knot" noted that the Chechen authorities will not be able to erase the date of the beginning of the deportation from the people's memory.

More from kavkaz-uzel.eu
Residents of the North Caucasus Federal District honored the memory of the victims of the Vainakh deportation

Events dedicated to the anniversary of the deportation of the Vainakhs were held today in Chechnya, Ingushetia and other regions of the North Caucasus Federal District. In addition to official rallies, local residents honored the memory of the victims of the deportation with religious, educational and home meetings.

As the "Caucasian Knot" wrote, today marks 81 years since the beginning of Stalin's deportation of the Vainakhs. A memorial rally in memory of the victims of the deportation was held in Ingushetia, and at a rally in Chechnya, the republic's Prime Minister Magomed Daudov voiced a demand to return housing in the former Aukhovsky District of Dagestan to the descendants of the repressed. A memorial rally on the 81st anniversary of Stalin's deportation of the Vainakhs was also held in the Novolaksky District of Dagestan.

On February 23, 1944, Operation Lentil began, during which almost 500,000 Chechens and Ingush were deported en masse from the territory of the Chechen-Ingush ASSR to Kazakhstan and Central Asia. More details about these events and their consequences can be found in the "Caucasian Knot" reference "Deportation of Chechens and Ingush".

Today is the hardest day for Chechens and Ingush, a representative of the Memorial Human Rights Defense Center, familiar with the situation in Chechnya, told a "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

"There has been no information about unofficial actions this year. There has also been no information about pressure," he noted.

According to the speaker, "any action on this day, of course, if it is not an entertainment event, is a manifestation of grief." "Such actions today are more likely to have the character of disagreement with the authorities, since the authorities have long forgotten this day as a day of grief," he emphasized.

Chechen resident Yuni, in turn, noted that he does not show any particular interest in official events.

“And people, as usual, remember their relatives who suffered from deportation by holding events at home and distributing sadaqah in villages,” he said.

Another resident of Chechnya, a lawyer, noted that various organizations, including the Chechen Bar Association, had distributed the message. "In it, along with grief over the tragic day for the Vainakhs, there are also congratulations on the day of the Russian army. It's two in one," he said.

According to the speaker, many people mark the day of mourning with religious events. "In our villages, last night, on the eve of Ramadan, people gathered for dhikr, made dua in honor of those who passed away during the deportation," he said.

The head of the human rights organization "Mashr" Magomed Mutsolgov published a post in his blog on the "Caucasian Knot" dedicated to the anniversary of the deportation of the Vainakhs.

"On February 23, 1944, the Ingush and Chechens, without exception, from the youngest to the oldest, were exiled by the Stalinist regime to the cold steppes of Kazakhstan and Central Asia. The Vainakhs, basely deprived of their homeland, shared the fate of other peoples, unjustly doomed to death," he wrote in the post " 81st anniversary of the deportation of the Vainakhs!". "We remember those innocently killed in the cold steppes of Central Asia and Kazakhstan, because this is the tragedy of every family of our peoples. Our ancestors survived a tragedy that should never happen again, never and to no one."

More than 200 residents of the Nazran district gathered today in the mosque of the Ingush village of Ali-Yurt to remember and pray for the victims of the 1944 deportation. At the event, representatives of the older generation shared stories that they heard from eyewitnesses of those tragic events. After the conversation, those gathered read the movlid and prayed for the victims of the deportation.

In Nazran, on the day of the deportation of the Ingush people, a charity event was also held, within the framework of which more than 300 families received meat from sacrificial animals, the city mayor's office reported. In particular, assistance was provided to large and low-income families, as well as to relatives of killed soldiers and participants in the special military operation.

Commemorative events were also held in Stavropol Krai. Thus, in Pyatigorsk, the deportation of the Vainakhs was remembered with the participation of students from the North Caucasus Institute of the Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration, Pyatigorsk State University and the Medical and Pharmaceutical Institute. The events were organized by representatives of the national-cultural autonomy "Magas" and the Ingush representative office in Stavropol Krai. At the meeting, representatives of various regions heard testimonies of eyewitnesses who survived the forced displacement, the Ingushetia newspaper's Telegram channel reports.

Let us recall that the reasons for the deportation were mass desertion and preparation of an armed uprising in the Soviet rear, although the territory of the Chechen-Ingush ASSR was practically not under occupation, and by February 1944 the Wehrmacht had already been thrown back hundreds of kilometers from the Caucasus. According to historians, mass arrests, deportations and executions based on nationality were widely practiced under Stalin, which is confirmed by numerous documentary evidence, as stated in the "Caucasian Knot" reference " 10 myths about Stalin's role in the Great Patriotic War".

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Caucasus/Russia/Central Asia

Judge linked to Crocus terrorist attack to be held accountable

2025-02-12

Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.
[Regnum] The High Qualification Collegium of Judges has allowed a criminal case to bem: opened against Ingushetia judge Alikhan Yalhev, who released members of a group involved in the terrorist attack at the Crocus City Hall near Moscow, the bombing of the Nevsky Express, and the murder of the head of the Russian Armed Forces' NBC Protection Troops, General Igor Kirillov.

The board made this decision at a meeting on February 11.

“The board examined the submission of the Chairman of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation, Alexander Bastrykin <…> and decided to give consent to the initiation of a criminal case,” the board’s chairman, Nikolai Timoshin, read out the board’s decision.

The judge of the Nazran District Court is suspected of collusion with members of the Batalkhadzhin extremist group

… a Sufi Ingush clan estimated 5,000 to 20,000, which at the moment are fighting alongside Ukraine. For some reason Chechen big turban Ramzan Kadyrov declared them his brothers …

(the movement is recognized as terrorist and banned in the Russian Federation). According to the Telegram channel Mash, Yaryzhev previously sentenced relatives of radicals involved in the explosion of the Nevsky Express to suspended sentences, when a grenade launcher, a grenade, and a Makarov pistol were found on them during their arrest.

According to one version, Yaryzhev acted at the request of the Chairman of the Council of Judges of the Republic of Ingushetia, Magomed Aushev. After the prosecutor's office intervened, Aushev was stripped of his status as a judge and was put under investigation. Now Yaryzhev may also be held accountable, the channel noted.

As reported by the Regnum news agency, on March 22, 2024, terrorists broke into the Crocus City Hall in Krasnogorsk, Moscow Region, and opened fire on visitors and employees of the concert hall. In addition, the terrorists started a fire. As a result of the terrorist attack, 145 people were killed, and another 551 people were injured. The Investigative Committee opened several criminal cases, including under Article 205 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation ("Terrorist attack").

In December 2024, law enforcement officers detained four Batalkhadzhin terrorists who helped carry out the attack at Crocus City Hall. During a search, they were found to have weapons, and in their mobile phones, correspondence with the leaders of the organization hiding abroad.

Related from regnum.ru
Owner of Crocus City Hall recognized as victim in terrorist attack case

The company Crocus International was recognized as a victim in the case of a terrorist act that occurred during the performance of the group Piknik in the Crocus City Hall concert hall in March 2024. This was stated in court, TASS reports.

“To recognize the joint-stock company Crocus International as a victim in a criminal case initiated under Articles 205, 205.5, 222, 223.1 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (“Terrorist act”, “Illegal circulation of weapons and explosives”, “Participation in the activities of a terrorist organization”),” the court documents noted.

The Crocus City Hall concert hall, which burned down during the terrorist attack, is currently closed.

As reported by the Regnum news agency, the Investigative Committee of Russia has completed its investigation of the criminal case on the terrorist attack at the Crocus City Hall concert hall in Krasnogorsk, Oleg Vlasov, a lawyer for one of the accused, said on February 6. The victims will be the first to get acquainted with the materials. There are at least a thousand of them, so it is unlikely that the case will be sent to court in the near future, the lawyer explained.

On March 22, 2024, terrorists broke into Crocus City Hall and opened fire on visitors and employees of the concert hall, setting a fire. More than 140 people were killed and over 500 were injured as a result of their actions. The Investigative Committee opened several criminal cases, including under Article 205 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation ("Terrorist attack"). In January, the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation reported that 27 people had been charged in the case of the terrorist attack at Crocus City Hall.

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Caucasus/Russia/Central Asia

Six people convicted of riots in Makhachkala refused to appeal the verdict

2025-01-16

Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.
[KavkazUzel] The sentence of six residents of Dagestan convicted by the Novokubansky Court in the case of riots at the Uytash airport has come into force; they did not appeal the sentence.

As the "Caucasian Knot" wrote, 27 criminal cases on the riots in Makhachkala were sent to the courts of Kuban and Stavropol. On September 26, 2024, the Novokubansky Court began considering the case of six residents of Dagestan. The defendants are Magomed Gadzhiev, Shamil Gadzhiev, Bashir Magomedaliev, Alibeg Ramazanov, Roosevelt Tagirov, Magomednabi Shaikhslamov. On December 16, 2024, the court sentenced Tagirov to eight years in prison, the rest of the defendants - to seven years.

Mass riots at Makhachkala airport occurred on October 29, 2023, due to a report of the arrival of a plane with passengers from Israel. More than 20 people were injured in the riots, including nine police officers. 1,200 people were brought to administrative responsibility. What happened at Uytash airport and how the investigation is proceeding is described in the "Caucasian Knot" report " Case of the pogrom at Makhachkala airport ".

The verdict against six participants in the mass riots at the Makhachkala International Airport - Roosevelt Tagirov,

…an interesting name — is that local, or is he named after the American president?

Bashir Magomedaliev, Magamednabi Shaikhslamov, Alibeg Ramazanov, Shamil Gadzhiev and Magomed Gadzhiev - has come into force, the United Press Service of the Courts of Krasnodar Krai reported today.

"The verdict of the Novokubansky District Court was not appealed by the parties; it entered into legal force," the press service said in its Telegram channel.

Let us recall that the relatives of those accused and convicted in the case of the riots at the Makhachkala airport intended to ask for help from the head of Chechnya Ramzan Kadyrov, but were unable to get an appointment with him. At a meeting with the Dagestani ombudsman, they wrote a letter to the head of Dagestan Sergei Melikov and threatened protests in the event of no response.

The Dagestani authorities did not respond to requests from relatives of those convicted and accused in the Makhachkala riots case, so they had to ask the head of Chechnya for help. Analysts believe that Kadyrov refused the meeting due to his reluctance to conflict with Melikov and to be known as a defender of the pogrom participants.

On February 17, 2024, relatives of the participants in the riots at the Makhachkala airport appealed to Russian President Vladimir Putin with a request for leniency

On December 23, 2024, the Ust-Labinsk court sentenced eight defendants in the Makhachkala airport riots to prison terms of seven to eight years. On December 11, 2024, courts in Stavropol Krai sentenced 10 residents of Dagestan to lengthy prison terms in two cases of riots in Makhachkala. On January 10, a court in Georgievsk sentenced four residents of Dagestan to 10 years in prison in the Makhachkala riots case.

Earlier, the Armavir City Court sentenced five defendants in the case of riots at the Makhachkala airport to prison terms ranging from six years and four months to nine years. The court issued a harsh sentence without evidence of the defendants' guilt, the lawyers and relatives of the convicted said. The defense appealed the sentence, but the appellate court upheld it on November 25, 2024.

From the Rantburg archives: the round-up of the day itself, of the would-be pogram at the airport.

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Caucasus/Russia/Central Asia

Kommersant: New defendants appear in the criminal case on the murder of Russian General Kirillov

2025-01-14

Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.
[Regnum] New suspects have emerged in the case of the murder of the head of the radiation, chemical and biological defense troops (RCBZ) of the Russian Armed Forces, Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov, and his assistant Ilya Polikarpov. According to Kommersant, they rented an apartment in the Moscow region for the suspected perpetrator of the terrorist attack, Akhmad Kurbanov.

The suspects, there are two of them, are natives of Ingushetia, who were engaged in small business in Moscow. According to the operational services, shortly before the explosion, one of the defendants in the case received a call from an acquaintance living abroad, who asked him to find housing for an "Asian".

He, in turn, asked his fellow countryman to find an apartment. The natives of Ingushetia rented an apartment in Elektrougli and transferred the money for it, registering the housing in their own documents. They handed the keys to the apartment to the suspected perpetrator of the terrorist attack in one of Moscow's shopping centers.

Having learned of the terrorist attack, the accomplices fled, but security forces identified them and detained them in Siberia. They were arrested for 15 days for disobeying police officers and petty hooliganism. After serving their sentences, they will be sent to Moscow.

The new suspects belong to the militant wing of a group of followers of the religious sect "Batal-Khadzhi"

…also Batalkhadzhins, among other variations, whom Ramzan Kadyrov declared his brothers, are an Ingush clan of about 5,000, who at the moment are fighting alongside Ukraine…

(an organization whose activities are banned in the Russian Federation and recognized as terrorist).

As reported by the Regnum news agency, the explosion that killed Kirillov and Ilya Polikarpov occurred early in the morning of December 17 in the south-east of Moscow. The bomb was planted in an electric scooter. The Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation opened a criminal case on the fact of the explosion. The investigation is being conducted under three articles of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation: murder, terrorist act, and illegal circulation of weapons and ammunition.

On December 18, a citizen of Uzbekistan suspected of committing the terrorist attack, Akhmad Kurbanov, was detained. He admitted his guilt and said that he was recruited by Ukrainian special services. The man said that he acted for a reward of $100,000 and a promise to ensure his exit to the EU.

In order to monitor the general's entrance, the suspect rented a car and equipped it with a surveillance camera, which was used to broadcast online for the organizers of the terrorist attack in Dnepropetrovsk, Ukraine.

On December 19, Moscow's Basmanny Court sentenced the accused to two months of arrest.

The FSB and the special services of Uzbekistan are establishing possible accomplices in the murder of Kirillov and his assistant. The press service of the Federal Security Service emphasized that the employees of the Ukrainian special services who are behind the organization of the terrorist attack in Moscow will face a deserved punishment.

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