Caucasian Knot

03/07/2025

Foreign Ministries of Azerbaijan and Russia exchanged notes of protest

Official Baku demanded an investigation into the crash of the Azerbaijan Airlines plane and compensation for the victims after Moscow protested against the actions of Azerbaijani security forces against Russian citizens,

As "Kavkazsky Uzel" reported, on June 28, the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry called on the Russian authorities to investigate the deaths and injuries of Azerbaijanis who were injured on June 27 as a result of a special operation by security forces in Yekaterinburg. Experts in Baku named blunt force trauma as the cause of death of the brothers Huseyn and Ziyaddin Safarov, while the Russian side called the cause of death a heart attack.

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Official Baku demanded an investigation into the crash of the Azerbaijan Airlines plane and compensation for the victims after Moscow expressed protest over the actions of Azerbaijani security forces against Russian citizens,

03/07/2025

Baku court decides to hear case of political scientist Gasimli accused of extortion

A Baku court has accepted the case of political scientist Azer Gasimli for consideration on the merits, rejecting most of the defense's motions. At the same time, the court agreed to question only two defense witnesses during the trial.

As "Caucasian Knot" reported, the defense motioned to terminate the criminal prosecution of the political scientist due to the lack of corpus delicti in his actions.

On December 8, 2024, Director of the Institute of Political Management Azer Gasimli was detained on suspicion of extortion from a person who owed Gasimli money. The next day, investigators brought charges against Gasimli, and the court remanded him in custody. The case materials state that political scientist Gurbanali Yusifov and his family, demanding that the victim return the borrowed funds.

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A Baku court has accepted the case of political scientist Azer Gasimli for consideration on the merits, rejecting most of the defense's motions. At the same time, the court agreed to question only two defense witnesses during the trial.

03/07/2025

Human rights activists assess the impact of publicity in cases of illegal detainees in Chechnya
Relatives of those illegally detained in Chechnya often try to secure their release on their own, and only in extreme cases do they turn to human rights organizations, but publicity does not always help, human rights activists pointed out, commenting on information about the illegal detention of three schoolchildren by security forces in Chechnya.

As "Caucasian Knot" wrote, three 16-year-old schoolchildren have been held in one of the security agencies of Grozny since December 2024 without charges, the Memorial Human Rights Defense Center reported*.

The relatives of the detained teenagers did not contact human rights activists, a human rights activist familiar with the situation said on condition of anonymity.

More: https://eng.kavkaz-uzel.eu/articles/66521

* is included in the register of foreign agents by the Ministry of Justice of Russia.

02/07/2025

Sixth of Azerbaijani nationals detained in Urals arrested

The court has chosen a preventive measure for Shahin Lalayev, accused of organizing murders in Yekaterinburg. The number of people from Azerbaijan arrested in this case has reached six.

As "Kavkazsky Uzel" reported, five of the six people from Azerbaijan who were detained in connection with the murders committed in 2001-2011 have been arrested in Yekaterinburg. Those arrested are Akif, Ayaz, Bakir and Mazahir Safarov and Akhliman Ganjiyev, and Shahin Lalayev's detention period has been extended. Today it became known that the arrest of Akif Safarov has been appealed.

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The court has chosen a measure of restraint for Shahin Lalayev, accused of organizing murders in Yekaterinburg. The number of people from Azerbaijan arrested in this case has reached six.

02/07/2025

Sixth of Azerbaijani nationals detained in Urals arrested

The court has chosen a preventive measure for Shahin Lalayev, accused of organizing murders in Yekaterinburg. The number of people from Azerbaijan arrested in this case has reached six.

As "Kavkazsky Uzel" reported, five of the six people from Azerbaijan who were detained in connection with the murders committed in 2001-2011 have been arrested in Yekaterinburg. Those arrested are Akif, Ayaz, Bakir and Mazahir Safarov and Akhliman Ganjiyev, and Shahin Lalayev's detention period has been extended. Today it became known that the arrest of Akif Safarov has been appealed.

On June 28, the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry called on the Russian authorities to investigate the deaths and injuries of Azerbaijanis who suffered on June 27 as a result of a special operation by security forces in Yekaterinburg. Experts in Baku named blunt force trauma as the cause of death of brothers Guseyn and Ziyaddin Safarov, while the Russian side called the cause of death a heart attack.

The Leninsky District Court of Yekaterinburg, at the request of the investigator, chose a preventive measure for Shakhina Lalayeva in the form of detention, the official telegram channel "Courts of the Sverdlovsk Region" reported today.

Lalayev has been arrested until July 19, 2025 inclusive. "The man has been charged with committing a crime under Part 3 of Article 33, paragraph "z" of Part 2 of Article 105 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation," the publication says.

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The court has chosen a measure of restraint for Shahin Lalayev, accused of organizing murders in Yekaterinburg. The number of people from Azerbaijan arrested in this case has reached six.

02/07/2025

Sentence of man convicted of murdering Aslan Kambiev overturned

The Supreme Court of Kabardino-Balkaria acquitted Ruslan Kudayev, who was found guilty of the death of athlete Aslan Kambiev.

As "Kavkazsky Uzel" reported, on February 24, the Nalchik City Court found resident of the village of Psygansu Ruslan Kudayev guilty in the case of the murder of the famous athlete Aslan Kambiev. Kudayev was found guilty under Article 108 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (murder in excess of the limits of necessary defense) and released from punishment (1 year 10 months of restriction of freedom) due to the expiration of the statute of limitations for criminal prosecution. He was also cleared of the charge of illegal acquisition of fi****ms (Part 1 of Article 222 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation).

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The Supreme Court of Kabardino-Balkaria acquitted Ruslan Kudayev, who was found guilty of the death of athlete Aslan Kambiev.

02/07/2025

Journalists learned the background of two Russians detained in Azerbaijan

Two of the Russians detained in Baku in connection with an organized crime case were IT specialists in Russia and arrived in Azerbaijan no later than autumn 2022.

As "Kavkazsky Uzel" reported, on June 30, law enforcement agencies of Azerbaijan conducted a search in the office of the Russian agency "Sputnik Azerbaijan" and announced the detention of two people, calling them undercover agents of the Russian special services. Today, the Ministry of Internal Affairs reported that two employees have been arrested, and five more are under criminal prosecution in cases of fraud, illegal entrepreneurship and property laundering. Also today, Azerbaijani security forces reported the detention of two groups of Russians suspected of drug trafficking and cybercrime.

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Two of the Russians detained in Baku in connection with an organized crime case were IT specialists in Russia and ended up in Azerbaijan no later than autumn 2022.

02/07/2025

Armenian Parliament Speaker Calls for Ban on Russian TV Broadcasts

Russian state TV channels interfere in the internal political processes in Armenia, therefore it is necessary to "seriously discuss" stopping their broadcasting in the country, said Alen Simonyan.

The speaker of the National Assembly of Armenia made a statement about the activities of Russian TV channels and individual presenters at a briefing today. Alen Simonyan pointed out, in particular, the coverage of the arrest of businessman Samvel Karapetyan by Russian TV channels.

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Russian state television channels are interfering in internal political processes in Armenia, so it is necessary to "seriously discuss" stopping their broadcasting in the country, said Alen Simonyan.

01/07/2025

The court refused to transfer Anar Mammadli to house arrest

The Baku Court of Grave Crimes has rejected the defense's motions to place the head of the Election Monitoring and Democracy Studies Center, Anar Mammadli, under house arrest and to exclude evidence obtained from his phone and computer from the case.

As "Caucasian Knot" reported, on May 19 it became known that Anar Mammadli had been charged with new charges1, and the case was referred to court. The defense insists on Mammadli's innocence. On May 29, the judge rejected the defense's motion to dismiss the case of human rights activist Anar Mammadli and journalist Anar Abdulla, who are accused of several criminal offenses. The court also refused to release Mammadli from custody.

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The Baku Court of Grave Crimes rejected the defense's motions to place the head of the Election Monitoring and Democracy Studies Center, Anar Mammadli, under house arrest and to exclude evidence obtained from his phone and computer from the case.

01/07/2025

Magomed-Sultan Magomedov dismissed from post of State Secretary of Dagestan

After detention and searches, State Secretary of Dagestan Magomed-Sultan Magomedov was dismissed from his post.

As "Kavkazsky Uzel" reported, on June 25, security forces detained State Secretary of Dagestan Magomed-Sultan Magomedov, whose addresses had been searched since the morning of the same day. Sources reported that searches had also been conducted at the addresses of Magomedov's relatives in Dagestan and Moscow. On June 26, it also became known that the Deputy Prosecutor General of the Russian Federation had filed a civil lawsuit against Magomedov and his relatives in the Sovietsky District Court of Makhachkala. Magomedov was released on bail. The Soviet District Court of Makhachkala ruled to nationalize his oil transshipment complex and related companies, whose property had previously been seized. Also two Moscow apartments belonging to Magomedov's relatives have been arrested.

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Following detention and searches, Dagestan State Secretary Magomed-Sultan Magomedov was dismissed from his post.

01/07/2025

The case of hostage taking in Rostov pretrial detention center has reached the court

Five people are accused of attempting to escape, participating in a terrorist organization, preparing a terrorist attack, and taking hostages in Rostov Pretrial Detention Center No. 1; the case has been sent to court.

As "Kavkazsky Uzel" wrote, the five people accused of taking hostages in Rostov Pretrial Detention Center, Ramazan Albekov, Magomed Alkhanov, Malik Gandaloev, Daniil Kamnev, and Adam Kodzoev, planned to get to Ingushetia, join a local armed group, and commit several terrorist attacks and sabotage, the FSB reported.

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Five people are accused of attempting to escape, participating in a terrorist organization, preparing a terrorist attack, and taking hostages in Rostov's SIZO-1; the case has been sent to court.

01/07/2025

Two Dagestani residents convicted of desecrating Eternal Flame in Stavropol village

A court sentenced two residents of Dagestan to 2.5 years in a penal colony, finding them guilty of desecrating the Eternal Flame at the memorial in the village of Kurskaya. The convicts were warming their feet by the fire.

As "Kavkazsky Uzel" wrote, in December 2023, the Investigative Committee of Stavropol reported on the initiation of a criminal case against four young people who danced the lezginka at a mass grave near the Eternal Flame in the village of Grushevskoye. In early June, the court sentenced three defendants to one and a half years in a penal colony, and the fourth to one year.

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A court sentenced two residents of Dagestan to 2.5 years in a penal colony after finding them guilty of desecrating the Eternal Flame at a memorial in the village of Kurskaya. The convicts were warming their feet by the fire.