Caucasian Knot, Moscow (2026)

19/06/2026

Artur Osipyan filed a lawsuit against Nikol Pashinyan.

The Chairman of the Revolutionary Party of Artsakh, Artur Osipyan, appealed to the court. He demands a public retraction of the information, which he considers slanderous, and that Nikol Pashinyan be forced to apologize.

On May 22, it became known that Karabakh activist Artur Osipyan, arrested in Yerevan following an argument with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan during a campaign for the Civil Contract party, announced a hunger strike, demanding an apology from Nikol Pashinyan. Observers are certain that Osipyan's prosecution is politically motivated, as he has not broken the law. On May 25, activists in Yerevan came out to the Armenian government building demanding Osipyan's release. On June 10, the prosecutor made a decision to lift Osipyan's pretrial detention.

"Dear compatriots, on May 18, in connection with the slander and false information spread against me by candidate for Prime Minister of Armenia Pashinyan, I resorted to an extreme measure—a hunger strike—to defend my dignity, since I had no other choice in prison," Osipyan wrote on his page*.

According to him, after the prosecutor's office changed his pretrial detention, he will continue his fight in a different way. "Today I filed a lawsuit in the court of general jurisdiction of the first instance, demanding a public retraction of the factual information, which constitutes slander, and an apology," he said in a statement.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan used insults and threats during meetings with voters in response to questions from refugees from Nagorno-Karabakh. After this, clinic employee Armine Soghoyan, who asked about casualties in the Karabakh wars, was asked to resign, and Artur Osipyan was detained. He was charged with hooliganism, incitement to violence, and obstructing a campaign. On May 20, the court sent him to pretrial detention for two months.

19/06/2026

Limited information about the condition of the beaches in Tuapse and Anapa raises questions among local residents and activists.

Eighteen months after the fuel oil spill in the Black Sea, data on the condition of Anapa's beaches remains unclear. A similar situation exists in Tuapse, following a series of attacks on the seaport and coastal pollution with oil products, according to environmentalists and activists. Local residents believe the authorities are interested in increasing tourist traffic and are restricting information.

As reported by "Caucasian Knot," there are drops of oil products on the rocks at Primorsky Beach and the wild beach between Nebug and Tyumensky. An ecologist who traveled the coastline of the Tuapse District noted that the beaches of Lermontovo, Agoy, Dzhubga, and Shepsi are clean. However, he noted the low number of tourists on the beaches. Residents of Tuapse have drawn attention to oil pollution on the coastline near the Yuzhny boarding house and demanded that authorities clean the beaches. They also reported that bags of collected fuel oil have still not been removed from Vesna beach.

Ecologist Igor Shkradyuk told a "Caucasian Knot" correspondent that the assessment of the coastline's condition is limited in both geography and time. "Neither volunteers nor residents can physically survey the entire coastline. Therefore, any conclusions are always partial. "Swimming is acceptable for most people, but risks remain for those sensitive to petroleum products," he noted.

Shkradyuk also emphasized that in the absence of continuous monitoring, any reports of "clean" or "polluted" waters are approximate.

Volunteer Zhanna Rybak, who is participating in coastal cleanup efforts, stated that even with active cleanup efforts, the situation cannot be fully clarified.

"Reports of pollution in specific areas can only be made after walking the entire coastline." "The installation of protective booms in the Tyumensky area is not related to new emissions, but to the fact that waves can wash away residual fragments of old fuel oil," she said.

According to Rybak, "in some areas, the pollution is localized."

"There may be remnants of old fuel oil somewhere, but it's impossible to talk about large-scale pollution of the entire coastline," she added.

According to volunteer headquarters members, work to install nets and collect possible residual oil products continues in the area of the village of Tyumensky and between Nebug and Tuapse.

"Currently, volunteers are working primarily in hard-to-reach areas of the coast, where debris can be washed away after storms," one of the volunteers, Oleg, told a "Caucasian Knot" correspondent. A volunteer headquarters representative notes that "the situation on the equipped beaches appears stable, but monitoring continues in the 'wild' areas."

19/06/2026

Karapetyan announced that 103 of his associates had been arrested.

The Anti-Corruption Committee reported new arrests of representatives of the Strong Armenia bloc in cases of pre-election bribery. About 760 supporters of the bloc were detained in similar cases, 103 were arrested, according to the bloc's leader, Samvel Karapetyan.

As a result of activities carried out by the RA Anti-Corruption Committee, factual evidence was obtained indicating that the individuals appointed as officials at the Strong Armenia party's office in the Kanaker-Zeytun administrative district of Yerevan, in prior collusion with supporters of the party and a group of individuals collaborating with them, made promises to voters and also gave them an election bribe, News.Am reported.

The Strong Armenia party denies the accusations, calling the actions of the security forces political persecution and the published recordings fabricated. The bloc's representative, lawyer Aram Vardevanyan, stated that they are being used for political pressure and smear campaigns against the opposition. He noted the unusually high sound quality, which, in his opinion, creates the impression that the participants in the conversation were speaking directly into the microphone, so that every word could be clearly heard, Armenia Today reports.

19/06/2026

The offer to a former orphan from Sochi to go to the North Military District worried his sister.

Orphanage resident Vladimir Korbakov received another prison sentence. He told his sister he was being offered a contract with the Ministry of Defense. His defense team claimed Korbakov declined the offer. Recidivism among former orphanage children is often caused by a lack of social adaptation, and they may perceive a contract as a solution to their problems, the human rights activist believes.

Orphanage child Vladimir Korbakov, who had previously been convicted of theft and robbery, was accused of attempted theft from the apartment of Vadim Belous, chairman of the territorial election commission (Arsen was also charged in this case). Mnatsakanyan), as well as the theft of money and documents from Sochi resident Viktor Litov. Korbakov denied the charges, claiming he had written a confession after being tortured. Litov, however, told the "Caucasian Knot" that he was not a victim of the crime. In August 2017, Korbakov and Mnatsakanyan told details of their detention and torture.

44-year-old Vladimir Korbakov, who was convicted again on June 11, 2026, by the Central District Court of Sochi on a theft case, was offered a contract to be sent to the combat zone, but he subsequently refused the offer, his military-appointed lawyer Sayhan Vadaev told a "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

19/06/2026

Sources identified the man detained in the Skrepetsky murder case as a Chechen.

The Georgian passport used by the man detained in the murder of artist Robert Kuzovkov (Semyon Skrepetsky) is fake, and the man himself is Chechen, a Polish publication reported, citing sources in the security forces.

On June 16, it was reported that Russian artist Robert Kuzovkov, known under the pseudonym Semyon Skrepetsky, who drew caricatures of Ramzan Kadyrov and Vladimir Putin, was shot dead by unknown assailants in the Polish city of Biala Podlaska. Social media users commented on the murder of the artist who drew the caricatures of Kadyrov, noting that the death of the artist has only heightened interest in his work and given new resonance to the themes he touched on in his work. Friends of the artist are certain that the murder was politically motivated; the prosecutor's office has announced several theories, but has not disclosed them. The artist harshly ridiculed not only the authorities of Russia, Belarus, and Chechnya, but also Ukraine and the Russian opposition in his paintings and publications.

The Georgian passport used by the man detained in the murder of Robert Kuzovkov, a cartoonist working under the pseudonym Semyon Skrepetsky, is highly likely fake, as the details do not match. According to preliminary information, the detainee is a Chechen, Onet.pl reported today, citing sources in the security forces.

The publication reported details of the arrest. Security forces detained the man in Piastów, near Warsaw, at a Georgian restaurant. "The man didn't resist. He also didn't try to escape. He likely didn't have time to react," the publication states.

18/06/2026

An Abkhaz court sentenced a Georgian citizen to prison on espionage charges.

The Supreme Court of Abkhazia found Shalva Khizanishvili guilty of espionage, sentencing him to six years and nine months in prison.

As reported by Caucasian Knot, in October 2025, Georgian citizen Shalva Khizanishvili was detained by Abkhazia's State Security Service in the village of Shashikuara. He was subsequently charged with espionage.

The Abkhazian Security Service stated that another Georgian citizen, Emzar Bagishvili, born in 1968, was detained on March 10, and on March 12, an espionage case was opened against him. Social media users questioned the Abkhazian investigators' claim that the detained Georgian citizen was gathering information about the situation in the region. Most commenters expressed doubt about the investigation's theory. They noted that information about events in a small region can be obtained in various ways, and it is not necessary to send someone to gather information.

Shalva Khizanishvili's sentence was handed down by Judge Marat Avidzba. A Georgian citizen was found guilty of espionage (Article 274 of the Criminal Code of Abkhazia), the press service of the Supreme Court of Abkhazia reported on June 17.

In addition, he was found guilty of illegally acquiring, storing, and carrying fi****ms, ammunition, and explosive devices (Part 1 of Article 217 of the Criminal Code of Abkhazia).

"Khizanishvili was sentenced to imprisonment for 6 years and 9 months in a strict regime penal colony. The preventive measure against Khizanishvili remains the same until the sentence comes into force - detention," the court said.

"Caucasian Knot" also reported that Ksenia Alypova recorded a video message to the residents of Abkhazia apologizing for The fact that she was walking around Gagra wearing a Panama hat with the Georgian flag on it.

Georgia considers Abkhazia and South Ossetia to be Russian-occupied territories after Russia intervened in the armed conflict between Georgia and South Ossetia on August 8, 2008, and then recognized the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, according to a "Caucasian Knot" report on the "Five-Day War" of 2008, which also contains details of the armed conflict.

18/06/2026

The murder of Skrepetsky after a caricature of the Kadyrov family has prompted speculation about a Chechen connection.

The works of Robert Kuzovkov (Semyon Skrepetsky), an artist murdered in Poland, are virtually unknown in Chechnya, but the republic's authorities may have perceived them as offensive and used his murder as a message to other Kadyrov critics in Europe.

Chechnya native Magomed Avdorkhanov, who lives in Europe, was not familiar with the activities of the cartoonist Skrepetsky.

"I learned about this cartoonist and that he draws caricatures of Kadyrov after his death. I don't think he was known among the population of Chechnya. Perhaps some people knew about him, but given what he draws, it was dangerous for the residents of Chechnya to observe him and his activities. My circle of friends here and my relatives in Chechnya certainly didn't know about him before this event," he told a "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

He doesn't rule out the possibility that Ramzan Kadyrov's entourage was behind the cartoonist's murder.

"Kadyrov and his entourage don't forgive such things, and I don't rule out a direct connection. If he drew cartoons of Putin, Kadyrov, and Alaudinov, then that's a serious reason to believe the order came from somewhere in Chechnya. Besides, I read that he was shot with the same bullets as Khangoshvili in Berlin. Anything is possible," he speculated.

According to Avdorkhanov, this is a message for everyone who criticizes Kadyrov.

"They say, look, we are monitoring everyone who criticizes us, and we will punish everyone, even in Europe," he noted.

Chechen blogger Tumso Abdurakhmanov* does not consider the cartoonist well-known in the republic.

"As for the murdered artist, I can't say he was particularly well-known among Chechens. I came across some of his critical videos about Kadyrov, but nothing more," he told a "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

The blogger wouldn't be surprised if a Chechen connection is found in the artist's murder.

"As far as I understand, the Polish prosecutor's office hasn't officially announced Kadyrov's involvement in the murder yet, but if such a connection is announced in the future, it wouldn't surprise me. Kuzovkov's activities could well have been the reason for the murder in Kadyrov's interests," he noted.

The most categorical opponent of Ramzan Kadyrov might find such cartoons offensive, as they mock certain common features of Chechen culture.

The head of the Civic Assistance Committee*, Svetlana Gannushkina*, also hasn't heard of the cartoonist.

"I don't know anything about this artist or how he is perceived by various groups in Chechnya. "But I can imagine that even Ramzan Kadyrov's most categorical opponent might find such cartoons offensive, as they mock certain common features of Chechen culture. In my opinion, such mockery is unacceptable," she told the Caucasian Knot.

* are included in the register of foreign agents.

18/06/2026

Zarema Musayeva's daughter asked Aishat Kadyrova for help in freeing her mother.

Aliya Yangulbaeva published an open letter addressed to Aishat Kadyrova, the eldest daughter of the head of Chechnya. In her letter, Yangulbaeva asked Kadyrova to facilitate the release of her mother, Zarema Musayeva.

"Aishat, I am writing to you about my mother, Zarema Musayeva, who has been serving her fifth year in prison without guilt, despite her severe diabetes," Aliya Yangulbaeva wrote in her letter.

Yangulbaeva called on Kadyrova to show female solidarity and influence her father's decision so that Musayeva could celebrate her 57th birthday in freedom, surrounded by her family.

"You yourself, both a daughter and a mother... You are capable, like no one else, of understanding the pain of a daughter and the pain of an innocent mother. And I don't wish this pain on anyone. It can sometimes be difficult for men to change their minds, but it is women who know how to find the words that can melt even the hardest heart," the letter reads. message.

Musaeva's daughter emphasized that she sees how many good deeds Aishat Kadyrova does every day for people in need. She expressed hope that her mother's story will not leave Ramzan Kadyrov's daughter indifferent.

"I ask only one thing: help me ensure that Zarema Musayeva celebrates her 57th birthday not behind bars, as in previous years, but in freedom, next to her family," Aliya Yangulbaeva wrote in conclusion.

In early April 2025, human rights activists sent a complaint from Chechen political prisoner Zarema Musayeva to the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention. In it, the woman stated that she was being punished for the actions of her sons, who criticize the Chechen leadership, and that the court hearings in the case were being conducted with violations.

18/06/2026

Human rights activists have called for the search for Selima Ismailova.

The reliability of information about the fate of Selima Ismailova, who was detained at a Moscow airport three years ago and forcibly taken to Chechnya, is questionable, and placing her on the wanted list could clarify her fate, human rights activists noted. However, it was only thanks to a widespread campaign that security forces took even formal action regarding Seda Suleimanova's disappearance.

As reported by the "Caucasian Knot," in June 2023, Chechen security forces detained Selima Ismailova at a Moscow airport after fleeing domestic violence. Lawyers were unable to determine Selima Ismailova's whereabouts. In July of that year, Chechen Ombudsman Mansur Soltayev published a video of the girl giving monosyllabic answers to his questions and stated that Ismailova was with her family, was perfectly fine, and was not being restricted. However, Telegram users doubted that the girl had filmed the video voluntarily. Three years later, there has been no news about her fate.

Katerina Neroznikova, coordinator of the Marem human rights group, believes that Selima Ismailova's situation is fundamentally different from that of Seda Suleimanova.

"Firstly, it is important to emphasize that Selima Ismailova has a German appearance." She spoke German. Unlike the vast majority of Chechen women who grew up in Chechnya, she didn't speak or write Russian, or at least spoke it very poorly. She wrote poorly because she had lived in Germany for many years. Three years ago, at that point, she spoke Chechen and German. At the same time, she had some understanding of life in a conservative society because she continued to live there with her family. "Her family is, of course, conservative," she told a "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

According to the Marem coordinator, Selima Ismailova had a very specific goal in returning to Germany.

"Her travel options were, accordingly, completely different from those of Seda Suleimanova. While Seda, when she fled her home to St. Petersburg, wanted to live a free life there or by going somewhere abroad, Selima wanted to return to Germany. She wanted to return specifically to where she was accustomed to living," Neroznikova explained.

18/06/2026

Skrepetsky's acquaintances are convinced that his murder was politically motivated.

Those close to the artist Robert Kuzovkov (Semyon Skrepetsky), who was murdered in Poland, are certain the murder was politically motivated. The prosecutor's office has voiced several unspecified theories. The artist harshly ridiculed not only the authorities of Russia, Belarus, and Chechnya, but also Ukraine and the Russian opposition in his paintings and publications.

Two Belarusian citizens, aged 33 and 37, were detained in connection with the murder of Robert Kuzovkov near the country's consulate in Biała Podlaska, but security forces released them, tvn24.pl reports, citing the Lublin District Prosecutor's Office.

The office also reported that investigators are considering several versions of the murder, but cannot voice them.

The publication also quotes Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, who said that "everything points to a political assassination," but they need to wait for "more concrete evidence."

"It looked like an ex*****on. Several shots from close range and one finishing shot," an officer familiar with the circumstances of the case told ONet.pl.

"The Russian actively posted information on social media about his whereabouts. Unfortunately, he was an easy target," the source added.

The latest wave of threats came after an action held on Russia Day, during which the artist staged an action outside the Russian Embassy in Berlin, throwing the Russian flag into a trash bin and displaying an "icon" of Putin holding Stalin.

Threats constantly accompanied the artist's activities: ill-wishers wrote under every post, noted Belarusian performance artist Vlad Bokhan. He noted that due to his critical publications against the Ukrainian authorities, the artist's data ended up in the Myrotvorets database, where, in addition to a description of his activities, personal information, including his address and accounts, was published.

According to Bokhan, Skrepetsky's murder may be politically motivated. "Any political assassination is not only the elimination of a person, but also an act of intimidation. A signal to those engaged in such activities," he said.

Caucasian Knot

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