Caucasian Knot

20/12/2025

Karabakh leaders denied the accusations in their final statements.

Former Nagorno-Karabakh President Arayik Harutyunyan stated that he heard about a number of war crimes he is accused of for the first time in the courtroom and refused to admit guilt. Two other defendants expressed a similar position. Ruben Vardanyan's international lawyer, commenting on the requested life sentence, called the charges fabricated.

As reported by "Caucasian Knot," the trial of the former Nagorno-Karabakh leaders accused of war crimes concluded on October 31. The prosecution requested life imprisonment for Arayik Harutyunyan, David Ishkhanyan, David Babayan, Levon Mnatsakanyan, and David Manukyan, and 16 to 20 years in prison for the others. On December 4, the lawyers of their clients called the guilt of their clients unproven and called on the court to acquit them. On December 11, eight defendants in the case against the military-political leadership of Nagorno-Karabakh made their final statements before the court in Baku. All of them stated that they do not consider themselves guilty of the war crimes charged against them.

More: https://www.eng.kavkaz-uzel.eu/articles/71272

20/12/2025

The European Commission has warned Georgia of the possibility of completely suspending visa-free travel.

The European Commission has admitted that Georgia could face a complete suspension of its visa-free regime with the European Union. Due to the "systemic and targeted nature of the country's democratic backsliding," Brussels is prepared to implement a new mechanism against it, which comes into force on December 30, 2025.

As reported by Kavkazsky Uzel, in mid-June, the European Commission demanded that the Georgian authorities respect human rights and repeal repressive laws, citing these demands as conditions for maintaining the visa-free regime. Georgian authorities have stated that they will prefer visa-free travel to maintaining stability.

More: https://www.eng.kavkaz-uzel.eu/articles/71269

19/12/2025

The court confiscated the property of a former deputy from Kabardino-Balkaria.

Land and a plot of land worth over 16 million rubles, acquired with unverified income, have been seized from a former deputy of the village of Gerpegezh in Kabardino-Balkaria.

A court in Kabardino-Balkaria has upheld the prosecutor's office's claim to forfeit the property of a former local government deputy, acquired with unverified income, the agency announced today.

"During supervisory activities, it was established that a former deputy of the local government council of the rural settlement of Gerpegezh in the Chereksky Municipal District of the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic acquired a plot of land and a non-residential building worth over 16 million rubles using income whose legal origin has not been confirmed," according to a statement on the Telegram channel of the prosecutor's office for Kabardino-Balkaria.

According to the prosecutor's office, the court decision has already been executed and the property has been forfeited to the Russian Federation.

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Land and a plot of land worth over 16 million rubles, acquired with unverified income, have been confiscated from a former deputy of the village of Gerpegezh in Kabardino-Balkaria.

19/12/2025

The murder of a schoolboy in Odintsovo has sparked discussions about Russia's national policy in North Caucasus Federal District public groups.

The nationalist nature of the murder of a 10-year-old Tajik boy in a school near Moscow demonstrated the failure of nationalities policy in Russia. The "Russian Community" condemned the incident, but users of Dagestani and Chechen Telegram channels pointed out the contribution of such groups in perpetuating Islamophobia as a norm for years.

Today, a funeral was held in Tajikistan for fourth-grader Kobilchon, who died in an attack at a school in Odintsovo, near Moscow, the Asia-Plus internet portal reported.

The attack at Uspenskaya Secondary School in the Odintsovo Urban District was reported on the morning of December 16. A 15-year-old student brought a knife, pepper spray, and an IED-like device to school. In the hallway, he approached a crowd of younger students, including fourth-grader Kobilchon, and asked their nationality. School security guard Dmitry attempted to stop the teenager, but the student pepper-sprayed him and stabbed him. He then chased Kobilchon down the stairs and stabbed him several times. The child died instantly, Kommersant reports.

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The nationalist nature of the murder of a 10-year-old Tajik boy in a school near Moscow demonstrated the failure of nationalities policy in Russia. The "Russian Community" condemned the incident, but users of Dagestani and Chechen Telegram channels pointed out the contribution of such groups in perp...

19/12/2025

The Georgian parliament abolished the South Ossetian administration in exile.

Parliament approved a decision to abolish the administration of the former South Ossetian Autonomous Region effective January 1, 2026.

As the " Caucasian Knot " reported earlier, Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze called the creation of the South Ossetian administration in 2007 a "deliberate betrayal" and a violation of the Georgian Constitution.

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 subsequently recognized the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. The Georgian parliament voted to sever diplomatic relations with Russia, according to a "Caucasian Knot" report on the 2008 Five-Day War , which also provides details of the armed conflict.

The South Ossetian administration established in 2007 is being abolished. The Georgian parliament supported the decision to repeal the relevant legislation on December 17. According to the Georgian Dream initiative, the administration will cease functioning on January 1, 2026. However, the municipal administrations of Akhalgori, Kurta, Tigvi, and Eredvi will continue to operate in exile, as they were elected earlier, in 2006, Georgia-Online reported.

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Parliament approved a decision to abolish the administration of the former South Ossetian Autonomous Region effective January 1, 2026.

19/12/2025

Krasnodar residents appealed to Putin over broken roads and garbage.

Residents of the Muzykalny microdistrict in Krasnodar recorded a message for the Russian president's direct line, complaining about the state of the roads and the lack of garbage collection. They say their appeals to local authorities have been ineffective.

"We're asking you to help us. We've appealed to our city leaders multiple times, but there's been no results. We live in filth and trash," says one of the petitioners.

By 12:30 PM Moscow time, this video had garnered 3,201 views and 18 comments on the Krasnodar Teletype Telegram channel, which has over 138,000 subscribers.

"After such massive appeals, will the city and regional authorities be fired?" Vladimir Grigorenko asked.

"So, did they listen to the people, or is it just the usual runaround from local authorities?" asked Asker_tomaev tomaev

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Residents of the Muzykalny microdistrict in Krasnodar recorded a message for the Russian president's direct line, complaining about the state of the roads and the lack of garbage collection. They say their appeals to local authorities have been ineffective.

19/12/2025

The prosecution requested a life sentence for Vardanyan.

At a hearing in the Baku Military Court, the prosecutor proposed a life sentence for former Nagorno-Karabakh State Minister Ruben Vardanyan. Vardanyan stated that the trial did not meet the requirements of a fair trial.

As reported by the " Caucasian Knot ," on November 21, at a hearing in the case of former Nagorno-Karabakh State Minister Ruben Vardanyan , Azerbaijani citizens recognized as victims testified about shelling that occurred on the Armenian side long before Vardanyan moved to Karabakh. Specifically, the victims described shelling in the Kelbajar region, which came under Baku's control following the 44-day war in 2020, and in the Zangilan region, which was also occupied by Azerbaijan in 2020. Also at a hearing on December 9, Azerbaijani citizens recognized as victims in the war crimes case testified in court about shelling by Armenian units of Lachin, which came under Baku's control even before the defendant, Ruben Vardanyan, became a Karabakh official.

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At a hearing in the Baku Military Court, the prosecutor proposed a life sentence for former Nagorno-Karabakh State Minister Ruben Vardanyan. Vardanyan stated that the trial did not meet the requirements of a fair trial.

18/12/2025

A Turkish court has rejected Hajibeyli's appeal against his detention in a deportation center.

The Istanbul Magistrate's Court for Criminal Cases upheld the decision to place Azerbaijani opposition figure Gultekin Hajibeyli in a deportation center. She considers the court's ruling and the overall decision to deport her unlawful.

As reported by the " Caucasian Knot ," Gultekin Hajibeyli, a member of the Coordination Center of the National Council of Democratic Forces (NCDF) of Azerbaijan, was detained in Turkey on the night of November 30. On December 3, it was reported that she was being held in a deportation center and was not allowed to see anyone. However, Turkish authorities have not officially announced whether they plan to deport Hajibeyli to Azerbaijan. Opposition figures have linked this detention to the case against the leader of the Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan, Ali Karimli. Turkish authorities have decided to deport Gultekin Hajibeyli.

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The Istanbul Magistrate's Court for Criminal Cases upheld the decision to place Azerbaijani opposition figure Gultekin Hajibeyli in a deportation center. She considers the court's ruling and the overall decision to deport her unlawful.

18/12/2025

Kadyrov's representatives in Europe have been legalized in Germany as refugees.

Chechens Timur Dugazayev and Khusein Agayev, having received German citizenship as refugees, maintained contact with Kadyrov's inner circle and represented his interests in Europe, and also made numerous trips to Chechnya. Dugazayev returned to the republic after the imposition of US sanctions, but Agayev remains in Germany.

Several Chechens close to Ramzan Kadyrov have legalized their residence in Germany on humanitarian grounds and have begun doing business in the logistics sector, gaining access to German infrastructure facilities.

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Chechens Timur Dugazayev and Khusein Agayev, having received German citizenship as refugees, maintained contact with Kadyrov's inner circle and represented his interests in Europe, and also made numerous trips to Chechnya. Dugazayev returned to the republic after the imposition of US sanctions, but....

18/12/2025

Authorities reported on the condition of those injured after the drone strike in Kuban.

Two injured residents of the Slavyansky district have been transferred to the Regional Clinical Hospital. Operations at 21 kindergartens and three schools have been suspended.

As reported by the " Caucasian Knot ," at least five private homes were damaged by drone debris in the Slavyansk district tonight . Drone fragments were found in private homes in Slavyansk-on-Kuban and the village of Pribrezhny. Roofs of some homes were damaged, and windows were broken.

Two injured people were hospitalized at the Slavyansk Central Regional Hospital. "Air ambulances are preparing to transfer the patients to the S.V. Ochapovsky Regional Clinical Hospital No. 1," Kuban Vice Governor Alexander Rudenko wrote on his Telegram channel.

Additionally, 21 kindergartens and three schools in the Slovyansky district have been suspended due to water, electricity, and heat outages. "Five schools are operating on a staggered schedule," the official added. He also reported that this occurred because drones damaged two power lines in the Slovyansky district, leaving 12,700 residents without power.

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Two injured residents of the Slavyansky district have been transferred to the Regional Clinical Hospital. Operations at 21 kindergartens and three schools have been suspended.

18/12/2025

The court has authorized the seizure of the homes and cars of detained Ingush tax officials.

The Moscow District Court granted the Prosecutor General's Office's request to forfeit the homes and foreign cars of Magomed and Ilyas Kushtov, employees of the Ingush Federal Tax Service, suspected of abuse of power resulting in multimillion-dollar damages.

As reported by the " Caucasian Knot ," on December 3, it was reported that the Gagarinsky District Court of Moscow received a lawsuit from the Prosecutor General's Office, demanding that the property and vehicles of Ilyas and Magomed Kushtov and their relatives be forfeited to the state. The lawsuit specifically names three residential properties in Moscow, three land plots, residential and non-residential properties in Ingushetia and North Ossetia, as well as Mercedes, BMW, Toyota Land Cruiser, and GMC Yukon vehicles. According to the Prosecutor General's Office, the value of the Kushtovs' property significantly exceeds their official income.

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The Moscow District Court granted the Prosecutor General's Office's request to forfeit the homes and foreign cars of Magomed and Ilyas Kushtov, employees of the Ingush Federal Tax Service, suspected of abuse of power resulting in multimillion-dollar damages.

18/12/2025

Residents of a Dagestani village complained of regular power outages.

Regular power outages and low voltage in the electrical grid are creating problems for residents of the Dagestani village of Verkhneye Kazanishche, and appeals to the authorities have been unsuccessful.

As reported by the " Caucasian Knot ," on December 13, gusty winds caused power outages in 21 settlements across seven districts of Dagestan, including the Buinaksk District. Power was restored by 2:00 PM Moscow time on December 15 .

A local resident, who did not provide his name, complained to the "Caucasian Knot" on Telegram about regular power outages in the village of Verkhneye Kazanishche on December 14. "The power goes out almost every day in the Buinaksk District, in the village of Verkhneye Kazanishche. They don't replace old electrical wires and poles in the summer, but they do in the winter. They recently installed transformers, but they all burned out. We were getting 90 volts, but we're paying for 220... So many people's appliances have burned out because there's no 220 volts," he wrote.

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Regular power outages and low voltage in the electrical grid are creating problems for residents of the Dagestani village of Verkhneye Kazanishche, and appeals to the authorities have been unsuccessful.