Georgia’s EU U-turn
In Georgia’s anti-government protests, where are the Kists?
Georgia’s anti-government protests have touched almost the entire country, yet residents of the Pankisi Valley face their own restraining factors.
Luiza Mchedlishvili
Despite being the team’s youngest member, Luiza has years of experience writing about the North Caucasus, and has been an integral part of OC Media since 2021. She closely follows developments in C
Ingushetia
Ingushetia challenges North Ossetian proposal to seize land
The authorities in the Russian Republic of Ingushetia have challenged a proposal by the neighbouring republic of North Ossetia — Alania to take control of several areas of the republic. The North Ossetian Ministry of Construction presented the proposal on 30 August, leading to public outcry in Ingushetia. According to Ingush news site Fortanga, the proposal would incorporate part of Ingushetia’s Dzheyrakhsky District — the village of Gorbani, the Stolovaya mountain, and land surrounding t
adam kadyrov
Quran burner beaten by Adam Kadyrov charged with treason
A man who set fire to a Quran and was subsequently beaten up by Adam Kadyrov while in detention in Chechnya has been charged with high treason for allegedly sharing information with Ukrainian security services. The Volgograd Prosecutor’s Office approved the charges against 20-year-old Nikita Zhuravel on Thursday. He faces up to life in prison if convicted. Zhuravel gained public attention after footage purportedly of him burning a Quran appeared on social media. He was arrested and later
Chechnya
Mufti of Chechnya elected leader of North Caucasian Muslims
The Mufti of Chechnya and known advisor to Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov, Salakh Mezhiev, has been elected chair of the Coordination Centre of Muslims of the North Caucasus. On 28 September, the Council of Muftis unanimously elected Mezhiyev during a meeting in Cherkessk, the capital city of Karachay–Cherkessia. ‘I congratulate the respected Sheikh Salakh-Khadzhi Mezhiev on his election to this post. I am confident that he will justify the high trust placed in him by religious leaders o
Austria
Chechen native disappears after being deported to Russia
A Chechen native has disappeared after being detained in Cairo and deported to Moscow. Local media reported on Tuesday that Yusup Musayev had been detained at Cairo International Airport earlier this month at the request of Russian authorities. On 18 September, Musayev was deported to Russia. No one has heard from him since his plane arrived at Sheremetyevo Airport in Moscow later that same day. According to Chechen opposition movement 1adat, once in Russia, Musayev was kidnapped by Che
Azerbaijan
Chechen authorities threaten to send Azerbaijani citizens to fight in Ukraine
Five Azerbaijani citizens have been detained in Chechnya under threat of being sent to fight in Ukraine. In response, Azerbaijan has sent a note of protest to the Russian Foreign Ministry. Chechen authorities recently detained five Azerbaijani men, two of whom — Vugar Maharramov and Elkhan Shirinov — have since been forced to sign military contracts. Shirinov and Maharramov were detained with their brother-in-law, Nihad Rzayev. They originally travelled to Chechnya in May in order to mak
