Trial begins of Chechen rights activist Oyub Titiyev
The head of Memorial in Chechnya has been in custody since January on drugs charges.
New Adjara head faces conservative backlash after approving Batumi mosque
Ultra-conservative groups called the new Chair of Adjara’s government a ‘traitor’, after he promised to authorise a new mosque in Batumi.
North Caucasian women appeal to Putin over families imprisoned in Iraq
Around 50 women appealed for the authorities to do more to return the families of Russian-born IS fighters from detention in Iraq, including children.
Azerbaijan celebrates National Press Day
As the country commemorated the founding of its first newspaper activists highlighted Azerbaijan’s poor record in media freedom.
Widow of Omar al-Shishani detained in Istanbul
The widow of the former IS Minister of War was detained by Turkish police along with five others.
Chechen government announces ‘10,000 new jobs’
But local residents cast doubts over the republic’s official employment statistics.
Georgia may increase citizenship requirements
A bill before Georgia’s parliament could increase the residency requirement from 5 to 10 years to be eligible for citizenship.
Indigenous languages protest banned by Nalchik city authorities
Activists in held single person protests in Nalchik against the controversial law two days after coordinated protests in several Russian cities.
Pankisi residents complain of police pressure to stop protests
A protest was held on Friday denouncing the pressure and calling for an end to hydropower plant construction in the valley.
Daghestani authorities investigate man for 5-year-old social media post
The man claims authorities are demanding he confess to being an ‘extremists’ over a video he shared on social network VKontakte.