The Nalchiksky state farm where the city authorities create an illegal dump. In the background, abandoned stables (Aslan Urumov /OC Media)
The trials began in Nalchik, the capital of Kabardino-Balkaria, on Tuesday of two brothers accused of attacking a police officer. Aslan Iritov, the chairman of the Volny Aul NGO both of whose hands have been amputated, and his younger brother Beslan face up to five years in prison if convicted.
Zviad Devdariani (CiDA)
Zviad Devdariani, the head of a prominent Georgian non-governmental organisation and an outspoken supporter of women’s rights has resigned, after allegations of sexual harassment and sexual assault emerged against him.
Liana Kvarchelia, from the Centre of Humanitarian Programmes. Photo credit: Conciliation Resources (youtube)
A group of activists, writers, and students in Abkhazia are facing public criticism for participating in joint projects with Tbilisi-based peacebuilding organisations. The backlash came after an anonymous Facebook profile published personal details of participants of a peacebuilding project [Read more…]
Magomed Mutsolgov (amnesty.org.ru)
Moscow’s Zamoskvoretsky District Court has rejected an appeal by Ingush human rights group Mashr to be removed from a government list of ‘foreign agents’, Caucasian Knot reports.
Activists at the memorial to the Circassian victims of the Russian–Caucasian War.
Officially sanctioned organisations in what was once historical Circassia work almost exclusively to promote Circassian language and culture. Beneath the surface, however, young people espouse more radical ambitions — recognition of the Circassian Genocide, and creation of a united Circassia.
Protest in Muguda (YouTube)
Residents of the village of Muguda, in Georgia’s Mtskheta–Mtianeti Region (historical Mtiuleti), staged a protest on 13 May demanding that construction of power lines passing through the village cease.
Sukhum (Dominik K. Cagara/OC Media)
Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) have a short but interesting history in Abkhazia. Over the past two decades, they have established themselves as a significant part of Abkhazian society. This is perhaps due, in large part, to the charitable works that they led in the difficult post-war years.
Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) has denied involvement in a mass inspection of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in Chechnya. The FSB’s press office issued a statement saying that any such checks are the responsibility the Ministry of Justice.
