The Caucasus in Human Rights Watch’s 2018 report
Georgia’s drug policy, Armenian elections, the persecution of queer people in Chechnya and Azerbaijan all criticised in HRW’s annual report.
Azerbaijan sentences opposition activist to 3 years for ‘smuggling money’
Gozal Bayramli claims that €12,000 in cash that authorities say she was smuggling from Georgia was planted in her bag by the authorities.
Makhachkala mayor arrested on corruption charges
Musa Musayev is being held in temporary detention accused of handing out city land to a commercial firm worth ₽80 million ($1.4 million).
Georgian actor sentenced to 8 years on drug charges
Giorgi ‘Bakhala’ Giorganashvili maintains his innocence, claiming police planted drugs on him.
Hundreds protest in Yerevan against rising prices
Hundreds joined protests organised by the opposition Yelk Alliance against rising food and fuel prices, blaming the country’s new tax code.
Three injured in railway tunnel explosion in central Georgia
The men were working on the tunnel’s constructing but were not warned of a planned detonation.
Kadyrov blames family for ‘murder of Chechen singer Bakayev’
The Chechen head suggested Zelimkhan ‘Zelim’ Bakayev’s own family killed him because he was queer.
Georgian regulator slams Magti over planned mobile data price hike
MagtiCom has delayed the move after criticism from the Georgian National Communications Commission.
Arson attack against Russian rights group Memorial’s Ingushetia office
Two people in masks broke into the group’s office in Nazran and set it ablaze.
Georgian courts under fire after Bassiani triple stabbing suspect released on bail
NGOs and officials reacted angrily after a man who stabbed two bouncers and a police officer outside the Bassiani nightclub was granted bail.