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Zhalavdi Geriyev photo
Zhalavdi Geriyev
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Zhalavdi is a Chechen journalist who was persecuted by the Russian authorities for his journalistic activities. He is currently an intern at King’s College London.
Participants of a demonstration on 23 February in the Novolaksky District. Photo: r_otuzbiev/Instagram
Aukh District

The deported Chechens of Daghestan still unable to return to their homes

Z

Seventy-seven years after the deportation of the entire Chechen and Ingush nations to Central Asia, Chechen returnees from a small corner of Daghestan still dream of returning to their homes. Every year on 23 February, Chechens and Ingush people mark the tragic anniversary of the Soviet deportations of 1944 on the orders of Stalin — a genocidal event that cost the lives of up to one-third of their total population. In recent years, the largest events to commemorate the day have been held not

The European Court of Human Rights. Photo via the Council of Europe.
Chechnya

‘The officer swore he would rape his sister’ — EHCR awards $1 million over North Caucasus tortures

Z

The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has ordered Russia to pay compensation for the torture of 13 men from the North Caucasus between 2004–2006. On 9 February, the court issued a joint judgement in the case of Uspanov and others v Russia, ordering a total of €798,100 ($972,000) in compensation be paid to 13 applicants from the North Caucasus.  According to the court’s ruling, Russia was responsible for torturing the applicants, refusing to investigate reports of violence, unfair impriso

Byutukayev’s entry on Russia’s federal wanted list. Source: Ramzan Kadyrov’s Telegram channel.
Chechnya

‘Last emir’ of Caucasus Emirate in Chechnya killed

Z

The commander of the Chechen wing of the Caucasus Emirate, Emir Hamzat, has been killed by security forces in the Russian Republic of Chechnya. Hamzat, whose real name is Aslan Byutukayev, was the leader of the Chechen segment of the Caucasus Emirate, a movement to establish an independent Islamic emirate in the North Caucasus. Following the Emirate’s demise in 2015, he swore allegiance to the Islamic State. Byutukayev was considered the ‘last emir’ (commander) of the Chechen armed resistanc