Court

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Chechnya

Silence in the courtroom: how one of Chechnya’s last human rights defenders was convicted on drug charges

by Volodymyr Soboliev

•7 min read

On 18 March, Chechen human rights defender Oyub Titiyev was sentenced to four years in prison on trumped-up drug charges. He is only the latest victim in Russia’s repressions against civil society in the North Caucasus. ‘Let justice reign!’ reads the banner hanging over the compound of the court house in Shali, Chechnya. The slogan is accompanied by a strict-looking Akhmat Kadyrov, the North Caucasus republic’s former leader. Next to the courthouse, there’s a new business centre (‘Shali-

Chechen-Ingush Land Deal

Court in Ingushetia considers ‘falsified’ vote on Chechnya land deal

by OC Media

•5 min read

A court in the Russian Republic of Ingushetia has begun considering allegations that the parliamentary vote approving a land deal with neighbouring Chechnya was falsified. The controversial deal, which handed around 340 square kilometres (about 9% of Ingushetia’s territory) to Chechnya, was signed by the heads of Ingushetia and Chechnya on 26 September 2018. On 4 October 2018, MPs from Ingushetia’s regional parliament, the People’s Assembly, approved the deal 17-4 in a secret ballot, lead

Chechnya

Trial begins of Chechen rights activist Oyub Titiyev

by OC Media

•3 min read

The trial of human rights activist Oyub Titiyev, who heads the Chechen branch of Russian rights group Memorial, kicked off on 18 July in Chechnya’s Shali District Court. Titiyev, who has been in custody since January, is charged with possession of large quantities of cannabis; Titiyev and his defence team reject the accusation, claiming the drugs were planted on him and that the case is politically motivated. Since his arrest in January, Titiyev’s detention has been repeatedly prolonged

Court

South Ossetian court: prosecutors committed ‘procedural violations’ against journalist Mearakishvili

by OC Media

•3 min read

A South Ossetian court has ruled that the local prosecutor’s office committed procedural violations when dismissing a complaint by journalist Tamara Mearakishvili. Mearakishvili told OC Media she had complained regarding the ‘inaction of the general prosecutor’s office’ while investigating her for slander. The ruling United Ossetia party filed a complaint against her for slander in August, after which the prosecutor’s office launched a criminal investigation. Investigators reportedly urged

Aleksei Navalny

Authorities ordered to compensate Daghestan anti-corruption rally organiser

by OC Media

•3 min read

Makhachkala’s Sovetsky District Court has partially upheld a complaint against the government for arresting and prosecuting the organiser of a 26 March anti-corruption rally. Russia’s Ministry of Internal Affairs has been ordered to pay Marat Ismailov ₽25,000 ($430) in moral damages. A number of Makhachkala residents attempted to participate in the rally on 26 March, which coincided with anti-corruption rallies in a number of cities in Russia following a call by opposition figure Aleksey

Court

Transgender woman appeals to Tbilisi Court to recognise her gender

by OC Media

•2 min read

A Georgian transgender woman is appealing to Tbilisi City Court to have her gender changed in official documents without undergoing sex reassignment surgery. Nino Bolkvadze from Tbilisi-based rights group the Equality Movement, who is representing the plaintiff, told Liberali Magazine the suit is based on judgements by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) as well as Georgia’s Constitutional Court. Three transgender people from Georgia have recently appealed in court on similar ground

Azerbaijan

Political activist sentenced to 9 years in Azerbaijan

by OC Media

•2 min read

Elchin Ismayilli, a political activist and journalist in Azerbaijan’s Ismayilli District, has been sentenced to nine years in prison for ‘extortion’, ‘bribery’ and ‘abuse of office’. Shaki District Court announced the decision on 18 September, Ekho Kavkaza reported. Ismayilli plans to appeal to a higher court. Caucasian Knot quoted Elchin Sadigov, the lawyer of the activist, as saying that there was not enough evidence to prove his client guilty. According to the lawyer, Ismayilli could