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Ramzan Kadyrov at the gym, in an 'Akhmat' hoodie. Photo: Groznyinform.ru

Akhmat Kadyrov

Analysis | How Kadyrov uses ‘the Path of Akhmat’ in sports to cement his rule in Chechnya

by Loujaine Laamal

•7 min read

In Chechnya, sport is distinctly political. Whether rubbing shoulders with athletes or sending his sons out into the ring, Head of Chechnya Ramzan Kadyrov uses training and competitive sports to bolster his public image, construct a national identity that suits his aims, and secure the future of his regime. UFC280 fight night was a hotly anticipated event amongst mixed martial arts (MMA) enthusiasts in the Caucasus. The night, organised by the world’s largest MMA promotion company, was headli

Crime

Georgia’s first-ever olympic gold medalist charged with premeditated murder

by Shota Kincha

•2 min read

Zurab Zviadauri, a former member of Georgia’s ruling Georgian Dream party, Olympic medalist, and prominent judoka has been charged with premeditated murder after an altercation in which he allegedly shot a man dead. Zviadauri attended his brother’s funeral on 19 August while handcuffed and closely monitored by a prison guard. The Olympic judo gold medalist, who served as a Georgian Dream MP from 2012-2016, was charged after allegedly killing a man in a 16 August shootout that resulted in

Ramaz Kharazishvili . Image via Facebook.

Georgia

Top Georgian rugby official reportedly shoots player

by Shota Kincha

•2 min read

Georgian rugby player Ramaz Kharazishvili has been shot in Tbilisi, reportedly by one of the country’s top rugby union officials. The Interior Ministry announced on Wednesday evening that they had arrested the Vice President of the Georgian Rugby Union, Merab Beselia, for allegedly shooting Zharazishvili in the leg. The Interior Ministry said they had launched an investigation for ‘intentional less grave bodily injury’ and illegal arms possession. Kharazishvili, 32, is a former captain of

Giorgi Shakarashvili. Image via Facebook.

football

Georgia gripped by investigation into death of young footballer

by OC Media

•7 min read

The death of 19-year-old footballer Giorgi Shakarashvili in Georgia has gripped the country for weeks, with questions raised over the official investigation. Shakarashvili, 19, who played for FC Saburtalo’s youth team, was found dead on 22 June in the River Aragvi, about 30 kilometres north of the capital Tbilisi. According to investigators, Shakarashvili died after he and his friends were attacked by several groups of young men as they were on their way home from a party. The case has re

Nikoloz Basilashvili. Photo: Nikoloz Basilashvili's Facebook page

Domestic Violence

Georgian tennis star Nikoloz Basilashvili charged with attacking ex-wife

by OC Media

•4 min read

Georgian professional tennis player Nikoloz Basilashvili has been charged with attacking his ex-wife, Neka Dorokashvili, in the presence of their young child. Basilashvili, who is ranked 27th in the world, was arrested on 22 May and released on ₾100,000 ($31,000) bail by Tbilisi City Court. Tbilisi City Court will start hearing the case on 16 July. If found guilty, Basilashvili faces up to three years in prison. Dorokashvili has accused her ex-husband of assaulting her throughout their m

Patima Ayshalova. Photo: Evgeniy Kostin.

Daghestan

Voice | ‘I’m not a girl, I’m an athlete’

by Volodymyr Soboliev

•10 min read

When Patima Ayshalova came to the boxing gym, she was told, ‘I do not train girls’. One year later, she was one of Daghestan’s top boxers and had earned the title Master of Sport. ‘While my dad was alive, at night, he and my uncle used to watch fights on the telly. It was still black-and-white back then, they would connect the antenna to it and watch, meanwhile I thought: how they can watch this and when it is going to end? Later, I didn’t even understand how I, myself, started watching fil

Azerbaijan

Azerbaijani football commentator suspended over racist remark against Chelsea’s N'Golo Kante

by OC Media

•4 min read

Football commentator Ismayil Abdullayev of Azerbaijani state-run TV channel Idman Azerbaijan has been suspended for one month because of a racist remark he made about Chelsea player N’Golo Kante. Abdullayev announced his suspension on 17 August on Instagram, adding that he did not know if he would return to air or not. He said he was still allowed to read the news. The 11 August Premier League match between Manchester United and Chelsea was broadcasted live on Idman Azerbaijan (‘sports A