Week in the Caucasus: review of main events of January 23-29, 2023

Persecution of pacifists and activists in Southern Russia, continuation of the blockade of Nagorno-Karabakh, official data on the natives of Southern Russia perished in Ukraine, struggle of Azerbaijani oppositionists, – see the review of these and other events in the Caucasus during the week of January 23-29, 2023, prepared by the “Caucasian Knot”.

Persecution of pacifists and activists in Southern Russia

In Southern Russia, the persecution of residents who oppose the special military operation in Ukraine continues. On March 4, 2022, Russia introduced liability for discrediting the country’s Armed Forces. After that, courts began to bring residents of Southern Russia to responsibility: the maximum punishment for citizens is a fine of 50,000 roubles.

Last week, a protocol drawn up against Aslanbek Arsaev was submitted to a court in Grozny, and the Adler court in Sochi received the case against Ilgiz Iskandarov.

In Astrakhan, a court fined Ifrat Khabibulin, finding him guilty of discrediting the Russian Armed Forces because of the comments the man posted on the “Odnoklassniki” social media outlet.

In Novorossiysk, a court denied blogger Askhabali Alibekov a special procedure for considering a criminal case, which would provide for the abandonment of a judicial investigation in exchange for a milder punishment. The court considered that the defendant was not sincere in his repentance.

In Krasnodar, a court fined local resident Nikita Krivosheev, recognizing that his post on the social media had discredited the Russian Armed Forces. On January 26, in Volgograd, a court recognized as legal the decision of the judge, who obliged well-known activist Tamara Grodnikova to pay 40,000 roubles for non-payment of a fine under the article on discrediting the Russian Armed Forces.

Blockade of Nagorno-Karabakh leads to excess mortality

The Lachin Corridor linking Nagorno-Karabakh with Armenia and the outside world has been blocked since December 12 by Azerbaijani activists. They demand from Russian peacekeepers to give them access to the “Gyzylbulag” and “Demirli” mining deposits, which they intend to monitor. The unrecognized republic experiences a shortage of food and medicines. The road has been blocked for the 49th day.

During the period of the blockade in Nagorno-Karabakh, ten people died as a result of the lack of medical care, the information headquarters of Nagorno-Karabakh reported. “Those people could not obtain life-saving medicine or travel to Yerevan for medical treatment,” Nagorno-Karabakh officials reported. “Some patients could not be transported along the challenging serpentine road from Stepanakert to Yerevan. They should have been transported by air, but Azerbaijan banned flights by helicopters. There were attempts to transport some patients by cars, but they failed, and some attempts resulted in tragedies,” reported State Minister of Nagorno-Karabakh Ruben Vardanyan.

On January 28, the gas supply to Nagorno-Karabakh from Armenia was completely cut off at the Azerbaijani section of the gas pipeline. That was the third gas shutdown since January 18. On January 29, the gas supply resumed. With the uninterrupted gas supply, all educational institutions will resume their work from January 30, with the exception of those providing catering for children.

Official data on natives of Southern Russia perished in Ukraine

By January 19, the number of natives of Southern Russia perished in Ukraine reached 1250 people. The death toll includes contract soldiers, mobilized, residents of the Russian regions, who, allegedly, voluntarily went to the special military operation, and fighters of the Russian “Wagner” Private Military Company (PMC). The information about 733 residents of the North-Caucasian Federal District (NCFD) perished in Ukraine has been officially confirmed, with the highest death toll (327) among natives of Dagestan. Besides, the authorities and the law enforcement bodies confirmed the information about 131 natives of North Ossetia, 108 fighters from the Stavropol Territory, 77 residents of Chechnya, 556 natives of Kabardino-Balkaria, 28 – of Ingushetia, and seven militaries from Karachay-Cherkessia, perished in Ukraine. In the Southern Federal District (SFD), the authorities reported about at least 517 deaths. In the Volgograd Region, officials confirmed the information about 212 perished militaries, in the Rostov Region – about 121, in the Krasnodar Territory – about 82, in the Astrakhan Region – about 69, in Kalmykia – about 17, and in Adygea – about 16.

Struggle of Bakhtiyar Gadjiev

On January 28, in Baku, the administration of the SIZO (pre-trial prison) refused advocates in visits to Bakhtiyar Gadjiev. The defenders are concerned that they may not be aware if the health state of Bakhtiyar Gadjiev deteriorates because of the hunger strike, which he has been continuing for more than 20 days.

Bakhtiyar Gadjiev was arrested because of an incident in court, where a dispute about defamation between him and Ulviya Muradova was considered. According to the investigators’ version, Bakhtiyar Gadjiev caused damage to the health of the woman by hitting her head with papers. The defence insists that Bakhtiyar Gadjiev hit the table in response to the insults. The Bakhtiyar Gadjiev’s actions are interpreted as contempt of court, although the incident occurred during a break when there were no judges in the courtroom. Bakhtiyar Gadjiev is accused of disorderly conduct by resisting a public officer, and he faces up to three years of imprisonment.

Bakhtiyar Gadjiev is the director of the Institute for Public Policy. Being well-known for criticizing the Azerbaijani authorities in international forums, the activist was repeatedly arrested.

Meanwhile, on January 27, the Baku Court of Appeal (BCA) dismissed the Bakhtiyar Gadjiev’s complaint about the extension of his arrest. According to the report of Fakhraddin Mekhdiev, an advocate of Bakhtiyar Gadjiev, the condition of his client is getting worse.