Rights group suspends Chechnya work in wake of murder

Russian human rights group Memorial has suspended operations in Chechnya following the murder of one of its most prominent activists, Natalya Estemirova.

Ingushetia: president wounded in suicide attack

A suicide bomber severely wounded Yunus Bek Yevkurov, president of Russia’s volatile southern republic of Ingushetia—an assassination attempt that undermines the Kremlin’s claim that it has brought stability to the restive North Caucasus. A car rigged with TNT exploded as… Read moreIngushetia: president wounded in suicide attack

Judge assassinated in Ingushetia

Unidentified gunmen shot and killed a senior judge in Russia’s volatile southern republic of Ingushetia, the latest in a series of attacks in the largely Muslim region.

NATO wraps up Georgia military training —amid coup rumblings

Georgian troops rounded up month-long military exercises at Vaziani military base that have angered Russia. The month of the exercises saw a protest campaign and apparent Moscow-backed coup attempt

Chechnya: Russia ends 10-year “counter-terrorism operation”

Russian authorities announced they are ending the decade-long “counter-terrorism operation” in Chechnya—but sporadic violence persists, and rights groups accused militias of widespread abuses.

European rights court holds Russia liable for for Chechen abductions

The European Court of Human Rights issued rulings in four cases ordering Russia to pay compensate six families who claimed government agents abducted their Chechen relatives.

European rights court holds Russia responsible for Chechen death

The European Court of Human Rights again found Russia liable for the death of an ethnic Chechen at the hands of the security forces.

Seven dead in Ingushetia blast

Four Russian police agents and three suspected rebels were killed in a clash in Nazran, capital of Ingushetia in Russia’s troubled North Caucasus.

Heroine journalist buried in Moscow

Hundreds in Moscow attended the funeral of Anastasia Baburova, the 25-year-old journalist killed defending human rights lawyer Stanislav Markelov as he was assassinated by masked gunmen.

Human Rights Watch blasts both sides in Georgia war

Both Russia and Georgia share blame for an “indiscriminate and disproportionate” use of force that violated humanitarian law during their August 2008 war, Human Rights Watch announced.

Russia calls for OSCE probe into Georgia war

Russia has asked the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe for an inquiry into the findings of military observers stationed in Tskhinvali on the night of August 7-8, when South Ossetia’s separatist capital was shelled by Georgian military forces…. Read moreRussia calls for OSCE probe into Georgia war

World Court to hear Georgian case on ethnic cleansing

The International Court of Justice Oct. 15 gave Georgia approval to open a suit charging Russia with a campaign of ethnic cleansing in and around the separatist enclaves of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. The ruling was hailed by Georgia’s attorneys… Read moreWorld Court to hear Georgian case on ethnic cleansing