Alexei Kungurov, who left Russia because of criminal prosecution, has appealed to court in order to challenge the Georgian authorities’ refusal to grant him political asylum.

The practice of sending defendants and accused persons to the special military operation (SMO) zone in Ukraine creates a feeling of impunity and increases risks for the women who are subjected to domestic violence, human rights defenders are sure. In their opinion, the family of Kristina Kokova, who was killed in Chechnya, may face resistance if they demand someone’s punishment.

The European Parliament recognized Salome Zurabishvili as the President of Georgia and called on European countries to boycott the Georgian authorities. The resolution, which was supported by 400 MEPs, voiced the demand for new parliamentary elections in Georgia and sanctions against those involved in the falsifications.

The head of Dagestan has promised a participant in the special military operation (SMO) a fair inquiry into the circumstances of the death of his sister, who died after a caesarean section in Derbent.

The Director General and the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Public Broadcaster were included into the draft of the new sanctions list thanks to Tbilisi protesters, activists believe.

Ruslan Umaev, a resident of Bachi-Yurt, accused of murdering his daughter-in-law, has left for the special military operation (SMO) zone in Ukraine. He confessed to the murder and said that he did it because of the girl's immoral behaviour, human rights defenders have informed.

The acquittal of law enforcers who beat Krasnodar resident Yevgeny Manchenko has been cancelled, and the court’s decision has encouraged the victim’s family and human rights defenders. The man has not recovered six years after his leg injury.

The European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) in Strasbourg has found the pre-trial arrest of Talekh Bagirzade, the leader of the Muslim Unity Movement, and his supporters, Zulfugar Mikayilov and Elman Agaev to be unlawful.

The “Turan” news agency has suspended its activities because of financial difficulties. The editorial staff intends to return to work in a different format.

In Tbilisi, protesters have demanded the release of all political prisoners, including Mziya Amaglobeli. The mothers of detained activists, Giorgi Terishvili and Andro Chichinadze, took part in the protest; they accused authorities of repressions.

Within the last two months, the list of Azerbaijani political prisoners was added with 17 new names; and the total number of human rights defenders in this list has reached 357 persons. The list was compiled by Leyla Yunus, Director of the Institute for Peace and Democracy, and Elshan Gasanov, the head of the Centre for Monitoring Political Prisoners.

Azerbaijani journalist Afghan Sadygov, who was arrested in Tbilisi, stays in severe condition. He regularly loses consciousness and does not receive the necessary nutritional supplements.

Marina Melikhova faces the threat of eviction of her family from their house in Adygea. Earlier, the activist was engaged in business, and she was declared bankrupt, accused of tax evasion. Law enforcers broke into the development centre that the activist opened in Krasnodar. A court marshal claimed that the Marina Melikhova’s house is used as a hostel.

Human rights defenders have declared Alexei Lelikov, a Jehovah's Witness* from Krasnodar, who was sentenced to six years and five months, to be a political prisoner. They treat the charges brought against him as discriminatory. On February 4, a court in Krasnodar sentenced Lelikov to six years and five months in colony.

The court session on the “Abzas Media” case was postponed due to the defendants’ refusal to participate in the hearings in protest against their inhuman treatment. Farid Mekhralizade, an economist, said that he was forcibly brought to the court.

The name in Russian has been removed from the facade of the building where the Russian House is located. The organization has suspended its activities due to the demand of the Azerbaijani Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), says the latter’s page on the Facebook*.

About 20 people have gathered at the house of activist Marina Melikhova in Adygea to support her protest against the eviction of her family.