Latest news with #Aliyev
OC Media
2 hours ago
- Politics
- OC Media
Cherkessk court sentences nine ‘Citizens of the USSR' on extremism charges
Sign in or or Become a member to unlock the audio version of this article Join the voices Aliyev wants to silence. For over eight years, OC Media has worked with fearless journalists from Azerbaijan — some of whom now face decades behind bars — to bring you the stories the regime is afraid will get out. Help us fuel Aliyev's fears — become an OC Media member today Become a member A court in the Russian republic of Karachay-Cherkessia has found nine local residents guilty of extremism for creating or being members of the 'Citizens of the USSR'. 'Citizens of the USSR' was declared an extremist organisation in 2022 by the Samara Regional Court. Adherents to the movement — which has no centralised structure or leadership — believe that the dissolution of the Soviet Union was illegal, and that the Russian Federation is not a legitimate entity. There are no known violent incidents connected to the movement. Prosecutors argued that the members of the movement refused to recognise the authority of the Russian government or its laws, and had refused to pay taxes, utility bills, and bank loans — all of which, according to investigators, was to their 'personal benefit'. In addition, one of the alleged organisers was charged with illegal possession of explosives, while another was charged with illegal possession of firearms. A further defendant was charged only with participating (not organising) an extremist group. In its verdict on 14 July, the City Court of Cherkessk sentenced five of the defendants to between five and eight years in prison. The other four were given suspended sentences, though the court did not specify their lengths. All of them were also banned from participating in public organisations — three for six years and the remaining six for five years. In addition, all were sentenced to one year of restricted freedom, and two of them were fined ₽20,000 ($220). Charges related to the organisation of extremist activities were brought against ten individuals — nine of whom were convicted, with one other figure involved only under charges related to weapons or explosives. According to the court's official records, there were in fact 11 defendants in the case. The exact charges brought against each defendant were not fully disclosed, and it is possible that some charges were reclassified during the trial. None of the convicted individuals admitted guilt, the court noted. Advertisement Further details are known about the prosecution of one of the defendants — Aslan Naptugov. He was detained on 24 May and sentenced the following day to six days of administrative arrest for alleged petty hooliganism. After serving this sentence, he remained in custody as part of the criminal case. According to Caucasian Knot, five defendants were held in pre-trial detention, while the others were released under travel restrictions. The trial began in August 2023. According to the indictment, the group operated in the republic from March 2019 to June 2020. The defendants refused to recognise the legitimacy of the Russian authorities and claimed to be 'citizens of the USSR' — a position that led investigators to classify the group as extremist. Prosecutors alleged that the community's goals included personal gain — avoiding payment of debts, taxes and utilities — as well as the illegal circulation of weapons and explosives.
OC Media
3 hours ago
- Business
- OC Media
Russian–Armenian tycoon Karapetyan wins an arbitration case against Armenia
Sign in or or Become a member to unlock the audio version of this article Join the voices Aliyev wants to silence. For over eight years, OC Media has worked with fearless journalists from Azerbaijan — some of whom now face decades behind bars — to bring you the stories the regime is afraid will get out. Help us fuel Aliyev's fears — become an OC Media member today Become a member Russian–Armenian billionaire Samvel Karapetyan has won an urgent arbitration case against the Armenian government regarding the Electric Networks of Armenia (ENA), Karapetyan's defence council announced on Wednesday. Karapetyan's lawyers also noted that the decision of the Arbitration Institute of the Stockholm Chamber of Commerce (SCC Arbitration Institute) is subject to 'mandatory execution' by the Armenian authorities. 'The arbitration concluded that it was necessary to apply urgent measures of protection, since the actions of the Republic of Armenia 'raise serious doubts about the compliance of the Republic of Armenia with the Agreement on the Reciprocal Protection of Investments in force between Armenia and Cyprus' ', the statement read. It also 'obliged' Armenian authorities 'to refrain from applying the provisions of the recently adopted' legislative amendments that would allow the state to take over the ENA as well as 'from further steps to seize' the company, Karapetyan's lawyers stated. The Armenian Parliament adopted a bill that would virtually allow the state to take over the company on 3 July by enabling the state to 'intervene' and oversee its administrations should the company fail to meet its obligations. According to the Armenian Public TV, SCC Arbitration Institute 'has rejected the claim for the release' of Karapetyan. Earlier, on 30 June, Karaptyan's Tashir Group announced that the tycoon's family officially notified Armenian authorities about initiating an investment dispute. Advertisement The notice, according to their statement, was based on the 1995 Armenia–Cyprus investment promotion and protection agreement, which allows investors to turn to international arbitration if their rights are violated by the state. The announcement seeking to nationalise the ENA came shortly after Karapetyan's detention in June, with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan vowing to 'swiftly' act to do so. Meanwhile, he claimed the move was not related to Karapetyan's remarks in support of the church, which led to his detention in June and charges of making calls to overthrow the government. Instead, Pashinyan cited public discontent with the company's services and frequent power outages in Armenia, which Pashinyan alleged were intentionally used 'to generate internal public discontent in Armenia'. 'If the politicians fail, then we will participate in our own way in all of this', Karapetyan had said in an interview with before his arrest. Following his arrest, Armenia fined ENA ֏10 million ($26,000) 'for technical and commercial violations', the Public Services Regulatory Commission announced. In mid-July, Karapetyan was charged with additional money laundering charges through several companies, following raids on his companies in Armenia. 'Eliminating possible risks threatening state security' The Armenian government responded shortly after the statement from Karapetyan's lawyers. 'While respecting the security measures applied by foreign arbitration decisions, at the same time everyone is also obliged to be guided by the legislation of […] Armenia and international treaties that define the rules and procedures for the recognition and implementation of arbitration decisions', the Armenian government said in its response. The statement said it was released in response to unnamed media publications, with the Armenian government stating the scope of the issues examined in the urgent case 'is different from the objectives of the decision to appoint a temporary administrator and the scope of the actions to be taken by the latter'. The goal of the appointment of a temporary administrator, according to the statement, pursued 'preventing the risks of deliberately creating an energy crisis', 'ensuring public order, eliminating possible risks threatening state security', 'excluding the concealment of abuses in the ENA and preventing further abuses'. On 18 July, the Chair of the Public Services Regulatory Commission (PSRC), Mesrop Mesropyan, appointed Romanos Petrosyan as the temporary manager of the ENA, in an apparent overture to the state's takeover of the company. Petrosyan is a prominent member of the ruling Civil Contract party's board.
OC Media
3 hours ago
- Politics
- OC Media
Azerbaijani media claims it identified Russian officers responsible for deadly AZAL crash
Sign in or or Become a member to unlock the audio version of this article Join the voices Aliyev wants to silence. For over eight years, OC Media has worked with fearless journalists from Azerbaijan — some of whom now face decades behind bars — to bring you the stories the regime is afraid will get out. Help us fuel Aliyev's fears — become an OC Media member today Become a member The pro-government Azerbaijani media outlet Minval has alleged that it has identified three Russian military officers who they said are responsible for ordering and firing upon the Azerbaijan Airlines passenger jet that subsequently crash-landed in Kazakhstan in December, killing 38 people. Shortly following the incident, Azerbaijan blamed Russia for shooting the plane down and urged the Kremlin to take responsibility, punish those involved, and pay reparations to the survivors. While Russian President Vladimir Putin said he apologised for the 'tragic incident', he stopped short of admitting Russia's guilt in the matter. Earlier in July, President Ilham Aliyev said Azerbaijan was preparing to take Russia to international court over the plane crash. Minval reported on Tuesday that it had anonymously received a letter written by Russian Captain Dmitry Paladichuk — who reportedly fired the missile that struck the plane — at the command of Major General Aleksandr Tolopilo. The outlet said the allegations were corroborated by a third Russian official, Lt. Colonel Nikolai Orlansky, who said he had received the orders from Tolopilo and forwarded them to Paladichuk. The purported letter also described how Tolopilo gave 'deliberately false testimony', claiming that the air defence missiles had self-destructed and not hit the plane, while simultaneously blaming the incident on air traffic controllers. Minval claimed that the air defence unit that allegedly fired on the plane was in 'poor technical and organisational condition', which was why they mistakenly identified the jet as a military target — likely a Ukrainian drone. Previously, Russian officials said that Grozny — the original destination of the plane — was under attack by Ukrainian drones at the time the plane approached, which resulted in emergency defensive moves from air defence units in the area. Despite evidence reportedly shared in an internal Russian investigation that incriminated Tolopilo, Minval said he was not punished, but actually promoted. The reporting was quickly picked up by Ukraine's Stratcom Centre, which described the incident as 'another cover-up. Another war crime without consequences'. Advertisement New details emerge on the Russian military commander responsible for ordering the downing of Azerbaijan Airlines Flight J2‑8243 over Grozny. According to Azerbaijani outlet Minval Politika, the officer who gave the order to fire on the civilian AZAL Embraer 190 on December 25,… — SPRAVDI — Stratcom Centre (@StratcomCentre) July 22, 2025 Minval also said that it had located the personal phone numbers of the Russian officers involved and had contacted them, but had not received any responses. The outlet added that it was ready to share the evidence with Azerbaijani authorities investigating the incident. Earlier in July, Minval released what it said were leaked recordings of Paladichuk receiving orders to fire on the plane. At the time, the alleged commanding officer, Tolopilo, was not identified. Minval acknowledged it could not corroborate the authenticity of the material, but the Russian independent media outlet The Insider said it appeared to be authentic. The release of the audio recordings came amidst a sharp deterioration in relations between Azerbaijan and Russia, spurred on by a mass police raid in Russia's Yekaterinburg that resulted in the deaths of two ethnic Azerbaijanis and the arrest of around 50 others. Baku has said that brothers Ziyaddin and Huseyn Safarov were beaten to death with 'extreme cruelty' by Russian law enforcement officers, backing up its allegations with reports from a medical examiner. In contrast, Russia has claimed that the Safarov brothers died of natural causes. Tensions quickly escalated in the following days, with Azerbaijan issuing a formal complaint to Russia, cancelling all Russia-related cultural events, and arresting a number of Russian journalists accused of espionage. As of the end of July, the diplomatic crisis has appeared to cool down from its height earlier in the month, but is still ongoing.
OC Media
5 hours ago
- Politics
- OC Media
North Ossetia tightens security over alleged threats of Ukrainian assassinations and drone attacks
Sign in or or Become a member to unlock the audio version of this article Join the voices Aliyev wants to silence. For over eight years, OC Media has worked with fearless journalists from Azerbaijan — some of whom now face decades behind bars — to bring you the stories the regime is afraid will get out. Help us fuel Aliyev's fears — become an OC Media member today Become a member Authorities in North Ossetia have imposed strict security measures in response to what they describe as 'information about a planned assassination attempt on members of the Russian armed forces and their relatives' by Ukrainian intelligence services in Vladikavkaz, according to a statement from the regional government. All public events have been suspended, filming of military facilities has been banned, and checks on transit vehicles and private cars have been intensified, including personal searches of drivers. Residents of Vladikavkaz have been officially urged to avoid crowded areas due to 'credible intelligence about the threat of drone attacks'. The Ministry of Internal Affairs also warned citizens of potential criminal liability for participating in unauthorised public gatherings. In an official statement, the ministry said that 'law enforcement agencies will immediately suppress attempts to hold unauthorised public events as well as any provocative actions by participants'. A local blogger from Vladikavkaz, Alik Pukhaev, reported that a local police officer came to his home and made him sign a warning about participating in unauthorised protests. The officer also asked whether the blogger had any information about planned rallies — a sign that local authorities are actively monitoring civic activity. In North Ossetia, police are pressuring bloggers and activists over rumors of a potential protest. Officers from the Center for Combating Extremism have been making preventive visits to bloggers, public figures, and activists across the republic. The trigger? Rumors circulating… — Alik Puhati (@rajdianos) July 22, 2025 Due to the ongoing threat posed by drones, the region has also repeatedly restricted mobile internet and cellular networks. These measures are officially intended to prevent remote control of drones. North Ossetia is not the only region affected: nearly all parts of Russia have faced some level of internet disruption in recent months. The worst outages are being reported in the regions bordering Ukraine. In April 2025, North Ossetia was the target of a major drone attack. According to officials, 15 drones were shot down in the Mozdok district. Debris from one of the drones reportedly landed on an uninhabited building. There were no casualties or serious damage. The attack was the most significant drone incident in the region to date. Advertisement The previous drone attack on North Ossetia occurred on 25 December 2024, resulting in the death of a civilian woman, 57-year-old Ida Chivaeva. A drone had struck a shopping centre where Chivaeva worked before opening hours, killing her. Drone strikes against North Ossetia began in the summer of 2024. In July 2024, North Ossetia was reportedly attacked twice by drones. According to North Ossetian Head Sergei Menyailo, during the first attack, 'minor destruction and fires' were recorded at the airfield. He later deleted his post about the damages on Telegram. During the second attack, Menyailo claimed that 'there were no casualties or damages'. On 12 December 2024, Menyailo reported another drone attack on Mozdok district. He specified that the Mozdok district was attacked, but claimed there were no casualties or damages as a result of the incident.
OC Media
6 hours ago
- Politics
- OC Media
Armenia declines to extradite Russian soldier who refused to fight in Ukraine
Sign in or or Become a member to unlock the audio version of this article Join the voices Aliyev wants to silence. For over eight years, OC Media has worked with fearless journalists from Azerbaijan — some of whom now face decades behind bars — to bring you the stories the regime is afraid will get out. Help us fuel Aliyev's fears — become an OC Media member today Become a member Armenia has reportedly refused to extradite a Russian soldier wanted by Moscow for desertion. Independent Russian media outlet Novaya Gazeta Europe reported on the case on Monday, citing human rights activists who wished to remain anonymous for security reasons. The outlet reported that the Russian soldier in question, 25-year-old Semyon Subbotin, served as a radio operator and gunner in Russia's Strategic Missile Forces, and had fled Russia in September 2024 with the help of Go to the Forest, a group of volunteers who aid Russian soldiers in deserting their units and fleeing the country. According to Novaya Gazeta Europe, Russia filed a desertion case against him and placed him on an interstate wanted list. They also reported that Subbotin learned that people had arrived in Russia to either kill him or to pressure him to return. As a result, Subbotin opted to contact the Armenian police for help. The outlet cited anonymous sources as saying that Subbotin was detained for 72 hours by the Armenian police after they had notified Russia about his whereabouts. 'This period is given to the Russian side to transfer materials to decide on a preventive measure', the outlet said, but claimed that the Russian military arrived at the detention centre where Subbotin was being held and attempted to 'take him away, bypassing procedure'. As a result, the activists contacted the Yerevan police and the Prosecutor's Office and warned that Russia might attempt to kidnap Subbotin. Advertisement The man was released 72 hours later, but still awaits a possible extradition decision should Russia make the request. 'The police are acting professionally and their actions are aimed at preventing the illegal removal of Subbotin', the activists told Novaya Gazeta Europe. The activists added that Russia has 40 days to submit an extradition request, and if it fails to do so, Armenia would no longer be obliged to hold Subbotin. Subbotin is the latest Russian national to have faced extradition in Armenia upon Russia's request. In February, rights group Helsinki Citizens' Assembly — Vanadzor reported that members of the Russian police 'broke into' a police station to 'persuade' a Russian national to surrender. The incident was related to a criminal investigation back in Russia. In December 2023, Russia reportedly detained Russian military deserter Dmitry Setrakov in the Armenian city of Gyumri, later transferring him to Rostov-on-Don in Russia, despite the Armenian authorities claiming to have no knowledge of his detention or departure from the country. Two months later, when asked about Setrakov's case, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan told France 24 that Setrakov's abduction 'greatly worried' Yerevan. '[We] are also investigating that case, and if it turns out that everything is as you say, it will of course also lead to certain consequences, because, of course, we cannot tolerate illegal actions on the territory of our country', Pashinyan said. Several months later, in April 2024, another Russian deserter, Anatoly Shchetinin, according to the assembly, was kidnapped by Russian military police based in Gyumri. However, shortly after Russian state media agency Sputnik published a video with Shchetinin in the territory of the base, in which he said: 'No one detained me, no one held me by force. Everything was done of my own free will'. The practice of enhanced interrogation techniques by Russian law enforcement to extract forced confessions, including torture and threats of violence, have been widely documented. In March 2024, the assembly also received alerts from Russian citizens who 'had escaped political persecution and sought refuge in Armenia'. They cited the Russian nationals as saying that they noticed people in Russian military uniforms near their places of residence, 'who overtly follow them and seek information as to who resides in apartments they oversee'. At the time, the assembly claimed that the Russian police used 'an unregistered passenger car with an Armenian license plate, which is intended exclusively for operational intelligence operations'.
