Freedom And Fear

Tuesday, July 2, 2019

‘Nezygar’ Says Islamist Radicals have Penetrated Even Interior Ministry in KBR

Paul Goble

            Staunton, June 30 – In what Israeli analyst Avraham Shmulyevich says is part of Moscow’s effort to prepare the Russian population for a new war in the North Caucasus (facebook.com/groups/418134964913502/permalink/2379889652071347/), the Nezygar telegram channel says Islamist radicals have penetrated even KBR interior ministry.

            Moscow has been working overtime to provoke Circassians in that region into violence so that it will have the kind of justification that will allow it to move against them without much fear of criticism from the West or from Russian opposition groups. (On this, see windowoneurasia2.blogspot.com/2019/06/moscows-efforts-to-provoke-circassians.html). Read more →

Sunday, June 30, 2019

Moscow’s Efforts to Provoke Circassians into Violence Backfiring on the Kremlin

Paul Goble

Staunton, June 28 – By planting drugs on Martin Kochesoko, an outspoken defender of Circassian rights, the Russian authorities hope to provoke that long-suffering nation in the North Caucasus to engage in the kind of violent protest that will give Moscow the pretext to crush its leaders with violence.

But that effort is backfiring in two important ways, a new article in Novaya gazeta suggests.  On the one hand, by focusing on the Circassian national movement, Moscow has unintentionally highlighted how much stronger it has become in recent months. And on the other, it has provided the occasion for Circassians to take their case to Russians more broadly.

In the past, Circassian activists tell Ilya Azar of the Moscow paper, the Russian authorities have largely ignored Circassian protests, an approach that has tended to demobilize the national movement because its supporters ask why they should protest if they will only be greeted with silence (novayagazeta.ru/articles/2019/06/28/81058-v-ozhidanii-chuda). Read more →

Коротко о событиях в черкесском мире за неделю, тематические обзоры, авторские колонки, экспертные статьи 29 / 6 / 2019

Домашний арест за романтику

После того, как Верховный суд изменил меру пресечения и отправил Мартина Кочесоко из СИЗО под домашний арест, его имя стало реже упоминаться в новостях. Однако СМИ продолжают следить за делом Кочесоко. Read more →

Martin Kochesoko: I thought it is over and Firmly Decided to Go to the End

25 June 2019

Translated by: Orhan Barsik

29 June 2019

 

Today, the Supreme Court in Kabardino-Balkaria has overturned the detention of Martin Kochesoko, which was decided by Leskensky District Court and replaced with house arrest.

The following is the last word of Martin Kochesoko in court:

___________________

At the beginning, I would like to say from the bottom of my heart (T’hem Feghabso!) thank you very much to all those who believe in me and support me in this experience and in this difficult period of my life. They are my neighbors whom I grew up with, my colleagues from the village, family, friends, relatives and everyone who knew me personally and is convinced that it is not possible that I would commit that crime and they tell others to defend me openly.

I want to say (T’hem Feghabso!) thank you very much to all the Circassians, regardless of the country where they live and who speak out about my cause to support me and to support justice, unity and the renaissance of our people. Thank you so much to all those who understand and know what is happening here, for justice to prevail.

Also, thanks to the police officers who although they are doing their job, they come to me and say words of support and encouragement. I’d like to thank my lawyers who, despite all kinds of potential pressure placed on them, they appear to be defending my rights. Read more →

Коротко о событиях в черкесском мире за неделю, тематические обзоры, авторские колонки, экспертные статьи 26 / 6 / 2019

Мартин Кочесоко: решил идти до конца

Верховный суд Кабардино-Балкарии удовлетворил ходатайство защиты Мартина Кочесоко об изменении меры пресечения. Глава общественной организации «Хабзэ», которого следствие обвиняет в хранении марихуаны, будет находиться под домашним арестом до 8 августа. Выступая в суде, Кочесоко заявил о своей невиновности и подчеркнул, что «все обдумал и твердо решил идти до конца». Read more →

Monday, June 10, 2019

Russian Authorities Apply Same Tactics against Circassians They’re Using against Golunov

Paul Goble

            Staunton, June 8 – Sometimes Russian repression against one individual distracts attention from similar acts of repression against other individuals and groups. Sometimes it has just the opposite effect and ensures that the latter gain the kind of attention they might not otherwise get.

            But what is especially important in either case is to connect the dots, to see how what Moscow is doing in one place informs or even defines what it is doing in another, lest some commentators by focusing on only one side minimize the threat or open the way for the Kremlin to win points by making concessions in one case but not in any others.

            Almost the entire Russian opposition and many in the West have been outraged by the arrest of Moscow investigative journalist Ivan Golunov and the way in which the powers that be have planted drugs on him so as to be able to discredit him in the eyes of Kremlin supporters and to bring more serious charges against the journalist. Read more →

Circassian Activist Detained in Nalchik / В Нальчике задержан черкесский активист

June 08, 2019

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