The Southern District Military Court has sentenced Magomed Bortiev, a resident of Chechnya, to six years in a general-regime penal colony. The court found him guilty of publicly calling for extremist activity and promoting terrorism.
On the night of August 12–13, residents of Chechnya will be able to witness the peak of the Perseid meteor shower—one of the year's most famous celestial displays. Viewing conditions are particularly favorable this year: the peak coincides with the new moon, meaning bright moonlight won't interfere with spotting the meteors.
The Perseids appear every August as Earth passes through a trail of dust and small particles left by Comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle. Upon entering the atmosphere, these particles burn up at high speeds, leaving brief, glowing streaks across the sky. They travel at speeds reaching approximately 59 kilometers per second.
At the shower's peak, under a dark, clear sky, one can see about 100 meteors per hour. This doesn't mean a "shooting star" will flash overhead every single minute; the number of visible meteors depends heavily on lighting conditions, cloud cover, and how well the viewing spot is shielded from city lights.
The best time to watch the Perseids is after midnight and closer to dawn. No special equipment is required—in fact, a telescope would likely hinder the experience because its field of view is too narrow. Simply finding a spot with an open view of the sky, away from streetlights, is sufficient.
In Grozny, city lighting will make it harder to spot the faintest meteors. Therefore, those wishing to see the full display should head out of the city. Locations with minimal artificial light—such as the mountainous regions of Chechnya—are ideal. The further you are from major population centers and brightly lit highways, the more stars and meteors you will be able to see.
The Perseids won't be visible for just a single night; the meteor shower remains active for several weeks, though mid-August marks its peak period.