Authorities in Russia’s North Ossetia republic have said they are taking measures to protect Karina Kodzayeva, who became the target of an online harassment campaign after posts published by platforms affiliated with the Caucasian Community movement. In a response to journalist Ksenia Sobchak’s appeal, the office of the regional human rights commissioner said the case is under the personal supervision of regional head Sergei Menyaylo and that law enforcement agencies may seek to block channels used to distribute unlawful content and identify those responsible for administering them.
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev signed an order pardoning 801 people. It is dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the birth of former President Heydar Aliyev.
Among those released, only two political prisoners are Ali Aliyev, leader of the Citizens and Development Party, and human rights activist Elchin Mamed. At the same time, dozens of activists of the Popular Front Party, which had been subjected to mass repression in recent years, have not been pardoned. There is no list of journalists and bloggers, nor of activists deported from Germany and convicted on drug charges.
"This pardon did not solve the problem of political prisoners, and it is difficult to call it an act of humanism," said the leader of the human rights organization «Defense Line» Rufat Safarov.