The administration of the Vedensky District in Chechnya has announced a contest for photographs and short videos featuring local mountain scenery. A prize of 100,000 rubles is offered for the best entry, while the runners-up in second and third place will receive 70,000 and 50,000 rubles, respectively.
The Supreme Court of Crimea is considering the claim of the Ministry of Justice to liquidate the Muslim community "Alushta". According to the department, "Alushta" "committed actions aimed at carrying out extremist activities."
The claims of the Ministry of Justice are related to the fact that Lenur Khalilov and Ruslan Mesutov, who were convicted in cases of participation in the Islamic party "Hizb ut-Tahrir", were untimely expelled from the community. In addition, administrative cases were brought against "Alushta" under the article on the distribution of extremist materials (Article 20.29 of the Code of Administrative Offenses), and against its imam Yusuf Ashirov - under the article on illegal missionary work (Article 5.26 of the Code of Administrative Offenses).
"The community is independent," noted lawyer Rustem Kyamilev, "It is not controlled by the Spiritual Administration of Muslims of Crimea (DUMK) and, accordingly, by the state. As we know, the state's rhetoric on such independent communities is as follows: they are legally permitted, but their number is minimal. They try to influence its processes in every possible way, both legal and illegal."