Caucasian Knot

Caucasian Knot (Russian: Кавказский узел, romanized: Kavkazkii Uzel) is an online news site that covers the Caucasus region in English and Russian. It was established in 2001 and Grigory Shvedov is the editor-in-chief.[1] It has a particular focus on politics and on human rights issues, including freedom of the press.[2]

Caucasian Knot
Founder(s)Grigory Shvedov
Founded2001 (2001)
LanguageEnglish Russian
HeadquartersMoscow

History

In 2001 the site started out as a project related to the human rights organisation Memorial, but developed into a site for independent journalism.

In 2003 the Caucasian Knot launched its English-language site.[3]

It is funded by a number of charitable organisations in the U.S. and Western Europe.[4][5]

The site had a monthly readership of approximately 1.8 million in 2011.[5]

Projects
  • "North Caucasus through the eyes of bloggers" (in partnership with the BBC Russian Service)[6][7]
  • "Maps of the peaceful Caucasus" (in cooperation with Yandex)[8]
  • "Weather in 49 cities of the Caucasus" (together with the laboratory for modeling the general circulation of atmosphere and climate at the Russian Hydrometeorological Center)[9]
  • Interviews with the Presidents of the North and South Caucasus republics (in partnership with the online publication "Gazeta.ru"):
    • interview with the President of Ingushetia Yunus-Bek Yevkurov[10]
    • interview with the head of Dagestan Mukhu Aliyev[11]
    • interview with President of South Ossetia Eduard Kokoity[12]
    • interview with President of Abkhazia Sergei Bagapsh[13]
    • interview with the head of North Ossetia Taimuraz Mamsurov[14]

Team

Caucasian Knot does not have any editorial offices, citing security risks.[5][1] Grigory Shvedov operated from Moscow while many of the other reporters (approximately fifty) are spread around in the Caucasus area, including in Chechnya, Dagestan, and Azerbaijan. The reporters stay in contact via Google programs in a virtual office. Due to safety concerns, a number of the correspondents do not use their names.[5]

Murders and harassment of journalists

Russian human rights activist and journalist Natalya Estemirova contributed to Caucasian Knot before she was kidnapped and killed in Chechnya in 2009.[15]

In 2009, Caucasian Knot launched a project together with the BBC named "North Caucasus through the eyes of bloggers".[16]

The Caucasian Knot journalist Bella Ksalova was shot in the city of Cherkessk on July 25, 2010 by Arsen Abaikhanov.[17]

Akhmednabi Akhmednabiev, who was deputy editor of the weekly paper Novoe Delo and also wrote for Caucasian Knot, was shot and killed in Makhachkala in 2013.[18]

On April 16, 2016 Caucasian Knot correspondent Zhalaudi Geriyev was kidnapped by unknown security forces. He was accused of working against the authorities in Chechnya and was sentenced to three years prison for illegal transport and possession of large quantities of drugs.[19][20]

To support the journalist, international human rights organizations made statements to recognize him as a political prisoner.[21]

Awards

In 2007, Caucasian Knot was awarded the Free Press of Eastern Europe award, which is given out jointly by the German charity ZEIT-Stiftung and the Norwegian free speech organisation Fritt Ord.[22]

In 2009, Caucasian Knot was awarded with the Prize of the Union of Journalists of Russia for defending the interests of the professional community.[23]

The editor received the Dutch Geuzenpenning award in 2012 for his work with Memorial and Caucasian Knot.[1]

References
  1. Giving people of the Caucasus a voice Archived 2014-01-03 at the Wayback Machine Radio Netherlands Worldwide. Retrieved 1 January 2013
  2. News, analysis websites and blogs about the Caucasus Archived 2015-01-21 at the Wayback Machine PECOB. Retrieved 1 January 2013
  3. "A level-headed reporter: Gregory Shvedov". www.freepressunlimited.org. Archived from the original on 2020-07-22. Retrieved 2020-07-21.
  4. About us Caucasus Knot. 22 June 2009. Retrieved 2 January 2013
  5. Katrina vanden Heuvel (9 April 2012) A Brave and Independent Russian Editor The Nation. Retrieved 1 January 2013
  6. Узел, Кавказский. "Русская служба Би-би-си и "Кавказский узел" начинают проект "Северный Кавказ глазами блогеров"". Кавказский Узел. Retrieved 2020-07-23.
  7. "North Caucasus bloggers speak out". 2009-08-27. Retrieved 2020-07-23.
  8. Узел, Кавказский. ""Caucasian Knot" presents project "Maps of Peaceful Caucasus"". Caucasian Knot. Retrieved 2020-07-23.
  9. Узел, Кавказский. ""Кавказский узел» представляет проект «Карты Мирного Кавказа"". Кавказский Узел. Retrieved 2020-07-23.
  10. "Yevkurov Says Insurgency 'Defeated' In Ingushetia". RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty. Retrieved 2020-07-23.
  11. Узел, Кавказский. "Муху Алиев: "Силовым путем проблему религиозного экстремизма решить нельзя"". Кавказский Узел. Retrieved 2020-07-23.
  12. Узел, Кавказский. "Residents of South Ossetia criticize Kokoity's presidential ambitions". Caucasian Knot. Retrieved 2020-07-23.
  13. Узел, Кавказский. "Сергей Багапш (президент Республики Абхазия): "Нам придётся договариваться с Грузией, когда Грузия поймёт, что есть реалии, от которых уже никогда Абхазия не уйдёт"". Кавказский Узел. Retrieved 2020-07-23.
  14. Узел, Кавказский. "Таймураз Мамсуров (глава Республики Северная Осетия - Алания): "Воспитание нового менталитета у нашей молодежи и в Ингушетии, и в Осетии, - это проблема далекая и долгая. Но начинать её надо сейчас"". Кавказский Узел. Retrieved 2020-07-23.
  15. Philip P. Pan (16 July 2013) Human Rights Activist Natalya Estemirova Killed in Chechnya Washington Post. Retrieved 3 January 2013
  16. North Caucasus bloggers speak out BBC. 27 August 2009. Retrieved 2 January 2013
  17. "Journalist killed in suspicious car accident". IFEX. 2010-08-05. Retrieved 2020-07-23.
  18. Sarah Hoffman (10 July 2013) Journalist Killed in Russia PEN American Center. Retrieved 3 January 2013
  19. "Memorial Human Rights Centre considers Chechen journalist Zhalaudi Geriev [Geriyev] a political prisoner - Rights in Russia". www.rightsinrussia.info. Retrieved 2020-07-23.
  20. "Journalist Imprisoned on Dubious Drug Charges in Chechnya". Platform to promote the protection of journalism and safety of journalists. Retrieved 2020-07-23.
  21. "Гериев Жалауди Насрудинович | Правозащитный центр «Мемориал»". memohrc.org. 17 October 2016. Retrieved 2020-07-23.
  22. Fritt Ord Foundation calls for nominations of journalists and media for 2013 Press Prizes Eastern Europe Archived 2014-01-02 at archive.today Fritt Ord. Retrieved 1 January 2013
  23. Узел, Кавказский. "About us". Caucasian Knot. Retrieved 2020-07-23.
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