Chechnya

More than 100 gay men have been detained and at least three have been killed by authorities in Chechnya, according to a Russian newspaper cited Saturday in The New York Times.

The disturbing report from Novaya Gazeta, which cites government and police sources, follows a week of rumors about gay men mysteriously disappearing off the streets of the Russian republic, the Times reports.

President Putin has told French presidential candidate Marine Le Pen in Moscow that Russia has no intentions to influence the French elections, but reserves the right to meet any French politicians it wishes.
“We attach a lot of importance to our relations with France, trying to maintain smooth relations with both the acting power and the opposition representatives,” Putin said.

Canada's Prime Minister has appointed an outspoken critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin as Foreign Minister.

PM Justin Trudeau announced that former Trade Minister Chrystia Freeland will assume the office of top diplomat replacing Stéphane Dion.

Chrystia Freeland is of Ukrainian origin and a former reporter of Reuters and Financial Times.

Following the Russian veto of the U.N. Security Council resolution draft on the aerial bombing of the Syrian city Aleppo, Russian President Vladimir Putin arrives in Turkey today, Oct. 10, to attend the 23rd World Energy Conference in Istanbul. 

The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant's (ISIL) battle-tested equivalent of a defense minister is believed to have been killed in a US air strike in northeastern Syria, a US official said March 8.

The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) said its suicide bomber had blown up a car in Russia's volatile Dagestan that killed two policemen on Feb. 15, the deadliest attack in the southern republic since 2013.

Twelve suspects have been detained for having links to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) in Istanbul, with three of them reported to be senior ISIL leaders in Chechnya and Dagestan.

?Have a friend like a Russian, have an enemy like a Russian.? These are the words of a high-level Turkish intelligence analyst who has personally had to deal with the Russians on issues like Chechnya, the outlawed Kurdistan Workers? Party (PKK), etc. ?They stick to their word. They don?t talk much, but they definitely do what they say,? he added.

While Russian President Vladimir Putin's air campaign in Syria may have other aims, one result seems to be that it is hitting Islamists from Russia's Caucasus, say analysts.
 

The authorities in Chechnya have created the first beach for Muslim women in an effort to tone down tensions in the region of Grozny. The beach on Tuesday and is enclosed by 1.8 meter fence, while all women using it have to adhere to the strict Muslim dress code, which forbids disrespectful attire.