Alexander Cherkasov

Alexander Cherkasov, a leading expert on Russia’s turbulent north Caucasus region, chairs the ‘Memorial’ Human Rights Centre. Well known for its courageous thorough reporting from Russia’s hot spots, ‘Memorial’ has been documenting human rights abuses in Chechnya and providing assistance to victims since the start of the armed conflict in Chechnya in 1994 and extended its work to the neighbouring republics as human rights abuses spilled out to the broader north Caucasus region.

Government — the main source of instability in the northern Caucasus

As violence in the north Caucasus hits the headlines again, Alexander Cherkasov sees the roots of the problem in the Russian government’s wilful misunderstanding of local issues and lack of strategy for dealing with them.

By Alexander Cherkasov

/ 22 Aug 2012

Natalya Estemirova – murdered, not forgotten

Three years ago the indomitable Natalya Estemirova was murdered in Chechnya. Her killers remain at large, and arbitrary executions of oppositional figures have remained a tool of power across the North Caucasus. Here, Tatyana Lokshina, Alexander Cherkasov and Igor Kalyapin, three of Russia’s leadi

By Tanya Lokshina, Alexander Cherkasov and Igor Kalyapin

/ 20 Jul 2012

The Warsaw Pact: twenty years on

For over 30 years the Warsaw Pact was a threatening presence on the European political scene, but on 31 March 1991 it was disbanded with little pomp or circumstance. Alexander Cherkasov looks back over significant events in its history.

By Alexander Cherkasov

/ 31 Mar 2011

Five years to the day: violence in Ingushetia

Yunus-Bek Yevkurov has been president for less than a year. The legacy he inherited from the previous president, Murat Zyazikov, was not an easy one: the underworld has declared war

By Alexander Cherkasov

/ 22 Jun 2009

Markelov: A Hero of our Time

Time passes by without your noticing. It's 40 days since they died. At first it didn't seem possible. Stas and death - somehow they didn'

By Alexander Cherkasov

/ 3 Mar 2009