RWB puts Putin and Kadyrov on list of enemies of freedom of press

In its "2016 World Press Freedom Index", the International Organization to Protect Journalists "Reporters without Borders" (RWB) has put Russia on the 148^th position out of 180 places. Meanwhile, the RWB calls Chechnya a "black hole for news."

According to the RWB, at present, there is less freedom of expression in the country than at any other time since the collapse of the Soviet Union.

The human rights defenders believe that President Vladimir Putin has always had the dominant desire for control that is reflected on press freedom in Russia. In particular, the RWB pointed to the growing influence of the Russian authorities on the Internet.

"Independent media feel not good to live in Russia. However, the ChechenRepublic is a black hole for news and information," states the RWB's report.

In Chechnya, independent journalism is destroyed under the Ramzan Kadyrov's ruling, while any person criticizing the authorities in the republic may become a victim of the security services for a comment on the social networks, the human rights defenders believe.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.