Prosecutor asks two years in prison for attacking "Caucasian Knot" correspondent

The prosecutor has asked for two years in prison for Karim Kasumov, accused of attacking a "Caucasian Knot" correspondent during a rally of Alexei Navalny's supporters in Makhachkala; the victim's representative has demanded the maximum punishment for Kasumov.

According to Kasumov's defence, he did not know that the suffered Patimat Makhmudova was a journalist, when he attacked her and broke her video camera. This argument was refuted by the witness and the victim. At the previous court session, Kasumov accused the victim and her colleagues of lying, insisting that he did not know about their professional status.

The defendant's guilt is "fully proven," said Akhmed Elmurzaev, an advocate.

In its turn, the Kasumov's defence, in turn, has treated the accusation as "premature and unjustified." His advocate doubted the victim's testimony that she had introduced herself to Kasumov as a journalist.

Dagestani journalists often encounter aggressive attacks while covering protests; while law enforcers in many cases ignore this, said employees of the regional mass media.

When dispersing protest actions, law enforcers detain both activists and journalists, Malik Butaev, a correspondent of the RIA "Derbent" has confirmed. He himself was twice detained when covering protest actions.