11:22, 3 October 2019

Searches in "Chernovik" editorial office threaten the next regular issue of the weekly

Searches in the office of the Dagestani weekly "Chernovik" (Draft). Photo: screenshot of the video by the "Caucasian Knot" https://youtu.be/mrT0GdJUrDQ

Searches in the office of the Dagestani weekly "Chernovik" (Draft) have disrupted the work of the staff; because of this, the next issue may be printed with a delay. Law enforcers sought to show that they could put pressure on journalists, said Magomed Magomedov, a deputy editor-in-chief of the weekly.

On October 2, masked armed law enforcers came to the editorial office of the "Chernovik" weekly. Magdi Kamalov, the founder of the edition, said he did not understand the reasons for the search. Law enforcers spent more than seven hours in the office and took away equipment and documents.

While the office was searched, people came up to the building to express their solidarity to the "Chernovik" staff, the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent reports.

Since June 18, 2019, Abdulmumin Gadjiev, the editor of the religion section of the "Chernovik", is under arrest within the case of financing terrorism. Human rights defenders have treated his case as a threat to all Russian journalists; and the Human Rights Centre (HRC) "Memorial" declared him to be a political prisoner.

"Law enforcers said they were looking for articles by Abdulmumin Gadjiev and for something forbidden," said Inna Khatukaeva, a "Chernovik" correspondent.

Magomed Magomedov believes that the search was organized in order to put pressure on the weekly. However, he noted that the editorial staff intends to continue working without stop.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on October 3, 2019 at 00:32 am MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.

Author: Rasul Magomedov

Source: CK correspondent