Picketers in support of Abdulmumin Gadjiev claim suppression of press freedom

In Moscow, protestors claim that the criminal prosecution of Abdulmumin Gadjiev, a correspondent of the "Chernovik" (Draft), is a part of the campaign to pressure independent Dagestani editions. The protestors explained holding pickets in the capital of Russia by the fact that the Abdulmumin Gadjiev's case did not receive due attention outside the republic.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that in the evening on January 29, activists came to hold solo pickets in front of the building of the Permanent Mission of Dagestan in Moscow with the demand to release Dagestani journalist Abdulmumin Gadjiev.

The activists chose a form of "picket line," when the protestors replace each other rather than picket together, noted journalist Ilya Azar.

"The purpose of the protest action is to draw additional attention to the Abdulmumin Gadjiev's story, which is little known at the federal level, despite the fact that the Caucasian media carried out actions in support of the journalist," Ilya Azar said.

"It is clear that the media are subjected to pressure in Dagestan, in spite of worthy journalistic traditions: there are editions that post not only materials ordered by the leader of Dagestan. That's great, but that results in even more pressure," the journalist said.

Alexei Zhabin, another participant of the protest action, a member of the trade union of journalists and media workers, held the picket with a poster reading: "Close fake cases against journalists." "We all know everything. The case is fabricated. It must be closed. Journalists should not be prosecuted for their professional activities. The journalist is not a terrorist. Northern Caucasus is particularly well known for fabricating cases against journalists," Alexei Zhabin told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on January 30, 2019 at 01:32 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.