Lawyers question progress of investigation into attack on Milashina and Nemov

Journalist Elena Milashina and advocate Alexander Nemov, who were attacked in Chechnya, have not yet filed complaints to the police, the spokesperson for the “Team against Torture” (TaT)* reports. Even if an investigation is launched, the likelihood of punishing those responsible is low, lawyers predict.

The “Caucasian Knot” has reported that on July 4, on their way from an airport to Grozny, Elena Milashina, a journalist of the newspaper “Novaya Gazeta”, and Alexander Nemov, an advocate of Zarema Musaeva, were beaten by armed men in masks. Elena Milashina and Alexander Nemov arrived to Grozny to attend the pronouncement of the verdict in the case against Zarema Musaeva. According to Elena Milashina, there were at least ten attackers, they demanded to unlock her mobile phone and threatened to cut off her fingers.

Elena Milashina and Alexander Nemov still stay in the hospital, reports Natalia Kurekina, the spokesperson for the “Team Against Torture” (TaT)*. According to her, the victims were unable to file a complaint about the crime, as their state of health did not allow that.

Alexander Nemov has said that he has got a lot of bruises, but the dynamics of his recovery is good.

According to a source of the “Caucasian Knot”, Elena Milashina’s condition has worsened.

Chechen investigators have not yet launched a criminal investigation into an attack, notes lawyer Galina Tarasova. According to her, no promptness and unbiased attitude should be expected in the case.

A criminal case will be instituted as soon as the victims are able to file a complaint, lawyer Yevgeny Chernousov believes. According to him, the initiation of a criminal case may not bring any result.

*TaT – The “Team against Torture” (formerly the “Committee against Torture” – CaT) was created by the lawyers who had earlier worked for the CaT, which was included into the register of the NCOs performing the functions of foreign agents.