Statement by the Federal Bureau of Yabloko, 5.07.2023

Photo: Yelena Milashina after the attack / Photo by Sergei Babinets, the Committee Against Torture

The Federal Bureau of the Yabloko Party called on the Chairman of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation Alexander Bastrykin to initiate a criminal investigation into the attack on journalist Yelena Milashina and lawyer Alexander Nemov in Chechnya. Here goes the text of the appeal:

Respected Alexander Ivanovich,

On 4 July, 2023, unidentified persons attacked journalist of Novaya Gazeta Yelena Milashina and lawyer Alexander Nemov.

The attackers severely beat Milashina and Nemov, demanded that they leave the Chechen Republic and cease their professional activities on the territory of the Republic.

Currently, Yelena Milashina and Alexander Nemov are hospitalised in Moscow.

At the moment, there is no information about the initiation of a criminal case on the fact of the attack.

In connection with the social significance of the incident, the Federal Bureau of the Yabloko Party urges you, within the framework of your powers, to do the following:

– Open a criminal investigation into the attack.

– Entrust the investigation to the investigators of the central office of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation.

– Take the investigation under your personal control.

Nikolai Rybakov,

Yabloko Chairman