Statement by the YABLOKO party, 14.07.2015

The severe beating of a well-known Buryat journalist, editor of the ARD portal, YABLOKO member Evgeny Khamaganov is another proof that the freedom of speech and expression in Russia is persecuted and punished.

The facts of the committed crime leave no doubt about the contract character of the case: the attack took place late at night at the entrance hall, they beat Evgeny’s head, as a result he has brain injuries and a neck bone comminuted fracture. The editorial office of the ARD portal claim that Evgeny recived threats because of his professional activity more than once, therefore there are all grounds to suspect that it was his independent and critical position of a journalist which was expressed in his publications and caused the attack.

The Ministry of Interior in the Republic of Buryatia reacted in a strange way claiming they have no information on the crime.

All this makes us doubt the possibility of the objective investigation of the crime on behalf of law enforcement of the Republic. YABLOKO demand Minister of Internal Affairs Vladimir Kolokoltsev to take the investigation under his personal control.

What has happened once again reminds us that being an independent journalist, civil activist or opposition politician in modern Russia is life threatening.

The flurry of crimes against the civil society must be stopped otherwise Russia will turn into a country where dissidence will be treated with violence.

YABLOKO wish Evgeny Khamaganov a speedy recovery. We will follow the course of the investigation and do our best not to allow to soften the case the way it happened with other cases.

Sergei Mitrokhin
YABLOKO Chairman