Press Release, 21.02.2020

Emilia Slabunova, member of the Yabloko Federal Political Committee and MP of the Legislative Assembly of Karelia, asked Igor Krasnov, Public Prosecutor General of the Russian Federation, to check the legality of the criminal case against Abdulmumin Gadzhiyev, journalist of the Chernovik (Rough Notes) newspaper.  A criminal case against the journalist was opened in June 2019 on charges of financing terrorism. Since 14 June, 2019, he has been in custody.

“I ask the Office of Public Prosecutor General of the Russian Federation to verify the legality of the actions of the investigating authorities and take control of the proceedings in the case of Abdulmumin Gadzhiyev,” runs the letter of Emilia Slabunova.

Emilia Slabunova emphasises that, according to Gadzhiyev’s defence, the testimony against him by Kemal Tambiyev, another accused in this case, was given under torture, no other evidence of guilt was presented.

Earlier, an appeal to Public Prosecutor General of the country on this case was sent by Lev Shlosberg, Chairman of the Yabloko faction in the Pskov Regional Assembly of Deputies.

It should be noted that the case against Gadzhiyev, who wrote about corruption in Dagestan, received great public resonance. Gadzhiyev regards his persecution as an attempt to hinder his journalistic activities. The Memorial human rights centre recognised Gadzhiyev a political prisoner.