24 June 2019, 11:18
Moscow: rally in support of political prisoners was almost 4000 strong
On June 23, 3900 people took part in the rally "Society Demands Justice", held in Moscow as part of the All-Russian action. The rally declared support for the arrested Dagestani journalist Abdulmumin Gadjiev and the Circassian activist Martin Kochesoko.
The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on June 14, 2019, Abdulmumin Gadjiev, a journalist of the "Chernovik" (Draft) weekly, was detained within the case of financing terrorism. Gadjiev stated falsification of the case. Dagestani journalists hold actions demanding the release their colleague.
Martin Kochesoko, the head of the Circassian NGO "Khabze", was detained on June 7 in Nalchik. On June 13, the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) announced that he had pled guilty to the acquisition and possession of drugs. On the following day, a law enforcement source reported that Kochesoko was forced to confess under law enforcers' pressure.
The protest action in Moscow was organized by the Libertarian Party of Russia and the independent trade union of journalists.
The resolution adopted by the rally demands abolition of Articles 228 and 280 of the Russian Criminal Code (on drug dealing and calls for extremist activities), which, in the opinion of the rally, "became instruments of pressure on political opponents, activists and journalists."
During the rally in Moscow, Mairbek Agaev, the editor-in-chief of the Dagestani weekly "Chernovik" told about the circumstances of the accusation of the Abdulmumin Gadjiev, a "Chernovik" journalist.
"Abdulmumin Gadjiev is a man, who during his whole conscious life spoke out with condemnation of terrorism; he is a person, sentenced to death by members of terrorist organizations; and this person is today accused of financing terrorism and participating in a terrorist organization," said Mairbek Agaev.
According to his story, the public has not yet received any proofs of Gadjiev's guilt from investigative authorities.
This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on June 23, 2019 at 11:50 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.
Author: Magomed Tuayev Source: CK correspondent
