Makhachkala: law enforcers increase pressure on picketers

Under absurd pretexts, law enforcers prevent pickets in support of Abdulmumin Gadjiev, a journalist of the "Chernovik" weekly outlet, by detaining picketers; and even an occasional female passer-by was taken to the police station, Dagestani journalists have informed. They intend to file complaints against law enforcers' actions.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on January 9, in Makhachkala, law enforcers detained Magdi Kamalov, the founder of the "Chernovik", and Magomed Magomedov, a deputy editor-in-chief of the outlet. The aim of detaining the journalists was to disrupt the planned solo pickets in support of Abdulmumin Gadjiev, Mr Magomedov has suggested.

According to Mr Kamalov, law enforcers claimed that they had information that several people with sticks had been planning to "break the New Year Tree" installed in the central square of Makhachkala. The journalists' assurances that they had no plans to break the New Year Tree but only walked across the square failed to convince the policemen.

Magomedov has recalled that it was the fourth attempt of law enforcers in a row to disrupt the pickets in support of Gadjiev. "One time they accuse us of an attempt to throw ourselves under a car; then that we wanted to break the New Year Tree with sticks," the journalist has noted.

The disruption of the pickets in Gadjiev's support has become systemic, Magdi Kamalov has added. Now, the journalists intend to apply to the Investigating Committee of the Russian Federation (ICRF) and the General Prosecutor's Office (GPO).