Participant in detention of Dagestani journalists Magomedov and Yusupov summoned to court

The representative of the Makhachkala police has stated in court that Magomed Magomedov, a deputy editor-in-chief of the "Chernovik" (Draft) outlet, who had appealed against the disruption of his solo picket and his detention on January 16, 2023, was not detained that day. The judge agreed to summon the policeman and the journalist, Idris Yusupov, who was detained along with Magomedov.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on January 16, law enforcers detained Magomed Magomedov, a deputy editor-in-chief of the "Chernovik", and Idris Yusupov, a journalist from the "Novoye Delo" outlet, who intended to hold solo pickets in defence of Abdulmumin Gadjiev. Law enforcer explained the detention of media professionals by some message allegedly received about the organization of mass riots. In April this year, Magomedov filed a lawsuit against the Dagestani Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA), demanding to declare the policemen's actions to be illegal.

According to Magomedov, the employees of the patrol-and-post service, who were instructed by the policemen to deliver him to the police station, were indignant that they were ordered to convoy the person "for no clear reason." Magomedov also described how law enforcers "attacked" his colleague, Idris Yusupov, who unfolded a poster. At the police station, policemen refused to register their detention, and just kept them without demanding anything; they took their explanations only when an advocate came to them.

Magomedov's legal representative has noted that law enforcers had repeatedly disrupted solo pickets before January 16. "Any prohibition of holding a (solo) picket or impeding to hold it is criminally punishable," the advocate has emphasized.

Following the outcomes of the court session, Magomedov's advocate has stated that the preponderance of the proofs is on the journalist's side.