ECtHR’s decision in case of Dagestani journalist Akhmednabiev becomes moral victory

The resolution pronounced by the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) in the case on the Akhmednabi Akhmednabiev’s murder is unlikely to affect the investigation into his death, although it is a moral victory, a son of the murdered journalist believes. The ECtHR’s decision on the lawsuit filed by relatives of Akhmednabi Akhmednabiev has partially restored justice and will affect the consideration of similar cases in the European Court, emphasizes lawyer Galina Arapova*.

The “Caucasian Knot” has reported that on January 30, the European Court of Human Rights recognized a violation of the right to life in the lawsuit filed by Akhmednabi Akhmednabiev’s relatives against Russia. The ECtHR noted that the authorities did not provide protection for Akhmednabi Akhmednabiev, who received threats. The journalist’s son was awarded compensation of 26,000 euros. The ECtHR pronounced a similar decision on the lawsuit filed by an uncle of Khadjimurad Kamalov, the founder of the Dagestani weekly newspaper “Chernovik” (Rough Draft), who was murdered in 2011, awarding compensation of 20,000 euros. Lawyer Galina Arapova* emphasizes that the country’s authorities are responsible for the ineffective investigation into the cases on the journalists’ murders.

Galina Arapova*, the leading lawyer of the “Centre for the Protection of Media Rights”*, notes that if Russia wants to return to the Council of Europe (CE), there will be a question of fulfilling the country’s obligations, including the compensations awarded in accordance with the ECtHR’s decisions, although for now the situation described above may only be discussed in theory. “There was a similar case with Greece. The country was expelled from the Council of Europe ... and when the regime of the ‘black colonels’ fell and Greece wanted to return to the Council of Europe, the country had to fulfil all its obligations to the institution,” noted Galina Arapova*.

The lawyer suggests that the decision pronounced by the ECtHR is important not only for the families of Akhmednabi Akhmednabiev and Khadjimurad Kamalov. “The decision is the second one on the murders of Russian journalists after the Anna Politkovskaya’s case. Moreover, in the practice of the ECtHR, this is the third case on the deaths of journalists. The first case was the case of Hrant Dink (the editor-in-chief of the Armenian-Turkish newspaper ‘Agos’, – note of the ‘Caucasian Knot’),” emphasized Galina Arapova*.

The lawyer believes that even if the families of Akhmednabi Akhmednabiev and Khadjimurad Kamalov do not receive the awarded compensations now, the decision will affect the consideration of similar cases in the European Court. The lawyer emphasizes that among “peaceful professions,” journalism is considered one of the most dangerous.

The ECtHR’s decision has become largely a moral victory, notes Mutaelum Akhmednabiev, the son of the murdered journalist.

*Included by the Russian Ministry of Justice (MoJ) into the register of foreign agents.