Lawyers assess violations of Dagestani journalists’ rights by law enforcers

Journalists from Dagestan Magomed Magomedov and Idris Yusupov* request the authorities to bring law enforcers to responsibility for violating their rights during protest actions. Although the situations of Magomed Magomedov and Idris Yusupov* are different, the law enforcers acted unlawfully in both cases, lawyers point out.

The “Caucasian Knot” has reported that the Supreme Court (SC) of Dagestan considered a complaint filed by a policeman. The plaintiff claimed that Magomed Magomedov, the deputy editor-in-chief of the Dagestani weekly newspaper “Chernovik” (Rough Draft), violated the regulations for holding actions during a picket in support of Abdulmumin Gadjiev. The policeman referred to the fact that a second person was standing next to Idris Yusupov* with a similar poster. The judge found no evidence of wrongdoing.

No protocol was drawn up against Idris Yusupov*, lawyer Arsen Shabanov emphasized.

Advocate Nadezhda Borodkina also notes that there is a certain difference between the two situations. “Idris Yusupov* did not organize any actions. He stayed at the venue of the action while performing his professional duties. A person may be brought to a police department only for identification, if he or she has no identification documents,” the advocate indicated.

As for Magomed Magomedov, he himself organized the picket, the advocate emphasized.

*On November 24, 2023, the Russian Ministry of Justice (MoJ) included Idris Yusupov in the register of foreign agents. The journalist filed an appeal against the MoJ’s decision.