12:00, 20 February 2010

Fatima Margieva, editor of the newspaper "Position" arrested in Tskhinvali

In Tskhinvali, on February 18, employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) of South Ossetia arrested Fatima Margieva, editor of the newspaper "Position". She went on hunger strike and plans to continue it until all the circumstances of her detention and the criminal case opened against her last year on the fact of illegal keeping arms are clarified.

In August 2009, the Prosecutor's Office of South Ossetia reported that the case of Fatima Margieva, an activist of the People's Party and history teacher at the local state university, was sent to the court. However, Ms Margieva believes that she is persecuted because of her political activities.

"So far, I wasn't shown any documents; they just orally informed me that my freedom restriction measure was changed into arrest. They don't tell me for how long it may last. I'm just kept here," Fatima Margieva told the "Echo of the Caucasus" Radio.

The "Iron Times" Agency reports that Fatima Margieva's arrest was caused by the fact that her case was transferred to another public prosecutor, who decided to replace her recognizance not to leave by arrest.