GPO returns Astrakhan journalists' beating case to additional inquiry

After interference of the commission of the General Prosecutor's Office (GPO) of the Russian Federation, the criminal case about beating journalists in Astrakhan during the elections on October 11, 2009 by securities of the regional duma deputy was returned to additional check.

Let us remind you that on October 11, 2009, in Astrakhan, in the yard of Gymnasium No. 4 Rifkat Shabanov, a deputy of the Astrakhan Regional Duma, and his retinue attacked a journalist of the Internet mass medium "Caucasian Knot" and an employee of the Astrakhan newspaper "Zhitel" (Resident) who tried to cover the work of Precinct Electoral Commissions Nos. 524 and 527. The correspondents managed to record the moment of the attack to the dictaphone. Later, the audio record was handed over to the inquiry bodies; however, no examination of the record was made then.

This was again stated by Oleg Teplischev, the beaten "Zhitel" journalist, when talking to the members of the GPO commission. "We had to go to political hunger strike in order to get the case returned to additional inquiry," said Teplischev, a hunger-striker, to the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent. "On March 21, we met the members of the GPO commission. Mutual understanding was finally found; we have been heard."

Oleg Teplischev said that on March 24 he had a call from inspector Nikolaev who investigated the case and who told him that the case had been returned to him for additional check.

"It's a paradox," he has noted. "This inspector had investigated the case two times; and both times he concluded that I was guilty, that it was not I who was attacked, but I was the attacker on that group of securities and Shabanov. Although we have an audio record of the attack, from which it is clear that deputy Shabanov was the initiator and organizer of the attack and tried to prevent our journalistic work at the polling station."

Also, the journalist said that his three-day recovery period after the hunger strike is over.

On March 19, the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent tried to interview officials of the Mayoralty of Astrakhan on the issue of the protest action of the opposition. However, none of them wanted to comment on the hunger strike.

In the city militia, an employee, who preferred to remain anonymous, said that law enforcers "remain neutral in this case." "This is politicians' business to express protest. Our duty is to ensure the order," he said.