In Dagestan, journalists complain to Prosecutor's Office against authorities' reticence

The refusal of the head of the department of the "Rospotrebnadzor" (Federal Consumer Supervision Service) for Dagestan Eleonora Omarieva to provide journalists with the data on the quality of potable water is a violation of citizens' rights to receive information. This was stated by Natalia Krainova, chief editor of the local weekly "Novoe Delo" (New Business), who addressed her letter to Andrei Nazarov, Public Prosecutor of Dagestan.

"I was preparing an article on the quality of potable water in Makhachkala. On April 7, I sent a request to Ms Omarieva asking to present information on the topic, but received no answer. Then, I made numerous calls to her reception, where Omarieva's secretary kept saying that her boss was absent - either away on business, or taking part in meetings, or somewhere else," Ms Krainova said.

She added that in reply to her last call Omarieva's secretary gave her the telephone number of Larissa Pantina, head of the department of sanitary inspection, who told the chief editor that the answer to her inquiry had been prepared long ago and sent to Omarieva's approval. Ms Pantina had no guess about the reason of the delay.

Natalia Krainova notes in her letter that Omarieva fails, "in violation of Articles 38-39 of the 'Law on Mass Media' to present, not later than 48 days, the information on the topic that interests the readers. We regard the actions of the boss of the "Rospotrebnadzor" department as a slightly veiled refusal to give information."

The chief editor told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent that she would like to teach, by using the methods of prosecutor's supervision, local bureaucrats to work under the law. "One should not think that Omarieva's behaviour is something unusual. It's typical for the overwhelming majority of officials; maybe, they'll start reacting at least to prosecutor's instructions," she said.

When asked to comment on the situation, the department of the "Rospotrebnadzor", in the person of Omarieva's secretary, who refused to name herself, recommended addressing Omarieva's deputy Shamil Omarov; however, the latter refused to talk.

The Prosecutor's Office of Dagestan reported that upon receipt of the letter they will take due measures to the officials.

Arthur Mamaev, a journalist of the local weekly "Chernovik" (Blueprint), confirmed, in his interview to the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent that officials agree to contact journalists only when they need it.

"The power here is closed from mass media, that is, it is closed from the whole society. It was, and, unfortunately, it is the case. Their readiness to talk appears only if journalists agree to present some image-advertising or customized information," Mr Mamaev said.