In Astrakhan, journalist rejects deputy's accusation of beating

Rifkat Shabanov, a deputy of the Astrakhan Regional Duma, has accused Oleg Teplischev, a journalist of the Astrakhan-based newspaper "Zhitel" (Resident) of beating him during the election of Mayor of Astrakhan on October 11, 2009. Oleg Teplischev and eyewitnesses to the incident assert that the journalist had not attacked the deputy.

Let us remind you that on October 11, 2009, during election of the Mayor of Astrakhan, Vyacheslav Yaschenko, a "Caucasian Knot" correspondent, and Oleg Teplischev from the "Zhitel" were beaten by a group of persons commanded by the deputy of the Astrakhan Regional Duma Rifkat Shabanov. He demanded to erase the video footage made by Vyacheslav Yaschenko during his work at one of the polling stations. During the incident the journalist turned on his dictaphone. Later, he placed the audio record on the Internet and delivered to the Investigatory Department for the Astrakhan Region of the Russian ICPO (Investigatory Committee at the Prosecutor's Office). At the present time, the court is considering the criminal case on beating the journalists, initiated against Shabanov.

In his turn, Rifkat Shabanov had accused Teplischev of the attack. On July 16, 2010, Mr Sorokin, A. A., head of Militia Division-1 of the Astrakhan UVD (Interior Department), received an application from the deputy, in which he accused Oleg Teplischev of a one-year-ago offence. According to Rifkat Shabanov, Oleg Teplischev had attacked him at a polling station during the October 11, 2009, election of the Mayor of Astrakhan and brutally beat him.

"It's a lie from beginning to end," Oleg Teplischev told the "Caucasian Knot". "Not only law enforcers and justice officials, but any sane person who has access to the Internet can easily see it. It's enough to watch the plot placed on the website of the 'Caucasian Knot' or on the YouTube, where the audio record of the events on October 11, 2009, is posted."

"Citizen Shabanov is, of course, lying," said, in his turn, Vyacheslav Yaschenko to the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent. "He's doing it in order to overshadow the consideration of the criminal case initiated against him under Article 144, Part 1, of the Russian Criminal Code. This is a real blackmail on his part and forcing the suffered party into illegal amicable agreement."

Mr Yaschenko also said that Shabanov's statement contains an insult to his honour and dignity.

"If you listen to the record attentively, you'll easily to find the motive of the crime - Shabanov and his accomplices were afraid that they might have been videoed. They thought that I had been filming how they were 'ordering the polling station' in the eyes of the militia. That is why they demanded to delete the record," said Vyacheslav.

It proved impossible to get any comments from Shabanov. His assistant Irma refused to clarify the situation, saying: "We give no comment."

The video that includes the audio record made by Yaschenko may be found here (in Russian).