"Sova": prosecution of female journalists accused of extremism because of article about deportation of Caucasian nations is illegitimate

Experts of the "Sova" Information-Analytical Centre studied the cases of journalists Natalia Nizovkina and Tatiana Stetsura, who are now tried in the city of Ulan-Ude, and concluded that the allegations of extremism were illegitimate.

"There was no extremism in the materials written by Nizovkina and Stetsura. Furthermore, we don't find it correct to use the anti-extremist legislation for protection of such professional groups like 'law enforcement bodies', 'state officials' or 'militaries'," Maria Rozalskaya, a "Sova" expert, told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

"Firstly, we do not believe they are social groups. Secondly, the anti-extremist legislation was created for another purpose - to protect vulnerable groups. But neither the authorities nor law enforcement bodies can be regarded as vulnerable social groups," Ms Rozalskaya is sure.

Let us remind you that on February 23, 2009, in Ulan-Ude, the militia detained the above journalists, who are activists of the Democratic Union, when they were sticking leaflets on the occasion of the 65th anniversary of Stalin deportation of Chechens.

The ladies are still defending themselves. However, perhaps soon they will be appointed an advocate, since on January 12 it became known at the court session that the Board of the Bar of Buryatia deprived Tatiana Stetsura of the lawyer's status for violating certain provisions of the order of conducting the profession.