Rostov Regional Prosecutor's Office starts inquiry into threats against journalist

The Office has initiated criminal cases on insults and death threats to Natalia Shelimova, correspondent of the newspaper "Nashe Vremya" (Our Time).

Inspectors have recognized that the journalist is pursued for her professional activities.

"On request of the prosecutor's office of Volgodonsk the inquiry bodies have opened criminal cases under Part 2, Article 130 (act of outrage), Part 1, Article 119 (threat of homicide), Part 1, Article 167 (malicious mischief), and Article 144 (obstruction of lawful professional activities) of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation in relation to Natalia Shelimova, a correspondent of the newspaper 'Nashe Vremya'," reports the press office of the Regional Prosecutor's Office.

The source also notes that the journalist has earlier repeatedly addressed the militia asking to initiate criminal proceedings, but was rejected. Having examined the materials of the checks, the city prosecutor's office of Volgodonsk concluded that Shelimova was rejected illegally. The materials of the case initiated on her applications were sent to investigatory bodies for additional check.

"Since the crimes committed against Shelimova are covered by a single intention, on the initiative of the city prosecutor's office the criminal cases were united into one. The course of the criminal investigation was taken under special control of the Regional Prosecutor's Office," emphasized the source.

The journalist told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent that in her opinion, Alexander Prutsakov, Deputy Chairman of the Volgodonsk City Duma, a member of the "Edinaya Rossiya" (United Russia) Party, has to do with persecuting her. In her publications in the newspaper "Nashe Vremya" Natalia Shelimova had repeatedly mentioned the "Olymp criminal grouping" in Volgodonsk. According to her data, Prutsakov has direct relationship to this grouping, where he is known under the nickname of "Shoma".

At the moment, Deputy Prutsakov has initiated a lawsuit to refute the data made public by Shelimova on the pages of the regional newspaper. However, according to the journalist, the open litigation was not enough for the local MP, and he seeks to "squeeze" the woman out of the city to "deal with her in different territory."

Journalist Shelimova emphasizes that the case on the facts of threats and harassment was opened only after the tragedy in Kuschevskaya. Apparently, the authorities and law enforcement bodies were themselves fearful of possible new problems because of numerous flourishing organized criminal groupings, said the journalist.

Vera Yuzhanskaya, editor-in-chief of "Nashe Vremya", expects real results of prosecutors' inquiry. "In general, these threats caused serious concern about the life and health of the journalist. We were supported here by Oleg Bessmertny, Director of the Regional Department of Press. He went with me to General Lapin, head of the regional GUVD, and drew his attention to the situation. Specialists from Rostov were sent to Volgodonsk to check the work of local militia," said Ms Yuzhanskaya. She added that a tragic accident had happened in the history of the newspaper, when "in Taganrog correspondent Natalia Skryl perished; until now nobody has found her killers."

According to the editor-in-chief, support of colleagues from the printed media and unity because of threats to the journalist are felt insufficiently.

Alexander Prutsakov said in his conversation with the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent in answer to the question whether he knew about the initiated criminal case and suspicions of the journalist in his address, that "he was not purposefully tracing such events" and would not comment anything.

Let us note here that on February 2 the consideration of the case of Alexander Prutsakov against Natalia Shelimova will continue.