Rostov regional court refused to release journalist Tolmachev

Regional court of Rostov-on-Don left Alexander Tolmachev, Editor-in-Chief of the newspaper “Upolnomochen Zaiuvit” and journal “Pro Rostov”, in custody.

Tolmachev was detained on December, 20, 2011, and on December, 23, by the judgment of Novocherkassk city court was taken into custody within the framework of the case on which he is accused of extortion.

“In the text of the verdict (of arrest – note by the “Caucasian Knot”) one of the reasons is mentioned as Tolmachev’s being Editor-in-Chief who therefore can bring pressure upon the witnesses by publishing one or another material. But publishing is just the journalist’s work and if his data is untrue one can demand refutation. Freedom of speech is not a reason for arrest”, "161.ru" quotes Tolmachev’s attorney.

An appeal against Tolmachev’s arrest was submitted to Rostov regional court. The trial was held on December, 30, and the court brought a standing judgment.

The journalist’s supporters were removed from the courtroom. “We were let into the assembly hall, they checked and copied our passports and then we were pushed out”, “Rostov News Agency” quotes one of the activists on an informal movement in the journalist’s protection.

No comments from Tolmachev of his attorneys on the verdict concerning the appeal have yet been reported.