Zagalav Somoev: situation with "Nastoyaschee Vremya" weekly raises issue of freedom of speech in Dagestan

In Dagestan, attempts of unlawful administrative pressure on the "Nastoyaschee Vremya" (Present Time) weekly newspaper bring into question the existence of freedom of speech and the policy of democratization in the republic. This was stated by Zagalav Somoev, the representative of the UN Human Rights Committee.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that the administrative case was instituted against the newspaper under Part 4 of Article 5.60 of the Administrative Code of the Russian Federation "Failure to prevent libel in publicly performed work or in media". According to law enforcement agencies, the edition published defamatory information in regard to Magomedsalam Magomedov, the leader of the republic. The reason for the proceedings was the material entitled "Caucasus is leading" prepared by Nadira Isaeva, which was published in the newspaper on February 3.

"Having read the decision of the Prosecutor's Office of Makhachkala, I, as a representative of the UN Human Rights Committee, treat the arguments set forth as insufficient to bring the managers of the edition to administrative responsibility. I believe that the decision was ordered and that it represents an attack on freedom of speech and attempts to introduce censorship in Dagestan, restrictions on freedom of expression and freedom of will," states Zagalav Somoev.

The message prepared by the representative of the UN Human Rights Committee, states that "the staff members of the newspaper are under constant tension because of the systematic pressure in the form of numerous inspections conducted by national regulatory authorities on the initiative of the administration of the leader of Dagestan."

The journalists in Dagestan support their colleagues from the "Nastoyaschee Vremya" weekly newspaper and also treat the situation as an attempt to put pressure on independent media.

The "Caucasian Knot" correspondent was told by Mairbek Agaev, Deputy Editor-in-Chief of the "Chernovik" (Draft), the Dagestani weekly newspaper, the situation with the "Nastoyaschee Vremya" weekly newspaper occurred not because of one particular article, "to which the authorities have a claim, but because of general policy of the edition."

A number of public organizations in Dagestan also supported the weekly newspaper. They declared their readiness to raise the question about the situation around the "Nastoyaschee Vremya" weekly newspaper at the discussion at the conference of the Public Chamber of the Republic of Dagestan, which is to be held on April 23, 2012.