Elena Milashina's actions concerning Guchigov's wedding contain no crime elements

Journalist Elena Milashina has become well-known due to her highlighting of the situation with the wedding of the chief of the Nozhai-Yurt ROVD (District Interior Division) and a 17-year-old girl. The calls of the Chechen authorities to prosecute journalist Elena Milashina have no sufficient grounds. This opinion has been expressed by experts interviewed by the "Caucasian Knot".

The media law stipulates no crimes, and when it refers to non-pecuniary damage, it provides the possibility of bringing an edition to civil liability if there is a good reason. This was stated by Galina Arapova, a media lawyer, the leader of the Mass Media Defence Centre.

"Since Elena Milashina has described the fate of the girl and the alleged compulsion to marriage, then only her groom and her parents, since she is a minor, have the right to reply to the journalist's article if they consider that the article affects their interests," Galina Arapova has noted.

According to the media lawyer, the materials on the wedding published by Elena Milashina contain no components of crime under Article "Slander" of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation.

Galina Arapova has emphasized that the questions about whether the girl has got willingly married, about her age and about the previous allegedly valid Guchigov's marriage represent sufficient grounds for public debate about the legality of the situation and the protection of interests of the minor.

According to experts earlier interviewed by the "Caucasian Knot", the story of the Guchigov's wedding is typical for the Caucasian society. Residents of Chechnya confirm that in such situations, cases of pressure on families of girls often take place.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.