Local government attacks online media

The Ingushetia.Ru editorial office reports being pressurised by the republican government.

Below is the statement they make.

"Dear friends and visitors of our website!

Our portal has lately faced intense pressure on the part of the Ingush authorities. President Murat Zyazikov of Ingushetia and officials obeying his will are doing their best to close this website and do away with its staff and founder. The Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) and other law enforcement agencies have received hundreds of letters, including anonymous ones, and other papers from the republican presidential administration, "well-wishers", and "indignant residents of Ingushetia," which is arranged by our enemies. The site and all its content have been several times thoroughly examined by the Prosecutor General's Office, the Saratov Regional Prosecutor's Office, the Kuntsevo Inter-district Prosecutor's Office of Moscow, the FSB Department in Saratov Region, the Russian Interior Ministry's "R" Department, and the Moscow Main Department of Internal Affairs. These checks have revealed no violations of the law in the activities of our website.

We are accused of partisanship and obeying somebody's orders. We can swear on the Koran we do not work for anybody, nor obey anybody's orders. The operation of this site is only possible due to the personal enthusiasm of certain individuals worried about our people and selflessly serving their homeland. We truly seek to make the life of the Ingush people better, more beautiful and richer. We ask you to believe in us so that we work together in the interests of the people and our republic.

Ingushetia.Ru founder and staff."

• Local government enforces media restrictions
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More about freedom of press in North Caucasus:

• Human Rights Practices in Russia's North Caucasus - 2004