13:54, 19 September 2017

Batmanov added to the list of journalists persecuted in Russia

Alexander Batmanov in the hospital in Volgograd. July 2017. Screenshot of the video by the user NGO TV https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=122&v=aGAqpCpUyCY

The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) has added the Volgograd journalist Alexander Batmanov to the list of his other four colleagues persecuted for their professional activities.

Earlier, Temur Kobaliya, the head of the Volgograd Human Rights Council and of the non-profit organization "NKO-TV", reported that on June 24, Alexander Batmanov, who had been detained for an alleged theft of some foodstuffs from a store, jumped out of the window of the police station and broke his legs.

The journalist "was interested in distribution of regional grants in Volgograd," Mr Kobaliya has explained to the "Caucasian Knot", adding that Alexander was also monitoring the construction course of the Volgograd-Arena Stadium.

The EFJ’s campaign "is aimed at protecting the media freedom and the freedom of expression," Kobaliya said, adding that "journalists’ stronger role and the freedom, under which they can carry out their work are the bases of democracy."

Batmanov is still kept at SIZO-1 (pre-trial prison), said his advocate Sergey Kunitsky.

Let us note here that the EFJ’s list contains also Zhalaudi Geriev, a "Caucasian Knot" correspondent, who was sentenced in Chechnya to three years in prison on charges of illicit drug dealing.

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

Author: Tatyana Filimonova

Source: CK correspondent