Suspected Dagestani journalist's blackmailers detained

On March 13, the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) reported detention in Dagestan and Moscow of nine persons suspected of extorting money and threatening the head of one of Dagestani mass media and his relatives, and of attacking the journalist.

According to the MIA, the detention was carried out by policemen jointly with their FSB colleagues and with the support of "Rosgvardia" (Russian National Guard) servicemen; however, the date of the operation was not specified.

"First, the malefactors threatened to physically attack the media head and his relatives and extorted 6 million roubles from them. Then, to prove the seriousness of their intentions, they committed a robbery attack on the victim," the MIA website reported on March 13.

According to Irina Volk, the MIA's spokesperson, two suspects were detained at the crime venue and are in custody. "As a result of the search conducted in the territory of Moscow and the Republic of Dagestan, law enforcers have detained seven more suspects, including the alleged customer and active members of the organized criminal grouping aged from 28 and 35," the website quotes Ms Volk as saying.

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