Activists link attack on Byurchiev, "Caucasian Knot" correspondent, with his journalism

The attack on Badma Byurchiev, a "Caucasian Knot" correspondent, is directly related to his professional activities; attacks on political opponents have already happened in Elista; and local officials are involved in this, local activists assert.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on September 8, Badma Byurchiev was attacked in Elista, the capital of Kalmykia. The journalist has associated the attack of several men on him with his professional work.

"Such attacks are not uncommon. They beat up an MP, observers from the Communist Party of the Russian Federation (CPRF) at the 2021 elections. This is by no means mere hooliganism," said Sanal Ubushiev, the board chairman of the public movement "Nasha Kalmykia".

Arslan Kusminov, a local deputy, also believes that the attack on Byurchiev was clearly not of a domestic nature.

"This is how they attacked me, last year's CPRF observers, the candidate for the State Duma MP ... They were perhaps, the same people [who attacked Byurchiev]. They burned down the car of the owner of the YouTube channel, where they said something unpleasant for the authorities, and then threatened him on the phone ... However, the criminal cases on these attacks are not initiated or are not brought to an end," Mr Kusminov has stated.

Let us remind you that in August 2013, activists of "Spravedlivaya Rossiya" (Fair Russia) were attacked in Elista; two of them were hospitalized with stab wounds.