Journalist Idris Yusupov* claims attempted provocation at picket in Makhachkala

An unidentified man with a sheet of paper in his hands tried to stand next to Idris Yusupov*, who was holding a solo picket in support of Abdulmumin Gadjiev, and the journalist had to stop his protest action.

The “Caucasian Knot” has reported that colleagues of Abdulmumin Gadjiev consider his criminal case to be political persecution and regularly hold solo pickets in his support. On January 15, Magomed Magomedov, the deputy editor-in-chief of the Dagestani newspaper “Chernovik” (Rough Draft), tried to hold a solo picket. However, another picketer joined him, and the police detained the journalist, accusing him of violating the regulations for holding solo protests. Magomed Magomedov considered the disruption of his solo picket a planned provocation by law enforcers.

Idris Yusupov*, a journalist of the “Novoye Delo” (New Clause) publication, went to a solo picket in support of Abdulmumin Gadjiev, but had to interrupt his solo picket, fearing a provocation, when a man approached him with a sheet of paper in his hands. The man told the journalist that he was passing by and that the sheet of paper he was holding in his hands was empty. Idris Yusupov* explained that even by opening a blank sheet of paper with nothing written on it next to a solo picket, the man was breaking the law. After that, the journalist was about to leave, but the police approached him.

The journalist gave written explanations.

Magomed Magomedov, the deputy editor-in-chief of the “Chernovik”, has said that he plans to file a complaint against the law enforcers who detained him.

*On November 24, 2023, the Russian Ministry of Justice (MoJ) included Idris Yusupov into the register of foreign agents. The journalist has filed an appeal against the MoJ’s decision.