23:11, 31 January 2024

Lawyer Arapova* blames authorities for inefficient inquiry into murders of journalists Akhmednabiev and Kamalov

Galina Arapova* (included into the register of foreign agents), Akhmednabi Akhmednabiev. Collage by the "Caucasian Knot". Photo: Roman Demyanenko, https://ru.wikipedia.org/, https://chernovik.net/

Authorities are responsible for the inefficient investigation of journalists' murders; the atmosphere of impunity gives a free hand to those who disagree with sharp journalistic publications, Galina Arapova*, a lawyer, has commented on the decision of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) on the claims lodged by relatives of the murdered journalists, Akhmednabi Akhmednabiev and Khadjimurad Kamalov. The ECtHR has noted that Russian authorities had failed to protect Akhmednabiev, who received threats.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that Akhmednabi Akhmednabiev was shot dead in the village of Semender in Dagestan. He worked as a "Caucasian Knot" correspondent for more than seven years, covering sensitive topics.

Khadjimurad Kamalov, the Director General of the "Svoboda Slova" (Freedom of Speech) Company and the founder of the "Chernovik" (Draft) outlet, was shot dead on December 15, 2011, near the outlet's office in Makhachkala. Shamil Isaev, a former Deputy Prime Minister of Dagestan, and three natives of this republic were accused of organizing the murder. According to the outlet's editorial board, the murder has not been solved.

The ECtHR has found violations of the right to life and obliged Russia to pay EUR 26,000 to Akhmednabi's son, and EUR 20,000 to Khadjimurad's uncle.

The lengthy and inefficient inquiry into the journalists' murders affects the situation in the society, Galina Arapova*, a leading lawyer with the Centre for the Protection of Media Rights*, has stated in the Centre's page on the Facebook**.

"Killing journalists as a way to silence them and intimidate others is one of the most dangerous methods of 'criminal censorship', which, of course, must be suppressed by the state ... Inefficient inquiries into these murders not only gives a free hand to those who dislike their publications, but also violates the society's right to receive information through media, since self-censorship therein due to violence against journalists and an atmosphere of impunity will inevitably lead to silencing of sensitive topics," the lawyer emphasized.

*Included by the Russian Ministry of Justice (MoJ) into the register of foreign agents.

**On March 21, 2022, the Tverskoi Court of Moscow banned the activities in Russia of the Meta Company, owning the Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, in connection with extremist activities.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on January 30, 2024 at 03:49 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.

Source: Caucasian Knot