Picket against arbitrariness of law enforcement bodies held in the capital of Dagestan

Today in Makhachkala, journalists of the "Chernovik" (Blueprint) newspaper held a picket against voluntary actions of the UBOP (Unit to fight organized crime) employees who have launched a series of targeted audits of non-state mass media. The journalists decided to give up a more resonant protest action, since President of Dagestan has promised to personally get into the matter.

Gadzhimurad Kamalov, director of the enterprise "Freedom of Speech", the founder of the Dagestan weekly "Chernovik", made a special statement at the rally:

"Shortly before the start of the announced rally, President of Dagestan Mukhu Aliev made a call to the editorial board. He said that he would take the situation under his personal control and will act as the warrant of defence of journalists. The President of Dagestan said that he had demanded from respective bodies to investigate the incident, and stated that journalists' constitutional rights should be respected."

In this context Gadzhimurad Kamalov has stated that the journalists are voluntarily undertaking not to hold the rally in the previously supposed format and to refrain from promulgating their special declaration.

Suleiman Uladiev, a member of the Public Chamber of Dagestan, who also spoke to the rally, said that "it is beyond the UBOP competence to audit the activities of mass media, moreover, the newspaper gets not a kopeck of budgetary funds. Mass media are a support and foundation of the society."