09:33, 7 May 2008

In Kalmykia, newspaper's jubilee was marked by a rally for freedom of speech

On May 6, the centre of Elista, the capital of Kalmykia, was the venue of celebrations dated to the four-year anniversary of the first issue of the "Elista Panorama" newspaper; the event grew into a spontaneous rally.

The residents of the city rallied in support of the city newspaper. Close to the improvised podium, signatures were collected under petition to Dmitri Medvedev asking to stop arbitrariness and lawlessness in relation to mass media and journalists of Kalmykia.

"In usual life, most often journalists come to help people in need of public protection, support and special attention. But today, the situation is different - our journalists and our newspaper need our help and support," Angelica Gurskaya, adviser of the Mayor of Elista (former editor-in-chief of the "Elista Panorama"), said in her conversation with the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

Author: Vitaly Shulenin, CK correspondent