In Kabardino-Balkaria, unknown persons beat editor-in-chief of independent newspaper

In Nalchik, the capital of Kabardino-Balkaria, an attack was made today on Miloslav Bitokov, editor-in-chief of the independent "Newspaper of the South". He was beaten in the doorway of his own house and hospitalized, as the editorial board of the newspaper reported.

Mr Bitokov was attacked by three unknown persons in the doorway of the house, where his apartment is situated, when his son was busy parking the car. A newspaper employee said that earlier Bitokov received threats from unknown persons, and the incident is surely connected with his professional work.

Now Mr Bitokov is in hospital diagnosed to have a craniocerebral trauma and nose fracture. His relatives have addressed the militia, the ITAR-TASS reports.

Tonight another journalist was attacked, this time Telman (Abdullah) Alishaev from the Islamic TV Company "TV-Chirkey"; the incident took place in Separatorny district of Makhachkala, the capital of Dagestan.

"The attackers came up to the car, where the journalist was, and opened fire from Makarov pistol," the press service of Makhachkala UVD (Interior Department) reports.

Telman Alishaev was hospitalized in Makhachkala, nothing is known about his condition, the "Interfax" reports.