The editors of Russian news outlet Echo of Moscow have requested that President Vladimir Putin step in after the head of Chechnya, Ramzan Kadyrov, called for prominent liberal reporters and outlets to be prosecuted for “aiding terrorism.”
Alexey Venediktov, the radio station’s editor-in-chief, wrote on Telegram on Wednesday, “in connection with the threats directed at our colleagues from Novaya Gazeta and TV Dozhd from the leader of the Chechen Republic, we would like to declare our solidarity with these publications’ journalists.”
He goes on, “we direct the attention of law enforcement agencies to the statements of this high-ranking official, a general in the Ministry of Internal Affairs, which are against the laws of the Russian Federation. We ask the Russian President, as the guardian of the constitution, to intervene in the situation.”
On Tuesday, Kadyrov called for prosecutors to bring criminal cases against figures associated with newspaper Novaya Gazeta and the TV channel Dozhd, or “Rain,” which is officially labeled a “foreign agent” in Russia due to links to overseas funding. “What evidence do you need that they are terrorists, abettors of terrorism?” he asked law enforcement. “Where are you looking? In the Chechen Republic you placed them all under suspicion and arrested them.”
Dmitry Muratov, editor of Novaya Gazeta, who was awarded the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize for “efforts to safeguard freedom of expression,” told RBK that the newspaper had submitted a complaint to Russia’s Investigative Committee on Monday regarding previous statements by Kadyrov. A spokesperson said that they were not planning a separate submission based on the more recent comments.
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