Gadjiev's case highlights problem of pressure on journalists in Dagestan

Abdulmumin Gadjiev, a correspondent of the "Chernovik" (Draft) weekly, arrested within the case of financing terrorism, has suffered because of his articles on Islamic topics, said Magdi Kamalov, the founder of the weekly. The Gadjiev's case is based on the testimony of a single suspect, who does not directly accuse the journalist of a crime, said the advocate.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on June 18, Abdulmumin Gadjiev, the editor of the religion section of the Dagestani "Chernovik", was arrested within a case on financing of terrorism. On July 3, the Dagestani Supreme Court refused to transfer the journalist from custody to house arrest.

The Dagestani public is alarmed by the aggravation of the situation around "Chernovik" in connection with Gadjiev's arrest, Ali Kamalov, the chairman of the Dagestani Union of Journalists, has stated. According to his story, the pressure on Dagestani media has a permanent nature.

"For the last 25 years, 19 journalists were killed in Dagestan, Gadjimurat Kamalov, the founder of the 'Chernovik', among them," he has recalled.

Many investigations of the "Chernovik" have formed the basis for criminal cases against corrupt officials in Dagestan, said Magdi Kamalov, the founder of the weekly. According to his story, the edition has always opposed violations of the law in the "fight against terrorism, in particular, extrajudicial executions and torture."

Magdi Kamalov has stressed that the accusations against Gadjiev were "absurd because he had always spoke out against terrorism and exposed the militants' pseudo-Islamic rhetoric."