Police demand explanations from participants of solo pickets in support of Dagestani journalist Gadjiev

Today, in Makhachkala, three solo pickets have been held today by colleagues of journalist Abdulmumin Gadjiev, and the police have taken explanations from the picketers. The friends of Abdulmumin Gadjiev have emphasized that his guilt was not proven during the trial.

The “Caucasian Knot” has reported that colleagues of Abdulmumin Gadjiev, the editor of the weekly newspaper “Chernovik” (Rough Draft), consider the criminal case instituted against him to be political persecution and regularly hold actions in support of him. On October 3, solo pickets were held by Magomed Magomedov, the deputy editor-in-chief of the “Chernovik”, and Idris Yusupov, a journalist of the “Novoye Delo” (New Clause). The journalists have noted that changes in the Russian news agenda did not reduce public interest in Abdulmumin Gadjiev’s case.

According to Magomed Magomedov, the police approached the picketers and demanded to report their personal data and written explanations. This is a standard requirement of the police, and there were no obstacles to holding the protest actions, Magomed Magomedov notes.

Residents and guests of Makhachkala actively responded to the demands of the picketers, Magomed Magomedov adds. Idris Yusupov also pointed out the lively reaction to the pickets from passers-by and drivers. The journalist noted that the interest of the public was as high as a week earlier. However, Idris Yusupov suggested that it was not the demand for “Freedom for Political Prisoners” that attracted people, but only the very fact of holding protest actions in the centre of Makhachkala.