Journalists treat disruption of pickets in Gadjiev's support as systemic

For the third week in a row, law enforcers have disrupted the solo pickets in support of the Dagestani journalist, Abdulmumin Gadjiev, although the protests are held in compliance with all the legal requirements. The disruption of the picket on January 3 was a continuation of the authorities' pressure on the "Chernovik" weekly outlet, Dagestani journalists have noted.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that policemen detained Magomed Magomedov, a deputy editor-in-chief of the "Chernovik", who was holding a solo picket in support of Gadjiev. Also, they detained Abdulmumin's father, mother and aunt, but released then a few hours later.

According to Mr Magomedov, a policeman grabbed him, brought him to a car and put him into it. In doing so, despite repeated requests to introduce himself, he never gave his name and title.

Magomed Magomedov has added that he could not receive any explanation why he and Gadjiev's relatives were taken to the police station.

Weekly pickets in support of Gadjiev have been held since the journalist's arrest, but for the third week in a row, law enforcers have been trying to disrupt the protests and detain the initiators of the pickets and people who are nearby, Mr Magomedov has summed up.

In his opinion, policemen are fulfilling the demands of the republic's power structures.

Idris Yusupov, a journalist, has recalled that pickets in support of Gadjiev have been held for 3.5 years; and the initiators thereof have never violated a single provision of the Russian legislation. He believes that these pickets are attracting the attention of authorities and the public and do not allow to forget about the fact of the journalist's criminal prosecution.