In Karachaevo-Circassia, journalist Akbasheva beaten at performance of her professional duty

The attack on December 22 in the capital Karachaevo-Circassia on journalist Zhanna Akbasheva was committed when she was performing her editorial task. She thinks that she was beaten for her publications criticizing the Republic's authorities.

Zhanna told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent"On Monday in the evening I was on my way to the House of Press. In the Soyuzny Lane, between Houses Nos. 12 and 14, behind the former "Elborus" shop, I was attacked by two unknown persons. One of them came up to me from the back and closed my mouth with his hand; the other one started beating me in the area of my stomach. They told me that if I didn't stop writing about certain members of the government of Karachaevo-Circassia, they would do much worse. I couldn't see their faces, as everything happened very quickly and unexpectedly; besides, it was becoming dark in the street."

Ms Akbasheva has also noted that she had received numerous threats from the members of the Republic's government, in particular, from the current Minister of Agriculture Boris Gochyaev, who, according to Zhanna, also threatened other journalists.

She has also noted that she was not let into the House of Government of Karachaevo-Circassia: "I saw a note in militiamen's hands at all the check-posts of the building: "Entrance forbidden for Zhanna Akbasheva, REGNUM", and they wouldn't let me in. According to the on duty militiamen, this note arrived from the administration of the President," said the journalist. In her opinion, the attack could be related to these events.

"In Karachaevo-Circassia, beating of journalists and other criminal forms of oppressing the media have become 'a good old tradition' of the caste of local bureaucrats," said journalist Murat Gukemukhov.

Another Zhanna's colleague, who preferred to remain anonymous, said, in her turn, that she also received threats. Someone telephoned her and instructed what to write about and what not. The lady has noted that the acutest problems of the Republic are ignored, and the law is idling.

The administration of the House of Press refused to give comments on "Akbasheva's case", and when asked whether the local press was exposed to pressure, they preferred to hang up.

Zhanna Akbasheva is a sister of Fatima Tlisova, former chief-editor of the North-Caucasian news service of the IA REGNUM. In due time, Fatima was also under serious pressure; she was beaten more than once. Finally, Tlisova was forced to emigrate and received political asylum in the USA.

: "Local functionaries 'take journalists as servants', says journalist."