Broken fingers, shaved head, painted green: Russian journalist beaten up in Chechnya

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Russian opposition investigative journalist Yelena Milashina was beaten and seriously injured on Tuesday in the Russian republic of Chechnya in the Caucasus.

Masked and armed men stopped their car, which also included lawyer Alexander Nemov, on their way to the Chechen capital Grozny, according to the human rights organization Memorial.

The men therefore beat the two prisoners and destroyed all existing documents and technology. Milashina’s fingers were broken, she suffered bruises all over her body and lost consciousness several times.

Putin inquired

Russian President Vladimir Putin was informed of the attack on Milashina and Nemov, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, according to Russian agencies. Human rights commissioner Tatyana Moskalkova is handling the incident, he said. You have already contacted the investigative authorities in Chechnya.

“Of course there is a need for an investigation and inquiry into the attack,” Peskow said. It is a “very serious attack that requires very strong measures”.

According to Russian authorities, Moskalkova said the incident should be thoroughly investigated and those responsible should be punished. According to Russian sources, Milashina and Nemov were taken to a hospital outside Chechnya on Tuesday.

Three years ago she received death threats

Milashina had already received death threats in 2020 from Chechen ruler Ramzan Kadyrov after she reported critically on the brutal treatment of the population in the corona pandemic. The journalist has been investigating Chechnya for years.

Kadyrov leads the Islamic Republic in the North Caucasus with an iron fist. Civil rights activists repeatedly complain of brutal human rights violations, including torture and persecution. In the 1990s, Chechnya, then striving for independence, fought two wars against Russia. Moscow managed to regain control of the region with massive attacks. (SDA)

Source: Blick