CHECHNYA, Grozny, February 14, 2020 — Russian investigative journalist Elena Milashina was subjected to physical assault by an angry mob in a hotel in Grozny on February 6. She was in the Chechen capital with human rights lawyer Marina Dubrovina to follow the trail of a jailed blogger. Even following the assault Elena has not been safe since, as she continues to get death threats via the internet.

We strongly condemn the attack and demand local authorities to take strict actions against her perpetrators.

“Chechnya should immediately take action to ensure safety for Elena, as well as take measures to protect and defend journalists in the country,” said CFWIJ founder Kiran Nazish. 

Relevant authorities should also carry out an investigation behind the death threats she has been receiving after the attack and put her culprits behind bars.

Elena, a columnist for Novaya Gazeta newspaper, and lawyer Marina were both attacked by around 15 people, most of whom were women, in the Continental Hotel’s lobby, after they were returning from a cafe across the road. They were accused by the mob for coming to “defend Wahhabis”. They were beaten and kicked brutally by the women, while one of the men filmed the entire incident on camera.

The two were in Grozny to attend the trial of a local blogger who was put behind bars for publishing a video related to the Kremlin-appointed leader Ramzan Kadyrov in Chechnya. As per the local human rights council, the police were investigating the incident.

Both Elena and Marina were soon taken to the hospital and received treatment. The former gave her statement to the police and posted it on Facebook. In the statement she said that the attack was linked to her professional work and she has earlier received threats by Chechen authorities, as well as personally by the President of Chechnya Ramzan Kadyrov. She even shared a photo of her wounded head on her Facebook account.

This physical assault on a journalist is extremely concerning for the community of journalists in the country and reflects an alarming precedent of violence against women journalists. Offenders of press freedom often see women journalists as easy targets; that they are attacked for their work is a serious threat to their security.

Elena believes that the attack was “coordinated and orchestrated”. According to Elena, the people who assaulted her and Marina were “thugs, provocateurs; female thugs” who carried out the attack. The girls and women physically hit them, while the men gave instructions.

Three years ago, Elena conducted an investigation on torture, detention and honor killing of gay men in the conservative Chechnya. Her expose, published in Novaya Gazeta, alleged that several gay men were jailed in secret prison across the country, while several of them were reportedly tortured to death or killed.

Elena received death threats for months after the story was published and eventually had to leave Russia. Chechnya is infamous for its treatment of journalists, especially women journalists. In 2009, journalist Natalia Estemirova was murdered in Grozny. She was known for documenting the abuse of civilians at the hands of government-backed militias in Chechnya. More recently, a Chechen blogger and critic of the government Imran Aliev, who used the pseudonym Mansur Staryi was stabbed to death at a hotel in northern France on February 3.

The Coalition For Women In Journalism strongly denounces the attack on Elena and Marina. The alleged involvement of the Chechen government in this attack exposes the violations of human rights that are becoming a norm in the Russain Republic. Instead of attacking journalists for telling the truth, the Chechen government should progress towards press freedom in the country.

It is also extremely worrying that the head of the state in Chechnya is supposedly involved in the attack that left Elena and lawyer Marina badly injured. The government is supposed to protect its citizens rights and life without any discrmination, whatsoever. We demand strict punishment for the attackers and seek justice for our colleague. Her security should be ensured by relevant authorities by all means. Journalism is not a crime and Elena should not be persecuted for simply doing her job as a journalist.

###

The Coalition For Women In Journalism is a global organization of support for women journalists. The CFWIJ pioneered mentorship for mid-career women journalists across several countries around the world, and is the first organization to focus on the status of free press for women journalists. We thoroughly document cases of any form of abuse against women in any part of the globe. Our system of individuals and organizations brings together the experience and mentorship necessary to help female career journalists navigate the industry. Our goal is to help develop a strong mechanism where women journalists can work safely and thrive.

Visit our website: www.womeninjournalism.org

Instagram: @womeninjournalism | Twitter @CFWIJ | Email: press@womeninjournalism.org