Zhalaudi Geriev in the court room. Photo: https://www.change.org/p/требуем-беспристрастного-суда-над-чеченским-журналистом

19 October 2016, 07:26

HRC "Memorial" explains why Geriev was recognised to be political prisoner

The court ignores the testimonies, which refute the investigators' version with regard to Zhalaudi Geriev, a "Caucasian Knot" correspondent, believes Oleg Orlov, the head of the programme "Hotspots" of the Human Rights Centre (HRC) "Memorial". The case against the journalist had been fabricated; while the independent journalism in Chechnya is a factor of threat, said Sergey Davidis, the head of the programme of supporting political prisoners of the HRC "Memorial".

On September 5, the court in Chechnya sentenced Geriev to three years in prison on charges of keeping marijuana. On October 17, the HRC "Memorial" recognized Geriev as a political prisoner.

The petition in support of Geriev was posted on the "Change.org" platform; to date it has gathered over 23,500 signatures.

"It is clear that the case had been falsified; while the fact of possessing drugs was absolutely not proved," said Davidis.

"During the investigation, he was threatened and exerted with pressure; the physical pressure is not excluded," said Orlov. He is sure that there is no evidence of the journalist's guilt.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.

Source: CK correspondent

All news
НАСТОЯЩИЙ МАТЕРИАЛ (ИНФОРМАЦИЯ) ПРОИЗВЕДЕН И РАСПРОСТРАНЕН ИНОСТРАННЫМ АГЕНТОМ ООО “МЕМО”, ЛИБО КАСАЕТСЯ ДЕЯТЕЛЬНОСТИ ИНОСТРАННОГО АГЕНТА ООО “МЕМО”.

November 14, 2024 22:40

  • Kuban resident fined for pacifist post on Telegram

    The court has fined Anton Timoshenko, a resident of the Pavlovsky District of Kuban (the Krasnodar Territory), for a pacifist video placed by him in a Telegram channel criticizing the special military operation (SMO) in Ukraine.

November 14, 2024 19:39

November 13, 2024 23:56

November 13, 2024 23:16

  • Kabardino-Balkarian resident fined for discrediting Russian Army

    The Prokhladnensky District Court has found the allegations that local resident Viktor Marchuk had spoken in a negative way about the special military operation (SMO) in Ukraine proven. The man has been fined 30,000 roubles under the article on discrediting the Russian Armed Forces.

November 13, 2024 22:25

  • Court in Georgievsk holds hearing on Makhachkala riots

    A court hearing was held in Georgievsk on the case of five residents of Dagestan, whom investigators treat as participants in the riots that broke out at the Makhachkala Airport. At the request of the advocate of one of the defendants, the judge removed a "Caucasian Knot" correspondent from the courtroom.

News archive