Dagestani journalist Idris Yusupov* fined for pickets in support of Palestine and Abdulmumin Gadjiev

A court in Makhachkala has treated the pickets in support of Palestine and demanding to release Abdulmumin Gadjiev, held by journalist Idris Yusupov*, as a violation of the law on foreign agents, and fined him by 30,000 roubles.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on November 24, 2023, the Russian Ministry of Justice (MoJ) included Idris Yusupov*, a journalist of the "Novoye Delo" (New Cause) outlet, into the list of foreign agents. The journalist explained this by the fact that at the beginning of 2023 he participated in a project of the "Civic Assistance" Committee* to provide assistance to prisoners from Northern Caucasus. On June 6, it became known that law enforcers had drawn up a protocol on Yusupov* under the article "Failure to comply with restrictions related to the status of a foreign agent". A district court in Makhachkala returned the protocol to law enforcers with a demand to eliminate the violations committed therein.

As follows from the ruling of the Leninsky District Court of Makhachkala, the reason for drawing up the protocol was in the photos from the picket posted in the Telegram channel of the "Chernovik" (Draft) outlet. Yusupov*'s advocate asked to dismiss the case due to absence of an offense, since the journalist had not organized a public event, but held his solo picket silently.

The "Caucasian Knot" has also reported that on March 22, 2024, a search was conducted in Yusupov*'s house, and law enforcers seized his phone and laptops. Earlier, on October 30, 2023, law enforcers also came to search Yusupov* and seized equipment and flash drives. On August 21, it became known that law enforcers returned the seized equipment to him, but the demand to justify the search remained unanswered.

*Included by the Russian Ministry of Justice (MoJ) into the register of foreign agents.