Russia: Journalists detained to stop reporting on Ingushetia protest

Rusia segue a ser, aínda despois da desintegración da Unión Soviética, unha vasta federación, administrativamente intrincada, e que deixou sen resolver dentro das súas fronteiras moitos conflictos nacionais, étnicos ou relixiosos. Nalgúns casos, como o da República de Chechenia, o Estado ruso empregou o exército co resultado de medio millón de desprazados e moitos miles de combatentes e civís mortos.

Human Rights Watch publicou a pasada fin de semana unha nota de prensa denunciando as detencións de xornalistas na República de Ingushetia, viciña de Chechenia. As autoridades rusas detiveron ós xornalistas co único fin de impedir que informasen dunha manifestación. Requisáronlle-lo material fotográfico e de gravación, así como a súa documentación. Maltratáronos e ameazáronos con acusalos falsamente.

A nota de prensa leva por título “Russia: Journalists Detained to Stop Reporting on Ingushetia Protest”. Copio e pego un extracto:

[...] Said-Khussein Tsarnaev, a photojournalist for RIA-Novosti, and Mustafa Kurskiev, a correspondent for two Moscow-based print outlets, were among 10 journalists and two human rights activists detained while covering a demonstration in Ingushetia’s capital, Nazran. The police reportedly arrested the two while they were filming a building that had been set on fire. A staff member of the Memorial Human Rights Center who witnessed the arrests told Human Rights Watch that police severely beat Kurskiev. Tsarnaev and Kurskiev spent the night at the Nazran Police Department. According to Memorial, they were denied access to counsel, food and even water. Though Kurskiev needed medical assistance, he was not allowed to see a doctor. [...]

Other journalists arrested while covering Saturday’s demonstration were Roman Plyusov and Vladimir Varfolomeev, both of Echo Moscow radio; Danila Galperovich, of Radio Liberty; Olga Bobrova of Novaya Gazeta; two correspondents of St. Petersburg Channel Five TV; and two correspondents of Russian State TV. The police confiscated their video, photo and recording equipment, as well as identification documents. Galperovich told Human Rights Watch that he was manhandled by police and shoved into a police car when he attempted to ask a police officer how many people suffered in the clash between law enforcement officials and the protesters. [...]