05 November 2024, 22:16
Colleagues of journalist Gadjiev announce stopping their weekly pickets
After the decision pronounced by the cassation court, colleagues of Abdulmumin Gadjiev, a journalist of the Dagestani weekly newspaper “Chernovik” (Rough Draft), refused to hold weekly solo pickets. The activists explained that they decided to use other measures of support.
The “Caucasian Knot” has reported that colleagues of Abdulmumin Gadjiev, an editor of the newspaper “Chernovik”, consider his criminal case to be political persecution and regularly hold solo pickets in Makhachkala in his support.
In June 2019, Abdulmumin Gadjiev, Abubakar Rizvanov, the head of the “Ansar” charity foundation, and entrepreneur Kemal Tambiev were arrested on the charge of financing terrorism. On September 12, 2023, a court sentenced Abdulmumin Gadjiev to 17 years, Abubakar Rizvanov – to 18 years, and Kemal Tambiev – to 17.5 years of imprisonment. The defendants filed an appeal for the acquittal. However, on November 1, the court of appeal only reduced the sentences of all three convicts by two months.
In their Telegram channel, editors of the newspaper “Chernovik" note that the Abdulmumin Gadjiev’s colleagues and friends have been holding weekly solo pickets in Makhachkala for several years against his criminal prosecution, as they believe he is not guilty.
“Abdulmumin Gadjiev is not only not involved in criminal activity, but he actively speaks out against radicalization, extremism, and terrorism,” the activists stated.
As part of the campaign in support of Abdulmumin Gadjiev, about 600 notifications were submitted to hold a rally against the fabrication of criminal cases. “The Dagestani Ministry of Justice (MoJ) did not approve any of them under far-fetched pretexts,” the journalists reported.
Solo pickets in support of Abdulmumin Gadjiev were held not only in Makhachkala, but also in other cities in Russia and abroad. Online support actions also took place.
“Abdulmumin Gadjiev has been recognized as a political prisoner, a prisoner of conscience both at the Russian and international levels. The international Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) spoke out in support of Abdulmumin Gadjiev,” the activists emphasize in their statement.
This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on November 4, 2024 at 09:28 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.
Author: Naim Suleimanov Source: СK correspondent
