RU / ENG

A prominent Russian investigative journalist for the Novaya Gazeta newspaper Elena Milashina and a lawyer Alexander Nemov have been badly beaten by masked men moments after flying into the Russian republic of Chechnya on July 4th, 2023. The attackers beat Milashina, broke her fingers, shaved her head and doused her with green ash. Also, criminals beat Alexander Nemov and stabbed him with a knife in the leg and head. The journalist and the lawyer were threatened with firearms. The threats and the attack itself are connected with the professional activities of Milashina and Nemov.

Alexander Nemov cannot move around due to the wounds he received and he needs to use a wheelchair, while Elena Milashina is constantly fainting. Alexander Nemov is a lawyer who represents the interests of Zarema Musayeva the mother of Chechen activists, the Yangulbaev brothers, who are vocal critics of Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov.. On 4th of July he was supposed to come to the verdict of his client. And Elena Milashina was supposed to cover the trial as a journalist. These people were beaten for doing their jobs. This attack is a direct threat to all lawyers and journalists who honestly do their work. This is a warning to human rights activists and media workers that they must not cover the news from Chechnya outside the Republic.

If this crime is ignored, such attacks will be repeated. Alexander Nemov is a lawyer and human rights activist who defends human rights and fights for the innocent, if this crime against him is not investigated there will be no one left to defend Russians. And there will be no one to cover crimes against people. Elena Milashina was doing her professional duty as a journalist