TV story about Ibragim Yangulbaev causes distrust in Chechen people

On July 30, the "Grozny" TV Channel stated that Ibragim Yangulbaev, accused of extremism, had not filed any complaint about the lack of medical assistance at the SIZO (pre-trial prison). People who watched the TV story drew attention to the fact that Ibragim Yangulbaev himself had not been given a chance to speak.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that Ibragim Yangulbaev, arrested on the charge of extremism, complained that he got no medical assistance at the SIZO after he had undergone a complicated surgery, the newspaper "Novaya Gazeta" reported on July 27.

After an article was published by the "Novaya Gazeta", Russia's Ombudsperson Tatiana Moskalkova contacted the chief of the Department for Chechnya of the Federal Penitentiary Service (known as FSIN), and Ibragim Yangulbaev was hospitalized at night on July 28.

On July 30, at the night block of news, the ChGTRK (Chechen State TV and Radio Company) "Grozny" showed a story reporting how members of the Chechen Ombudsman's Office visited Ibragim Yangulbaev at the hospital. The TV story noted that Ibragim Yangulbaev and his relatives never filed any complaints about the SIZO medical staff, reports the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent, who watched the TV story.

Local observers doubt the objectivity of the TV story. "Ibragim Yangulbaev was shown in the news, but it was impossible to hear what he said. They (officials) said all the words for him," the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent was told by local resident Shakhran.

The people interviewed by the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent have mentioned the practice of pressure used by the Chechen authorities. "This is a scheme already developed by the authorities: critics of the authorities or people dissatisfied with actions of officials are subjected to public humiliation with mandatory demonstration on local TV," said Fatima, a member of a Chechen NGO.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on July 31, 2018 at 12:07 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.