15:26, 1 December 2020

Picketers in support of Dagestani journalist Gadjiev note increased support

A solo picket in Makhachkala on November 9, 2020. A human rights defender Ziyautdin Uvaysov. Photo by Ilyas Kapiev for the "Caucasian Knot"

On November 30, four pickets in support of journalist, Abdulmumin Gadjiev, were accompanied by more active support than before, said Idris Yusupov, a picketer.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that Gadjiev's colleagues and friends are holding weekly protests in Makhachkala demanding his release.

Gadjiev is under arrest since June 2019 in connection with financing terrorism. Investigators believe that Gadjiev and his alleged accomplices had raised 68 million roubles and 200,000 US dollars for terrorists under the pretext of building mosques and helping poor Muslims. Gadjiev insists on his innocence. His colleagues treat the criminal prosecution of the journalist as pressure on the edition named "Chernovik" (Draft).

According to Yusupov, the support from the drivers of the cars passing by was stronger than during the previous actions. "This indicates that more and more people are learning about the situation with Gadjiev and are trying to express their support in this way," he said.

Akhmed Akhmedov, an advocate, said that Gadjiev is still in Dagestan; the procedure for his convoying has not yet begun. He believes that relatives will have difficulties visiting Gadjiev, since it will be difficult for elderly parents to come to Rostov.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on December 1, 2020 at 09:22 am MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.