In Makhachkala, picket held by journalist Gadjiev’s colleague attracts attention of police and passers-by

Magomed Magomedov, the deputy editor-in-chief of the Dagestani weekly newspaper “Chernovik” (Rough Draft), held a solo picket in Makhachkala in support of his colleague Abdulmumin Gadjiev. The policemen demanded an explanation from the picketer, and passers-by demonstrated interest in the demands voiced by the journalist.

The “Caucasian Knot” has reported that colleagues of Abdulmumin Gadjiev consider the criminal case instituted against him a political persecution and regularly hold actions in Makhachkala in support of the journalist.

The protest action held on December 5 aroused the interest of passers-by: during an hour, seven persons asked Magomed Magomedov to tell them why the picket was being held and who Abdulmumin Gadjiev was. Drivers of the passing cars were also honking and showing approving gestures.

There has always been pressure on the “Chernovik”, and the persecution of Abdulmumin Gadjiev is one of the attempts to close the weekly newspaper, but the current pressure on the “Chernovik” is unlikely to be related to the criminal prosecution of Abdulmumin Gadjiev, Magomed Magomedov says. According to him, the pressure on printing houses is caused by “certain local officials.”