Chechnya's Prosecutor Office has ruled that the refusal of police to open a criminal investigation into an attack on a top human rights activist was illegal.
The attack on Igor Kalyapin, the head of Russian human rights group The Committee Against Torture, should have been investigated further, said a letter published Friday on the Russian human rights council's website.
Kalyapin was attacked near the entrance of the hotel in the center of Chechen capital Grozny on March 16, where he had been planning to meet with another human rights activist. Fifteen attackers beat him and pelted him with eggs and green disinfectant.
Chechen law enforcement agencies began to investigate the attack but later refused to initiate criminal proceedings.
Activists from the Committee Against Torture are involved in Chechnya to monitor human rights violations in the region. The organization have been criticized by the Chechen authorities and its members and offices have repeatedly been the targets of attacks.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
