Two Suspects In Attack On Siberian Journalist Detained
Police in the Russian city of Novosibirsk have detained two men suspected of attacking a local journalist.
The chief editor of online news site Tayga.info, Yevgeny Mezdrikov, said earlier that two men entered his offices on December 8 and punched him in the face several times with no explanation.
Vladimir Gorodetsky, the Siberian region's governor, told journalists on December 15 that two suspects had been detained on December 12.
The Novosibirsk Journalists Union had urged regional law enforcement officials to investigate, expressing concerns over frequent attacks against journalists in the region.
Advocacy groups say attack on journalists whose work challenges or displeases the authorities in Russia face daily risks and their attackers are rarely punished.
Tayga.info is a private, independent media outlet that has been covering news and events in the region since 2004.
Based on reporting by Tayga.info, TASS, and Interfax
Azerbaijani journalist Khadija Ismayilova has been held in pretrial detention since December 5.
Jailed Azerbaijani Journalist Khadija Ismayilova's 'Letter Of Hope' For 2015
Award-winning Azerbaijani investigative journalist Khadija Ismayilova, who hosts a daily program for RFE/RL's Azerbaijani Service, has been held in pretrial detention in Baku since December 5 after being accused of encouraging a man to commit suicide -- a charge that has been broadly condemned as a flagrant attempt to silence her critical voice.
She is widely perceived to have often been thetarget of harassment and intimidationby the Azerbaijani government and pro-government forces for months because of her groundbreaking investigations into corruption at the highest levels of power, including President Ilham Aliyev and his family.
Ismayilova was able to send this brief note from jail to RFE/RL's Azerbaijani Service.
The letter has been edited for style and grammar.
My dear friends!
Here in pretrial detention, my thoughts are with you. My only regret is that here I am restricted from helping you.
You are doing an important job helping oppressed people. Happy New Year to you and all like-minded people.
A photo of Khadija Ismayilova's letter from Kurakhani prison (click to enlarge)
I am full of hope on the eve of this New Year that truth and justice will win.
Arrests and restrictions are part of our mission in telling the truth. My arrest proves one more time that it is important to make change happen: We need to build a new reality where truth will be a norm of life and telling the truth will not require courage.
You all know why I am here in prison. Uncovering corruption is the real reason. And the only way to prove oppressive regimes wrong is to continue uncovering corruption, to continue defending the rights of oppressed people. Yes, there is a price to pay. But it is worth it!
As Nazim Hikmet, the Turkish poet, wrote: "Those who carry the teardrops of their siblings as a heavy burden upon their neck shouldn't follow our path."
Stay strong!
Keep doing a good job!
More investigations, more efforts for justice and human rights -- this is my wish for 2015.
"Watchdog" is a blog with a singular mission -- to monitor the latest developments concerning human rights, civil society, and press freedom. We'll pay particular attention to reports concerning countries in RFE/RL's broadcast region.
RFE/RL journalists take risks, face threats, and make sacrifices every day in an effort to gather the news. Our "Journalists In Trouble" page recognizes their courage and conviction, and documents the high price that many have paid simply for doing their jobs. More
