Russian investigative journalist Elena Milashina has received death threats from Chechnya’s authorities, after she reported on their response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Head of the Chechen Republic Ramzan Kadyrov posted a video in which he issued a death threat at Elena. He accused journalists at her newspaper of being “puppets of the West” and directly appealed to the Presidential administration and the Federal Security Service “to stop those non-humans who are writing and provoking our people.” 

He alluded that unless they do it, someone in Chechnya would have to “commit a crime” to silence Elena.

Every day, journalists around the world face intimidation, imprisonment and violence, just for shining a light on the truth. 

Fortunately, Amnesty supporters like you are willing to challenge justice – already this year, you’ve helped demand the release of two other journalists detained for reporting on COVID-19.

Call on the authorities to ensure Elena Milashina’s safety, and to uphold the rights of journalists to investigate and report on the COVID-19 pandemic.