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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.

 

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President of the Russian Federation

Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin

Dear President Putin,

I am writing to express my grave concern regarding the death threat by the Head of Chechnya Ramzan Kadyrov on 13 April. 

The threat is aimed at Novaya Gazeta journalist Elena Milashina and came as a reaction to her article, published in Novaya Gazeta on 12 April, regarding the authorities’ response to the COVID-19 pandemic in Chechnya. Ramzan Kadyrov accused Novaya Gazeta and its journalists of being “puppets of the West.” He alluded someone in Chechnya would have to commit a crime to silence the journalist.

This is not the first time that threats and attacks against human rights defenders and journalists in Russia are being neglected and even condoned by the authorities. 

I am calling on you as the Head of the State and guarantor of the Constitution and human rights enshrined therein:

  • To publicly condemn the threats against Elena Milashina, take meaningful steps to ensure that this does not happen again and that Elena Milashina is safe;
  • To uphold the right of journalists to investigate and report on the COVID-19 pandemic and the authorities’ response in Chechnya and or other Russian regions and to protect the right to freedom of expression and information.

Sincerely,

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