"Graty" reporter previously detained in Crimea fined, the other journalist arrested
"Graty" journalist Lutfie Zudieva, who had been detained in the occupied Crimea on July 27, was fined 12,000 rubles, reports reports the media outlet on their Telegram channel.
She and a group of other Crimean Tatars were blamed for gathering near the Russian-controlled Supreme Court in an attempt to attend an open hearing in the case of Deputy Chairman of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People, Nariman Celâl, and the Ahtemov brothers, whom the Russian authorities accuse of sabotage.
However, "Graty" notes, Zudieva was in court on an editorial assignment.
Three more detainees were also fined, and Kulamet Ibraimov, a correspondent for the media outlet "Grani", was arrested for five days.
As "Crimean Solidarity" reports, the police has opened a case against Lutfie Zudieva, filed under part 1 of Article 20.2.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation ("Organization of a mass simultaneous presence and (or) movement of citizens in a public space that is not a public event, public calls for mass simultaneous presence and (or) movement of citizens in a public space").
As for Kulamet Ibraimov, the case against him was filed under Part 4 of Article 20.2.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation due to "repeat offense".
"It is clear that someone really wants just one point of view to be heard in mass media. And this is the point of view that favours the special forces, the law enforcers and the state prosecutors. But our task is to objectively report on how such cases are being fabricated, to report what evidence the prosecution is basing their claims on, how the defense responds to this evidence. That is why I was at the courthouse today. Despite the pressure, despite the fines, despite other risks, we will keep doing our job. Because we believe that it is of fundamental importance, because this work benefits the Crimean society, benefits the people, and despite today's unjustified, ulawful, unmotivated detention, despite this 12 thousand rubles fine, I'm looking ahead with confidence. And as long as I am free, I will do what I've been doing in the past years," commented Lutfie Zudieva after leaving the courthouse.
As IMI reported, Russian police in Crimea detained citizen journalists Lutfie Zudieva and Kulamet Ibraimov near the building of the Simferopol Supreme Court on July 27.
The media outlet "Graty" demanded the immediate release of their journalist Lutfie Zudieva. Zudieva had arrived to the Russian-installed Supreme Court of Crimea to cover a court hearing in the case of Deputy Chairman of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People, Nariman Celâl, and the Ahtemov brothers, whom the Russian authorities accuse of sabotage. She was not allowed to enter the court room and was later detained.
Help us be even more cool!
