Dmitry Peskov
The Kremlin is watching the conflict of “the New newspaper” and representatives of the Chechen authorities because of an article about mass arrests in the region people with different sexual orientation. As reported the correspondent of”.ru”, reported the press Secretary of the President of Russia Dmitry Peskov.
“We have also received an appeal from the chief editor of “Novaya Gazeta”, I, in particular, received a letter, which also describes this situation,” he said.
According to him, if someone believes that the publication of the newspaper “were defamatory or distort reality, there are statutory methods of challenging and calling to the responsibility of the authors of those or other published materials”
Peskov said that the Kremlin is “categorically against any other methods of influence, which would be contrary to the law.” “Moreover, of course, against any action that could constitute a threat to the safety and life of journalists,” he added.
At the same time, the official said that reliable information about persecution in Chechnya, members of the LGBT community there.
On the evening of 13 April on the website of “Novaya Gazeta” published a statement which said that “the reaction that followed on the publication of the Chechen persecution of homosexuals, causes the editors have grave fears for the safety not only of specific journalists, but to all without exception, employees” edition. It is also noted that on 5 April in the Central mosque of Grozny, a meeting was held, which was attended by 15 thousand people (among them Islamic scholars and opinion leaders). At this meeting, Adam Shahidov, the counselor of the head of the Republic Ramzan Kadyrov, has publicly accused the team of “New” in the slander and called him an enemy of the faith and the homeland.
As the “Grozny-inform”, at the end of the meeting a resolution was adopted, one of the points of which reads: “Due to the fact that the insult to the age-old foundations of the Chechen society and the dignity of Chechen men, and our faith, we promise that retribution will overtake the true instigators, wherever and whoever they were, without a limitation period”.
1 April, “Novaya Gazeta” published an article about mass arrests and murders of Chechen residents due to suspicions of homosexuality. 4 APR edition posted anonymous testimonies of detainees who spoke about torture.