In the Karachay-Cherkessia Republic, a previously arrested journalist was detained on a new charge upon leaving a detention center
A resident of Kazan, journalist Guzel Kasimova, who was detained in November in Cherkessk, was arrested again. Already upon leaving the detention center, she was stopped by employees of the Center for Combating Extremism.
The press worker was serving an administrative arrest: according to the investigation, she resisted arrest. Now she has been arrested in connection with a case of a knowingly false report of a terrorist attack. The term of the new arrest, according to Kasimova’s lawyer Yulia Glukhova, is two days – until the court hearing at which a preventive measure will be chosen.
On November 21, Guzel Kasimova was arrested for ten days on charges of disobeying a police officer’s demand. On November 30, the decision was challenged in the Supreme Court of the Karachay-Cherkessia Republic. At the court hearing, the CPE officer who detained her stated that the journalist voluntarily presented her documents and got into the car. Despite this, the court found her arrest to be lawful.
A criminal case has now been opened against Kasimova for deliberately making a false report of a terrorist attack – she allegedly posted leaflets with illegal content. The corresponding ruling was issued shortly after her first arrest, but, according to Glukhova, there is still no expert analysis in the case confirming the investigators' arguments about the illegal content of the leaflets.
Guzel Kasimova is in serious physical condition; an ambulance had to be called to the special detention center.
The journalist is known for her criticism of government-related business projects in the North Caucasus, namely in protected areas in the Arkhyz resort area.
