By David Sophrin
Impunity Watch Reporter, Europe
Abakan, Russia – MIkhail Afanasyev, blogger and editor for the online magazine Novy Fokus, was attacked this past Wednesday in the southern Siberian city of Abakan. His attack came after he was critical of the Russian government’s response to an explosion at a Siberian hydroelectric plant in August.
The explosion at the Sayano-Shushenskaya chemical plant killed over 70 workers. After the explosion Afanasyev raised questions about whether the official government reports on the number of people killed in the explosion was lower than the number actually killed in the blast. Afanasyev also questioned whether there was more the government could have done in rescuing those that might still be alive in the rubble.
Within 24 hours of Afanasyev questioning the government’s response to the explosion, Afanasyev and two of his colleagues at the Novy Fokus were charged by local government prosecutors in Abakan with defamation for his criticisms of the government’s response to the explosion. Prosecutors accused him of “discrediting the honor and dignity, and undermining the business reputation, of the leaders of the republic and Sayano-Shushenskaya.” Initially, Afanasyev’s computer and mobile phone were seized, but after mounting international criticism, the investigation and charges against him were dropped.
Afanasyev has been the target of violence before from law enforcement. In 2007 Afanasyev was attacked and beaten by two men who identified themselves as police officers. Russian officials have filed at least six libel charges against Afanasyev since 2003.
For more information, please see:
AP – Russian report critical of dam accident attacked – 9 September 2009
International News Safety Institute – Russian Journalist ‘beaten’ after dam criticism – 9 September 2009
The Moscow Times – Journalist Critical of Dam Disaster Attacked – 9 September 2009
International Press Institute – Russian Journalist Charged with Slander over Report on Siberian Power Station Disaster – 21 August 2009
The New York Times – Russian Blogger’s Claims About Plant Accident Lead to Libel Charge – 20 August 2009
