(CJES/IFEX) – On 19 January 2007, in the city of Partizansk (Primorsky region), Tamara Golovanova, correspondent for the newspaper “Vesti”, was badly beaten while on assignment. The editor-in-chief of the newspaper, Ms. Olga Aksakova, informed the Russian news agency RIA Novosti that the journalist was beaten in the offices of a public employment agency while […]
(CJES/IFEX) – On 19 January 2007, in the city of Partizansk (Primorsky region), Tamara Golovanova, correspondent for the newspaper “Vesti”, was badly beaten while on assignment.
The editor-in-chief of the newspaper, Ms. Olga Aksakova, informed the Russian news agency RIA Novosti that the journalist was beaten in the offices of a public employment agency while investigating a collective complaint about unfair firings. Aksakova said that while Golovanova was taking photographs in the building, she was approached by a man who told her to stop. “She refused, asserting her right to take pictures in a public building. She was not taking pictures of individuals, but of a line-up, from behind.” The assailant then began to beat the journalist.
In the trauma department of the city hospital, Golovanova was diagnosed with a concussion and a nose injury.
Aksakova has filed a report on the incident with the Office of the Public Prosecutor of Partizansk.
According to the Interfax News Agency, the Office of the Public Prosecutor has opened criminal proceedings in this case, with reference to part 1, article 144 of the Russian Federation’s Criminal Code (“hindrance of lawful professional duty of journalists”).
“We have identified the suspect”, stated a representative of Office of the Public Prosecutor. However, the suspect’s name was not disclosed nor was it revealed if he had been taken into custody
