(GDF/IFEX) – On 30 April 1999, Altaf Galeev, the director of independent radio station Titan in Ufa, Bashkortostan, was released on his own recognizance not to leave. **Updates IFEX alerts of 18 August and 10 July 1998** Galeev was released for the duration of his prejudicial proceedings, because of a modification of his penalty. Galeev’s […]
(GDF/IFEX) – On 30 April 1999, Altaf Galeev, the director of independent
radio station Titan in Ufa, Bashkortostan, was released on his own
recognizance not to leave.
**Updates IFEX alerts of 18 August and 10 July 1998**
Galeev was released for the duration of his prejudicial proceedings, because
of a modification of his penalty. Galeev’s lawyers said that the defendant
would testify in the investigation provided he was released for the period
of investigation. The date of the investigation has not yet been set.
According to the terms of his temporary release, Galeev gave a written
recognizance not to leave Ufa, where he is currently residing.
Background Information
Galeev, head of Radio Titan, was arrested on 27 May 1998 after an assault on
the radio station’s office by Interior Ministry officers. Galeev was accused
of armed hooliganism. The radio station had provided equal air time to
alternative candidates for the presidency. The radio station was repeatedly
put under pressure. In particular, Ufa mayor Fidus Yamaletdinov had demanded
that the owner should dissolve Radio Titan’s lease and then the state
secretary of the Republic of Bashkortostan, Mansur Ayupov, phoned Galeev and
said: “Don’t criticize Rakhimov’s administration.”
On 23 May, all the phones in the office were cut, followed by the water
supply and electricity on 25 May. Subsequently, Interior Ministry officers
confiscated the transmitter, and when Radio Titan resumed broadcasting using
its own amplifier and electric power station, there was an assault on the
building during which Galeev fired a precautionary shot from a gas gun into
the air. All those detained at the Radio Titan office were released within
three days, except for Galeev. He has been in custody since May 1998, in
spite of the exacerbation of his heart disease and numerous defence
petitions for a modification of the measure to secure the appearance of the
defendant through a recognizance not to leave.
