(RSF/IFEX) – In a 6 July 2001 letter to Minister of the Interior Boris Gryzlov, RSF protested the 5 July arrest of Dododjon Atovulloev, a Tadjik journalist, at Moscow’s Sheremetievo 2 Airport. Atovulloev is editor-in-chief of the Moscow-based newspaper “Tcharogy Ruz”. “We ask that you provide us with an explanation for this arrest,” urged Robert […]
(RSF/IFEX) – In a 6 July 2001 letter to Minister of the Interior Boris Gryzlov, RSF protested the 5 July arrest of Dododjon Atovulloev, a Tadjik journalist, at Moscow’s Sheremetievo 2 Airport. Atovulloev is editor-in-chief of the Moscow-based newspaper “Tcharogy Ruz”.
“We ask that you provide us with an explanation for this arrest,” urged Robert Ménard, the organisation’s secretary-general. “Was the journalist, who had valid tickets, on a list of persons who were to be arrested at Tajikistan’s request? We warn against any attempt to hand the journalist over to the Tajik authorities. Certain Tajikistan officials appear to be critical of the journalist because of his expressed opinions. We ask that you inform us, as of today, of the Russian authorities’ intentions with regard to Mr. Atovulloev,” added Ménard.
According to information collected by RSF, Atovulloev was arrested on 5 July at Moscow’s Sheremetievo 2 Airport. The Tajik opposition journalist, who was living in Europe in recent months, had left Hamburg (Germany) at around mid-day and was in transit at Moscow’s airport, waiting for his flight to Tashkent (Uzbekistan), where he was to attend a meeting.
