Journalist beaten in Derbent diagnosed with multiple injuries

Journalist Vyacheslav Starodubets beaten in Derbent has been hospitalized with multiple bruises and hematomas. He associates the attack on him with his professional activities.

Today, Vyacheslav Starodubets has been beaten in Derbent by men in masks. The information about the beating of the journalist was received by the SMS-service of the "Caucasian Knot".

According to Magomed Khanmagomedov, the leader of the organization "Anti-Corruption Council 'Ogni' (Lights)", the attackers beat the founder of the blog "Pearl of the South" and then began to question him. Meanwhile, they mentioned materials concerning Imam Yaraliev, the Mayor of Derbent.

On February 3, the Prosecutor's Office of Dagestan reported that during the inspections held at the Derbent Mayor's Office, inspectors identified cases of illegal disposal of land plots, resulting in inflicting damage to the state in the amount exceeding 36 million roubles. Criminal proceedings have been instituted against the Derbent Mayor under article about abuse of power; however, no charges have been brought against him.

"Those men threatened him with physical violence. They said that they knew where his parents lived and mentioned their exact address. They threatened to kill them if he did not leave the republic during the day," Magomed Khanmagomedov has explained.

The journalist has added that Vyacheslav Starodubets has filed a complaint about the attack on him to the Prosecutor's Office of Derbent.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.