New criminal case on six counts over attack on Russia’s Novaya Gazeta journalist Milashina and lawyer Nemov

The Russian Investigative Committee has opened a new criminal case over the attack on Novaya Gazeta journalist Elena Milashina and lawyer Alexander Nemov in Chechnya’s capital of Grozny in early July, the Russian Federal Lawyer Chamber reports, citing Nemov.

This criminal case is investigated in conjunction with the one launched earlier. It was opened on six counts, including obstruction of legitimate professional activities of journalists and obstruction of justice.

It also now has a new victim — the taxi driver who was transporting Nemov and Milashina.

According to the lawyer, the new list of counts agrees with his assessment of what happened. “I was positively surprised by the presence of the article of obstruction of justice. So, the investigation heard my testimony that the attack was linked to my work on the criminal case as the defence attorney,” Nemov said.

The attack on Elena Milashina and lawyer Alexander Nemov had previously resulted in a criminal case under articles on “intentional infliction of moderate harm to health” and “intentional infliction of minor harm to health”. The case is being handled by the Chechen Investigative Committee, there are still no suspects.

The attack took place on 4 July when they flew to Grozny for the court hearing when Zarema Musaeva, mother of persecuted Chechen activists, was to learn her verdict.

The car transporting Milashina and Nemov on the way from the airport was forced off the road by armed people. The journalist and the lawyer were severely battered with legs, they were particularly kicked in the face, while their electronic devices were taken away and destroyed. According to the lawyer, the attackers threatened to shoot them and pressed a gun against their head. Later that evening, the victims were transported to Moscow for medical treatment.

Milashina and Nemov were discharged from hospital on 12 July. The doctors assessed their condition as satisfactory. Milashina’s fingers were broken, while Nemov had difficulty moving around due to a stabbing wound in his leg.