Prosecutor demands 19 years in prison for jailed Dagestan journalist Abdulumin Gadzhiyev

A prosecutor in the case against Dagestan journalist Abdulumin Gadzhiyev, who was an editor with the news outlet Chernovik, has requested that the court sentence him to 19 years in prison, says a group working to support the journalist.

Gadzhiyev is accused of participating in and financing a terrorist organization, as well as participating in an extremist organization. The journalist has been in a pre-trial detention center for four years, since June 2019.

According to the investigation against him, Gadzhiyev published an article about a charitable foundation called Ansar, allegedly intentionally leaving out the fact that the organization helped fund ISIS activities in Syria.

The investigation also believes that in 2009–2013, the journalist and two other defendants in the case — former director of Ansar Abubakar Rizvanov and businessman Kamal Tambiyev — participated in the work of the People’s Congress of Ichkeria and Dagestan and the Higher Military Majlisul Shura of the Mujahideen Joint Forces of the Caucasus, both of which Russia has declared terrorist organizations.

The prosecution also asked for 19 years for Rizvanov and Tambiyev.

The editors of Chernovik have repeatedly demanded Gadzhiyev’s release. His relatives and colleagues have said the case against him is fabricated. Human rights center Memorial calls Gadzhiyev a political prisoner.