On the branch

The editors of the website "Grani.Ru" received a letter from the Center for Countering Extremism stating that the publication, together with the prosecutor's office, is being checked for extremism at the request of the Presidential Envoy to the Central Federal District, Georgy Poltavchenko. The prosecutor's office, as the website reports with reference to Alexander Skripnikov, an employee of the Center for Combating Extremism, is interested in whether the publications of Grani contain calls for the overthrow of the constitutional order or incitement of interethnic hatred. The Center asks the publication to provide certified copies of title and registration documents. Skripnikov said that the publication’s management, by refusing informal contacts with the Center, is aggravating the situation.

This is not the first time that “Grani” has been tested for extremism. In 2007-2008, the Basmanny Court heard a case brought by the prosecutor’s office to recognize the articles of Andrei Piontkovsky, published by the publication, as extremist. However, a philological examination did not find any signs of inciting national or religious hatred in these texts, and the prosecutor's office withdrew the lawsuit.