Russian journalist Yelena Milashina reported today that "masked assailants attacked the journalist and her lawyer, injuring them in the Russian Republic of Chechnya after forcing their car to stop." Milashina, who works for Novaya Gazeta, was traveling to the Chechen capital Grozny from the local airport with lawyer Alexander Nemov when they were attacked.
Novaya Gazeta, which won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2021, stated on Tuesday that the attackers confiscated the victims' phones and attempted to force them to unlock their devices. After Milashina refused to cooperate, the assailants broke her fingers.
Human rights groups reported that "Milashina and Nemov were taken to a hospital in a nearby area, as they were planning to attend a court hearing related to a case of a woman they believe is being persecuted for political reasons." Milashina confirmed to Chechen human rights official Mansur Saltayev that it was "a classic abduction... they immobilized our driver, pulled him from the car, got into the vehicle, forced our heads down, tied my hands, made me kneel on the ground, and aimed a gun at my head."
