Russia: Editors Of GZT Were Released And Deported After Ten Days Of Arbitrary Detention
Location: Russia
Date: December 27, 2021Available in: 🇹🇷 Türkçe
GZT editors Nazgul Kenzhetay and Emin Karaçak were released and deported ten days later. The journalists were kept by Russian forces in Khakassia and faced charges of "espionage". They were not allowed to access with their lawyers during their arrest and faced inhuman conditions. The Coalition For Women In Journalism (CFWIJ) condemns the crackdown against journalists. Obstruction and arbitrary detention of journalists is a violation of press freedom.
[1/3] @RSF_inter calls #Russia to free 2 journalists from #Turkish media @gztcom, Nazgul Kenzhetay & Emin Karaçak, arrested by anti-extremist agents on 12/16 in #Khakassia & detained without access to a lawyer. A court in Abakan has requested their expulsion from the country. pic.twitter.com/6tZPrB6IDg
— RSF in English (@RSF_en) December 23, 2021
GZT editors Nazgul Kenzhetay and Emin Karaçak were detained by Russian security forces on December 16 in the region they went to report on Khakassian Turks and Turkish communities. The journalists were taken to custody from the hotel they stayed and accused of 'espionage' charges. Journalists were held at deportation centers during their arrest and mistreated with inhumane conditions.
The statement from GZT said that journalists' requests for lawyers were not accepted and they did not have access to their lawyers. Reportedly, journalists were monitored 24/7 with cameras in the place where they were held and their privacy was violated. The video materials they filmed were also deleted without permission.
It was stated that a translator whose Turkish was not good enough was assigned to the journalists and they were forced to sign documents proving that they accepted the crime against them. Journalists were released in the court after ten days and deported from Khakassia.
Nazgul took to her Twitter account to announce her release. She said, "Thanks to your tremendous support. We had a close squeak of the accusation. Now I am going to Kazakhstan to see my family, will take my mother's prayer, and continue to do my job."
The CFWIJ condemns the crackdown and deportation of journalists by the Russian authorities. Arbitrary detention of journalists and deprivation of their right to report is a violation of press freedom. We demand the Russian authorities to abandon the deportation decision. Journalists should be able to freely do their job.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism closely monitors the incidents in Turkey with great concern. Since March 8, Women's Day, police violence against women journalists increasingly continues in the country. As the coalition, we urge the Turkish state to provide a free environment for journalists. Following the news is our most fundamental democratic right to report. We demand the immediate release of our detained colleagues. Journalism is not a crime. Journalism cannot be prevented.
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