Chernovik

Leadership

The newspaper was founded by Gadzhimurat Kamalov in 2003. Those serving as editor-in-chief include Kamalov (2005–2006), Nadira Isayeva, and Biyakai Magomedov (present).

Prosecution

From 2008 to 2011, following a series of articles critical of the Federal Security Service's counterinsurgency tactics, the newspaper's editor-in-chief, Nadira Isayeva, was involved in a high-profile prosecution for "inciting hatred toward law enforcement officials" and other charges. Chernovik reporters Magomed Magomedov, Artur Mamayev and Timur Mustafayev were also charged, along with their lawyer Biyakai Magomedov. International press freedom organizations ARTICLE 19, Reporters Without Borders, and the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) all protested the charges, the latter awarding Isayeva a 2010 International Press Freedom Award for risking her "freedom and security" for her reporting. All five were later acquitted following a trial Isayeva described as "a test for the institution of press freedom" in Dagestan.

Murder of Gadzhimurat Kamalov

On 15 December 2011 Gadzhimurat Kamalov was assassinated as he left Chernovik's offices. CPJ described his death as "a lethal blow to press freedom" and "a massive loss for independent journalism in the North Caucasus, Russia's most dangerous place for reporters".

Yulia Latynina, an expert on the Caucasus region interviewed by the Associated Press, said, "Just as [Anna] Politkovskaya's death meant the loss of information about Chechnya, Kamalov's death will mean that to a large extent we will stop to understand what's going on in Dagestan. People will simply be scared to write anything."

References

References

1. (20 May 2011). "Court acquits Dagestan’s leading independent newspaper". Reporters Without Borders.
2. Reporters Without Borders. (2011). "Media Enmeshed in Terror, Threats and Corruption". Reporters Without Borders.
3. Mollayev, Arsen. (December 16, 2011 }}{{dead link). "Prominent Journalist Gunned Down In Russia’s South". Salon.
4. (22 November 2010). "Four ordinary journalists take extraordinary risks to do their jobs". The Washington Post.
5. (21 March 2010). "ARTICLE 19 is concerned about ongoing prosecution of independent newspaper staff in Dagestan". ARTICLE 19.
6. (2010). "CPJ to honor brave international journalists". Committee to Protect Journalists.
7. (19 March 2011). "Dagestan court acquits Chernovik journalists". Committee to Protect Journalists.
8. [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/8961873/Investigative-journalist-shot-dead-in-Russian-province.html ''Investigative journalist shot dead in Russian province''], Telegraph, retrieved 16/12/2011
9. Parfitt, Tom. (December 16, 2011). "Newspaper chief's murder in Dagestan adds to toll of Russian journalists". Guardian (U.K.).
10. Associated Press. (18 December 2011). "Prominent Journalist Gunned Down in Dagestan". Moscow Times.