*2293. Independent editor Vladimir Chugunov jailed in Russia

[Committee to Protect Journalists]

http://cpj.org/2007/02/independent-e...-in-russia.php
New York, February 22, 2007—The Committee to Protect Journalists is gravely concerned about the fate of Vladimir Chugunov, founder and editor of the independent weekly Chugunka, who has been imprisoned since January 21, according to his family and the independent Moscow daily Novaya Gazeta.

Chugunov was summoned to police headquarters in Solnechnogorsk, 40 miles (64 kilometers) north-west of Moscow, on January 21, allegedly as a witness in a robbery case but was then jailed, his brother Dmitry Chugunov told Novaya Gazeta. Policemen confiscated back issues of Chugunka at his home, Novaya Gazeta said. The robbery charge was eventually changed to “causing deliberate health damage,” a criminal indictment that carries up to eight years in prison.

Novaya Gazeta reporter Elvira Goryukhina told CPJ that she learned that Chugunov was then sent to a mental hospital.

Chugunov, a 2002 recipient of the prestigious Sakharov award for his journalism—a prize named after Soviet dissident Andrei Sakharov and given to those who work in defense of human rights and civil liberties—wrote a series of articles critical of local administration. In July 2002, attackers beat Chugunov and broke his right hand, saying, “Here you go now, writer, write if you can!,” Novaya Gazeta reported.

When the printing house GorReklama, owned by the municipality, refused to print Chugunka in January 2005, Chugunov produced the paper at home, reported Moscow-based press freedom group Glasnost Defense Foundation.

“We are shocked at the arrest of our colleague Vladimir Chugunov and his detention in a mental hospital,” CPJ Executive Director Joel Simon said. “We call on authorities to immediately release Chugunov and to let him publish his paper.”

Authorities told Chugunov’s sister Anna Zuyeva, who has been denied visitation rights, that the charge against Chugunov has changed once again, this time to “threat to murder or cause serious health damage,” a criminal charge that carries up to two years in prison.

On February 6, doctors from the district mental hospital in the nearby village of Chyornaya Gryaz called Zuyeva to inform her that Chugunov was there. On February 23, he is scheduled to undergo psychiatric evaluation, Novaya Gazeta reported.

February 22, 2007 12:00 PM ET

[Committee to Protect Journalists]

https://cpj.org/2007/06/russian-edit...-detention.php

New York, June 21, 2007—The Committee to Protect Journalists welcomes the recent release of Vladimir Chugunov, founder and editor of the independent weekly Chugunka inthe town ofSolnechnogorsk, who had been held incommunicado since January 21 on a charge of “threatening to murder or cause serious health damage.” The criminal case is still pending, however, and CPJ today called on authorities to drop the charge immediately.

Chugunov, who spoke with CPJ on Wednesday, said he was released May 27 from the Butyrsakaya prison hospital in Moscow, where he was held on an undisclosed diagnosis. Chugunov said he was given medications that were not disclosed to him and that he had become infected with lice and scabies during his stay. He said he went on a 10-day hunger strike to protest his treatment.

“We are relieved that our colleague Vladimir Chugunov is free after months of isolation from relatives and colleagues in unacceptable conditions,” CPJ Executive Director Joel Simon said. “We call on Russian prosecutors to immediately drop the charge against him and investigate the circumstances of his detention.”

Chugunov said authorities did not explain why he was being released after more than four months of being shuttled between prison cells, hospital wards, and psychiatric wards. Nor have authorities disclosed details of the criminal charge against him. An award-winning journalist, Chugunov has written articles critical of local government and judicial officials. A series of stories, for example, examined the consequences of the local government’s takeover of a chicken farm.

Chugunov’s family was not allowed to visit him during his detention, according to CPJ interviews with the journalist’s sister, Anna Zuyeva, and his brother, Dmitry. Chugunov said the Solnechnogorsk prosecutor’s office instructed him to sign a statement promising not to leave the area while the case is pending.

Chugunov was summoned to the police headquarters in Solnechnogorsk, 40 miles (64 kilometers) north-west of Moscow, on January 21, allegedly as a witness in a robbery case but was then jailed.

Chugunka went dormant with the editor’s detention, which prevented the paper from covering local elections in March. Chugunov said he plans to restart the paper in the fall.

Chugunov is a 2002 recipient of the Andrei Sakharov Award, administered annually by the Glasnost Defense Fund, a Russian press freedom group. The award is named for Soviet dissident Andrei Sakharov and given to those who work in defense of human rights and civil liberties.

June 21, 2007 12:00 PM ET

[English PEN]

https://www.englishpen.org/campaigns...ric-detention/
Posted 4 April 2007 by English PEN staff & filed under Campaigns
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Vladimir Chugunov, editor of the independent weekly Chugunka and recipient of the 2002 Sakharov Prize for freedom of expression, has been held in psychiatric detention since 21 January 2007. More than two and a half months later he remains detained in isolation. English PEN is deeply concerned for the wellbeing of Chugunov, believed to be held in violation of his right to freedom of expression, and joins calls for his release.

Chugunov was summoned to police headquarters in Solnechnogorsk, outside of Moscow, allegedly as a witness to a robbery. However, he was subsequently jailed and policemen confiscated back issues of Chugunka from his home. The robbery charge was eventually changed to ‘causing deliberate health damage,’ a criminal indictment that carries up to 8 years in prison. Chugunov was then reportedly moved to a mental hospital. Authorities told Chugunov’s sister, Anna Zuyeva, who has been denied visitation rights, that the charge against Chugunov has changed once again, this time being reduced to the ‘threat to murder or cause serious health damage’, a charge that carries up to 2 years in prison.

On 6 February, doctors from the district mental hospital in the nearby village of Chyornaya Gryaz called Zuyeva to inform her that Chugunov was there. It is reported that he is scheduled to undergo psychiatric evaluation on 23 February. Chugunov has been ‘quarantined’ and held in isolation, leading to increased concern for his well-being.

Chugunov, a 2002 recipient of the prestigious Sakharov award for his journalism-a prize named after Soviet dissident Andrei Sakharov and given to those who work in defense of human rights and civil liberties-wrote a series of articles critical of local administration. The newspaper Novaya Gazeta reports that in July 2002, attackers beat Chugunov and broke his right hand, saying, “Here you go now, writer, write if you can!”. When the municipality-owned printing house GorReklama refused to print Chugunka in January 2005, Chugunov produced the paper at home (Glasnost Defense Foundation).

Please send appeals:
– expressing alarm at the arrest and incarceration in a psychiatric hospital of journalist Vladimir Chugunov;
– pointing to concerns that he appears to be detained for articles published in his newspaper, which would be a direct attack on his right to freedom of expression;
– calling for his immediate release, or, at a minimum, respect for his right to receive visits from his family and a lawyer.

Addresses:

Mr Vladimir Vladmirovich Putin

President of the Russian Federation

Kremlin

Moscow

Russia

Fax: 7 095 206 5173 / 230 2408

Email: president@gov.ru

Mr Vladimir Ustinov

Prosecutor General of the Russian Federation

Rossiyskaya Federatsiya 103793

Moskva K-31, Ul. B. Dimitrovka, d 15a

Prokuratura Rossiyskoy Federatsii

Generalnomu prokuroru Ustinovu V

Russian Federation

Fax: 7 095 292 88 48

It may be more effective to send appeals to Russian representatives in London:

HE Mr Yury Viktorovich Fedotov
6/7 Kensington Palace Gardens
London W8 4QP
Fax: (020) 7727 8625

Originally posted with the url: http://www.englishpen.org/writersinp...tricdetention/

[Committee to Protect Journalists]

Nina Ognianova (nognianova@spi.org)
Отправлено: 26 июня 2007 г. 2.53
Кому: Nina Ognianova
Тема: CPJ: В России после многомесячного заключения выпущен на свободу редактор газеты
Please excuse duplicate posting!
КОМИТЕТ ПО ЗАЩИТЕ ЖУРНАЛИСТОВ
330 Sevent Avenue New York 10001 USA Тел: (212)465-1004 Факс: (212) 465-9568 Вебсайт: www.cpj.org Электронная почта: media@cpj.org
Вебсайт: www.cpj.org Контактное лицо: Нина Огнянова
В России после многомесячного заключения выпущен на свободу редактор газеты: дело все еще не закрыто.
Нью-Йорк, 21 июня 2007 года-Комитет по защите журналистов приветствует недавнее освобождение Владимира Чугунова, учредителя редактора выходящего в г. Солнечногорске независимого еженедельного издания «Чугунка», который с 21 января находился в заключении без связи с внешним миром, по обвинению в «угрозе убийством или причинения тяжкого вреда здоровью». Однако уголовное дело все еще не закрыто, и сегодня КСЖ призвал власти немедленно снять обвинения с Чугунова.
Чугунов, с которым представители с которым представители КСЖ встретились в среду сообщил, что был освобожден 27 мая в Москве из больницы Бутырской тюрьмы, где его держали, не сообщая диагноз. По словам Чугунова, в больнице ему давали лекарства, не обьясняя какие именно, и там он заразился педикулезом и чесоткой. Он сказал, что провел десятидневную голодовку в знак протеста того, как с ним обращаются.
«Для нас большое облегчение-знать, что после месяцев, проведенных в неприемлемых условиях, в изоляции наш коллега Владимир Чугунов на свободе»,-заявил исполнительный директор КСЖ Джоэль Саймон: «Мы призываем российскую прокуратуру немедленно снять с него обвинения и расследовать обстоятельства его задержания».
По словам Чугунова, власти не обьяснили причин его освобождения после более чем четырех месяцев скитаний по тюремным камерам, больничным палатам и психиатрическим лечебницам. Не сообщили они подробностей предьявленного ему уголовного обвинения. Чугунов писал статьи с критикой местной администрации и судебных должностных лиц. К примеру, в ряде статей изучались последствия захвата местной администрации некой администрации.
В беседе с КСЖ сестра Чугунова Анна Зуева и его брат Дмитрий сообщили, что пока журналист находился в заключении, родных к нему не пускали. По словам Чугунова, в прокуратуре Солнечногорска ему сообщили, что его отпускают под подписку о невыезде до тех пор, пока дело не будет прекращено.
21 января Чугунова вызвали в управление внутренних дел г. Солнечногорска, расположенного в 64 километрах к северо-западу от Москвы, якобы в качестве свидетеля расследуемого ограбления, но там его арестовали.