Russia
Russian journalists harassed covering electionsPosted Apr 20 2007
Local elections in Russia, carried out in various regions across the country on Sunday March 11, were spoiled when police and security forces detained several journalists. In the Southern city of Samara, reporter Pavel Sedakov and photographer Artyom Pigarov of the independent business daily Kommersant were detained after the two tried to conduct an interview with the local leader of the opposition National Bolshevik Party. In Odintsovo, south of Moscow, Kommersant reporter Dmitry Kostyukov, Reuters photographer Denis Sinyakov, and RIA Novosti reporter Ilya Petalev were also detained while covering an unauthorized NBS supporter rally. In another incident, Marko Shakhbanov, a reporter for the independent newspaper Chernovik, was approached by plainclothed officers who demanded he stop taking pictures, took his camera and deleted all of its pictures. In Saint Petersburg, Novye Izvestiya reporter Nataliya Shergina was briefly detained by security forces for reporting 50 meters (165 feet) away from the polling place, an unlawful distance. For more information visit www.cpj.org.