Russia
Police close down Internews RussiaPosted Jul 20 2007
On April 18 police raided and confiscated all financial documents related to the U.S.-based nongovernmental organization Internews Russia. According to the Committee to Protect Journalist and the Moscow Times, 20 officers arrived around noon to conduct an 11-hour raid that ended in the close of the office. Internews Russia has been active in Moscow since 1997 and helps to educate and train regional journalists. The organization has been instrumental in developing Russia's independent media. Internews Executive Director Manana Aslamazia believes the police were trying to link the organization to her detention for failing to declare excess cash at Sheremetyevo Airport in January. She said via cell phone Wednesday, “We are not a media outlet; we just train media people. I think all this is related to foreign NGO restrictions in Russia.”