The editorial office of the independent Dagestan newspaper Chernovik announced the suspension of the publication of the printed version.
The publication writes that printing houses refuse to print the newspaper, and local authorities put pressure on its distributors and advertisers. Even printing companies in other regions of Russia, with which Chernovik tried to cooperate, refuse to print.
“We believe that what is happening with the “Draft” is politically motivated pressure on the newspaper by the authorities of Dagestan, who are incapable of honest and legal opposition in the information field,” the message on the publication’s website reads.
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In mid-November, Chernovik wrote that the editors were being subjected to «systematic pressure.» The administration of the head of Dagestan, Sergei Melikov, forced the Lotos printing house, which had been printing the newspaper for many years, to refuse cooperation. Also, according to the publication, two weeks ago, the security forces demanded from the agency of information and press of the republic not to distribute the «Chernovik» in the kiosks of «Dagpechat».
Chernovik is a weekly socio-political newspaper headquartered in Makhachkala. The first issue of the publication was published in September 2003. Chernovik writes about the problems of Dagestan, often publishes critical materials about the abuses of the republican security forces and corruption. According to Medialogy, this is the most quoted media in the region in the third quarter of 2022.
Chernovik journalist Abdulmumin Hajiyev has been in jail since June 2019. He is accused of participation in a terrorist organization and financing of terrorism. Gadzhiev's colleagues linked the persecution to Chernovik's investigations into corruption among Dagestan officials.
In December 2011, the newspaper's publisher was shot dead near the editorial office.