Beating defenders near the border with Chechnya, accompanied by robbery – RBC

attacked a bus of journalists and human rights defenders in Chechnya’s borders and Ingushetia, stole money from them, told Interfax a source in law enforcement.

The investigation revealed that during the attack the unknown seized two mobile phones, and and € 1 thousand. and $ 250.

The attack on journalists and human rights activists took place on March 9 at the federal highway “Kavkaz”. Unknown persons attacked a bus in which there were eight people: the staff of the “Committee for the Prevention of Torture”, correspondent of the magazine The New Times, the online edition of “Mediazona”, as well as reporters from Sweden and Norway. The bus in which they were traveling, was burnt down.

After the attack in Ingushetia police launched a criminal case under Part 2 of Art. 213 of the Criminal Code (hooliganism) and Article 167 of the Criminal Code (intentional destruction of property). It was later filed another criminal case -. under Part 2 of Art. 162 of the Criminal Code (assault with the purpose of theft of another’s property, committed by a group of persons, by using weapons or items used as weapons). The maximum penalty under Article provides for up to 10 years in prison.

Reporter “Mediazona” Yegor Skovoroda RBC reported that after the attack in the burned bus investigators found no traces of burnt computers and cameras of journalists. He believes that the electronics could not burn down completely, and, most likely, was kidnapped in the attack.