MOSCOW, October 15. Commissioner for human rights in Russia Ella Pamfilova sent an official appeal to the Chairman of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation Alexander Bastrykin on a thorough background check about the involvement of the Governor of the Pskov region Andrei Turchak to the criminal case about beating of journalist Oleg Kashin, which were published in the media.
“Considering the big public resonance of this case and the scale of charges, undermining the reputation of the head of a constituent entity of the Russian Federation, the Commissioner considers it necessary to conduct a thorough review of published information, the results of which confirm or deny the facts,” – said in a statement posted on the official website of the Ombudsman.
Over the weekend, Kashin has published on its website an open letter to the leadership of the country in which he criticised the authorities for what he calls “patronage” to the Governor of the Pskov region Andrei Turchak, which the journalist believes the initiator of the attack in 2010.
Five years ago, Kashin was brutally beaten. He linked the attack with the professional activity. A few months earlier between the journalist and the Governor of the Pskov region there was a conflict in the Internet. Kashin in the correspondence dealt Turchak, insult and refused to apologise.
On 6 September, the journalist said in his blog that in the case of the attempt on his life detained the security guards belonging to the family Turchak holding “Leninets”, including the former managing Director of the holding Alexander Gorbunov. Directly involved in the case and the Governor Kashin does not bind. Gorbunov’s lawyer called the allegations Oleg Kashin about the involvement of his client to attack the disinformation and attempt to put pressure on the court.
