RUSSIA

SEPTEMBER 1, 2005
Posted September 2, 2005

Yuri Bagrov, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty

Harassment

Bagrov was prevented by Russian police from covering the first anniversary of the Beslan school hostage tragedy. Bagrov, a North Caucasus correspondent for the U.S. government-funded Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, told CPJ he was held for four hours after arriving in the north Ossetian town of Beslan, where thousands had gathered to mourn the 331 victims of the siege of School No. 1 a year ago. Bagrov was released after questioning but he was unable to cover the anniversary. He said police told him he did not have proper accreditation.

A Russian court pulled Bagrov’s passport and press credentials last year as part of a politicized criminal prosecution. By stripping him of his passport the authorities have made it impossible for Bagrov to travel outside the area around his hometown of Vladikavkaz. Beslan is 25 kilometers (15 miles) from Vladikavkaz. Bagrov traveled there with several fellow journalists.

Bagrov said an unknown man in plainclothes stopped him as he left the police station and warned him not to return to Beslan until after the anniversary ceremonies on September 5.

“He told me I would bring serious problems upon myself if I did, ” Bagrov added.

Bagrov has been the target of intimidation by police and the Federal Security Service for more than a year.