Russian journalist from New NewspaperYelena Milashina and her lawyer Alexander Nemov were attacked by unidentified men in the Russian region of Chechnya, the newspaper itself reported.
The victims were stopped by armed men on their way to the airport. The suspects repeatedly kicked Milasinya and Nemov on the body and face.
The attackers also damaged the equipment of a journalist and a lawyer. Nemov reports that three cars blocked the road, after which they threatened them with weapons.
Milashina broke several fingers, and Nemov was stabbed in the leg. Both are in a hospital in Grozny, the capital of Chechnya.
The couple were in Grozny to attend the trial of Zarema Musayeva, the mother of a human rights activist persecuted by Chechen leaders.
Novaya Gazeta is one of the few independent publications in Russia. In 2009, Milashina received an award from the public organization Human Rights Watch for her activism. In 2021, the director of the Russian Communications Authority was awarded the Novel of the World award.