A criminal case has been launched in Novosibirsk after an attack on journalists filming a story about alleged fraud in the Dzerzhinsky district. The Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation for the region is handling the case, which occurred on June 7.

Two men are accused of attacking the journalists, who were reportedly working for a federal TV channel. According to investigators, the attackers demanded the journalists cease filming, physically assaulted them, and damaged their video camera and phone.

The case is being pursued under Part 3 of Art. 144 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, which concerns obstructing the lawful activities of a journalist. Investigators are currently questioning participants and witnesses to determine the full circumstances of the incident.

The defendants have been detained in accordance with Art. 91 of the Code of Criminal Procedure of the Russian Federation. Authorities plan to file charges soon and request that the court order their detention as a preventive measure.

Irina Volk, the official representative of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia, identified the attacked journalists as a film crew from REN TV. She stated that three residents of a house on Karavaeva Street, armed with sticks, perpetrated the attack.

It may be noted that in May, another incident occurred in Novosibirsk where a man was detained for attacking a car driver on Gogol Street.