Russian Federal Bar Association demands Bastrykin, Krasnov open, oversee investigation of attack on lawyer, journalist in Grozny

MOSCOW. July 4 (Interfax) - The Russian Federal Bar Association has appealed to Russian Investigative Committee Chairman Alexander Bastrykin and Prosecutor General Igor Krasnov over an attack on lawyer Alexander Nemov and journalist Yelena Milashina in Chechnya.

"We demand the immediate opening of a criminal case, the hunt for the assailants while the trail is still hot, and oversight of this investigation," Russian Federal Bar Association President Svetlana Volodina and Association Council Commission head Henri Reznik said in a statement.

The statement, in which the association expressed its indignation, was forwarded to Kremlin chief of staff Anton Vaino.

As reported, unknown assailants beat up Nemov and Milashina, who came to Chechnya to hear the sentencing of Zarema Musayeva, the spouse of former Chechen judge Saidi Yangulbayev, in the Akhmat District Court in Grozny. Musayeva was accused of committing violence against a representative of the authorities and fraud. The prosecutor demanded that she be sentenced to five and a half years in a general penitentiary.

According to Russian Human Rights Commissioner Tatyana Moskalkova, Milashina will be taken to Beslan by ambulance, and her security will be ensured.