OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media welcomes decision to release Ali Feruz and allow him to leave Russia for Germany

VIENNA, 15 February 2018 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Harlem Désir today welcomed the decision of the Russian judicial authorities to release the Uzbek journalist Khudoberdi Nurmatov, also known under his penname Ali Feruz, a contributing journalist to Novaya Gazeta, and allow him to leave the country.

“We have been working towards and eagerly awaiting this decision since last August and I am glad that Ali Feruz, Nurmatov, is finally released and I hope that he will be able to continue to fulfil his journalistic activity,” the Representative said.

In its judgement of 2 February 2018, the Moscow City Court ruled to allow Nurmatov to leave Russia for a third country. As a result, on 15 February the journalist was released from detention and granted free travel to Germany with the assistance of the International Red Cross.

Since August 2017, Désir has raised Nurmatov’s case several times with the Russian Federation (see www.osce.org/fom/367961, www.osce.org/fom/355616 and www.osce.org/fom/358456).

Nurmatov was detained in Moscow on 1 August 2017 based on the administrative charge of violating the residence regime, and then interned and fined.

The Representative also noted that on 1 February, the Basmanniy District Court of Moscow ruled that Novaya Gazeta illegally employed Nurmatov and imposed a fine of 400,000 roubles (approx. 5700 EUR). He expressed hope that this hefty fine will be reconsidered and dropped by the appeals court.

The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media observes media developments in all 57 OSCE participating States. He provides early warning on violations of freedom of expression and media freedom and promotes full compliance with OSCE media freedom commitments. Learn more at www.osce.org/fom, Twitter: @OSCE_RFoM and on www.facebook.com/osce.rfom.