Kafil Amirov, the Prosecutor of the Republic of Tatarstan, told in respond to Novaya Gazeta about closing of the criminal case against the Kazan journalist Natalia Petrova and her parents Gennady Petrov and Nina Petrova. The decision was made by Zarechensky inter-district investigative department “in the absence of criminal event”. 

In number 94 (material titled “From polling station to the police station”) Novaya Gazeta told about ridiculous detention of Petrovs couple during the polling of 2 December. The pensioners allegedly had been on the wanting list because of the incident where they, their daughter Natalia and 9-years-old twin granddaughters “injured” three militia officers. As investigation puts it, all that happened when the militia officers tried to detain the journalist Natalia Petrova against whom the criminal case on slander had been started.    

The detained at the polling station journalist’s parents were examined and released after they gave a written cognizance not to leave. Natalia Petrova had left Kazan and was considered to be on the wanting list. All the happened caused a wide public response and attracted attention by civil rights organizations and international journalist community, considering that Petrovs said the militia officers, who came to their flat, they beat Natalia and injured her under-age daughters.   

Investigation did not establish either the fact of slander or violence committed against militia officers. The case is closed and the restraint of written cognizance not to leave is canceled. 

The question of bashing up the journalist by the militia is still open and is kept an eye on it by human rights organizations.