A private aircraft departed from Beslan and carried journalist Yelena Milashina and lawyer Alexander Nemov, who had previously sustained injuries in Chechnya, to Moscow. The information was shared on the Telegram channel of Alexei Veniaminov, a former chief editor of Ekho Moskvy who is known in Russia as a foreign agent. The message included a photo of Milashina and the simple note that she was now in Moscow, signaling that the two continued their travels under heightened scrutiny after the earlier assault. Reports indicate the aircraft touched down at Vnukovo airport, where the two arrived amid ongoing international and domestic attention to threats against journalists and legal professionals in the region.
Earlier, Milashina and Nemov were located in Chechnya to participate in a public event related to a decision involving Zarema Musayeva, the wife of a former judge of the Chechen Supreme Court. On the way from Grozny’s airport, their vehicle was intercepted by masked assailants who attacked them and seized or destroyed equipment and documents. Milashina reportedly sustained serious injuries to her fingers, which impeded movement, while Nemov was described as moving slowly and speaking with difficulty after the incident. These details have been confirmed by several independent observers and social media outlets, though exact medical updates varied in initial reporting.
In the days that followed, Milashina and Nemov were escorted back toward Moscow, with Dmitry Muratov, the editor-in-chief of Novaya Gazeta and a former leader of Ekho Moskvy, accompanying the pair on their flight. The group’s departure from Chechnya and their safe arrival in the capital were presented as part of a broader pattern of concern among journalists and rights defenders regarding threats linked to political tensions in the North Caucasus region. Analysts and observers highlighted the importance of clear safety guarantees for reporters who cover sensitive court proceedings and the fate of high-profile legal cases involving state institutions.
Chechen authorities, including President Ramzan Kadyrov, issued statements about the incident without identifying Milashina or Nemov by name. The president said that the regional leadership would take steps to determine who carried out the assault and to address the situation, emphasizing a commitment to uncovering those responsible. In parallel, Akhmed Dudayev, a government spokesperson for Chechnya’s press ministry, suggested that the assault bore the characteristic handwriting associated with Western intelligence services, a claim that drew international attention and sparked discussions about the credibility of such assertions in the days following the attack.
Milashina later described the episode, sharing thoughts on the assault and its impact. The incident underscored ongoing concerns among Russian and international observers about the safety of journalists and lawyers who engage in investigative reporting and public advocacy in volatile regions. The reaction from media organizations and human rights advocates reflected a call for independent investigations, transparent accountability, and renewed protections for those who document and challenge official narratives in sanctioned contexts. The case continues to be monitored by rights groups and press freedom monitors who seek to verify events, assess the adequacy of police responses, and ensure the protection of individuals involved in high-stakes legal and political matters across the federation. [citation: multiple independent reports and observers corroborate the sequence of events and subsequent statements]