The Union of Journalists of Abkhazia urges to protest the decision of the Ministry of Justice of Russia

Ruslan Khashig*, Chairman of the Union of Journalists of Abkhazia, proposed to protest in the Russian court the decision of the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation, which declared three members of the union as foreign agents.

Last week, Nizfa Arshba* (Aiashara Agency) were recognized as foreign agents and Isis Chania* ("The Right Newspaper"). On March 7, the editor of "Chegemskaya Pravda" Inal Hashig* was added to the register of foreign agents.

Regarding Khashig*, on March 11, the Union of Journalists of Abkhazia issued a statement calling on the Abkhaz authorities to "stand up for the rights of their citizen." On March 13, Commissioner for Human Rights in the Republic of Abkhazia Anas Kishmaria, presenting a report on her activities for 2024 in Parliament, said that the Abkhaz state could not evade or withdraw from the duty to protect its citizens. Kishmaria appealed to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Justice, the Prosecutor General's Office and the President of Abkhazia with a request to inform the Abkhaz society about the actions taken and planned.

"To date, none of the Abkhaz officials have expressed their attitude to this decision. March 21, 2025 The Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation declares two more Abkhaz journalists foreign agents. Nizfa Arshba* and Izida Chania* are members of the Union of Journalists of Abkhazia, the media in which they work and are editors are registered with the Ministry of Justice of Abkhazia. They carry out their journalistic activities in accordance with the Law of the Republic of Abkhazia "On Mass Media" of 2004. The main topics of their journalistic activities are the socio-political life of the republic," Apsnypress quotes Ruslan Khashig's statement*.

The chairman of the Union of Journalists of Abkhazia appealed to colleagues with a request to challenge the status of a foreign agent in the courts of the Russian Federation.

"Undoubtedly, I am well aware of the complexity of the upcoming process, but I consider it very important, since challenging the status of a foreign agent is simultaneously protecting one's rights and fighting for freedom of speech. The Union of Journalists of Abkhazia intends to provide you with all possible assistance and guarantees its solidarity," Khashig said in a statement*.

*An individual performing the functions of a foreign agent