‘Mediazona’ journalist injured by police faces administrative charges

David Frenkel, a St. Petersburg correspondent for the legal news outlet Mediazona, was summoned to the Interior Ministry on Friday, July 17, to receive an administrative protocol for “non-compliance with the lawful demands of a police officer.” The alleged disobedience took place at a polling station during a widely-publicized encounter that saw Frenkel injured by police. 

According to Mediazona, Frenkel could also face administrative charges for impeding the work of election officials and violating self-isolation orders.

Police officers injured Frenkel at polling station No. 2219 in St. Petersburg on June 30, during voting in the plebiscite on constitutional amendments. Frenkel was visiting the polling station to confirm reports that the precinct had tried to expel a voting member of the electoral commission. 

When the site commissioner asked the police to remove Frenkel for supposedly “impeding” the commission’s work, two officers shoved him to the ground and pinned him against a doorway, breaking his arm. A former municipal deputy from the United Russia Party, Dmitry Abramov, was also involved in the incident. Frenkel later underwent surgery for his injuries.

On July 2, the Kremlin demanded a “mandatory investigation” into what took place.

Frenkel’s lawyers have asked the Investigative Committee to initiate proceedings against the police officers in question for illegally obstructing the work of a journalist and abuse of power. The agency hasn’t reported any further action.