Russian reporter leaves Chechnya amid concerns over her safety; was warned by police
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Russia's leading independent newspaper has voiced concerns about the safety of one of its reporters in Chechnya and has pulled her from the region.
Novaya Gazeta said its prize-winning reporter Yelena Milashina left the region Thursday. Earlier, Milashina said she was warned by police that she must take precautions.
Milashina reported that a 57-year old Chechen police officer who was already married was planning to take a second wife, a 17-year-old girl, and issued threats to the girl and her family to force them to comply. Milashina said she was doing more research when she received the police warning.
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Chechnya's Moscow-backed strongman, Ramzan Kadyrov, denied that the police officer was putting pressure on the girl or her family. Kadyrov, who has Chechnya under tight control, has President Vladimir Putin's support.