Penza, 6 October 2014. PenzaNews. Evgeny Malyshev, a journalist of “Ulitsa Moskovskaya” newspaper in Penza, may become a victim of several frame-ups aimed to discredit him due to his investigative reports, says Valentin Manuylov, the newspaper editor-in-chief.

“’Ulitsa Moskovskaya’ received the information that our editorial staff sees as a warning for danger. Earlier, in the issues dated September 5, 12 and 26, ‘UM’ has published several investigative pieces that reported on violations and possible crimes that took place during the implementation of contract No. 24 of August 22, 2014, on the reconstruction of Suvorova, Nekrasova and Tolstovo streets. A source has told ‘UM’ that several subjects implicated in the violations, who are afraid of being found guilty, have called upon several people – former law enforcers, now criminal thugs-for-hire – to neutralize or more likely discredit the author of the investigative reports,” says the message published by Valentin Manuylov on the “Ulitsa Moskovskaya” website.

The message also notes that the veracity of the received information can be doubtful and may have been submitted to stir up panic; however, the media source directors think the received hints may soon find solid proof.

According to Valentin Manuylov, the ill-wishers may attempt to plant drugs on Evgeny Malyshev and spread online rumors that the whistleblower is a drug addict.

“Of course we hope that the kind of investigative journalism that ‘UM’ publishes will not result in murders or maiming, and that the people who grabbed money by thinning the asphalt understand that you’ll get much less time in prison for fraud and may be released on parole, while a murder or an attempted murder will cause much worse prison time,” notes the “Ulitsa Moskovskaya” editor-in-chief in the message.

The text also stresses the fact that “any and all attempts of violence and abuse against the journalists of our media service will be seen by us as a challenge for combat.”

“As for myself, I promise to take all the measures to protect the lives, the well-being and the dignity of my colleagues, beginning with a detailed elaborate campaign and ending with reporting to the authorities to prevent the potential crimes against my colleagues and organize their physical protection,” says Valentin Manuylov in the written appeal.