Russian journalists assaulted

Police started an investigation Thursday into the attack on the journalists in Ryazan. The journalists work for Novaya Gazeta, a liberal newspaper.

The circumstances of the incident were not clear, but some reports said it was unrelated to the journalists' professional activities. The journalists said they detained two of the attackers but police who arrived at the scene later released them. Some reports suggested all the participants in the brawl were intoxicated.