IFJ: killers of journalists remain unpunished in Chechnya

The Chechen Republic is one of three places in Russia, where in 1993-2007 none of the killers of journalists was ever made answerable. This was stated at presentation of the report "Selective justice. Investigation into journalists' deaths in Russia, 1993-2009", prepared by the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ).

"The country has three places, where in the period from 1993 to 2007 none of the killers of journalists, irrespective of the motive, was ever brought to justice. One of such places is Chechnya. The second one unites all other republics of Northern Caucasus where in 2008 three murders of media workers were committed out of five in Russia. The third place is St Petersburg, where only in early 2008 for the first time in 15 years a journalist killer came up for trial," says the report presented on June 15 in the Marble Hall of the Central House of Journalist in Moscow.

The roundtable, where the presentation of the report was made, was chaired by Nadezhda Azhgikhina, secretary of the Union of Russian Journalists (URJ). The event brought together about 30 persons, including journalists from Northern Caucasus, Ruslan Gusarov, head of the North-Caucasian NTV Centre, among them. No prosecutors and FSB officials appeared, which fact was mentioned by Alexei Simonov, president of the Glasnost Defence Foundation (GDF), in his presentation.

The report is based on the studies fulfilled by the IFJ with support of the European Association of Journalists (EAJ) in cooperation with their Russian counterparts - the URJ, GDF and Centre of Extreme Journalism (CEJ). An essential contribution to the report was made by the Agency of Journalistic Investigations (AJI) from St Petersburg and the division of investigations of the "Novaya Gazeta".

The speakers have noted that from year to year the situation with journalists' murders is no better. In this context proposals were moved to amend the Russian legislation and equate crimes against journalists to crimes against statesmen and law enforcers.

"Attacks and beatings of journalists who try to expose the truth and write about it continue. During the last 15 years, 315 journalists were assassinated in this country. Quite often, they are killed because of their work. More and more incidents are registered with media workers in Northern Caucasus," runs the report "Selective justice. Investigation into journalists' deaths in Russia, 1993-2009".

Dmitri Berkut, a former employee of special units of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA), told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent about how federal subdivisions in Chechnya treat journalists.

"Almost as enemies. And if it's not a 'powdery' girl, brought by a big boss with shoulder straps, nobody will ever speak to journalists whatsoever. Special agents are reasonably arguing that they can't allow filming their faces, give their names or talk to journalists 'for clear reasons'," said Mr Berkut.