Russia creates new database on crimes against journalists

As reported by John Crowfoot, the creator of the database and an expert of the International Federation of Journalists, and Roman Serebryany, advisor of the chairman of the Union of Journalists of Russia, at the training seminar on "Youth Leadership" in Makhachkala, Russia is creating a database of crimes committed against journalists. The seminar was attended by Dagestani, Chechen and Ingush journalists.

As explained to the authors, the database will be expanded and is now being updated. It will include not only killings of journalists, but also other crimes, such as threats. This will contribute to the prevention of crimes committed against journalists.

Mr Crowfoot reported that in the database is also storing photos; however, not all of them can get there for ethical reasons.

The expert explained why he is involved in the business: journalists, according to his story, had done a lot towards respect of the law by people, but they themselves have no protection. According to his story, he would be happy to provide the database, since many people do not even know the names, for example, of journalists killed in Dagestan. The database with have sections on Chechnya and other republics.

Nadezhda Azhgikhina, Secretary of the Union of Journalists of Russia, reported that they have restored cooperation with the General Prosecutor's Office of Russia. Ali Kamalov, Chairman of the Union of Journalists of Dagestan, also reported that they had prepared a film about assassinated journalists; and it will soon be updated.

In answer to the question of the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent about the update process of the database of assassinated journalists, Roman Serebryany said that the database is built on the information from the Centre of Extreme Journalism, which monitors the situation, records attacks and murders; and on the bulletin of the Glasnost Defence Foundation.

Currently, the united database of the International Federation of Journalists, the Glasnost Defence Foundation and the Centre of Extreme Journalism is posted on the Internet.

"The database, which is created now," said Mr Serebryany, "is something new: the old version contained just murder, investigated and non-investigated, both related to professional activities and not; while the new one will contain information about threats and rights violations." He treated threats as the most difficult point, because journalists do not always pay attention to them. "If threats are unjustified, law enforcement bodies also won't deal with them. But threats make on of the layers, which can later give rise to many other things," said the adviser of the Chairman of the Union of Journalists of Russia.

In the first turn, the database will be replenished on the basis of the facts published in the media: visitors will be able to see any violation of rights, and how the person struggled against it. It will help people who may also occur in such situation.

So far, the database is not yet running. Roman Serebryany hopes that it will start working in summer. "Information will be collected, including your input," he concluded.