New York, July 21, 2004—The body of Armenian journalist Pail Peloian was found on the side of a highway outside Russia’s capital, Moscow, on July 17, according to local and international press reports.
Peloian had been severely beaten and stabbed multiple times and had a cracked skull and bruised face.
The police found money, documents, and a passport on the body, suggesting that the cause of death was not robbery. Moscow prosecutors have initiated a murder investigation.
Peloian had worked for Armyanski Pereulok (Armenian Lane), a Moscow-based Russian-language magazine that focused on Armenian arts and literature.
Armyanski Pereulok published its last issue in early 2003, and the magazine’s editor, Valentin Filoian, said he does not think that the murder was related to Peloian’s journalism, The Associated Press reported.
CPJ continues to investigate this case to determine whether Peloian was killed for his work as a journalist.
