Press freedom groups urge Russia to probe murders of journalists

On Sunday, which marked the first United Nations-backed International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists, CPJ joined a coalition of international press freedom and human rights groups in urging Russian investigators to serve justice for our murdered colleagues.

The need for such action is urgent: at least 20 journalists were murdered in Russia since President Vladimir Putin first came to office in 2000, our recent report shows. In all of these cases, authorities have failed to identify and bring to justice the killers and masterminds behind the crime. The failure to combat impunity perpetuates a cycle of violence against the press, which in the end deprives us all–Russian citizens and the rest of the world–of access to news about the country.

Read the full joint letter to Russian investigators here.