Unnamed suspect arrested in slaying; police say robbery was motive
New York, July 31, 2006—Authorities in the southern city of Saratov arrested a 39-year-old homeless man on Sunday in the slaying of Yevgeny Gerasimenko, a correspondent for the independent weekly Saratovsky Rasklad whose body was found strangled in his apartment on July 26, local press reports said. The Department of Internal Affairs (GUVD), which is…
President signs law labeling criticism of state officials “extremism”
New York, July 28, 2006—The Committee to Protect Journalists is alarmed by a new law broadening the definition of extremism to include media criticism of state officials. Despite local and international criticism, President Vladimir Putin signed amendments to the Law on Fighting Extremist Activity today, according to Russian press reports. The new legislation will allow…
U.S. Senate issues condemnation in Klebnikov killing
New York, July 28, 2006—The U.S. Senate has unanimously approved a resolution condemning the July 2004 murder of Forbes Russia Editor Paul Klebnikov, U.S. Sens. Sam Brownback and Hillary Clinton announced this week. The resolution calls on Russia’s government to aggressively pursue the murder investigation and accept a U.S. offer for assistance, Clinton and Brownback…
Ex-officer says he plotted editor’s murder; some are skeptical
New York, July 27, 2006—A former Interior Ministry officer facing trial on a series of charges including murder and kidnapping said in court on Tuesday that he took part in another, unrelated killing—the March 2005 murder of Elmar Huseynov, founder and editor of the Baku-based opposition weekly news magazine Monitor, according to local and international…
In Russia, reporter found slain in apartment
New York, July 26, 2006—The Committee to Protect Journalists is alarmed by the murder of Yevgeny Gerasimenko, a correspondent for the independent weekly Saratovsky Rasklad, who was found dead this morning in his apartment in Saratov in southeastern Russia, according to local press reports.
CPJ urges European court to make Russian murder case a priority
Dear Mr. Wildhaber: We are writing from the Committee to Protect Journalists, a New York-based organization dedicated to defending press freedom worldwide, to ask that you give priority to the case of Zoya and Yuri Kholodov v. Russia (Case No. 30651/05).
CPJ concerned about jailed journalist’s deteriorating health
New York, July 19, 2006—The Committee to Protect Journalists is concerned about the worsening heath of journalist Sakit Zakhidov, who is being held on drug possession charges that local press freedom activists and independent journalists say are fabricated. Sakit Zakhidov, a prominent reporter and satirist for the Baku-based daily opposition newspaper Azadliq has been in…
Ukrainian TV reporter jailed covering anti-G8 rally
New York, July 17, 2006—The Committee to Protect Journalists is alarmed by the jailing of a Ukrainian television reporter who attempted to cover a demonstration against the Group of Eight (G8) meeting of industrialized nations in St. Petersburg. Maksym Butkevych of the Kyiv-based television channel 1+1, was arrested yesterday while filming police breaking up a…
Independent weekly newspaper’s offices searched
JULY 14, 2006 Posted: August 16, 2006 Orlovskye Novosti HARASSED Police searched the offices of the independent weekly newspaper Orlovskiye Novosti in the western Russian city of Oryol. Five police officers, accompanied by two officials from the local Office of Taxation, stated that the newspaper had failed to pay taxes. “The chief editor, Andrei Kanatnikov,…