28.05.2008 - Source: Amnesty International

In the months prior to State Duma elections, authorities became more restrictive of public expressions of dissent: scores of people, including journalists and monitors, were detained; authorities used various methods to prevent journalists, well-known political activists and human rights activists from attending and monitoring demonstrations ("Annual Report 2008") [ID 23502]

"In the months prior to the State Duma elections, the authorities became more restrictive of public expressions of dissent.

Scores of people, including journalists and monitors, were briefly detained prior to, during and following demonstrations and many were convicted of violations of the Administrative Code in trials which did not always meet international standards of fair trial.

In November opposition leader Garry Kasparov was sentenced to five days' administrative detention after he had participated in a "dissenters' march" in Moscow a week before the Duma elections.

Amnesty International considered him a prisoner of conscience and called for his immediate release.

Police used excessive force on a number of occasions in order to break up demonstrations organized by opposition parties and anti-government activists.

Following a demonstration in St Petersburg on 15 April, several people had to undergo hospital treatment.

The authorities used various methods to prevent journalists, well-known political activists and human rights activists from attending and monitoring demonstrations.

In May, Moscow mayor Yuri Luzhkov banned a gay rights march in Moscow.

Gay rights activists, including several members of the European Parliament, were briefly detained when they attempted to hand over a petition to Yuri Luzhkov, urging him to respect the right to freedom of expression and protesting against his decision to ban a gay rights march from taking place in Moscow."

Document(s): Open document

01.04.2008 - Source: Committee to Protect Journalists

Editor of independent weekly stabbed in Kaliningrad ("Editor of an independent weekly stabbed in Kaliningrad") [ID 22881]

Document(s): Open document

11.03.2008 - Source: US Department of State

74 journalists physically attacked and 8 journalists killed in 2007; most high profile cases of journalists killed or kidnapped in earlier years remained unsolved ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2007") [ID 22614]

For more detailed information on cases, please see the report.

"According to the GDF, 74 journalists were physically attacked during the year and eight journalists were killed during the year, nine were killed in 2006. In most cases authorities and observers were unable to establish a direct link between an assault and the persons who reportedly had taken offense at the reporting in question. Independent media NGOs still characterized beatings of journalists by unknown assailants as "routine," noting that those who pursued investigative stories on corruption and organized crime found themselves at greatest risk. The foundation reported that, in some cases, the killings appeared to be related to the journalists' work. (…) Most high profile cases of journalists killed or kidnapped in earlier years remained unsolved."

Document(s): Open document

26.11.2007 - Source: Committee to Protect Journalists

Ingushetia: Three television journalists and prominent human rights advocate Oleg Orlov were attacked by group of masked men in their hotel ("Television crew attacked in Ingushetia") [ID 21715]

"Artyom Vysotsky, Stanislav Goryachikh, and Karen Sakhinov of the Moscow-based channel REN-TV and Oleg Orlov, head of the rights defense group Memorial, were in Ingushetia’s regional capital, Nazran, to cover the political and human rights climate in the republic in the eve of parliamentary elections scheduled for December 2, when they were assaulted."

Document(s): Open document

19.09.2007 - Source: Amnesty International

Since murder of Anna Politkovskaya, there have been further reports about death threats to journalists reporting on situation in North Caucasus; journalist Fatima Tlisova had to leave the country ("Human rights concerns [EUR 46/040/2007]") [ID 21389]

"The murder on 7 October 2006 of Russian journalist and human rights defender Anna Politkovskaya, well-known for her reporting of human rights violations, sent a chilling message to media and civil society in Russia about the risk of speaking out. There have since been further reports about death threats to journalists reporting on the situation in the North Caucasus and at least one journalist, Fatima Tlisova, is reported to have left the country in order to protect her own and her family’s security."

Document(s): Open document

21.08.2007 - Source: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty

Journalist and opposition activist Larisa Arap, who was forcibly hospitalized in psychiatric clinic and held for 46 days, is claiming that she was beaten, drugged, and an attempt on her life was made ("Russian Activist Says Clinic Staff Tried To Kill Her") [ID 21137]

Document(s): Open document

02.08.2007 - Source: Committee to Protect Journalists

Russian authorities imprisoned two journalists in recent months—Vladimir Chugunov and Anatoly Sardayev—in retaliation for criticizing local authorities in their newspapers ("CPJ testifies at U.S. Helsinki Commission hearing on press freedom in the former Soviet bloc") [ID 20701]

"Russian authorities imprisoned two journalists in recent months—Vladimir Chugunov and Anatoly Sardayev—in retaliation for criticizing local authorities in their newspapers. Chugunov’s case is especially disturbing.

The founder and editor of the independent weekly Chugunka in the town of Solnechnogorsk, Chugunov was arrested on January 21, on a charge of “threatening to murder or cause serious health damage.” Authorities did not disclose the details of the charge. After spending more than four months in state custody, during which he was shuttled between prison cells, hospital wards, and psychiatric wards, authorities conditionally released Chugunov on May 27 from the Butyrskaya prison hospital in Moscow. The journalist had been held at Butyrskaya on an undisclosed diagnosis. Chugunov said he was given medications that were not disclosed to him and that he had become infected with lice and scabies during his stay. He went on a 10-day hunger strike to protest the treatment. Authorities did not give any explanation for the release.

Chugunov had long angered local authorities with his articles criticizing the Solnechnogorsk’s government and judicial officials. A series of stories, for example, examined the consequences of the local government’s takeover of a chicken farm. In July 2002, attackers beat Chugunov and broke his right hand, saying, “Here you go now, writer, write if you can!” The attackers were never found. The local municipality-owned printing house refused to print Chugunka in January 2005, compelling Chugunov to produce his paper at home. Chugunka went dormant with the editor’s arrest in January. Upon releasing him in May, the Solnechnogorsk prosecutor’s office instructed Chugunov to sign a statement promising not to leave the area while the case against him is pending."

Document(s): Open document

27.03.2007 - Source: International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights

3 journalists killed in 2006, more than a dozen since President Putin took office; perpetrators have not been brought to justice; murder of Anna Politkovskaya was serious blow to independent journalism ("Human Rights in the OSCE Region: Europe, Central Asia and North America, Report 2007 (Events of 2006)") [ID 19374]

"Moreover, according to Reporters without Borders, three journalists were killed in Russia in 2006. In total, more than a dozen journalists have met this fate since President Putin took office in 2000, with none of the perpetrators being brought to justice. u The murder of Anna Politkovskaya (see photo), who was shot dead in her Moscow apartment building on 7 October, represented a particularly serious blow to independent journalism in Russia. As a correspondent for the Novaya Gazeta newspaper, Politkovskaya had built a strong reputation for her investigative and critical reporting on Russian policies in Chechnya as well as for her compassionate fight on behalf of the victims of human rights violations in this region. While her murder resulted in widespread international denunciation, President Putin only condemned it days after it took place and, when doing so, he sought to play down the significance of Politkovskaya’s journalistic contributions. “This journalist was a severe critic of the incumbent authorities in Russia; she was well known among journalists and human rights campaigners and in the West. However, her influence on the country’s political life... was minimal,” stated Putin. At the end of the year, an investigation into the killing was ongoing."

Document(s): Open document

06.03.2007 - Source: US Department of State

Numerous abuses of journalists by police and security personel, including physical assault and vandalism of equipment, documented in 2006; 69 journalists physically attacked, 9 were killed; legal actions or taxation mechanisms to pressure media were other tools employed by authorities ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2006") [ID 19309]

For more detailed information please see the report

"Mistreatment of journalists by authorities was not limited to Caucasus related coverage. The Glasnost Defense Fund (GDF) and other media freedom monitoring organizations reported numerous abuses of journalists by police and other security personnel elsewhere, including physical assault and vandalism of equipment. In most instances, however, the mistreatment appeared to have been at the initiative of local officials. (…) According to the GDF, 69 journalists were physically attacked during the year and nine were killed. At least two of the deaths may have been related to their work in journalism. In most cases authorities and observers were unable to establish a direct link between an assault and the persons who reportedly had taken offense at the reporting in question. Independent media NGOs still characterized beatings of journalists by unknown assailants as "routine," noting that those who pursued investigative stories on corruption and organized crime found themselves at greatest risk. (…) Legal actions against journalists and journalistic organizations were another tool employed by authorities at the federal and local levels, primarily in response to unfavorable coverage of government policy or operations. The GDF estimated that 48 criminal cases and almost 300 civil cases were brought against journalists during the year. (…) According to the GDF and other media NGOs, there were numerous instances of authorities using taxation mechanisms to pressure media across the country."

Document(s): Open document

05.03.2007 - Source: Committee to Protect Journalists

Ivan Safronov, well-known military correspondent for Kommersant, dies in mysterious fall; his colleagues say suicide is very unlikely ("Prominent Russian defense correspondent dies in mysterious fall") [ID 21136]

Document(s): Open document

28.11.2006 - Source: Committee to Protect Journalists

2 leading journalists of independent Moscow newspaper Novaya Gazeta received anonymous death threats ("Colleagues of Anna Politkovskaya receive death threats") [ID 17761]

Document(s): Open document

16.11.2006 - Source: Institute for War and Peace Reporting

North Caucasus: Following murder of Anna Politkovskaya, journalists have felt increasingly threatened and isolated and are exercising self-censorship ("North Caucuses: Journalists Feel the Heat") [ID 17621]

"Following the murder in October of independent journalist Anna Politkovskaya, who had written more than anyone about human rights abuses in the Russian North Caucasus, journalists in the region itself have felt increasingly threatened and isolated. Recently, Politkovsakya had reportedly intensively from the western North Caucasus republic of Kabardino-Balkaria. A week after her death, a local journalist there was warned by the security services, “If they give us the order to rub out journalists, you will be one of the first.” A second journalist was told by a middle-ranking police officer, “We have people who don’t like journalists very much. And even those who have sworn to kill you personally.”(...)"

Document(s): Open document

09.11.2006 - Source: Reporters Sans Frontières

Supreme court overturns acquittal in murder of US journalist Paul Klebnikov ("Supreme court overturns acquittal in murder of US journalist Paul Klebnikov") [ID 17498]

Document(s): Open document

06.11.2006 - Source: Reporters Sans Frontières

Homeless man convicted of killing reporter Gerasimenko of Saratovski Rasklad during break-in; Reporters Without Borders consider possibility, that reporter was murdered in connection with his work on local corruption ("Homeless man convicted of killing reporter during break-in") [ID 17499]

Document(s): Open document

27.10.2006 - Source: Reporters Sans Frontières

Editor of online newspaper Cursiv sentenced to fine of 20,000 rubles (about 600 euros) for "insulting the president" in 18 May article headlined “Putin as Russia’s phallic symbol” ("In “grotesque” sentence, court fines website editor for insulting Putin") [ID 17454]

" "

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17.10.2006 - Source: Committee to Protect Journalists

European Court of Human Rights will not pursue case of journalist Dmitry Kholodov, who was murdered 12 years ago in connection with his work on high-profile corruption in Russian military ("European court rejects Kholodov case") [ID 17520]

Document(s): Open document

03.10.2006 - Source: Committee to Protect Journalists

CPJ condemns harassment of weekly and seeks photographer’s release ("CPJ condemns harassment of weekly, seeks photographer’s release") [ID 17537]

Document(s): Open document

17.07.2006 - Source: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty

Jailed Russian Journalist Allegedly Denied Medical Care ("Jailed Russian Journalist Allegedly Denied Medical Care") [ID 15389]

Document(s): Open document

05.07.2006 - Source: Committee to Protect Journalists

British journalist Thomas de Waal was refused entry visa to Russia; according to de Waal entry denial is connected to his work on Chechnya and the North Caucasus ("Russian Authorities deny British journalist entry visa") [ID 15397]

"The Committee to Protect Journalists is concerned that Russian authorities have refused an entry visa to British journalist Thomas de Waal. The Moscow-based Union of Russia's Journalists (RUJ) had invited de Waal to present his book on the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh, which was translated into Russian last year. The Federal Migration Service in Moscow wrote the RUJ Monday that de Waal's application had been denied under a 1996 security law. De Waal told CPJ that he had not experienced trouble over his work on Nagorno-Karabakh--a turbulent province in western Azerbaijan under Armenian occupation for a decade. "I believe the entry denial is connected to my work on Chechnya and the North Caucasus," de Waal said. In the past 12 years, de Waal has written extensively on the war in Chechnya. From 1993 to 1997, he worked in Russia, covering the North Caucasus for the English-language daily Moscow Times and The Times of London. He wrote a book Chechnya: A Small Victorious War, and in 2003, he testified as an expert witness for the defense at the extradition trial in Britain of Chechen rebel leader Akhmed Zakayev."

Document(s): Open document

21.06.2006 - Source: Reporters Sans Frontières

Dodojon Atovulloyev, Moscow-based Tajik journalist who edits Chagory Rus, a monthly publication about Tajikistan and its relations with Russia, receives anonymous death threats ("Interior minister urged to protect threatened Tajik journalist") [ID 15407]

Document(s): Open document

02.06.2006 - Source: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty

Reporters Without Borders sees danger for internet as last censorship-free zone; recently, criminal case has been opened against author of satiric article about president Putin ("Russia: 'Phallic' Case Threatens Internet Freedom") [ID 15416]

"When Russian prosecutors opened a criminal case against journalist Vladimir Rakhmankov for writing a satirical Internet article calling President Vladimir Putin the nation's "phallic symbol," it raised eyebrows. But a case that began as an odd curiosity in Russia's Ivanovo Oblast is quickly becoming an international cause. Reporters Without Borders has taken up Rakhmankov's case as part of what it calls a campaign to preserve Internet press freedom in Russia and elsewhere in the former Soviet Union. With print and broadcast journalism already subject to heavy-handed state control, free-press advocates are increasingly looking to save the Internet as the region's last censorship-free zone."

Document(s): Open document

08.03.2006 - Source: US Department of State

Human rights advocates and journalists arrested for expressing views critical of the government ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2005") [#46144],  [ID 11680]

"Some regional and local authorities continued to use provisions of the code to arrest persons for expressing views critical of the government. Human rights advocates in some regions were charged with libel, contempt of court, or interference in judicial procedures in cases with distinct political overtones. Journalists, among others, have been charged with other offenses and held either in excess of normal periods of detention or for offenses that do not require detention at all."

Document(s): Open document

08.03.2006 - Source: US Department of State

NGOs reported numerous abuses of journalists by police and other security personnel, including physical assault and damaging of equipment; in most instances the mistreatment appeared to have been at the initiative of local or provincial officials ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2005") [#46144],  [ID 11681]

"Mistreatment of journalists by the authorities was not limited to Caucasus-related coverage. The Glasnost Defense Fund (GDF) and other media freedom monitoring organizations reported numerous abuses of journalists by police and other security personnel elsewhere, including physical assault and damaging of equipment. In most instances, however, the mistreatment appeared to have been at the initiative of local or provincial officials.

For example, on March 30 police in Voronezh beat Vladimir Lavrov, photographer of the newspaper Moyo, who attempted to take pictures of police searching a group of young soccer fans near a stadium. Although Lavrov showed the police his press credentials, they knocked him down, beat him, and seized his digital camera's memory card. On May 31, police in Moscow's Red Square beat Aydar Buribayev, a correspondent for the daily Gazeta, and Shagen Ogandzhanyan, a correspondent for the daily Novaya Gazeta, who were covering a rally by a radical youth group. Buribayev, Ogandzhanyan, and Novaya Gazeta correspondent Irina Gordiyenko were subsequently taken to a police station, interrogated, and released after several hours. According to Oganidzhan, an officer of the Federal Guard Service whom he met at the police station threatened to withdraw Novaya Gazeta's Kremlin accreditation.

According to the GDF, 60 journalists were physically attacked during the first 11 months of the year and 6 were killed. At least three of the deaths may have been related to their work in journalism. In most cases authorities and observers were unable to establish a direct link between the assault and those who reportedly had taken offense at the reporting in question.

Independent media NGOs still characterized beatings of journalists by unknown assailants as "routine," noting that those who pursued investigative stories on corruption and organized crime found themselves at greatest risk.

In May Pavel Makeyev, a reporter from the local Rostov-on-Don TV company TNT-Plus, was found dead with multiple bruises and fractures on his body. His body was discovered in a ditch, and his equipment and cell phone were missing. He died shortly after beginning work on a story about illegal drag races. Some of his colleagues stated that Makeyev's death was linked to his work.

On June 28, unknown assailants in Makhachkala shot Magomedzagid Varisov, director of Center for Strategic Initiatives and Political Technologies and a columnist of the local weekly Novoye Delo. Varisov's colleagues said he received numerous threats in connection with his commentary on local politics. No progress in the investigation of Varisov's killing has been reported.

In October Tamirlan Kazikhanov, the Head of the Press Service of the Counter Terrorist Center of the Ministry of Interior in the Southern Federal District was killed by rebels during an assault on the center's office in Nalchik. A sniper fatally shot Kazikhanov after he took a camera and started to film the attack on the building. Kazikhanov had worked on several documentaries about counter-terrorist operations in the Northern Caucasus.

Other investigative journalists attacked during the year in circumstances suggesting that their professional work may have provided the motive for their attackers included Dmitriy Suryaninovii, General Director of Media-Samara company; Viktor Naikhin, Komsomolskaya Pravda correspondent in Voronezh; Yelena Rogacheva, correspondent of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty in Mari-El Republic; Sergey Lyubimov, correspondent of the newspaper Bogatey in Saratov; Aleksandr Boyko, Komsomolskaya Pravda correspondent in Moscow; Maksim Leonov, correspondent of the daily Delo in St. Petersburg; Andrey Zakharov, investigative reporter of Pravda Severa in Arkhangelsk; and Olga Kiriy, First Channel correspondent in Pyatigorsk."

Document(s): Open document

08.03.2006 - Source: US Department of State

High-profile cases of journalists killed or kidnapped in earlier years remained unsolved ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2005") [#46144],  [ID 11682]

"High-profile cases of journalists killed or kidnapped in earlier years remained unsolved. The government announced that it had detained two of five Chechens suspected in the 2004 killing of Paul Klebnikov, the editor-in-chief of the magazine Forbes Russia. The others are fugitives. One of the suspects, former separatist Chechen figure Khoz-Akhmed Nukhayev was charged with ordering the killing. The trial of the two suspects in custody began on December 29. In accordance with the criminal code, a representative of the Klebnikov family was given access to the file on the case and President Putin met with the family in September to discuss the case.

No progress was reported in the investigations of the 2004 killing of Shangysh Mongush, a newspaper journalist in the Tuva Republic, or the 2003 killing of Aleksey Sidorov, editor-in-chief of daily newspaper Tolyattinskoye Obozreniye in Togliatti, Saratov. Other unresolved cases of missing or killed journalists from 2003 include: Dmitriy Shvets, deputy head of TV-21 in Murmansk; Alikhan Guliyev, a freelance journalist covering Chechnya for Television Center and the daily newspaper Kommersant; and Ali Astamirov, an Agence France-Presse correspondent kidnapped in Ingushetiya.

On March 11, the Military Collegium of the Supreme Court rejected the general prosecutor's appeal of the June 2004 Moscow circuit military court's acquittal of all the defendants accused of organizing the 1994 killing of Dmitriy Kholodov, military affairs correspondent for the daily newspaper Moskovskiy Komsomolets (see section 1.a.)."

Document(s): Open document

27.02.2006 - Source: Committee to Protect Journalists

Moscow: Ilya Zimin, correspondent for national television station NTV found murdered in his apartment ("NTV reporter found murdered in Moscow apartment") [#45175],  [ID 11684]

Document(s): Open document

02.2006 - Source: Committee to Protect Journalists

Annual report on press freedom in 2005 ("Attacks on the Press in 2005") [#44096],  [ID 11685]

For details please refer to the original document

"President Vladimir Putin and his allies continued to expand control over the media, using methods that critics called reminiscent of the Soviet era. Journalists who took on powerful political or business interests sometimes paid with their lives. Two journalists were killed in 2005 for their reporting. In the five years since Putin took power, 12 journalists have been killed in contract-style slayings. None of the killers have been brought to justice."

Document(s): Open document

25.08.2005 - Source: Reporters Sans Frontières

Smolensk: Deputy editor of weekly Odintsovskaïa Nedela, who was sentenced to 5 years of hard labour for libel, released by judge Andrei Lantsov ("Judge frees imprisoned editor following international pressure") [#36182],  [ID 11686]

Document(s): Open document

16.08.2005 - Source: Committee to Protect Journalists

Editor of opposition news Web site Svobodnoye Slovo, sentenced to 2 years in prison colony for illegal possession of pistol; charges against him were politically motivated and filed in retaliation for his criticism of Kremlin policies in Chechnya ("Russia: Court upholds two-year prison sentence for journalist") [#35528],  [ID 11688]

Document(s): Open document

12.08.2005 - Source: Reporters Sans Frontières

Moscow correspondent of Polish daily paper Rzeczpospolita, beaten by 5 men; he wrote several articles about attacks by thugs on 2 employees of Polish embassy in Moscow ("Polish journalist beaten up in Moscow") [#35395],  [ID 11689]

Document(s): Open document

02.08.2005 - Source: Committee to Protect Journalists

Kremlin escalated its campaign of intimidation against foreign news media covering war in Chechnya as authorities began moving today to bar U.S. television network ABC from reporting in Russia ("Kremlin moves to bar ABC from reporting in Russia") [#34803],  [ID 11691]

Document(s): Open document

08.07.2005 - Source: Reporters Sans Frontières

12 journalists were killed since 2000 but no one has been brought to trial for any of these murders ("A year after Khlebnikov murder, entire Russian press needs case to be solved") [#33813],  [ID 11692]

Document(s): Open document

06.07.2005 - Source: Committee to Protect Journalists

Severodvinsk: Editor-in-chief of Severodvinsk's independent newspaper, Severodvinsky Rabochy, beaten by two unidentified assailants ("Russia: Editor hospitalized after beating by two attackers") [#33688],  [ID 11693]

Document(s): Open document

01.07.2005 - Source: Reporters Sans Frontières

Makhachkala: Head of political section of weekly Novoye Delo killed, allegedly because of his work, as he was very critical of Dagestan opposition in his articles ("Journalist gunned down in southwestern republic") [#33544],  [ID 11694]

Document(s): Open document

24.06.2005 - Source: Committee to Protect Journalists

Saratov: Journalist and adviser to former regional governor Dmitry Ayatskov, convicted of criminal defamation; he was sentenced to 7 months in prison colony for defaming public officials in 2 articles published last year ("Russian court imposes prison term in defamation case") [#33307],  [ID 11696]

Document(s): Open document

15.06.2005 - Source: Committee to Protect Journalists

Smolensk: Independent journalist convicted on charges of criminal defamation and sentenced to 5 years in prison colony for defaming 3 Smolensk officials in July 2000 broadcast on independent station, Radio Vesna ("Russia: Court sentences journalist to five years in prison colony") [#32966],  [ID 11698]

Document(s): Open document

03.06.2005 - Source: Council of Europe - Parliamentary Assembly

Increase of physical violence against journalists; 12 journalists and media staff killed in 2003; assassination of editor-in-chief of Forbes Paul Khlebnikov ("Honouring of obligations and commitments by the Russian Federation [Doc. 10568]") [#32710],  [ID 11699]

"386. An increase of physical violence against journalists has also been reported. According to the International Federation of Journalists, twelve journalists and media staff workers have been killed in the Russian Federation in 2003, three more than a year before. On 9 July 2004, Paul Khlebnikov, editor-in-chief of the Russian edition of Forbes, was shot dead as he was leaving his office building in Moscow. In May, the magazine had published a list of the 100 wealthiest people in Russia, many of whom said they were unhappy about the publication. No significant progress in the investigation of this murder was made so far."

Document(s): Open document

03.06.2005 - Source: Council of Europe - Parliamentary Assembly

Harassment of journalists reporting on the Beslan events; tapes with content of the Beslan school storming confiscated ("Honouring of obligations and commitments by the Russian Federation [Doc. 10568]") [#32710],  [ID 11700]

"387. The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media's in his "Report on Russian media coverage of the Beslan tragedy" noted several worrying cases of harassment of journalists: Anna Politkovskaya, a correspondent from Novaya Gazeta, was prevented from coming to Beslan as she was allegedly poisoned on the board of the plane flying to Rostov-on-Don; Andrey Babitskiy, the correspondent for Radio Liberty, was detained at Moscow's airport on 2 September on his way to cover the siege after being arrested for "hooliganism"; Nana Lezhava, a reporter with Georgian Rustavi-2 TV channel and her cameraman were detained on 4 September for not having the proper documents to work in the region. They were taken to an FSB building in the nearby city of Vladikavkaz, where Lezhava said she underwent a "forced gynaecological inspection."

388. On 3 September, during and after the storming of the school, tapes with content of the storming were confiscated from TV crews from ZDF (Germany), ARD (Germany), APTV (USA), and Rustavi-2 (Georgia); on 7 September, North-Ossetian security services expelled the crew (correspondent Zurab Dvali and his cameraman) from the Georgian TV channel Mze from Beslan without any explanation. On 6 September 2004, the editor-in-chief of the Russian daily Izvestia Raf Shakirov was fired by the paper's owner after the newspaper's coverage of the Beslan events."

Document(s): Open document

01.06.2005 - Source: Committee to Protect Journalists

Nazran, Ingushetia: 3 journalists from Polish state television station TVP arrested by police officers ("Russia: Polish TV crew detained in Ingushetia") [#32585],  [ID 11702]

Document(s): Open document

24.05.2005 - Source: Reporters Sans Frontières

Samara: Head of Media-Samara beaten by three men; attempted murder is reportedly linked to his work as he already received death threats in the past ("Murder attempt against head of press group") [#32348],  [ID 11704]

Document(s): Open document

23.05.2005 - Source: Committee to Protect Journalists

North Caucasus correspondent for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) continuously harassed and prevented from covering opposition rally ("Russia: CPJ disturbed by new FSB harassment") [#32159],  [ID 11705]

Document(s): Open document

12.05.2005 - Source: Reporters Sans Frontières

Pitalovo: 2 journalists of Latvia's government-run TV station LTV and their driver arrested while covering World War II victory celebrations ("Two Latvian journalists and their driver arrested") [#31971],  [ID 11707]

Document(s): Open document

03.05.2005 - Source: Reporters Sans Frontières

Annual report on the situation of journalists 2005 ("Annual report 2005") [#31773],  [ID 11708]

Document(s): Open document

02.05.2005 - Source: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty

According to many international press-freedom monitors Russia is one of the most dangerous countries for journalists; killings of Adlan Khasanov and Paul Khlebinov symbolize failure to protect journalists in war zones ("World: Monitors Say Russia Among World's Most Dangerous Countries For Reporters") [#31685],  [ID 11709]

Document(s): Open document

26.04.2005 - Source: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty

Irina Petrusheva, opposition journalist, who was detained at request of Kazakh police, released on grounds of having Russian citizenship ("Russia Releases Editor Of Kazakh Opposition Weekly") [#31678],  [ID 11710]

Document(s): Open document

26.04.2005 - Source: Reporters Sans Frontières

Repeated harassment of editor of Kazakh opposition weekly Respublika because of her political stand towards Kazakh government ("Russian police step up harassment of Kazakh opposition newspaper editor") [#31615],  [ID 11711]

Document(s): Open document

06.04.2005 - Source: Reporters Sans Frontières

Voronezh: photographer of local newspaper Moyo beaten by several policemen, who also took his digital camera's memory card with photos for the newspaper's next issue ("News photographer badly beaten by police in Voronezh") [#31347],  [ID 11712]

Document(s): Open document

15.02.2005 - Source: Committee to Protect Journalists

Russian government is planning to deport Yuri Bagrov, a journalist who covered the North Caucasus for The Associated Press and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, in retaliation for his independent reporting on the war in Chechnya ("Russia: CPJ concerned about journalist's pending deportation") [#29084],  [ID 11713]

"An official from the Interior Ministry's Passport and Visa Service in the North Ossetian capital of Vladikavkaz came to Bagrov's office today and summoned him to the passport office tomorrow morning to be informed of his pending deportation, Bagrov said in a telephone interview with CPJ today.

The official told Bagrov that the Federal Security Services (FSB) has issued a document declaring that he is "residing illegally in the Russian Federation," and that the Leninsky Court in Vladikavkaz will issue an order regarding his deportation. Bagrov does not know to where he will be deported.

In December, the Leninsky Court convicted Bagrov on criminal charges of knowingly using falsified documents to obtain Russian citizenship. The journalist appealed the verdict in January before the Supreme Court of North Ossetia but lost the appeal.

Bagrov has received death threats, is being prevented from working as a journalist by local authorities, and is unable to travel outside Vladikavkaz because government officials have invalidated and confiscated his identity documents."

Document(s): Open document

09.02.2005 - Source: Committee to Protect Journalists

Federal authorities in Moscow have issued an official warning to the independent Moscow daily Kommersant for publishing a interview with Chechen rebel leader Aslan Maskhadov ("Russia: Authorities issue warning to newspaper over Chechnya interview") [#28953],  [ID 11714]

Document(s): Open document

21.01.2005 - Source: Committee to Protect Journalists

North Ossetia: the Supreme Court upheld the conviction of a journalist on criminal charges of using forged documents to obtain Russian citizenship; the harassment and prosecution comes allegedly in retaliation for his independent reporting on the conflict in Chechnya ("Russia: CPJ disturbed that journalist's appeal denied") [#28479],  [ID 11715]

Document(s): Open document

12.01.2005 - Source: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty

RFE/RL correspondent Yelena Rogacheva attacked in Ioshkar-Ola; attack could be inked with either her own or her husband's professional activities, who is editor of the local opposition newspaper"Dobrye sosedi“ ("Volga Journalist Joins Long List Of Targets") [#28153],  [ID 11716]

Document(s): Open document

10.12.2004 - Source: Reporters Sans Frontières

Abakan: Independent journalist Mikhail Afanassiev was arrested on a defamation charge ("Prize-winning journalist arrested and charged with defamation") [#27584],  [ID 11717]

Document(s): Open document

02.09.2004 - Source: Committee to Protect Journalists

Prominent journalist Anna Politkovskaya poisoned en route to Beslan, North Ossetia, where about 40 heavily armed fighters, reportedly of Chechen and Ingush origin, seized hostages at an elementary school ("Russian journalist reportedly poisoned en route to hostage negotiation") [#25344],  [ID 11718]

Document(s): Open document

06.08.2004 - Source: Committee to Protect Journalists

Campaign of harassment against the independent weekly Chechenskoye Obshchestvo (Chechen Society), which is based in Ingushetia's capital, Nazran, continues ("Russia: Chechen editor reports ongoing harassment") [#24538],  [ID 11719]

Document(s): Open document

17.07.2004 - Source: BBC News

Moscow: Payl Peloyan, editor of Armyanski Pereulok (Armenian Lane) killed; his death could be linked to his work at the Russian-language arts and literatur magazine serving the Armenian community ("Moscow magazine editor murdered") [#24128],  [ID 11721]

"Prosecutors are treating the death of Payl Peloyan, editor of Armyanski Pereulok (Armenian Lane), as murder, according to RIA Novosti news agency.

He was found with knife wounds to his chest and bruises on his face, a police spokesperson was quoted as saying.


[...]
Russian police said the body of Mr Peloyan was found at the side of the MKAD highway encircling Moscow at 0700 (0300GMT) on Saturday.

They were reportedly not ruling out the possibility his death was linked to his work at the Russian-language arts and literature magazine serving the Armenian community."

Document(s): Open document

10.07.2004 - Source: Reporters Sans Frontières

American journalist, editor of the new Russian edition of the US business magazine Forbes, killed in an attack by gunmen in Moscow/ allegedly because of his work ("Editor of Russian edition of Forbes Magazine killed in Moscow") [#23921],  [ID 11722]

Document(s): Open document

08.07.2004 - Source: Reporters Sans Frontières

Moscow: correspondent for the Afghan service of the American Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) attacked/ the attack is allegedly linked to his work ("Afghan correspondent for Radio Free Europe brutally attacked in Moscow") [#23846],  [ID 11723]

Document(s): Open document

21.06.2004 - Source: Committee to Protect Journalists

Director of the Dagestani bureau of the Russian state radio and television company GTRK, injured by unknown assailants ("Russia: Director of television channel in Dagestan wounded") [#23422],  [ID 11724]

Document(s): Open document

03.06.2004 - Source: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty

NTV journalist Leonid Parfenov fired after publicly criticizing the order not to broadcast his interview with the wife of former acting Chechen President Yandarbiev ("Moscow Clamps Down On Chechnya Coverage, But No Solution In Sight For Republic") [#23048],  [ID 11725]

Document(s): Open document

18.03.2004 - Source: Committee to Protect Journalists

Fixer and driver working for Atlanta-based Cox Newspapers, released from captivity after being abducted in February by unidentified men ("Russia: Fixer abducted in February has been released") [#20491],  [ID 11726]

"The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has learned that Ruslan Soltakhanov, a fixer and driver working for Atlanta-based Cox Newspapers, was released from captivity on March 12 after being abducted in February.

On February 13, several unidentified men abducted Soltakhanov from his home in Mozdok, just west of Chechnya in North Ossetia, after he had traveled to Chechnya with Cox Newspapers Moscow correspondent Rebecca Santana.

During his captivity, no one heard from Soltakhanov, and his family was not informed why or by whom he was abducted. Russian authorities also failed to respond to Cox Newspapers’ inquiries regarding Soltakanov’s whereabouts.

No other information about his abduction or the circumstances of his release is currently available."

Document(s): Open document

10.03.2004 - Source: Reporters Sans Frontières

St. Petersburg: Editor of a Kazakhstan newspaper questioned and arrested on the basis of an arrest warrant issued by the Kazakh authorities ("Kazakh opposition newspaper editor arrested in Russia") [#20393],  [ID 11727]

"Russian police arrested and questioned Irina Petrushova, editor of a Kazakhstan newspaper, on 9 March in St Petersburg on the basis of an arrest warrant issued by the Kazakh authorities.
[...]
The international press freedom organisation demanded that the Kazakh authorities justify its arrest warrant and also asked for an explanation from the Russian interior ministry.

On a visit to St Petersburg, Petrushova was arrested when she went to the No 19 police station in the Vyborg district to register her presence in the city, as she is obliged to do as a resident of Moscow.

Police handed the journalist a document from the Russian interior ministry to the effect that the Kazakh tax police were seeking her arrest for infringing a tax law (Article 222-2 of the criminal code).

Police received an order four-and-a-half hours later to release her unconditionally. An interior ministry source told Petrushova her that it was a political matter and that the Russian police would not get involved. When they released her however police said there was a risk of the same thing happening again.

Petrushova told Reporters Without Borders that she had not received any summons from Kazakh courts and did not know what it could be about. Since she has Russian nationality she cannot be deported, but she is convinced that the Kazakh authorities are trying to keep her under surveillance.

The weekly, then called Respublika, was banned for three months on 6 August 2003 on the basis of a complaint from the information ministry that it was not legally registered.

Petrushova was sentenced to 18 months in prison on 4 July 2002 and then immediately amnestied, for not having declared her Russian nationality. On 22 May the same year, the weekly's offices were destroyed after a Molotov cocktail attack. Three days earlier the decapitated body of a dog was found hanging in front of the entrance to the newspaper. On 8 March the journalist was sent a funeral wreath."

Document(s): Open document

02.02.2004 - Source: Committee to Protect Journalists

Bomb exploded outside the Moscow apartment of an independent journalist who recently published a controversial book criticizing the Kremlin ("Russia: explosion rocks home of journalist") [#19104],  [ID 11730]

Document(s): Open document

13.11.2003 - Source: Committee to Protect Journalists

Chelyabinsk Regional Court today reportedly amended the sentence of imprisoned journalist German Galkin from one year in jail to one year of probation/ authorities immediately released Galkin from prison in the Urals city of Chelyabinsk ("Russia: Court releases imprisoned journalist") [#17577],  [ID 11731]

Document(s): Open document

20.08.2003 - Source: Committee to Protect Journalists

Independent journalist German Galkin convicted on criminal defamation charges in the southern city of Chelyabinsk in Ural mountains/ the trial was closed to the public and allegedly unfair ("Russia: Journalist convicted and imprisoned on criminal defamation charges") [#15320],  [ID 11732]

Document(s): Open document

23.07.2003 - Source: Reporters Sans Frontières

Journalist, who was writing articles about Chechnya conflict and about the presidential election, killed ("Journalist killed in Moscow") [#14635],  [ID 11733]

Document(s): Open document

17.07.2003 - Source: Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe

2 journalists of the daily newspaper Zvezda (Perm, Russia) accused by the regional secret service authorities (FSB) of divulging state secrets ("OSCE Media Representative concerned over case of Russian journalists accused of divulging state secrets") [#14387],  [ID 11734]

Document(s): Open document

06.07.2003 - Source: Reporters Sans Frontières

Chechen journalist of the French Agence France-Presse (AFP) news agency kidnapped in Ingushetia ("AFP reporter kidnapped in Ingushetia") [#14531],  [ID 11735]

Document(s): Open document

07.05.2003 - Source: Committee to Protect Journalists

Radio station Krasnaya Armiya in the city of Noyabrsk attacked/ the station’s staff was assaulted, handcuffed and taken to a local police station, where they were detained for several hours ("Russia: Popular radio station raided by police") [#12489],  [ID 11736]

"The station was attacked after the City Election Committee annulled the results of Sunday, May 4, mayoral elections in four electoral districts, giving incumbent mayor Yuri Link the advantage over challenger Anatoly Kudryashov, who had reportedly been leading polls at that point. A wave of protests in support of Kudryashov followed.

During the run-up to the election, the popular Krasnaya Armiya station had staunchly supported Kudryashov while criticizing Link, leading to official harassment and threats.

On the evening of Tuesday, May 6, approximately 40 police officers stormed a local hotel where the radio station had moved temporarily because of the threats. Police cut off electricity to the hotel and used tear gas during the raid.

Krasnaya Armiya director Sergei Zubanov told CPJ that about seven radio employees, as well as hotel security staff and an electrician, were present during the raid. The station’s staff, including Zubanov, was assaulted and handcuffed. Officers also knocked Zubanov’s head against the wall, inflicting serious injuries.

The journalists were then taken to a local police station, where they were detained for several hours."

Document(s): Open document

21.04.2003 - Source: Reporters Sans Frontières

Murmansk: TV station owner Dmitri Shvets, killed/ at least 3 Russian journalists were murdered last year apparently because of their reporting and political views ("TV station owner shot dead in Murmansk") [#12151],  [ID 11737]

Document(s): Open document

31.03.2003 - Source: Reporters Sans Frontières

More journalists were murdered in Russia in 2002 than in any other European country ("Annual Report 2003: Russia") [#12565],  [ID 11738]

"Government efforts to take control of the media and curb press freedom were accompanied in 2002 by imprisonment, new restrictive laws, huge fines threatening the survival of newspapers, arbitrary closures, searches and seizure of just-printed newspapers. The targets were media and journalists who were too independent or critical of the authorities.


The trend towards media repression was highlighted during the kidnapping of 700 Moscow theatregoers by Chechen rebels between 23 and 26 October. Several Russian and foreign media were censored in their coverage of the drama and the Duma (parliament) passed an anti-terrorist law allowing prosecution of any journalist reporting on terrorism or the war in Chechnya. President Putin's last-minute veto did not convince human rights organisations, which have long complained about the impossibility of reporting freely on the war and on anything to do with it.
[...]
Once again, more journalists were murdered in Russia in 2002 while doing their job than in any other European country. Three were killed, almost certainly because of what they were reporting on (corruption and ecological problems), without any proper enquiry into their deaths. Four other died in accidents or covering the war in Chechnya. And in the provinces, far from the spotlight, dozens of journalists were attacked, harassed and prosecuted by regional authorities and local officials."

Document(s): Open document

28.02.2003 - Source: Committee to Protect Journalists

Committee to Protect Journalists: Chechen journalists beaten and detained by Interior Ministry troops ("Russia: Chechen journalist beaten and detained by Interior Ministry troops") [#11132],  [ID 11739]

"Zamid Ayubov, a 40-year-old Chechen journalist for the local pro-Russian administration's thrice-weekly Vozrozhdeniye Chechni, was beaten and detained by Interior Ministry forces in the Chechen capitol of Grozny on the evening of February 16.

Ayubov was assaulted when he approached an Interior Ministry unit and identified himself as a journalist researching an article about Interior Ministry units conducting night patrols in Grozny, according to Radio Svoboda, the Russian-language service of the U.S. government­funded Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.

A CPJ source in Grozny verified that Ayubov suffered multiple heavy bruises after the troops—who belonged to the 2nd Operational-Investigative Bureau of the Leninski District—threw him to the ground and beat and kicked him in the ribs and back for about three minutes.

The journalist was then arrested and detained overnight without charge, despite having presented his press credentials and a document confirming that he is a resident of Grozny.

"This arrest and physical abuse of a journalist is outrageous," said CPJ's acting director Joel Simon. "We call on Russian authorities to investigate and prosecute the individuals responsible for this violent attack against our colleague."

Ayubov was released the following morning and has filed a complaint at the military prosecutor's office in Grozny."

Document(s): Open document

23.01.2003 - Source: Amnesty International

Amnesty International: Grigory Pasko, reporter for the Russian Pacific Fleet newspaper, released on parole ("Russian Federation: Released Grigory Pasko reiterates his innocence") [#10464],  [ID 11740]

"Amnesty International reiterates its appeal for the unconditional release of the Russian journalist and environmentalist Grigory Pasko, who was set free today on parole. He served two-thirds of his four-year sentence on treason charges in a prison colony in the Russian Far East.

"Grigory Pasko's release is a victory for the millions of people who campaigned tirelessly on his behalf," Amnesty International said.

Amnesty International insists, however, that Grigory Pasko's conviction must be quashed. The organization believes that he was arrested and sentenced solely for exercising his basic human right to freedom of expression.

"Às a party to international treaties safeguarding human rights the Russian Federation must clear Grigory Pasko of his charges. Failure to do so will be yet another example of the denial of justice that is the fate of other victims of human rights violations in the Russian Federation," Amnesty International said.

Grigory Pasko, a reporter for a Russian Pacific Fleet newspaper, was first arrested in 1997 for passing allegedly sensitive information to Japanese media but two years later he was acquitted of all spying charges. After an appeal, a Military Court in the city of Vladivostok gave Grigory Pasko a four-year sentence for treason end espionage in December 2001. He is currently appealing this sentence to the Presidium of the Supreme Court.

Amnesty International adopted Grigory Pasko as a prisoner of conscience from the start as it considers him to have been imprisoned solely for the expression of his non-violent beliefs. Its more than one million members in 140 countries around the world have been campaigning with many other human rights organizations for Grigory Pasko's immediate and unconditional release."

Document(s): Open document

28.05.2002 - Source: International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights

International Helsinki Federation: Cases of espionage and high treason against journalist ("Human Rights in the OSCE Region: The Balkans, the Caucasus, Europe, Central Asia and North America") [#7145],  [ID 11745]

"The Security Services (FSB) continued to pursue cases of espionage and high treason against journalists, ecologists and researchers who had been cooperating with foreign organisations. Treating information on matters of great interest to the public as politically sensitive, the FSB charged persons with the disclosure of state secrets even though these persons had only used non-classified information in their work. The most disturbing fact was that the espionage cases were typically characterised by serious violations of due process standards. Long periods of pre-trial detention in inhumane conditions, repeated postponement of hearings and remittal of cases for additional investigation were reoccurring features in the espionage cases, where the prosecution normally relied on extremely weak evidence. In February the FSB decided to revive the practice of investigating anonymous complaints. This much hated and feared practice had been applied during the Soviet era until the Soviet Supreme Court finally banned its use in 1988. As the ban has not been repealed in post-communist Russia, it was still considered to be in force. Liberal politicians and human rights advocates therefore protested against the FSB decision, declaring it illegal and fearing that it would enable the State to prosecute persons considered ‘awkward’ with the help of anonymous letters. In July the Supreme Court rejected an appeal filed by a group of civil rights activists against the FSB decision. The group said that it would bring the case to the European Court of Human Rights. On 25 December environmental journalist and former naval captain Grigory Pasko was sentenced to four years in prison for high treason. Initially detained in 1997, he was acquitted of treason and espionage, but sentenced to three years imprisonment for abusing his position in a 1999 military trial. As he had already served 20 months in pre-trial detention, he was immediately granted amnesty and released. Following a hearing of appeals submitted by both the prosecution and the defence, the case was remitted to the court of first instance in December 2000. The re-trial was postponed several times, but finally commenced last July. During the trial, which was closed to the public, nine out of the ten items of classified materials ascribed to Mr Pasko by the prosecution were dismissed, and the verdict was based solely on handwritten notes that he had taken at a Pacific Fleet Military council meeting, where he was present as a reporter for the paper Boyevaya Vakhta. It was alleged that Mr Pasko had intended to hand over the notes to Japanese media, and by doing so he would have impaired the Pacific Fleet’s readiness to go into battle.8 Both parties in the case appealed the verdict; the defence demanding acquittal, and the prosecution demanding a 12-year sentence.9 In an open letter of 15 February 200210, the IHF and the Norwegian Helsinki Committee (NHC) expressed concern that the legal process against Mr Pasko had been marked by a number of serious shortcomings and urged for his immediate release pending the hearing of the appeal case. As stressed in the letter, the verdict suggested that the FSB and the command of the Pacific Fleet wished to punish Mr Pasko for his investigative and often critical journalism regarding the fleet’s handling of nuclear waste. In the meantime the Military Supreme Court ruled as illegal the list of state secrets as well as a 1990 Defence Ministry directive used as the basis for the verdict against Mr Pasko.11 At the time of writing the hearing of appeals had not yet been scheduled. President Putin urged Mr Pasko to seek pardon. However, although Mr Pasko welcomed this proposal he said that he would not comply with it since that would amount to