The
International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and its European group, the
European Federation of Journalists (EFJ), have strongly condemned the murder of
prominent journalist Akhmednabi Akmednabiyev in Dagestan, in Russia's North
Caucasus, early yesterday morning, Tuesday 9 July.
According to
media reports, Akmednabiyev was in his car, just 50 meters from his home, at
7am when the unknown attackers began shooting, killing him at the scene. The
attackers then fled the scene in their car.
"We express
our deep sadness following the murder of our colleague, the highly respected
and prominent journalist Akhmednabi Akmednabiyev," said IFJ President Jim
Boumelha. "This is the latest in several killings of journalists that have
shaken the region over the past two years and shows the dangerous conditions
that journalists there have to work in every day.
"We call on
the authorities in the region to carry out an investigation to find the
perpetrators of this horrific crime and bring the full weight of justice down
upon them. Such crimes cannot go unpunished."
Media reports
say that Akhmednabiyev, who was deputy chief editor of local weekly newspaper,
Novoye Delo (New Business), had written articles criticising
local authorities and insurgent groups. He is said to have received repeated
death threats and in January of this year he survived an attempt on his life when
attackers also fired shots at his car.
The killing comes just
weeks after the IFJ and its Russian affiliate, the Russian Federation of
Journalists (RUJ), completed a two week training of safety trainers course
for journalists in Dagestan as part of our efforts to address the terrible
threats that continue to plague journalists throughout this region. The
training was supported by the Norwegian government and the European Commission.
The RUJ has
expressed its deep sadness at the loss of a colleague and called for increased
protection for journalists working in the region.
"The wave of
violence against journalists in this region over the last two years is an
attempt to terrorise those in the media and undermine freedom of expression," said
EFJ Vice-President Nadezda Azhgikhina. "The authorities must take action to
protect the safety of journalists, news owners in the region must take measures
to protect their staff, and the journalists themselves need to ensure they
remain vigilant."
For more information, please contact IFJ on + 32 2 235 22 17
The IFJ represents more than 600.000 journalists in 134
countries