Journalist Murders – Johnson's Russia List

Reporter’s Notebook: After A ‘Death’ And ‘Resurrection’ In Kyiv, Confusion And A Desire For Answers

June 4, 2018 JRL Russia List Assassinations, Beatings, Threats, Media, Internet, Social Media, Television, Military, Spies, Spy Allegations, Ukraine

(Article ©2018 RFE/RL, Inc., Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty – rferl.org – Christopher Miller – KYIV, June 1, 2018 – article also appeared at rferl.org/a/reporters-notebook-after-death-and-resurrection-in-kyiv-confusion-and-desire-for-answers/29266391.html) The news arrived with a soft ping that hit like a ton of bricks: “Arkady was just killed.” Dozens of members of a Facebook Messenger group for journalists in Ukraine and Russia understood at once it […]

RUSSIALINK: “Ukrainian president reacts to criticism of Babchenko’s staged murder, praises security operation” – Interfax

June 1, 2018 JRL Russia List Assassinations, Beatings, Threats, Media, Internet, Social Media, Television, Spies, Spy Allegations, Ukraine

Petro Poroshenko file photo, with additional men in background, adapted from image at state.gov

KYIV. May 31 (Interfax) – Ukraine’s President Petro Poroshenko has responded to critics of the Ukrainian security services’ special operation that involved staging a murder of the Russian journalist Arkady Babchenko in Kyiv. “You should be accusing Russia, not the Ukrainians. The Ukrainians are doing everything possible to keep themselves together and to defend themselves. I can assure you it […]

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Leave a comment Assassinations, Journalist Murders, Media, Petro Poroshenko, Russia, Russian News, Spies, Ukraine

JRL NEWSWATCH: “‘Assassins were trying kill Babchenko. He has every right to do anything to survive. (As someone who also has had death threats lodged against me, I find lectures about how hunted people are supposed to act to be insensitive.)'” – Michael McFaul/Twitter

June 1, 2018 JRL Russia List Assassinations, Beatings, Threats, Media, Internet, Social Media, Television, Spies, Spy Allegations, Ukraine

(Michael McFaul – @McFaul – Twitter – May 31, 2018) “‘Assassins were trying kill Babchenko. He has every right to do anything to survive. (As someone who also has had death threats lodged against me, I find lectures about how hunted people are supposed to act to be insensitive.)’” [embedded live feed of tweet also should load below] Assassins were […]

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Leave a comment Arkady Babchenko, Assassinations, Journalist Murders, McFauk, Media, Russia, Russian News, Slider, Spies, Ukraine

NEWSLINK: “Babchenko’s Death and Russia’s Dark Power; Russia has adopted a policy of blessing freelance murders carried out in its name” – Moscow Times/Mark Galeotti

May 30, 2018 JRL Russia List Assassinations, Beatings, Threats, Human Rights, Media, Internet, Social Media, Television, Politics, Government, Protests, Elections

Map of Commonwealth of Independent States, European Portion

“Editor’s note: Since the publication of this article, Arkady Babchenko has appeared at a press conference in Kiev, and said his ‘murder’ was part of a sting operation. … Another dead critic of the Kremlin. Another round of knee-jerk accusations and denials. Another funeral. Does the Putin regime murder its enemies as a matter of policy, does it simply create […]

After 22 Years, Novaya Gazeta Editor Dmitry Muratov Steps Down

November 13, 2017 JRL Russia List Politics, Government, Protests, Elections

(Moscow Times – themoscowtimes.com – November 13, 2017) Dmitry Muratov, the veteran editor-in-chief of the independent Novaya Gazeta newspaper is stepping down from his post. Muratov has been in his position for 22 years, and shepherded the independent newspaper and site through the turbulent years after the fall of the Soviet Union and the Boris Yeltsin administration, and since 2000, […]

Journalist Felgengauer’s attacker says deed prompted by ‘telepathic harassment’

October 23, 2017 JRL Russia List Assassinations, Beatings, Threats, Corruption, Law, Police, Courts, Crime, Human Rights, Media, Internet, Social Media, Television

MOSCOW. Oct 23 (Interfax) – The individual who attacked Tatyana Felgengauer, the Ekho Moskvy radio station’s deputy editor-in-chief, has failed to provide a rational explanation for his actions, providing confusing testimony. “[I was] compelled [to attack the journalist] because she harassed me for two months,” the attacker said in a video, which was posted on the radio station’s Telegram account. […]

Ukraine Police Scramble To Probe Fresh Claims In Journalist’s Car-Bomb Killing

May 11, 2017 JRL Russia List Assassinations, Beatings, Threats, Media, Internet, Social Media, Television, Ukraine

Map of Ukraine, Including Crimea, and Neighbors, Including Russia

(RFE/RL – rferl.org – KYIV – May 11, 2017) Ukrainian police investigating the car-bomb killing of a Belarus-born journalist are sifting through a new documentary film’s claims about the unsolved case, including that a current or former Ukrainian security agent was present when the explosive was planted. National police chief Serhiy Knyazev convened the Kyiv meeting on May 11, one […]

NEWSWATCH: “Politkovskaya Ten Years On” – Sean’s Russia Blog/Sean Guillory

October 10, 2016 JRL Russia List Assassinations, Beatings, Threats, JRL NewsBlog, Media, Internet, Social Media, Television

It’s been ten years since an assassin put four bullets in Anna Politkovskaya — three in her chest, one in her head, the hallmark of a contract hit. … We can recall her career and her drive to cover the horrors of #Chechnya in ways few would. … We can quote her many articles and books for their continued relevance. […]

NEWSWATCH: “This Week Marks the 10th Anniversary of Anna Politkovskaya’s Murder; The legacy of the fearless Russian journalist’s muckraking reporting still lives on.” – The Nation

October 7, 2016 JRL Russia List Assassinations, Beatings, Threats, Media, Internet, Social Media, Television

Katrina vanden Heuvel, Publisher and Editor of The Nation, memorializes slain Russian journalist Anna Politkovskaya on the 10-year anniversary of Politkovskaya’s assassination, and considers some of the dangers and other challenges impacting Russian journalists. It is 10 years since Russia and the world lost a great and courageous journalist. The killing of Anna Politkovskaya on October 7, 2006, was horrifying […]

NEWSWATCH: “The murder that killed free media in Russia; A decade after the assassination of Anna Politkovskaya, news organisations increasingly avoid topics that could anger the Kremlin” – The Guardian (UK)/Shaun Walker

October 5, 2016 JRL Russia List Assassinations, Beatings, Threats, Human Rights, JRL Tables of Contents, Media, Internet, Social Media, Television, Politics, Government, Protests, Elections

File Photo of Mourners with Photo of Anna Politkovskaya

… In the decade since [Anna] Politkovskaya’s death, the space for independent journalism in Russia has narrowed …. Since 2006, the Committee to Protect Journalists has recorded 20 journalists’ killings, while Freedom House has counted 63 violent attacks on reporters. But for the most part, the threat of closure keeps publications in line and encourages self-censorship. … news sources have […]

NEWSWATCH: “More of Kremlin’s Opponents Are Ending Up Dead. A Pattern That Suggests State Involvement” – New York Times

August 22, 2016 JRL Russia List Assassinations, Beatings, Threats, JRL NewsBlog, Politics, Government, Protests, Elections

In a series of public meetings on Capitol Hill … [Vladimir] Kara-Murza, a leader in the Russian opposition, urged American lawmakers to expand economic sanctions against the Russian government under a law known as the Magnitsky Act. That would hasten political change in Russia, he argued. … in Moscow a month later, in May 2015, the changes Mr. Kara-Murza detected […]

Putin calls free press enemy of frauds, bribers, not administration

April 7, 2016 JRL Russia List Assassinations, Beatings, Threats, Human Rights, Media, Internet, Social Media, Television, Politics, Government, Protests, Elections

Map of Russia and Russian Flag adapted from images at state.gov

ST. PETERSBURG. April 7 (Interfax) – The free press can be an enemy only for frauds and bribers, not the administration as such, Russian President Vladimir Putin said. “The free press can only be an enemy for frauds, bribers and criminals, but there can be no such situation for the administration as such, which is serving people,” Putin said at […]

NEWSLINK Deutsche Welle: High-profile killings in Ukraine sow hatred

April 23, 2015 JRL Russia List Assassinations, Beatings, Threats, Media, Internet, Social Media, Television, Ukraine

The murder of a pro-Russian opposition politician and a journalist in Kyiv threaten to further divide Ukraine. While many are pointing the finger at Moscow, others are blaming the government for not doing enough.

Eight Years on From Politkovskaya’s Murder, Questions Remain

October 8, 2014 JRL Russia List Assassinations, Beatings, Threats

(Moscow Times – themoscowtimes.com – Allison Quinn – October 8, 2014) Memorial events were held in various Russian cities on Tuesday to honor the eight-year anniversary of the murder of Novaya Gazeta journalist Anna Politkovskaya. Members of human rights organization Amnesty International held a memorial service in front of the Novaya Gazeta building in Moscow, where a plaque was set […]

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Leave a comment Assassinations, Crime, Journalist Murders, Politkovskaya, Russia, Russian News

Editor of Russian-Language Newspaper Tortured and Killed in Eastern Ukraine

July 14, 2014 JRL Russia List Assassinations, Beatings, Threats, Media, Internet, Social Media, Television, Ukraine

(Moscow Times – themoscowtimes.com – Anna Dolgov – July 14, 2014) The editor of two Russian-language newspapers who was seized last month in eastern Ukraine and who was believed to have been held by Ukrainian government forces has been found dead, his colleague said in an online post. The body of Sergei Dolgov, who was an editor at newspapers Hochu […]

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NEWSLINK: Who Ordered Politkovskaya’s Murder?

June 10, 2014 JRL Russia List Assassinations, Beatings, Threats, Corruption, Law, Police, Courts, Crime, Media, Internet, Social Media, Television

[“Who Ordered Politkovskaya’s Murder?” – New York Times editorial – June 10, 2014] The New York Times comments on the recent convictions of five additional men for involvement in the 2006 assassination of Russian journalist Anna Politkovskaya: Almost eight years after the gruesome murder of Anna Politkovskaya, one of Russia’s most respected investigative journalists, Moscow’s highest criminal court has finally sentenced five […]

RIA Novosti: Politkovskaya Case Russia’s Biggest Justice Achievement – Prosecutor

June 9, 2014 JRL Russia List Assassinations, Beatings, Threats, Media, Internet, Social Media, Television

MOSCOW, June 9 (RIA Novosti) – A Moscow City Court prosecutor said on Monday the life sentence handed down to those found guilty of Anna Politkovskaya’s murder was the highest achievement of Russian justice, but the outcome will only satisfy the complainants when the mastermind of the murder is established. “We find the sentence lawful, founded and just. This is […]

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Trial of Politkovskaya murder case postponed again

January 20, 2014 JRL Russia List Assassinations, Beatings, Threats

(Interfax – January 20, 2014) The Moscow City Court has postponed until January 27 the trial of the criminal case involving the killing of Novaya Gazeta journalist Anna Politkovskaya. Thus, the court has granted a request filed by one of the defense lawyers, who needed more time to read the case materials, an Interfax correspondent has reported. The prosecutor was […]

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Leave a comment Assassinations, Chechnya, Courts, Journalist Murders, Law, Politkovskaya, Russia, Russian News

Delays Beset Politkovskaya Case

November 29, 2013 JRL Russia List Assassinations, Beatings, Threats, Corruption, Law, Police, Courts, Crime

(Moscow Times – themoscowtimes.com – Yekaterina Kravtsova – November 27, 2013) Seven years and 51 days have passed since journalist Anna Politkovskaya was killed in her apartment building in central Moscow, but so far only one person has been convicted in connection with the crime, leaving her family and former colleagues frustrated with the lack of progress in the case. […]

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Russians doubt perpetrators of Politkovskaya murder will be tracked down – poll

October 9, 2013 JRL Russia List Assassinations, Beatings, Threats, Human Rights, Media, Internet, Social Media, Television

(Interfax – MOSCOW, October 7, 2013) Forty-seven percent of Russians polled in September still have queries about who could benefit from the killing of Novaya Gazeta reporter Anna Politkovskaya seven years ago. Fifteen percent of respondents said the opposition forces, “interested in destabilization” could have been behind the killing, according to Levada Center pollster, and 12% said “Ramzan Kadyrov” and […]

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Leave a comment Assassinations, Chechnya, Human Rights, Journalist Murders, Media, Politkovskaya, Russia, Russian News

Politkovskaya Suspect Shot in Central Moscow

August 16, 2013 JRL Russia List Assassinations, Beatings, Threats, Chechnya, Dagestan, North Caucasus, Corruption, Law, Police, Courts, Crime

(Moscow Times – themoscowtimes.com – Ivan Nechepurenko – August 16, 2013) A defendant in the ongoing trial over the murder of prominent investigative journalist Anna Politkovskaya was shot and wounded near Ulitsa 1905 Goda metro on Wednesday evening, his lawyer said. Dzhabrail Makhmudov, who along with his two Chechen brothers Rustam and Ibragim is accused of being involved in the […]

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Politkovskaya children to boycott ‘undignified trial’ of mother’s alleged killers

July 24, 2013 JRL Russia List Assassinations, Beatings, Threats, Chechnya, Dagestan, North Caucasus, Corruption, Law, Police, Courts, Crime, Human Rights, Media, Internet, Social Media, Television

(Interfax – MOSCOW, July 23, 2013) The trial of the alleged murderers of Russian investigative reporter Anna Politkovskaya that is starting on Wednesday will be “patently illegitimate,” the journalist’s son and daughter said on Tuesday, refusing to attend the trial. “In our absence and that of our lawyers, the judge began to select jurors and approved the jury,” Ilya Politkovsky […]

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Proposed bill aims to make lives of journalists safer

July 23, 2013 JRL Russia List Assassinations, Beatings, Threats, Media, Internet, Social Media, Television

(Russia Beyond the Headlines – rbth.ru – Yulia Ponomareva, RBTH – July 22, 2013) After the latest in a series of murders in the North Caucasus, Russian Duma deputies are proposing an increase on the maximum prison sentence for violence against journalistsfrom six years to ten. On Wednesday, July 10, a bill toughening the penalty for offenses against journalists was […]

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Leave a comment Assassinations, Crime, Duma, Journalist Murders, Law, Media, Russia, Russian News

Jury selection fails in Politkovskaya murder trial

June 21, 2013 JRL Russia List Assassinations, Beatings, Threats, Corruption, Law, Police, Courts, Crime, Media, Internet, Social Media, Television

(Interfax – MOSCOW, June 20, 2013) The Moscow City Court has failed to select the jury for the investigative reporter Anna Politkovskaya murder trial. A court representative told Interfax the Thursday attempt to form the panel of jurors was unsuccessful. A lawyer for the defendants said the majority of candidates refused to become jurors. “Everybody asked for withdrawal for various […]

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Russia still far from solving Politkovskaya murder

December 18, 2012 JRL Russia List Assassinations, Beatings, Threats, Corruption, Law, Police, Courts, Crime, Media, Internet, Social Media, Television

From: “Committee to Protect Journalists – ECA” <eurasia@cpj.org> Subject: CPJ: Russia still far from solving Politkovskaya murder Date: Mon, 17 Dec 2012 Committee to Protect Journalists www.cpj.org News Alert Russia still far from solving Politkovskaya murder New York, December 17, 2012–The Committee to Protect Journalists today called for a retrial of a key defendant in the murder of Anna Politkovskaya. […]

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Leave a comment Assassinations, Chechnya, Journalist Murders, Media, Politkovskaya