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June 15, 2009

IFJ: 124 murdered Russian journalists – five convictions

By paulmcnally

As many as 124 journalists have been killed in Russia in the past 15 years as a direct result of their work, a report published today by the International Federation of Journalists has found.

The IFJ review says that of the 313 journalists’ deaths in the country – ranked 144th out of 169 for press freedom by Reporters Without Borders – up to 124 died as a direct result of their work. The other 189 appear to be unrelated to their journalism.

Ten cases have been brought to trial since 1997 – with a 50 per cent conviction rate. But only two of these cases led to the jailing of those responsible for the murder, according to the IFJ.

“The masterminds of attacks on journalists are getting away with murder,” the report says.

“Over the past 15 years those who ordered the killings and arranged for the hire of assassins and their payment have hardly ever been charged, let alone prosecuted.”

IFJ president Jim Boumelha said: “The murder of Anna Politkovskaya in October 2006 shocked the world.

“Yet for every Anna, there have been many less widely known journalists killed for their work across Russia.”

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The full 40-page report can be downloaded as a PDF here.

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