IFJ Condemns “Brutal Killing” of Journalist in Russia
The International Federation of Journalists today called on Russian authorities
to investigate fully the “brutal killing” of a local television journalist
in Moscow.
On 18 July, Alikhan Guliyev, who worked for Russia's TVTs channel, was gunned
down at the entrance to his Moscow apartment building. Last year, Guliyev had
filed a complaint against Khamzad Gutseriyev, a candidate in race for the presidency
of the southern Russian republic of Ingushetia. Subsequent to a Russian Supreme
Court ruling, Gutseriyev was disqualified shortly before the April 2002 vote.
“This is an intolerable incident that underscores the crisis facing journalists
in Russia in recent years,” said Aidan White, IFJ General Secretary. “When
journalists die like this, a democratic media culture has no chance of developing.”
In March 2002, an attempt was made on Guliyev's life shortly before the Ingushetia
election, when reports said that he was working for the main regional television
and radio company. Guliyev also specialized in reports on the North Caucasus region,
including war-torn Chechnya.
Since the beginning of 2002, 12 journalists have been killed in Russia, several
of them thought to be assassinated in contract killings due to the political implications
of their work. The IFJ is backing its affiliate, the Journalists’ Union
of Russia, many of whose members are working in dangerous conditions.
“When political groups try to manipulate the work of journalists through
threats and assassinations, they compromise democracy, and pave the way to chaos
and corruption,” said White.
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The IFJ represents more than 500,000 journalists in more than 100 countries