World's Press Condemns Murder of Russian Journalist
The World Association of Newspapers today condemned the 'shocking murder' of Anna Politkovskaya, the Russian journalist.
Ms Politkovskaya, a reporter for the Novaya Gazeta newspaper, was found dead Saturday afternoon from a bullet wound in the elevator of the building where she lived in Moscow.
"This is tragic and deeply shocking news", said Timothy Balding, CEO of WAN. "We condemn this as an outrageous attack not only on a journalist but on freedom of the press and democracy in Russia. We call on the Russian authorities to pursue mercilessly the killer or killers and those behind this cowardly act".
Mr Balding added: "There had been many skeptics in Russia, including other journalists, when Ms Politkovskaya said she was the victim of attempted poisoning by security forces on her way to cover the Beslan massacre two years ago. This assassination is terrible confirmation, if any were needed, that she was not inventing her claims that she was constantly under physical threat".
Ms Politkovskaya was celebrated internationally for her critical coverage of the war in Chechnya.
She was the 76th journalists killed world-wide in 2006, the most deadly year since WAN began keeping records of journalist murders in 1997. The list of journalists killed world-wide can be found here.
The Paris-based WAN, the global organisation for the newspaper industry, defends and promotes press freedom world-wide. It represents 18,000 newspapers; its membership includes 73 national newspaper associations, newspapers and newspaper executives in 102 countries, 11 news agencies and nine regional and world-wide press groups.
Inquiries to: Larry Kilman, Director of Communications, WAN, 7 rue Geoffroy St Hilaire, 75005 Paris France. Tel: +33 1 47 42 85 00. Fax: +33 1 47 42 49 48. Mobile: +33 6 10 28 97 36. E-mail: lkilman at wan.asso.fr.
© 2004 World Association of Newspapers -