9 February 2005

Alert

WAN concerned over way in which investigation into journalist's murder is being conducted


Incident details

Veronika Cherkasova

journalist(s)

killed
(WAN/IFEX) - In a 7 February 2005 letter to President Alexander Lukashenko, WAN and the World Editors Forum (WEF) expressed serious concern at the way the investigation into the murder of journalist Veronika Cherkasova is being conducted.

Cherkasova, a journalist with the newspaper "Solidarnost", was found stabbed to death in her apartment in Minsk on 20 October 2004. The authorities have reportedly identified Cherkasova's 15-year-old son, Anton Filimonov, and her chronically ill stepfather, Vladimir Meleshko, as their main suspects in the murder. Even though police have no evidence to indict the pair, prosecutors have refused to lift their status as suspects and both have had to endure months of harassment and intense and intimidating interrogation. As a result, the son has been hospitalised with severe depression. According to reports, Cherkasova's family now fears that evidence may be falsified to implicate family members in her murder.

Meanwhile, an independent investigation has concluded that Cherkasova's murder was a professional assassination. Other recent evidence suggests that shortly before her murder, Cherkasova was investigating the alleged sale of arms by Belarus to Iraq.



Source

World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers
7 Rue Geoffroy St. Hilaire
75005 Paris
France
virginie.jouan (@) wan-ifra.org
Phone: +33 14 742 8500
Fax: +33 14 742 4948
 

More on this case

IFJ launches international campaign urging authorities to reopen murdered journalist's case 19 October 2006 Son of slain journalist Veronika Cherkasova released on bail 16 March 2006 WAN concerned about investigation into murder of journalist Veronika Cherkasova 19 April 2005 Investigators urged to explore possibility that journalist's murder was linked to her work 8 March 2005 IFJ calls for independent investigation into opposition journalist's killing 21 October 2004 Journalist killed 21 October 2004

Belarus

New government regulations may restrict distribution of foreign publications 16 February 2010 Government extends its control over all media 3 February 2010 Government tightens grip on Internet 7 January 2010 Journalist threatened, warned not to publish investigative report 11 December 2009 Politically-motivated threats against journalist working for opposition website 20 July 2009


 
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