21 April 2010

Media owner slain


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A media owner and publisher of a newspaper in Latvia known for its investigative coverage of political and local government corruption was murdered in a carefully planned contract killing on 16 April, says Reporters Without Borders (RSF).

Grigorijs Ņemcovs was the publisher of the "Million" newspaper and owner of a TV station with the same name. He was shot twice in the head at close range. "Million" is Latvia's biggest regional Russian-language newspaper.

Ņemcovs received death threats in 2007 and his house was burned down. He was also physically assaulted in 2000 by unidentified assailants.

Several press freedom violations have occurred in the last 10 years in Latvia. Journalist Gundars Matīss was murdered in connection to his work in 2001. Other journalists have been stabbed or beaten.

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Newspaper owner gunned down in apparent contract killing (RSF)

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Also from the Communiqué, 21 April 2010

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Latvia

Police search journalist's house, confiscate computer and other data 18 May 2010 Director of popular current affairs programme dismissed; RSF concerned about motives 26 June 2007 Journalists' telephone conversations with sources taped by government, leaked to media 14 September 2006 WAN concerned at criminal prosecution and apparent intimidation campaign against daily 5 July 2005 IPI concerned over draft Latvian Law on Public Service Broadcasting Organisations 28 April 2005 See all alerts: Latvia


Eastern Europe, Caucasus, Central Asia

RUSSIA: Authorities "at war" with bloggers in Chelyabinsk region 3 February 2012 KAZAKHSTAN: Security service interrogates editor, raids newsroom 3 February 2012 TURKEY: Police use social media to monitor activists 2 February 2012 RUSSIA: Independent newspaper suspends publication in response to pressure 27 January 2012 KAZAKHSTAN: Independent editor imprisoned 26 January 2012


 
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