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Alert

Fears heighten for safety of journalist Andrei Babitsky

The situation of Russian journalist Andrei Babitsky, who "disappeared" in Chechnya in mid-January 2000, appears to be increasingly dangerous. After initially suggesting that he was arrested by Russian forces for inadequate press accreditation, Russian authorities now claim that he was handed over to Chechen forces in exchange for Russian soldiers. Chechen authorities deny that the exchange took place. Russian and international observers fear that Babitsky may still be held in incommunicado detention in an unknown location and that his safety is at grave risk.


Babitsky, a highly respected journalist who has been covering events in Chechnya since the mid-1990's, disappeared on 15 January. Almost two weeks later, the Russian authorities admitted that they had arrested him at a checkpoint near Grozny for not having official accreditation to cover the war.

However, on 2 February, the Russian authorities announced that Babitsky had been freed and sent to Moscow where he would face criminal investigation. This report was contradicted when, on 3 February, Russian Presidential Administration Press Service Chief Sergey Yastrzhembsky told the media that Babitsky was handed over to Chechen fighters in exchange for three Russian soldiers. He said that the Chechens had proposed the exchange, and that Babitsky had agreed to it in writing. Yastrzhembsky told the press that the exchange had been proposed by a Chechen commander, Said Uissakhodjiyev, using a Chechen warlord, Turpal Ali Adgyeriyev as an intermediary. However, Chechen authorities deny the existence of Uissakhodjiyev, and point out that Adgyeriyev was killed three days before the alleged exchange so he could not have been involved.

On 4 February, Russian commercial and state broadcast services aired footage apparently showing Babitsky being handed over by Russian soldiers to masked Chechen fighters in exchange for two (not three) Russian soldiers. It is not possible to ascertain from the broadcast where the exchange took place.

Chechen sources suggest that Babitsky may have been killed by Russian forces and that the hand-over may have been staged so as to blame his death on the Chechens. Amnesty International and others believe that he may still be held by Russian authorities who have condemned Babitsky in the past for taking a overly "pro-Chechen" stand in his reporting.

Recommended Action

Send appeals to authorities:
- calling for an immediate and impartial investigation into Babitsky's disappearance and asking that any person found responsible be brought to justice
- asking the Russian government to disclose his whereabouts, and provide details of the reasons for his detention
- urging that he be treated humanely and given access to his family and lawyer, if he is still in detention

Appeals To

APPEALS TO:

Vladimir Putin
Acting President of the Russian Federation
Rossiyskaya Federatsiya, g. Moskva, Kreml
I.o Prezidenta Rossiyskoy Federatsii, Russian Federation
Fax: + 7 095 206 6277

Appeals should also be sent to the Russian embassy in your country.

In Canada, send appeals to:

His Excellency Alexandre Belonogov
Embassy of the Russian Federation
Ottawa, Canada
Fax: +613 238 6158

Please copy appeals to the source if possible.