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Alert

Opposition press journalist dies as a result of injuries suffered in attack

(RSF/IFEX) - In a letter to Minister of Justice Yuri Chaika, RSF expressed its grave concern following the death of Igor Domnekov, a journalist with the twice-weekly private newspaper "Novaïa Gazeta". Robert Ménard, the organisation's secretary-general, said: "We ask that you see to it that his attackers are found and punished in accordance with the crime they have committed." RSF also asked Russian authorities to be kept informed of developments in the investigation, and to take the necessary measures to guarantee the safety of journalists within the Russian Federation.


According to information collected by RSF, on 12 May 2000, Domnekov was repeatedly struck with a hammer by unknown individuals in front of his apartment building. Suffering from head injuries, the journalist never regained consciousness. He died on 16 July as a result of his injuries. According to Dmitry Muratov, the newspaper's editor-in-chief, his attackers likely mistook him for Oleg Sultanov, a colleague and neighbour who was investigating corruption cases within mineral corporations. One month before the attack, Sultanov allegedly received a letter threatening to "hit him on the head with a heavy object".

"Novaïa Gazeta" has often published investigative stories on corruption cases, implicating both individuals close to circles of power and security services (FSB, former KGB). The newspaper notably criticised Russian forces' actions in Chechnya since the first conflict in 1994. On 27 April, the magazine received a warning from the Ministry of Information because it published an interview with Chechen President Aslan Maskhadov. On 15 March, in the middle of the electoral campaign, a hacker with access to "Novaïa Gazeta"'s computers destroyed the entire upcoming issue. According to the editorial staff, the issue contained revelations on the financing of presidential elections.