6 July 2005
JOURNALIST KILLED IN DAGESTAN
A prominent journalist and political analyst known for criticising the political opposition in Dagestan, Russia, was murdered on 28 June 2005 - the victim of a contract-style killing, reported the Center for Journalism in Extreme Situations (CJES), the International Press Institute (IPI), Reporters Without Borders (Reporters sans frontières, RSF) and the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ).
Machine-gun toting assailants opened fire on Magomedzagid Varisov's car in Makhachkala as he was returning home with his wife and driver. Varisov sustained multiple bullet wounds and died at the scene. His wife was not injured. Their driver was hospitalized with injuries. Local police believe the murder is linked to Varisov's work as a journalist and political analyst.
For the past three years, Varisov wrote analytical articles for "Novoye Delo" ("New Business"), Dagestan's largest weekly. According to "Novoye Delo" editor Rumina Elmurzayeva, Varisov was often critical of the Dagestan opposition, claiming that it was trying to destabilize the republic and topple the regional government. Varisov also wrote about organized crime and terrorism.
Varisov was also the director of the Republican Center for Strategic Initiatives and Political Technologies in Makhachkala. He was considered a leading expert on the North Caucasus region and his expertise was sought by many Russian journalists.
For the past year, Varisov had spoken of threats against him and had written about those threats in articles for "Novoye Delo". He complained that unknown individuals were following him and he unsuccessfully sought protection from local law enforcement authorities.
At least 11 other journalists have been killed in contract-style slayings in Russia since 2000, the year Vladimir Putin became president, says CPJ. No one has been brought to justice for any of the murders.
Visit:
- CJES Alert:
http://www.ifex.org/en/content/view/full/67680/
- CPJ:
http://www.cpj.org/news/2005/Russia30june05na.html
- Eleven Murders, No Justice: http://www.cpj.org/Briefings/2005/russia_murders/russia_murders.html
- IPI: http://www.freemedia.at/Protests2005/pr_Russia05.07.05.htm
- IPI Watch List - Russia: http://www.freemedia.at/r_wl_russia.htm
- RSF:
http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=14286
- BBC Backgrounder on Dagestan: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/country_profiles/3659904.stm
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