Russian News Agency Director Killed in Knife Attack

[villager]

mods: I'm reposting the entire e-bulletin sent to me by IFJ...

ALERT - RUSSIA

16 October 2006

News agency director killed in knife attack, IFJ calls for detailed
probe

SOURCE: International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), Brussels

(IFJ/IFEX) - The following is an IFJ media release:

IFJ Calls for Detailed Probe of Knife Attack after New Killing Shocks
Russian Journalism

The International Federation of Journalists today called for a detailed
and credible investigation into the killing of Anatoly Voronin, the
business manager and deputy director of Russian news agency Itar-Tass.

Voronin was found in his apartment with multiple knife wounds and
police are treating the incident as a case of premeditated murder. The case
has further shocked a media community still stunned by the death just
over a week ago of one of the country's leading investigative
journalists.

"This was a shocking and deadly assault," said Aidan White, IFJ General
Secretary. "It adds a new dimension to the dangerous and intimidating
atmosphere that is overwhelming journalism in Russia."

White said that the killing of Voronin - a respected executive who had
worked at the news agency for 23 years - underlined the crisis in
Russian media which was exposed by the death of Anna Politkovskaya, who was
gunned down outside her Moscow apartment on October 7.

"Once again the journalists of Russia are in mourning as another brutal
assassination adds to the sense of danger and lawlessness infecting the
community of journalism," he said. The IFJ says that this is the 14th
killing of a journalist or media worker since President Vladimir Putin
came to power.

Tass sources have said that Voronin was supposed to return to work on
Monday from holiday and his driver waited 3 hours for him outside his
block of flats in Moscow on Monday morning before alerting the police.

"We need to find who was responsible and make sure they are brought to
justice," said White. "This will only be done if there is a detailed
and credible investigation. We will support our colleagues in Russia in
their efforts to make sure the authorities deliver justice in these
cases."

The IFJ has more than 500,000 members in over 100 countries worldwide.

For further information, contact the IFJ, International Press Centre,
Residence Palace, Block C, 155 Rue de la Loi, B-1040 Brussels, Belgium,
tel: [phone] or [phone], fax: [phone], e-mail:
[e-mail], Internet: http://www.ifj.org/

The information contained in this alert is the sole responsibility of
IFJ. In citing this material for broadcast or publication, please credit
IFJ.
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[aquart]

1. Putin's a heckuva guy.

[Ex Lion Tamer]

2. Of course he is, the Decider told us so.

[Demeter]

3. Bush Looked Into Putin's Soul, and Liked What He Saw

of course, to spare American sensibilities, he's only assassinating journalists in Iraq.

[Straight Shooter]

4. Come on, Pooty-Poot, huff and puff about how you'll catch the killer.

Posturing bastard.

[gatlingforme]

10. Putin is such a pooty poot - I can see Bush saying it right now.

[smirkymonkey]

5. Why is nobody holding Putin responsible?

Does anyone really think these murders are random? Who else besides Putin or members of his government would have motive?

[villager]

7. does the question not answer itself?

n/t

[acmavm]

6. So does anyone really expect, if Putin and the Russian government

is involved (which seems very likely), that they will ever be able to trace any of these murders back to them? Are they afraid? The point seems to be to stifle the press in Russia (duh). Is it working? Why all the criminal activity against journalists in Russia all of a sudden? Is there something happening there that we don't hear about in the West?

Sorry about all the questions. I am just really curious.

[villager]

8. the sudden "uptick" in the murder of prominent journalists

is both grim and curious, if that's not too mild a word. You are right: What are they hiding right now?

[Psephos]

9. Makes you wonder how long DU would last in Russia n/t

[saigon68]

11. It would last 5 nano-seconds

Or a new york minute