World's press calls for protection of journalists in Russia

"We are alarmed at the culture of impunity that surrounds attacks on journalists, which stifles criticism and can lead to self-censorship," the global organisations said in a letter to the president, which pointed to 19 unsolved murders of journalists in Russia. "We respectfully remind you that it is the duty of the state to provide an environment in which journalists are able to carry out their professional duties without fear of violence."

Beaten

Kashin, a reporter for the business daily Kommersant, suffered a fractured jaw, broken legs and injuries to his fingers and skull after being beaten outside his Moscow apartment building on Saturday (6 November). Kommersant editor Mikhail Mikhailin said that the attack was retribution for articles written by Kashin, who had recently covered anti-Kremlin protests and extremist rallies.

WAN-IFRA welcomed President Medvedev's appointment of the Prosecutor General to oversee the case, and his remark that "the criminals must be found and punished", but said more needed to be done.

The full letter can be read at www.wan-press.org/article18716.html.